LIVE Man Utd focus on James Rodriguez
The winter window opened Jan. 2. As always, Transfer Talk has its finger on the pulse when it comes to all the latest rumours and gossip. See the latest deals here.
TOP STORY: United back in for another Real star
Manchester United have been linked with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale time and again, but it could be another Bernabeu talent who ends up at Old Trafford. The Express reports United have been in talks with Los Blancos over a £63 million January move for James Rodriguez, as Zinedine Zidane is “unhappy” with the Colombia icon’s attitude, and he’s willing to let the 24-year-old attacking midfielder go.
Zizou publicly backed James on Saturday, though Madrid have never been afraid to shed a Galactico before. But United fans can breathe easy as Old Trafford officials will reportedly not let David De Gea move in exchange.
Meanwhile, the Mail reports that Ashley Cole will join LA Galaxy despite “late interest” from United due to their injury problems at full-back, with Matteo Darmian potentially joining Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Ashley Young on the sidelines.
The Sun says that Wolfsburg’s Ricardo Rodriguez may be brought in as cover, or maybe Louis van Gaal can sign the mouse seen on the Old Trafford flanks on Saturday…
#MUFC ýý pic.twitter.com/T2NMaryCnW
– ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 23, 2016
LIVE UPDATES
09.52 GMT: Chelsea forward Patrick Bamford is a loan target for Championship club Hull after his disappointing Crystal Palace stint, the Sunday Mirror says.
09.27 GMT: Alexis Sanchez says he has no plans to leave Arsenal and that there is “no doubt” the team is ready to win the Premier League this season. Story here.
09.11 GMT: The Sunday Times is also reporting that Manchester City are set to fight with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea for £50 million-rated Everton centre-back John Stones. We mentioned earlier that it was in the Mail on Sunday, so it appears someone has been talking.
08.55 GMT: Is Radamel Falcao about to end his season-long loan with Chelsea? It’s hard to see how, given that he’s injured and Monaco don’t appear to have much incentive to take him back, but some are interpreting this Instagram post as a hint he’s off as he wrote: “I focus in one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. Philippians 3:13”
PAPER ROUND
Chelsea on the defensive
Chelsea were thwarted in their attempts to sign John Stones last summer, and all signs point to the Everton defender costing considerably more than the £38m bid the Toffees rejected from Stamford Bridge before the season started. The Mail reports that the Premier League champions will be joined by Real Madrid — should their transfer ban be overturned — Barcelona and Manchester City in a £50m race for the 21-year-old England centre-back.
And who would greet Stones at Stamford Bridge? Didier Deschamps, of course! The Mirror reports that the France coach is a “shock contender” to take the full-time manager role at Chelsea following Euro 2016, with Stoke City’s Mark Hughes also on the shortlist.
Bringing things back to the present transfer window, the Star suggests that Chelsea are considering a loan move for Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva. The 31-year-old would cost the Blues £170,000 a week in wages and it remains to be seen whether PSG would actually consider letting the defender go, but may be persuaded to start planning for the future with the Ligue 1 title practically guaranteed. And the Star reports that Guus Hiddink has blocked a move for Alexandre Pato, with the Dutch coach “unsure” if the Brazilian would do anything to boost the club’s relegation survival hopes. Just a joke, honest…
Schmeichel an Anfield hero?
Anfield fans were forced to watch helplessly as Peter Schmeichel helped Manchester United chase down Liverpool’s title record throughout a glittering Old Trafford career, but the Merseyside club seem to have come up with the ultimate plan to regain their domestic dominance — sign the Great Dane’s son.
Despite handing Simon Mignolet a huge new contract this month, the British media is convinced that Liverpool are still searching for a new No. 1 goalkeeper — and the Mirror reports that Leicester City shot-stopper Kasper Schmeichel is on Jurgen Klopp’s list with the Reds making an enquiry.
One player who Liverpool may have trouble landing this month is Alex Teixeira — sources told ESPN FC earlier this week that the Anfield side had sent a delegation to Shakhtar Donetsk’s winter training camp in the United States to try and seal a deal for the free-scoring playmaker, but the Mirror says that the Ukrainian side are insisting that their £37.6 million valuation of the 26-year-old Brazilian is “non-negotiable.”
