Man Utd look to James for attacking help
The winter window draws 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: United on hunt for attacking inspiration
Manchester United’s search for sparkle is becoming ever more pressing, with shots on target — never mind goals — an increasingly rare commodity.
One answer to their lack of edge could be Newcastle striker Ayoze Perez, with the Manchester Evening News saying the player has told Radio Club Tenerife that United are interested in signing him.
It reports that scouts have been keeping regular tabs on the Spaniard, and a move could be made in January.
“There is truth in the talk about interest in me [from United]. It’s rewarding for me,” Perez is quoted as saying. “There is much truth — but my place is at Newcastle.”
Another option for Louis van Gaal, who walked out of his Wednesday news conference after giving reporters a piece of his mind, is Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez, who has been linked with both Arsenal and Chelsea.
The Daily Star, citing Spanish journalist Jose Luis Sanchez, says United want to sign the Colombian and could offer big money.
The report says: “Rodriguez is unimpressed with Real boss Rafa Benitez’s tactics, methods and results,” with the Old Trafford powers that be ready to take advantage of that.
All this, of course, will depend on whether there are any imminent changes at these two clubs whose managers are feeling plenty of pressure.
Italy? Messi was Inter it …
Life’s nice for Inter Milan at the moment — top of Serie A, and it’s all looking good. But imagine how good it would be looking if Lionel Messi played for them.
That’s something Messi wanted to do, according to his fellow Argentine Juan Sebastian Veron.
Veron said: “It’s been a few years, but one time he told me he would like to play for Inter.
“But let me be clear, this was something that happened in the past and, frankly, I see it as impossible for Leo to leave Barcelona.”
Hammers in tune with Christmas Carroll
Could West Ham striker Andy Carroll be going anywhere once the festive period has drawn to a close?
No, says Hammers boss Slaven Bilic, who is keen to hang on to the injury-prone Carroll despite interest from his old club Newcastle and their north-east rivals, Sunderland.
The powerful forward has a “really important” role to play for the East End club, Bilic says.
“I don’t think so,” Bilic said when asked whether Carroll would be going elsewhere.
“When he is fit, he’s a big asset for us, he’s a big weapon and it’s hard to play against him. When he has his presence, his hunger, his ability — of course he’s really important for us.”
Bilic also has talks with Wales defender James Collins, out of contract at the end of the season, on his to-do list.
Gunners, Reds indulge in Sky Blue thinking
Once upon a time, it was the done thing for the biggest clubs in England to look to the lower divisions for stars of the future.
That doesn’t happen so often now, but Tottenham’s smash hit move for Dele Alli from MK Dons seems to have got people thinking.
The Independent suggests Arsenal and Liverpool are set to slug it out for Coventry City’s teenage forward James Maddison, but Sky Blues manager Tony Mowbray has a warning for his young star.
Maddison, 19, is rated by some observers as the outstanding new talent in League One, and Coventry could ask up to £10 million for him.
Both the Gunners and Liverpool are reported to have scouted the player, with a third (and unnamed) Premier League club said to have tabled an offer.
But Mowbray told a news conference ahead of his side’s Boxing Day meeting with Port Vale: “James has only played something like 14 games at League One level.
“My advice to James has always been to let his career develop and to play football. Here, he’ll be able to let his talent flourish where he is appreciated, but if he moved to a big club he isn’t going to get in their first team.”
PSG and Juve impressed by “Christian values”
Tottenham’s eye-catching form has seen much written and said about the likes of Alli and the prolific Harry Kane.
Although those two are likely to be on a few window wishlists, neither is the man interesting both Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, says the London Evening Standard.
It reports that Christian Eriksen is the one, with both the Serie A champions and their Ligue 1 counterparts considering an offer that would be more than likely to arrive in the summer.
Eriksen, who moved to White Hart Lane from Dutch club Ajax, is approaching the final two years of his current contract, and the Standard says both Juve and PSG will try to tempt him into a move.
If he is potentially heading out, who could be heading in? The Standard says sources in Spain have suggested Spurs will try to sign Barcelona forward Sandro Ramirez, with Barca willing to listen to offers for the La Masia graduate.
Iturbe and Bournemouth sting Hornets?
Here’s news that will please one of last season’s promoted club and irritate another: Roma forward Juan Manuel Iturbe is set to join Bournemouth only days after having apparently agreed a move to Watford, according to Sky Sport Italia.
Reports on Monday suggested Iturbe was on his way to Vicarage Road after talks in a London branch of Starbucks. (Who says the transfer process can lack a certain glamour?) But it now appears that Bournemouth have come in with a bigger offer and, er, stung the Hornets.
Tap-ins
– Nobody, it seems, is having more fun anywhere in football than Premier League leaders Leicester City, whose fantastic season just keeps on going and going.
Who wouldn’t want to join their party? With Claudio Ranieri keen to strengthen his squad for what could be the most outlandish title push ever, there will be a few names in the frame.
Here’s one for a start: Sampdoria defender Pedro Pereira, who would cost the Foxes around £6 million, according to reports in Ranieri’s native Italy. The teenage right-back, who only joined from Benfica in the summer, is firmly in Leicester’s sights, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports.
– Arsenal defender Calum Chambers will return to his old club Southampton on a six-month loan deal after dropping out of the first-team picture at the Emirates, says the Sun.
– Talking of defenders on loan, Sevilla’s first step toward remedying their recent fragile form could be the arrival of old boy Federico Fazio on loan from Tottenham, says AS.
The outlet adds that coach Unai Emery moving for Fazio would be “one of the likeliest options for the Andaluisian club,” with the player yet to win a regular place in north London.
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