Griezmann open to Premier League move
The winter window might have shut, but the rumour mill rolls on! As always, Transfer Talk has its finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest rumours and gossip. See the latest deals here.
TOP STORY: Chelsea encouraged by Griezmann
The Mail reports that Chelsea have been dealt a key boost in their pursuit of Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann.
The France international has apparently told close friends that if he decides to leave Spain, a switch to the Premier League will be prioritised.
The Blues have serious interest in the former Real Sociedad star and have tracked the attacker for a number of years.
Chelsea tried to lure Griezmann to London last summer, but Atletico were adamant the forward was not for sale. However, the West London club are ready to launch another attempt to land Griezmann this summer, and the indications are that he is ready to come. Should he become available, Chelsea are unlikely to be the only side interested in the forward given his huge talent.
The 24-year-old has 20 goals in 29 appearances this season, and has been a crucial part of Atleti’s title push and Champions League progression.
One stumbling block that may occur is a potential transfer ban for Diego Simeone’s side, which would make a transfer for the forward extremely difficult — his club would not be able to register any replacements for 12 months.
Robben’s days at Bayern numbered?
Would Bayern Munich be better off cashing in on an aging Arjen Robben this summer? ESPN FC’s Alejandro Moreno has his say:
United and City want deals done for Dahoud
Manchester United and Manchester City are set to battle it out for German midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud, according to reports from the Express.
The 20-year-old has been in impressive form for Borussia Monchengladbach, making 28 appearances in all competitions this season after breaking into the first team under Andre Schubert.
The Syrian-born midfielder featured twice against City earlier this season in the Champions League as the English side recorded a 2-1 win and a 4-2 victory, respectively. Juventus and Bayern Munich, however, are also reportedly interested in the player, which could make a deal for either side slightly more complicated.
Bayern Munich to decide on Dybala
Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport have reported that Bayern Munich will attempt to sign Juventus striker Paulo Dybala when Carlo Ancelotti officially takes charge of the German club in the summer. As Real Madrid continue in their attempts to land Robert Lewandowski, Ancelotti already has a plan in place to replace him if the Polish international decides to leave the club.
Dybala is Serie A’s second-highest goal scorer this season with an impressive 13 strikes to his name, and the ease in which he has settled in at Juventus has not gone unnoticed by the former AC Milan boss.
The 56-year-old will look to flex Bayern’s financial muscle during the next transfer window to bring the Argentine over to Germany, following in the footsteps of Arturo Vidal and Kingsley Coman, who both left the Serie A champions for the Bundesliga champions last year.
West Ham stunned by Payet demands
According to reports from the Mirror, Dimitri Payet has left West Ham stunned after his agent demanded a new contract worth £125,000 a week, despite being at the club for only eight months.
It would represent a pay raise of nearly £50,000 a week for the Frenchman playmaker who signed for £10.75 million last summer, but has already become a fan favourite at Upton Park.
West Ham have no intention of selling Payet, and are hopeful that a deal can be struck with both the player and agent. Hammers boss Slaven Bilic has also urged the club to keep their new star “happy” by ensuring that he is aware, financially, just how much he is valued. They do not want to risk losing their star man in the summer.
Tap-Ins
– According to reports from Brazilian publication UOL, Manchester City are on the verge of signing the former Corinthians youngster Vitinho. The Brazilian side missed the deadline to offer the 16-year-old a professional contract, which now means that City can snap him up for free.
– Newcastle want Cheick Tiote to reject a potential move to China and help them in their fight against relegation, reports the Mirror. The midfielder was man of the match against West Brom last weekend after his £8m Shanghai Shenhua move fell through, but could still leave the club; the Chinese transfer window is open for another three weeks.
– Multiple reports suggest that Everton are increasingly hopeful that a £200 million takeover by an American consortium will be complete before the end of the season. A consortium of investors, including the former owner of the San Diego Padres baseball team, John Jay Moores, and business partner Charles Noell, have been in a process of due diligence since before Christmas.
– Meanwhile, veteran Toffees keeper Tim Howard could be on his way out of the club. The Mail says that the Colorado Rapids in MLS “have been encouraged to firm up their interest” in the U.S. national team star.
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