LIVE: LVG eyes striker, Ter Stegen to Liverpool
The winter window opens Jan. 2, but as always, Transfer Talk has its finger on the pulse when it comes to all the latest rumours and gossip. See all the latest deals here.
TOP STORY: LVG eyes new striker, Ter Stegen to Liverpool
New year, same pressures for Manchester United, who face Swansea on Saturday at Old Trafford knowing they need to start picking up more points and scoring more goals — quickly. The Express said United “accept they will be unable to prise Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku, Sadio Mane, Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez away from their clubs in midseason” but have been linked with Felipe Anderson (Lazio), Yoshinori Muto of Mainz and Fulham’s Moussa Dembele. It remains to be seen which, if any, of those players ends up being on the United manager’s shopping/solutions list.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are keen on a new goalkeeper and may tempt Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen, according to reports from RMC. The German won the Champions League last season but plays backup to Claudio Bravo in the league, so may be keen to make himself a No. 1 under Jurgen Klopp.
LIVE BLOG
13.32 GMT: Defender Matty Foulds has completed his move from Bury to Premier League club Everton.
13.07 GMT: Inter star Ivan Perisic says he could have joined Napoli last summer. “Wolfsburg wanted me to renew, but I couldn’t stay any longer. I could have joined Napoli, but then the deal didn’t go through,” he told Corriere dello Sport.
12.04 GMT: Newcastle United are targeting Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi. The 22-year-old Belgian is being touted for a move in the region of £15m.
EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle target £15m move for Belgian striker https://t.co/vrsXu8DxEZ #nufc pic.twitter.com/UGwGy1PhSg
– The Sun – Football (@TheSunFootball) January 2, 2016
11.32 GMT: Ian Wright has told BT Sport that Manchester United do not need to sign Sadio Mane when they have Anthony Martial.
11.16 GMT: Louis van Gaal defended his decision to let Javier Hernandez and Robin van Persie leave Manchester United as he said he did not want too much competition at the striker’s position. FULL STORY.
11.08 GMT: It’s not just Lazio’s keeper who’s in the news this morning, Lucas Biglia is as well. The Daily Star is reporting that the midfielder is in the middle of a transfer tussle between Liverpool and Manchester United with a fee in the region of £25m likely to secure his services.
10.51 GMT: Chelsea, Everton and Liverpool are all in the hunt for 32-year-old Lazio keeper Federico Marchetti, according to Gazzetta World. The Italian’s contract is set to expire in the summer and so far has failed to agree a new deal with the club.
10.31 GMT: And talking of Arsenal, they’re also being linked with Oguzhan Ozyakup by the Express. The Turkey international, who also represented Netherlands at U19 level, spent four years in the Gunners youth team before joining Besiktas in 2012.
10.17 GMT: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is being chased by Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United after his agent suggested the Swede is finally ready to sign with a Premier League club, according to the Sky Sports News.
09.59 GMT: Steven Gerrard is planning a move into coaching when he ends his playing career, most likely later this year, and has hinted at a future with Liverpool. FULL STORY.
09.30 GMT: Good morning and welcome to day two of the 2016 January transfer window. Let’s begin with one you may have missed from overnight: Everton boss Roberto Martinez has said he wouldn’t trade Romelu Lukaku for Tottenham striker Harry Kane. Would you? FULL STORY.
PAPER ROUND
On their back pages, both the Sun and the Guardian said United manager Louis van Gaal is poised to address his side’s goal-scoring struggles with a move for a new striker in the January window, even if it remains unclear who the man in question might be.
The Sun showed Van Gaal emerging from a Chinese restaurant in Manchester beneath the headline: “LVG orders a No. 9” and said he is “ready to hit the January sales for a new striker who can save his job.”
Saturday’s Sun back page – LVG orders a No 9 United boss: I need a striker #tomorrowspaperstoday #mufc pic.twitter.com/efCuWRrejC
– Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) January 1, 2016
The Guardian, meanwhile, tips the Dutchman to “buy to give blunt United a cutting edge” and said “they have to start winning games if their title challenge is to be reignited.”
It quotes Van Gaal as saying “we need to buy another striker” and adding “of course we are always looking for solutions.”
Balotelli agent hopes for Anfield encore
A transfer window wouldn’t be a transfer window without Mario Balotelli somewhere in it, with the Italy striker’s agent voicing hope that he could resurrect his Liverpool career under the management of Jurgen Klopp.
