Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Today’s column may well be running spectacularly late but that might not necessarily be a bad thing as it means there is a monster double portion of transfer gossip. I’m now going to make sense of what has made the headlines on both the front and the backpages. I hope you’re hungry
As always – gossip in plain text, may views in bold
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been told West Brom and Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans, 30, can be signed for £23.5m, with a firm bid expected shortly. (S*n) Well that is small change to Manchester City so a move to the Etihad looks like it could be a possibility
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte wants to make a fresh bid for Tottenham’s 32-year-old Spain striker Fernando Llorente. (Independent) I cannot see Tottenham selling to Chelsea at this point of the season especially as they would then be so light up top themselves.
Sunderland’s hopes of landing 18-year-old Liverpool striker Ben Woodburn, 18, on loan appear to be over with Reds manager Jurgen Klopp refusing to let the Wales international leave. (S*n) Bad news for Chris Coleman who looked to make use of his former Welsh national side connection
Former Newcastle executive director Dennis Wise has suggested that Magpies owner Mike Ashley is prepared to spend money this January – and insists he will sell the club to the right bidder. (Chronicle) Time is ticking though and if Rafael Benitez does not get the funds that he so desperately needs then relegation becomes an all too likely prospect
Brighton are set to put in a £2m bid for West Ham defender James Collins, although the 34-year-old Wales centre-back, who is in the final year of his contract, wants to stay with the Hammers. (Standard) Will West Ham cash in before the end of the Collins contract, he has been a servant to the club but a new contract looks unlikely in the Summer.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish says the club’s wage bill is “tight” and “one or two” players could leave this month. (Croydon Advertiser) Don’t expect Wilfried Zaha to be one of those.
Brighton’s Dutch winger Soufyan Ahannach, 22, has been lined up for a loan return to the Netherlands with Sparta Rotterdam. (Argus) The move to the South Coast has not worked out for the youngster and he could return home to regain his confidence.
Manchester United’s deal to sign Chile forward Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal will be worth £180m after he agreed a four-and-a-half-year contract. (Telegraph) It seems as if the deal is not far off now.
Sanchez’s Manchester United contract will earn the 29-year-old more than £400,000 a week. (Independent) £400,000 a week ladies and gentlemen. Fuck me.
Liverpool have told Sevilla they are not prepared to let them sign England striker Daniel Sturridge, 28, on loan for the rest of the season. (Mail) Sturridge will be looking for football in a World Cup year, the prospect of him being on the plane to Russia this Summer looks less likely.
Chelsea target Andy Carroll has told West Ham he is unable to train – but his club are questioning that after taking scans of the 29-year-old England striker’s ankle. (Mirror) It seems as if his move to Chelsea is now off due to injury.
Manchester United have started talks to extend the contract of Spain goalkeeper David de Gea, 27. (Telegraph) Just make sure the fax machine is unplugged
West Ham manager David Moyes was at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday to watch 24-year-old Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi, who he is interested in signing, in action for Chelsea against Norwich. (Mail) A swap deal involving Carroll could have had legs but that now looks a non starter
Real Madrid believe the time has come to sign a new attacking trio – Paris St-Germain’s Brazil international Neymar, 25, Chelsea’s 27-year-old Belgian Eden Hazard and Bayern Munich’s Pole Robert Lewandowski, 29. (Marca) There is set to be a huge overhaul at Real Madrid at the end of the season, the cycle looks like it is finally coming to an end for this once great team.
Bayern could also receive interest from Everton with regards to their 24-year-old Spanish left-back, Juan Bernat. (Liverpool Echo) That would be a good purchase for Everton, the heir apparent to Leighton Baines at Goodison perhaps?
Manchester United and Armenia forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan would be a “fantastic” signing for Arsenal and a move to Emirates Stadium would be the perfect one to reignite the 28-year-old’s career, says former United player and coach Phil Neville.(BBC Radio 5 live) It would, but is it going to happen?
Sunderland midfielder Jack Rodwell says he is desperate to leave and get playing again – but the 26-year-old, who has three England caps, says he will not walk away from his £70,000-a-week contract. (Mail) £70k to do nothing, I hate football.
A major British investor who planned to back Amanda Staveley’s bid to buy Newcastle has now decided against supporting the proposed takeover. (Guardian) Bad news for Newcastle fans
Liverpool fear they have lost out to Bayern Munich in the race to sign Schalke’s Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka, 22. (Liverpool Echo) Bayern always get their man in the end.
Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin is set to be a target for Juventus this summer. The Serie A giants have been watching the 22-year-old Spaniard since 2014. (Tuttosport – in Italian) Linked with Barcelona last Summer, it is fair to say he has regressed in terms of performance this time around.
Juventus are also targeting Tottenham’s Denmark playmaker Christian Eriksen, 25, or Arsenal’s 29-year-old Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil to become their new number 10. (Corriere dello Sport – in Italian) The former, no chance. The latter, maybe
Chelsea have joined Manchester City and Paris St-Germain in the race to sign Nice and Ivory Coast midfielder Jean-Michael Seri, 26. (S*n) He has been in high demand since the Summer, will anyone finally plump up the money to sign him?
West Ham are eager to bring in Inter Milan midfielder Joao Mario on loan with the 24-year-old Portugal international said to be frustrated at his lack of playing time. (Telegraph) West Ham have been looking for midfield additions this month but have been frustrated so far, could this be a positive step?
But the Hammers’ Mexico striker Javier Hernandez could be on his way out of the club, with Besiktas reportedly sending a delegation to London to speak with the 29-year-old. (Talksport) So much hope for Hernandez but he has failed to leave up to expectations.
Besiktas are also keen on Leicester City striker Islam Slimani. The Turkish club’s president Fikret Orman was at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday to watch the 29-year-old Algeria international. (Sky Sports) It seems as if Besiktas have been doing the rounds in the hunt for a new forward.
West Brom are interested in signing Egyptian centre-back Ali Gabr, 26, on loan from Zamalek. (Express & Star, Wolverhampton) An Egyptian defensive pairing perhaps?
Watford’s Brazilian forward Richarlison is aiming for a summer move, with the 20-year-old’s representatives having started talks with Chelsea and Arsenal. (Watford Observer) The wheels are falling of the Watford wagon at present as they struggle for form as of late
