'%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)
Hello and welcome to the Premier League's latest transfer news and rumours! Here are the top stories surrounding the Premier League tonight!
#5 McGarry on Insigne to Liverpool
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Lorenzo Insigne in recent days with some reports claiming that they made an offer worth €70 million for him. However, according to football pundit Ian McGarry, Liverpool made no such bid.
McGarry praised Insigne for his abilities and loyalty as the forward had many opportunities to play abroad but stayed put at Naples.
“Insigne has been an outstanding, outstanding attacking midfielder or false nine for Italy as well as Napoli,” McGarry said.
“He’s a local boy and he is 27 now, he’s had lots of opportunities to move in his career. He’s chosen to stay in Naples and play for his club.”
Addressing the stories surrounding Liverpool’s supposed bid, McGarry claimed that he spoke to some people at Liverpool and got the information that the Merseyside outfit never really made a bid for him. Instead, the Reds just made an inquiry.
“There was a big, big story in a very reputable Italian newspaper that Liverpool had made a bid for him.
“I’ve spoken to some people that I know at Liverpool who said there was no bid.
“It was simply an inquiry as to whether he might be available in the summer as clubs do once the January window closes, they start looking at a strategy for the summer.”
He concluded by stating that the main factor that would decide Insigne’s future is how much money Napoli offer him in wages in a new deal.
“I think the key here, or the factor that probably tells us what’s going to happen, is that Insigne is up for contract renewal and he wants to be paid substantially more than he is being paid just now.”
#4 Fabregas speaks out about Hazard to Madrid
Former Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas has opened up about the possibility of Eden Hazard joining Real Madrid. Hazard has been linked with a move to Real Madrid and recently, in a tidbit of an earlier interview, he suggested that he has made his decision.
And according to Fabregas, while Hazard is happy in London – and so is his family – the decision to move or stay is a very personal one. He also admitted that should he not renew with the Blues, he will most probably be off to the Santiago Bernabeu.
"Let's see what he decides to do. He has a year and a half left and he is happy at Chelsea and so is his family," Fabregas told Radio Marca.
"But in the end, they are very personal decisions. He likes Madrid and he has always said it.
"Hopefully he will renew with Chelsea, but if he does not he will finish in Madrid."
#3 Sherwood bemused by Liverpool sales
Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood has expressed his bemusement at Liverpool letting Nathaniel Clyne go to Bournemouth on loan. The Reds didn’t sign anyone in the winter despite having quite a few injuries in defence – one of which was to Joe Gomez.
Sherwood praised the youngster and claimed that delaying his operation was a poor decision by the Reds’ camp before adding that letting go of Nathaniel Clyne was absurd – especially now that Trent Alexander-Arnold is out injured and there is no fit right-back at the club.
"They’ve picked up some injuries. [Losing] Joe Gomez [to injury] is a big blow for them,” Sherwood said.
"I thought he was outstanding and it looks like there’s been a mistake with his injury, they seem to have left it a month or so and they’ve said he’s got to have an operation. That is poor.
“To let Clyne go to Bournemouth is amazing for me. Why would you get rid of someone [you may need]? Trent Alexander-Arnold is injured as well so in the right-back area you really are struggling.”
#2 More on Hazard
It seems as though the questions revolving around Eden Hazard won’t be going away any time soon. Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri was once again asked about the future of the player and he claimed that he doesn’t really speak to him about that.
However, he did add that he would love to have the Belgian in the team and is hoping that he signs an extension with the club before ending with a rather ominous “it’s up to him” quote.
"I speak every day with Eden, but about his position on the pitch, not about that [transfers]," Sarri told reporters on Friday.
"I will be really very happy with him if he wants to stay, because he is the best in Europe, so I will be really very happy.
"But it's up to him. I want to see him happy, so he has to decide."
#1 The mega swap
The last slide is almost always filled with madness and today is no different as Tottenham have asked for something huge for their striker Harry Kane.
According to reports in Spain, the Lilywhites might be forced to part with Kane as he wants to leave the club after a summer full of “unfulfilled promises”. The Londoners are willing to let him go for €220 million but have something else in store for Madrid.
The Lilywhites would consider lowering the cash amount to €130 million if they get Gareth Bale in return for their prized asset.
Meanwhile, Yacine Adli claimed that he doesn’t regret rejecting Arsenal in the summer. He decided to stay at PSG and just played one match for them before moving to Bordeaux this winter.
“I don’t regret anything. Even if I didn’t play once over the past six months in Paris, I’m glad I did them,” he said.
