Man United close in on Felipe Anderson
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.
LVG looks to Lazio
It’s no surprise to see Felipe Anderson mentioned once more alongside a potential move to Manchester United, though Louis van Gaal’s desperate desire for some forward pace to help save his job could well see the Red Devils finally push through a deal for the Lazio star.
The Sun reports that United are preparing a £45 million offer for the 22-year-old Brazilian as they are “resigned to losing out in their double chase for Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale,” though the paper suggests the Old Trafford club may still be in for Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez with the Colombia playmaker “top of United’s wish list.”
At the other end of the spectrum, the Daily Mail reports that United are “keeping tabs” on Everton’s highly rated young midfielder Joe Williams. The 19-year-old has impressed for the Toffees’ under-21 side this term, and the Mail says United are just one of the clubs to have scouted Williams “extensively” as they look to re-establish themselves as one of England’s top destinations for young talents.
Alexis chooses Chicharito
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez has gone from Man United zero to Bayer Leverkusen hero in half a season, with Old Trafford fans lamenting the Mexico international’s summer departure with each Bundesliga goal the striker has rattled in this term.
Arsenal have been linked with a move for the 27-year-old, and reports in Spain say that Gunners star Alexis Sanchez has pleaded with Arsene Wenger to bring the forward back to the Premier League.
Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott have both been impressive this term in helping the Gunners take top spot in the Premier League, but just imagine how many assists Mesut Ozil — currently on 16 — would have with the Little Pea ahead of him.
Fabregas fighting for future
It’s no time to be a Chelsea player; even less so if your name happens to be Cesc Fabregas. The Spanish playmaker has struggled badly to try and recapture his title-winning form of last season, offering up more footage for bloopers reels than highlights packages so far this term. Cesc has been linked with a Serie A switch in recent days, and now the Mirror reports that the 28-year-old is “battling for his future at Chelsea.”
The midfielder is, according to the paper, “still central to [Guus] Hiddink’s plans,” though with the Dutch coach set to “tighten up his system until results improve,” Fabregas is a likely man to give way as the Blues look to steer clear of the relegation zone.
Another casualty of a catastrophic season could be Thibaut Courtois, with OK Diario claiming the goalkeeper wants a return to Madrid — but with Real, rather than former loan club Atletico.
Meanwhile, Didier Drogba looks increasingly likely to take up a backroom position at Stamford Bridge, with Canadian outlet RDS reporting that the chances of the 37-year-old staying in MLS for 2016 with Montreal Impact are “very thin.”
City and Barca do battle
Fresh from Monday’s fevered speculation that Manchester City could launch a £27 million-a-year contract offer for Lionel Messi next summer, the Barcelona talisman’s Argentine compatriot Sergio Aguero has conceded a move is unlikely.
City fans hoping for a January move for either Jamie Vardy or Neymar are also set to be disappointed, with the Guardian reporting that the title chasers “have categorically ruled out” signing either striker next month.
Over at the Camp Nou, Luis Enrique has hinted that Barca could be “interested” in Denis Suarez this January, with the former Barca man impressing at Villarreal with three goals and three assists in La Liga this term.
Cole close but yet so far to MLS
Ashley Cole’s move to the LA Galaxy could be completed as soon as this weekend, or not at all, depending on who you ask. Sources confirmed to ESPN FC last week that the Galaxy were in talks to bring Cole over from Roma on a free transfer, and coach Bruce Arena told the Los Angeles Times on Monday that reports of talks have been “fairly accurate.”
A Galaxy source also told the Times that a deal is “close,” but sources close to Cole told Press Association on Tuesday that an MLS move is simply one of “two or three options” for the 35-year-old left-back.
LA have been freeing up salary cap space in recent weeks by selling centre-back Omar Gonzalez and midfielder Juninho to Mexican clubs, though Arena also said United States winger Gyasi Zardes is not going anywhere despite European interest.
Damiao no-go for Pochettino
Everything’s coming up roses for Tottenham at the moment, with Mauricio Pochettino’s side up to third in the Premier League following Monday’s last-gasp win at Watford.
But despite their fine season so far, Spurs may be set to miss out on a long-term transfer target, with talkSPORT reporting that Inter Milan are closing on 26-year-old striker Leandro Damiao.
Meanwhile, the Mirror reports that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will only consider a permanent transfer of Andros Townsend, and will ask the likes of Watford, Newcastle, Aston Villa and West Brom for £14 million to land the England winger.
The paper suggests that Levy will use Townsend to try and finally land Saido Berahino from The Hawthorns.
Tap-ins
– Steven Naismith may have scored a stunning hat trick off the bench against Chelsea earlier in September, but the 29-year-old Scot has started just four Premier League games for Everton this season.
With first-team football a priority, multiple reports suggest the midfielder is closing in on an £8 million January move to Norwich.
– The Canaries are also closing on Dinamo Zagreb’s 25-year-old Portuguese defender Ivo Pinto for £2.2m, according to Sky Sports News.
– The latest twist in the Pablo Osvaldo saga comes from the man himself, who insists it is Porto and not Boca Juniors currently blocking his move back to Argentina.
– Lyon president Jean Michel-Aulas says the club tried to bring in former Barcelona left-back Eric Abidal to help support new manager Bruno Genesio.
– Newcastle are considering a £10 million swoop for Russian playmaker Alan Dzagoev according to the Mirror, with the 25-year-old CSKA midfielder on Steve McClaren’s “hit-list.”
– Atletico Madrid’s move for Celta Vigo midfielder Augusto Fernandez is close to completion, coach Diego Simeone has acknowledged.
– Swansea could be set to let a second key striker leave the Liberty Stadium in a year, as the Mail links Bafetimbi Gomis with a £6.5m switch to Qatari club Lekhwiya. Patrick Bamford, who is looking for a temporary move from Chelsea after a “terrible” Crystal Palace loan spell, could reportedly replace the 30-year-old French forward.
The loss of Bamford may spark the Eagles into life, with The Sun suggesting that Alan Pardew could look at either Chelsea’s Loic Remy or QPR’s Charlie Austin to keep their Champions League qualification hopes alive.
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