Teixeira told Globo on Saturday that he wants to move this month, but is prepared to wait until the summer if the “very good offer” on the table from an unnamed club isn’t accepted by Shakhtar. With Liverpool having missed out on forwards such as Luis Suarez and Alexis Sanchez in recent years, will yet another potential star slip through their fingers?
Who next for the Old Trafford hot seat?
Just a week after beating Liverpool at Anfield, Louis van Gaal’s grip at Manchester United has arguably never looked weaker. A meek home defeat to Southampton, with just one shot on target in front of a booing Old Trafford crowd, sees the Dutch coach on the brink once more — and sources have told ESPN FC that Jose Mourinho has undertaken a “deep and detailed charm offensive” in the form of a six-page letter to finally convince United bosses he is the right man for the job.
United initially opted against replacing Van Gaal with Mourinho in December when results and morale were at an all-time low, but the Red Devils’ tune may change with the Mirror reporting that Ed Woodward was told in September that Pep Guardiola had reached a gentleman’s agreement with rivals Manchester City to take over this summer.
The Star reports that United officials are split between sticking with Van Gaal, offering the job to his assistant and Old Trafford legend Ryan Giggs, or opting for Mourinho. One thing for certain is that if the current form and results continue, Van Gaal will very quickly turn that three-horse race into a straight face-off between Giggs and Jose.
Meanwhile, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson has been a rare breath of fresh air for United fans in desperate need of some excitement on the flanks, and the Mirror reports that the quick left-back will be rewarded for his first-team breakthrough with a new £10,000-a-week contract.
Daily Star Sunday back page: Man Who! #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #mufc pic.twitter.com/45CTE1qx5W
– Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) January 23, 2016
City lead Williams race
It’s safe to assume that Inaki Williams’ wonder volley for Athletic Bilbao against Getafe in November played some part in his current club recently handing the striker a new contract until 2021 with a ¬50m (£38.1m) release clause, but such prices no longer faze cash-rich Premier League clubs.
The Express reports that Manchester City are leading the race for the Spain under-21 international despite interest from Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid, and have not been put off by the substantial fee.
Given that Williams has the potential to break into Spain’s full squad for Euro 2016, demand could rise even further if City hold off until after the tournament in France this summer. However, Manuel Pellegrini is not guaranteed to be at the Etihad next season, so he may not necessarily see a young striker full of raw promise as a priority signing.
Spurs to raid Foxes?
Jamie Vardy and N’Golo Kante have been two of the main reasons for Leicester City’s incredible Premier League title assault this season, but Claudio Ranieri could face a tough task holding onto the duo this month. The Mirror reports that Tottenham are plotting a “double swoop” for the pair, with Mauricio Pochettino thought to be particularly interested in the 24-year-old midfielder Kante.
Pochettino has been juggling a few central midfielders of late, trying to find the right balance, but the talented French enforcer may be just the man to turn Spurs into genuine title contenders. Leicester are likely to reject any January offers to keep their title hopes alive, but the prospect of Vardy and Harry Kane forming a bond at White Hart Lane would prove an intriguing prospect for England boss Roy Hodgson.
TAP-INS
– Ecuador international midfielder Carlos Gruezo signed with FC Dallas as a designated player from Bundesliga club Stuttgart on Saturday.
– Chinese clubs are busy snapping up a number of top performers from Europe, but the Mirror reports that Steven Fletcher is set to turn down a “mega-money” switch there in order to complete a dream move from Sunderland to boyhood club Celtic. See, money isn’t everything on football…
– As for Cheick Tiote, the Mail reports that the Newcastle midfielder is still poised to move to China despite rejecting the chance to join Shanghai Shenhua, with Beijing Guoan among the three interested clubs.
– Everton will have watched on in frustration as January target Sam Byram impressed for new club West Ham against Man City on Saturday, but the Mirror reports that the Toffees will seek to get over that snub with a £2m move for Ajax defender Ricardo van Rhijn.
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