Balotelli has been at AC Milan on loan since the summer, after a difficult season at Anfield saw him log only one Premier League goal.
That disastrous form saw him fall out of favour with Klopp’s predecessor, Brendan Rodgers, but agent Mino Raiola told Sky Sports he believes a second chance on Merseyside could be around the corner.
Raiola said he has yet to hold discussions with Klopp but stressed that Balotelli’s ability was “without question” and said what he needs is a manager “that believes in you and gives you the chance to prove yourself.”
Could Klopp be the man to get Balotelli, who has been out since September with a groin injury, back on track?
Much of that is down to the player himself, Raiola said, adding: “We have to be realistic. He didn’t perform well in 2015, and 2016 needs to be his year. “
Marchetti for Merseyside move?
To Lazio now, where a disappointing season has resulted in reports that several players could be on their way.
Liverpool, Gazzetta World said, are among the clubs keeping tabs on the situation — and they are interested in goalkeeper Federico Marchetti.
Although Anfield manager Klopp has been at pains to stress that he has faith in his keepers, Gazzetta believes Marchetti — out of contract in the summer — is a target and could be brought in for a bargain fee.
Everton, Chelsea, Juventus and Inter Milan are all also reported to be keen on Marchetti, while one-time Manchester United prodigy Ravel Morrison and Argentina international midfielder Lucas Biglia are also reported to be attracting the attentions of English clubs.
Michy might be a Magpie
Newcastle boss Steve McClaren knows what he wants: a new striker. And the Sun said the striker could be Marseille’s Michy Batshuayi, with a £15 million bid in the offing.
McClaren, it reported, has targeted the 22-year-old Belgian as a player who can help lift his side away from relegation danger, and talks with the Ligue 1 club have started.
Gray day means bright news for Leicester
Life’s good for Leicester these days, and the Mirror reported that there could soon be another feather in Claudio Ranieri’s cap, with highly rated, young Birmingham attacker Demarai Gray poised to sign.
The paper said Gray, 19, who has interested Spurs, Bournemouth and Southampton, has opted for Leicester in what it calls “a huge coup for the surprise Premier League title challengers.”
It reported that although he signed a new, three-year Birmingham contract in the summer, the deal contains a £3.75 million January exit clause.
Pulis: Baggies feeding off transfer crumbs
This time of year might be rich in excitement and glamour for certain clubs, but not for West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Pulis, who makes his January sound like that of a real-life Cinderella.
Pulis, speaking to the BBC, said he fears the Baggies might be left to “pick up the crumbs” in the transfer window but has been told he will be able to bring in players if funds are generated through a sale or two.
That will only increase speculation about the future of striker Saido Berahino, with reports continuing to link him to a winter window move to Spurs.
“We’re sat on the top table, but we feed off the crumbs,” Pulis said of his prospects of January additions. “You have to wait for those crumbs to drop off the table, and that doesn’t happen at the start of a meal. That usually happens at the end of a meal.”
Crouch won’t be Pottering off
Remember Peter Crouch? It seems to have been a while since we’ve seen the robot-dancing striker in action for Stoke, and that’s probably because it has been — he has played only 45 minutes of Premier League football this season.
But boss Mark Hughes is adamant Crouch won’t be going anywhere, with the Mirror quoting him as saying, “He’s a big part of what we do here. He’s going to get game time at some point. We’re going to need everybody. He’s very much in my thoughts.”
Tap-ins
– Marseille winger Lucas Ocampos could be heading to Fiorentina on loan, according to RMC.
It said although the terms of a move have yet to be finalized, the Argentine is almost certain to make the move in January.
– Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Kenny Jackett has confirmed that he wants to sign Newcastle defender Mike Williamson during the winter window.
Speaking after his side’s win Friday at Brighton, Jackett said he was optimistic that something could happen, but he stressed that a deal for the player — currently sidelined by injury — was “not close” at the moment.
Again confirms interest in Mike Williamson but says a deal is not yet close. Player still out injured at the moment.
– Wolves (@OfficialWolves) January 1, 2016
– Norwich City have had a bid for York City midfielder Ben Godfrey rejected.
The Eastern Daily Press said the York Press reported that the 17-year-old was the subject of an offer from the Canaries, but York have decided now is not the time for him to move on.
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