'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It has been a day where the midtable clubs have been just as active as the top tier ones. Obviously, a lot of Manchester has been written in this column, but there is also a bit of Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal. Accompanying them are Newcastle, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Swansea.
So here we go!
#5 Newcastle and Crytal Palace
Rafa Benitez wants to make the Toons a formidable unit that consolidates the midtable section and wants to sign players that will help him reach his ambitions. So, as a result, he has targeted a few players—and, according to the Daily Mail’s live transfer blog (20th January, 15.09), Martin Dubravka is one of them.
The Magpies are said to be holding talks with Sparta Prague regarding the goalkeeper, as they are now deciding on whether the deal will be a loan or a permanent one.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are finally going to acquire their much coveted targeted, Erdal Rakip. According to Sky Sports, he has reportedly had a medical with Palace and is set to join Roy Hodgson’s unit on loan from Benfica.
#4 Tottenham and West Ham
The Lord knows how much Spurs need a striker who can help out Harry Kane. The workload that the Englishman has to take might affect him in the long run. As a result, Spurs need someone who can do the scoring when Kane isn’t available—and so they have targeted a French forward.
Kevin Gameiro is the player in question as, according to the Sun, he is on the radar of Mauricio Pochettino. The same report also claims that Swansea had made a £25 million move for him, but the player isn’t interested in joining the Swans.
Meanwhile, The Daily Mail believes that Antalyaspor want to part ways with Samir Nasri and West Ham are interested in acquiring his services. The Frenchman has been in Turkey for only 6 months and hasn’t settled down there.
#3 Arsenal’s cheekiness and a bit of Swans
So the deal for Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan is apparently in the final stages as both players are set to have their medicals on Sunday (which is today), according to BBC Sport. However, this is not the fun part as we have been aware of this for a while.
According to the Sun, Arsenal tried to include Luke Shaw in the deal for Alexis Sanchez. Henrikh Mkhitaryan might be joining the Gunners now, but Shaw also drew the interest of Wenger. However, Mourinho’s newfound faith in the youngster might have persuaded the Old Trafford outfit to decline.
Meanwhile, Swansea City are set to be given an extra £10 million to get deals done in January and make a great escape from the bottom, reports Wales Online. The report also claims that deals for Atletico Madrid’s Nicolas Gaitan and West Ham’s Andre Ayew are close.
#2 Liverpool
Liverpool have a lot of money to spend following the sale of Philippe Coutinho. They also have a lot of areas to improve, so it is only natural for them to be linked with a host of players.
One area where they really need a massive upgrade is the goalkeeper position. As a result, they have targeted Stoke City’s Jack Butland. However, as reported by the Mirror, Stoke have asked the Merseyside outfit to look elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Don Balon seems to think that Toni Kroos wants to work with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. Their angle, however, is more about Klopp managing Madrid should Zidane get sacked. In fact, Kroos, the report claims, doesn’t want Zidane to be sacked, but if he is, then he wants to work with Klopp.
The report also suggested that Kroos won’t hesitate to leave should there be no changes in the squad. He also will not play under anyone apart from Klopp and wants to leave Madrid… you do the rest of the math.
#1 Manchester madness with Don Balon
We have to thank Don Balon for making this transfer rumour mill as fun as it has been.
So according to the good folks at Don Balon, Manchester City are among the many clubs that are eyeing Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio and are willing to spend over a €100 million to acquire his services. Apparently, Pep Guardiola is “convinced” that he would become a world-class player with more minutes under his belt.
Meanwhile, Don Balon have another report where they claim that Jose Mourinho is trying to hijack Atletico Madrid’s deal for Atalanta midfielder, Bryan Cristante. The player is said to have “fallen in love” with Diego Simeone, but Manchester United have made a better offer for him.
Speaking of City, the Telegraph reports that the top hierarchy of the Cityzens have held talks to discuss potential targets to improve the squad—and the names of Shakhtar midfielder Fred and West Brom’s Jonny Evans were mentioned.
