Man Utd target Mahrez, Anderson, Mane
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.
Louis’ need for speed
Manchester United may be sitting fourth in the Premier League table and just one win away from being first place outright, but Louis van Gaal is still not satisfied that his squad can compete at the highest level.
Speaking after United’s 2-0 win over West Brom on Sunday, Van Gaal lavished praise on youngster Jesse Lingard for scoring his first goal for the club, while simultaneously he seemed to dismiss the chances of the 22-year-old locking down a long-term position in the side.
“I have said already many times we need speed and creativity on the wings,” Van Gaal said. “You have seen that now we play with Jesse Lingard and he is not the most speedy winger in the world.
“So first we must first finish that problem and then we can see how we play and how we are in balance with playing with speedy wingers.”
But who could be brought in to provide that pace that the United boss craves? The Mail says it’s down to a three-way race between Lazio’s Felipe Anderson, Sadio Mane at Southampton and Leicester City’s new talisman Riyad Mahrez.
All three have made fine starts to the season, and in the case of Anderson and Mane, have been on Man United’s watch list for some time.
But that’s not all. The paper also says that Anwar El Ghazi of Ajax and Newcastle’s Ayoze Perez will also be looked at by Van Gaal’s scouts in lead up to the opening of the January transfer window.
One thing is for sure — the era of mass spending at Old Trafford is nowhere near finished.
Carroll heading home?
It must be that time of year.
Has Andy Carroll has finally made his way off the treatment table? Check.
Are Newcastle United staring down the barrel of relegation? Check.
Is the Magpies boss desperately trying to win the affection of the St. James’ Park faithful? Check.
Yes, like clockwork, the Mirror has linked Carroll with a move back to the club where he made his name before being sold to Liverpool for an eye-watering £35 million in January 2011.
The paper says that the 26-year-old is interested in a move back north if Magpies boss Steve McClaren can guarantee him first-team football, as the striker still dreams of adding to his nine England caps.
Let’s face it, this transfer is inevitable. Let’s see if McClaren can get it done in January?
Tuesday’s Daily Mirror back page: Carroll back in Toon #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/8PcuPM4pCf
– Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) November 9, 2015
Costa’s Chelsea future in doubt
In yesterday’s Transfer Talk, it was revealed that Jose Mourinho has pleaded with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to let him “remove the players he considers to be bad apples in the squad and get the club moving in the right direction again.”
Well, the Mirror says that one of those ‘bad apples’ may be none other than Diego Costa — cue gasps.
The controversial striker has been one of the many Blues players that have let the reigning Premier League champions slump to 17th on the table, and it now looks like his spot at Stamford bridge is in doubt.
But who does Mourinho want to bring on Costa’s place? The Mirror says Argentine hitman Gonzalo Higuain is being considered, while sources have told ESPN that Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Paco Alcacer are both potential targets.
Could Moyes return to England?
Following David Moyes’ exit from Real Sociedad, ESPN FC’s Craig Burley and Mark Donaldson discuss what the former Man United and Everton manager’s next steps may be:
Tap-ins
– Denmark under-19s striker Emre Mor is being tracked by the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, according to the Guardian.
– The Mirror says that Everton are confident that they can keep hold of John Stones in January, despite the fact that Chelsea will be looking to add to their squad.
– AC Milan are considering a €15 million swoop for PSV midfielder Adam Maher. Football Italia says that the Rossoneri have had their eye on the 22-year-old for some time.
– Accrington Stanley midfielder Josh Windass, son of Hull legend Dean, is attracting interest from Arsenal. That’s according to the Sun.
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