Everton slap £45m price tag on Lukaku
The winter window gets closer with each passing day and the transfer rumour mill is starting to pick up steam. As always, Transfer Talk has the latest and greatest. See all the summer deals here.
TOP STORY: All eyes on Lukaku
Everton have moved to fend off the advances of a pair of Europe’s elite for striker Romelu Lukaku.
The Merseyside club have slapped a £45 million price tag on the 22-year-old Belgian in an effort to deter interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, the Daily Mail reports.
Lukaku moved to Goodison Park from Chelsea for £28 million in 2014, and while he purports to be happy working under Roberto Martinez, the outlet asserts he’s hungry to taste Champions League football and thus likely to reassess his future with the Premier League side at the end of the season.
Internazionale tracking Real star
Inter Milan are looking to add quality to their swelling ranks, and have an eye on Real Madrid starlet Jese Rodriguez, according to Gazzetta World.
According to the outlet, the Nerazzurri sent scouts to watch the promising 22-year-old in Los Blancos’ Champions League victory over PSG on Tuesday — a game in which the Spanish forward failed to impress.
Jese has found it difficult to break through a Real Madrid side filled with superstars at every forward position, and Inter, per the paper, are hoping to entice the youngster to the Giuseppe Meazza with more playing time.
The only roadblock, however, is Rafa Benitez, who isn’t amenable to letting the Castilla product go just yet, telling reporters Tuesday: “I’m very happy with the work he is putting in.
“He even scored a goal in the last league match, so I won’t talk about the transfer market.”
Sounds like he’s off in January then?
What was said between Ronaldo & Blanc?
The ESPN FC crew weigh in on yesterday’s big rumour — Cristiano Ronaldo heading to PSG — which had the transfer whispers reaching a dull roar after the Portugal captain had a not-so-subtle chat with Le President Laurent Blanc:
Adios Andros Townsend?
Following Andros Townsend’s spat with Spurs trainer Nathan Gardiner following the 3-1 win over Aston Villa, and subsequent banishment from the Tottenham first team, it’s fair to say that the England international may not be sticking round at White Hart Lane much longer.
But the Mirror says that Townsend’s ill-discipline has not put off a host of clubs looking to take the misfit off Mauricio Pochettino’s hands.
Head of the queue is apparently Steve McClaren and his dysfunctional Newcastle side — which seems like an ideal coupling.
West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and Aston Villa have all been linked to the winger as well.
Tap-ins
– Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores — who Claudio Ranieri apparently wants to kill — has refused to rule out a move for free agent Emmanuel Adebayor.
“I am not talking about any player in particular but I love the players with talent, with hunger, with soul, and who is a very good person,” the Hornets boss told the Guardian.
“So, if we are in this case it would be perfect, but there are no names at the moment.”
– Speaking of Ranieri, the Leicester boss has advised Riyad Mahrez to stick around at the King Power Stadium for a while longer to “learn more” before heading off to a team playing at a higher level. That’s in the Star.
– The Yorkshire Evening Post says that Liam Bridcutt’s proposed loan move to Leeds United is in the balance after Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce called the deal “confused — like Leeds.”
ZING! It’s nice to have you back, Sam.
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