Carrick could leave for Arsenal, Ighalo too?
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: Arsenal to make shock move for Carrick?
According to The Mirror, Arsene Wenger is ready to make a fourth attempt to sign Michael Carrick. With Mathieu Flamini, Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky all set to leave the club at the end of the season when their contracts expire, the Arsenal boss is looking for another experienced head to fill the dressing room with leadership and a winning mentality.
Southampton’s £25 million-rated anchorman Victor Wanyama is thought to be Wenger’s top target to bolster his midfield, but he is a huge fan of Carrick as a player and has been alerted about his potential availability, with the 34-year-old’s current deal expiring in June and no offer of a new one yet on the table. Wenger first tried to sign Carrick more than a decade ago, when the Geordie was at West Ham but saw him join north London rivals Spurs in 2004.
He then lost out to United in the race to sign Carrick from Tottenham two years later, and the Frenchman was keen again last summer before the midfielder instead signed a one-year extension to stay put in Manchester. French champions Paris Saint-Germain are among his suitors, and joining former England midfield colleagues Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in Major League Soccer is another possibility.
Premier League Clubs keen on Kohr
West Ham, Tottenham and Southampton are keeping tabs on German prospect Dominik Kohr, along with a number of Germany’s leading clubs, reports The Mirror. The Premier League trio will get a chance to see how Kohr copes against top-flight opposition when Augsburg host Liverpool in the first leg of a Europa League last 32 tie on Thursday.
The 22 year-old has really caught the eye since moving to Augsburg [initially on loan in January 2014] where his classy yet intelligent defensive midfield play has lead him to become a key player for the Bavarian side after being handed regular first team football. As they struggle to stay afloat in the Bundesliga, it’s thought that Augsburg would be forced into selling the German should a decent offer come in.
Watford eye Ighalo replacement with Arsenal and United lurking
Watford hope to sign striker Isaac Success this summer, paving the way for a potential Odion Ighalo exit. According to The Mirror, the Hornets plan to raid Spanish club Granada, who are also controlled by their owner Gino Pozzo, to tie up the Nigerian on a pre-contract agreement to move to Vicarage Road.
Success, 20, has four goals so far this season for a side struggling in La Liga’s bottom three and has impressed with his speed and finishing ability. He is seen as the perfect replacement for Ighalo, and his arrival would open the door for his countryman to move on to a bigger club in the summer. Watford do not want to lose the 26-year-old, himself a former Granada player, but have an agreement in place that will see them listen to offers in the region of £12m.
Tottenham and West Ham ready to battle for Batshuayi
Tottenham are locked in a tug of war with London rivals West Ham over £25m striker Michy Batshuayi. The title-chasing north Londoners are confident of luring the Belgian, who they have been tracking for over a year, to White Hart Lane. Spurs believe their chances will increase even further if they win the league or secure Champions League football.
But West Ham reckon the success of Dimitri Payet — a former team-mate of Batshuayi’s at Marseille — will tempt the marksman to join them instead. The Irons have received enough encouragement to believe that the player could make their attack even stronger when they take up residence at the Olympic Stadium next season.
The 22-year-old Belgian has 15 goals in 33 appearances so far this term, and despite only signing a new contract in January, a move away from France this summer seems likely.
Tap-Ins
– Jurgen Klopp believes that signing Joel Matip on a free transfer will “save the club millions. The Reds boss believes he has bought a centre-back ready-made for the Premier League, who can help provide a solution to their defensive weaknesses which have been exposed on many occasion this season.
– In a Daily Star exclusive, Pep Guardiola has verbally agreed not to raid his old club for the likes of Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski when he becomes Man City boss. The reports says that Bayern bosses have made a deal with the 45-year-old Spaniard that he won’t plan to lure key members of their squad away this summer.
– Boca Juniors striker Carlos Tevez has reportedly opted against signing with Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG, despite being offered an annual salary that is believed to be in the region of £18m ($25 million), in order to end his career at the club where it all began.
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