Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Another week is upon us and what better way to start it than by diving head first into a big pile of transfer gossip, now I’m going to cut through all the rumours and give you a full run down on what is making the headlines on the back pages.
As always – gossip in plain text, may views in bold
France striker Antoine Griezmann, 26, will demand £400,000 a week to snub Barcelona and join Manchester United from Atletico Madrid. (Mirror) I’d still put my money that he chooses Barcelona over Manchester United. I think it’s just that time of the year isn’t it. Then again where would he fit in at the Camp Nou after the signing of Coutinho and the return of Dembele?
Liverpool want Monaco’s France forward Thomas Lemar, 22, to replace Philippe Coutinho – and are ready to try to make it happen this month. (Mirror) To try and make it happen being the operative term here, I reckon it is the Summer at the earliest.
Or Liverpool’s decision to allow Philippe Coutinho to join Barcelona will not bring forward any possible move for Monaco’s France forward Thomas Lemar. (Sky Sports) Exactly
Liverpool will attempt to bring Guinea and RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita’s move to Anfield forward from the summer and are willing to pay more to get the 22-year-old in January. (Telegraph) RB Leipzig have already said this one is not happening this month.
Real Madrid’s top transfer targets in the summer will be Chelsea and Belgium winger Eden Hazard, 27, and his club and international team-mate goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, 25, but they will wait for Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane, with the 24-year-old a long-term target for the Spanish club. (Sky Sports) Real Madrid need an overhaul in the Summer there is no question of that, a whole host of players will continue to be linked with Los Blancos
Real Madrid were willing to offer £177m for Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho, 25, before he agreed to join Barcelona in a £142m deal. (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish) Too late now though isn’t it.
Coutinho will have a medical on Monday and will be unveiled as a Barcelona player, but his debut could be delayed by an injury. (AS) They are nine points clear at the top of La Liga, there’s no great rush for him to feature.
The Brazilian is paying £11.5m of his own money towards the transfer. (Times – subscription required) Another sign that footballers get paid too much money
Bournemouth are set to sign Colchester United’s top scorer Sammie Szmodics, 22, with the English midfielder costing the Cherries around £1m. (Daily Star) Is it the kind of business that will keep Bournemouth’s head above water though and stay in the Premier League
Shakhtar Donetsk and Brazil midfielder Fred, 24, says he is waiting for a phone call from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. (GloboEsporte, via Manchester Evening News) You could say he’s Fred up.
Newcastle are hopeful of completing a deal for Chelsea’s Brazilian winger Kenedy, 21. (Newcastle Chronicle) This was reported over the weekend, so just a repeat of that
Leicester City are close to their first signing of the January transfer window with a deal for young Mali forward Fousseni Diabate. The Foxes have agreed a £1.7m fee for the 22-year-old, who plays for French Ligue 2 side Gazelec Ajaccio. (Leicester Mercury) Why don’t they play Iheanacho?
