Premier League transfer news: Gareth Bale to Liverpool, Luiz to Newcastle and more - 20th December 2017

Jingle bells! Jingle bells! Jingle all the way! Umid Dey is coming around with all the transfer rumours and I am here to enlighten you with some of the transfer news regarding the Premier League clubs.

The thing is, everyone wants to get a piece of the biggest clubs’ transfer rumours, but very few care about the midtable or lower midtable clubs and the players that they want to sell or buy. However, I am going to be their saviour and bring to you a wonderful amalgamation of transfer news of both the giants and not-so-giants clubs.

So here we go…

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#1 David Luiz – Newcastle and Arsenal

David Luiz has been in a bit of rut ever since Antonio Conte figured out that he is perhaps not the player that the manager envisaged and Luiz has seemingly given up on him, at least that’s what Daily Mail understands.

According to the outlet, Rafa Benitez wants to bring the former Paris-Saint Germain defender on loan to the Saint James Park. The pair have worked before at Chelsea when the Spaniard was the interim manager at Stamford Bridge and is apparently keen on working with him again.

And then there is the competition from Arsenal for the former Benfica defender. Wenger is apparently ready to bid a good £25 million for the curly-haired Brazilian and will hope that his pursuit will put the Magpies’ chances in the rut.

And Chelsea’s stand? They are ready to stand, but only if they get a replacement first.

#2 Hirving Lozano – Arsenal

Lozano is a man on fire

Speaking of Arsenal, the North Londoners have joined the race to sign Hirving Lozano, the Mexican sensation who has taken Eredivisie by storm by scoring 7 goals in his first 8 games—a record for any new signing in the league. His tally in Eredivisie now stands at 10 goals from 12 games.

According to Mexican outlet Super Deportivo, Arsenal are willing to make a £42.3 million bid for the starlet. However, they are not alone in the race, as mentioned earlier. According to the same media outlet, Everton are also interested in signing him.

Sam Allardyce’s resurgent side needs a little more creativity and deadly instincts up top and Lozano can provide just that. However, Championship leaders, Wolves, are also keeping an eye out for him.

They are backed by the seemingly unlimited cash supply of Fosun International and with Jorge Mendes also pulling the strings from behind, this could actually happen, say Star and the Express.

However, they are not alone.

#3 Steven de Vrij, N’Zonzi, Walcott – Everton

Walcott has not yet started a game this season

And now we move to Everton. According to Daily Mirror, Everton really want to sign Theo Walcott and Steven N’Zonzi.

The former has spent most of his time on the bench this season and Allardyce plans to give him an escape plan. And as for N’Zonzi, the Sevilla star has reportedly fallen out with his manager and is looking to move with both Arsenal and Everton among the serious contenders for his signature.

Meanwhile, Everton are also looking to capture defender Steven De Vrij from Lazio, who is apparently unsure about signing a new contract with his current club, as per Football Italia. However, they are not alone as their fiercest rival, Liverpool, also are in contention for the defender.

#4 Bale-Salah swap

Mohamed Salah has scored 20 goals in all competitions this season

And now a bit of Liverpool, which I am sure you saw coming. After a summer of mixed recruitment fortunes, Liverpool may have finally found balance. However, they still lack proper defenders, which is why they are always prone to conceding goals.

But this is not a rumour about signing a defender. Nope, Klopp is just too hip for that. Anyways, according to the folks at Calciomercato, Zinedine Zidane is looking to swap Gareth Bale for Mohamad Salah.

The Welshman has been almost perpetually injured this season, but has returned and has shown some good signs. Meanwhile, Salah has been the best attacking player in the Premier League and is leading the scoring charts in the league.

The fee stamped by the outlet was £89 million, which would actually be reduced if Bale is added into the equation. Imagine Bale in the red of Liverpool… he actually looks quite fine in it, doesn’t he?

#5 Others

United bound?

And we will wrap this up with the other rumours of other clubs. Leicester City forward Islam Slimani seems like a hot target for at least four clubs right now. According to Daily Mail, the Leicester forward is targeted by Newcastle United, Watford, West Ham and West Brom, but it will be difficult to get him out of the King Power stadium as he was bought last summer.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace have seen their £18 million bid for Cenk Tosun rejected, according to TalkSport. The Turkish international has been in scintillating form this season and Palace want him at the club in January, but will now have to start afresh.

And finally, Manchester United are keen to bring Mateo Kovacic to the club, as per Don Balon. The Croat was subject to a rejected bid from Tottenham in the summer, but the club sees him as an important part of the future and are unlikely to let him go this time around either.