Gossip: City want Ox, United bid £38m for Lindelof

Matt Stead

OX AND THE CITY
Perhaps this is what the Daily Mirror meant by ‘European superpowers‘. According to The Sun, Manchester City want Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for a whopping great £25million.

Mike McGrath is the man with the online exclusive, and he claims that Pep Guardiola is ‘a huge fan’ of the winger, ever since he impressed against Bayern Munich in the Champions League a couple of seasons ago.

McGrath adds that although Oxlade-Chamberlain’s Arsenal contract expires in 18 months, no extension talks are planned as of yet. It is thought that the 23-year-old could double his current £70,000-a-week wages at the Etihad Stadium.

We can’t think of a single reason why Manchester City, who play Arsenal on Sunday, would want to unsettle a player who has started each of the last four Premier League games for the Gunners.

 

LINDELOF’S OFF
Remember when Manchester United desperately needed defensive reinforcements because the squad Jose Mourinho inherited was clearly not good enough? Such talk has died down now the club have won four successive games, but the Daily Mirror have not read the script.

‘Manchester United have made a £38million bid for Benfica defender Victor Lindelof,’ writes Simon Mullock. The Sweden international is a long-term target at Old Trafford, so this is hardly shocking.

However, the fact that the move could well go through in January is a little left-field. Lindelof has a £30million release clause, but one that is only activated in the summer. United are willing to spend over the odds to sign him now.

 

LEICESTER IS WHERE THE HART IS
‘JOE HART is a shock target for Leicester – admit fears Kasper Schmeichel will be tempted away from the champions.’

That is the word-for-word first paragraph of The Sun’s latest transfer exclusive, admit claims that Joe Hart could be signed to replace Kasper Schmeichel if the Dane leaves.

Hart’s name is ‘being whispered inside the corridors of power’ at Leicester, apparently. It certainly conjures up a hilarious image of people skulking around the King Power Stadium, communicating by simply saying ‘Joe Hart’ in as hushed a tone as they can manage.

But yeah, Schmeichel could leave, and with Hart certain to depart City in the summer, Leicester might make a move.

 

AND THE REST
Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is set to turn down a £120m offer from the Chinese Super League…Former England manager Sam Allardyce wants a return to management in 2017…Arsenal are prepared break the club’s £200,000-a-week wage barrier to keep forward Alexis Sanchez, 27, in a deal worth £10m a year…Manchester United are targeting Feyenoord right-back Rick Karsdorp to provide competition for Antonio Valencia…Andreas Christensen is unsure of his Chelsea future with Antonio Conte unwilling to let him join Borussia Monchengladbach, unless he can bring in Leonardo Bonucci from Juventus…Arsenal are set to revive their interest in Isco, who remains unsettled at Real Madrid.

Hull City’s leading scorer Robert Snodgrass has turned down a new contract offer as the Humberside club continue to face an uncertain future on and off the pitch…Arsenal are ready to loan out Rob Holding in January with a host of Championship clubs keen on the young defender…Manchester City will hold talks with Fabian Delph in the summer over the injury-hit midfielder’s future…West Brom are set to try to hijack Everton’s move for Manchester United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin – and could launch a club record bid…Everton will allow midfielder Ross Barkley, 23, to leave Goodison Park for £30m to help fund their bids for Manchester United midfielders Memphis Depay, 22, and Morgan Schneiderlin, 27…Leicester City’s move for Genk star Wilfred Ndidi is not yet complete, according to the Belgian club’s director of sport, with reports that an unnamed club are ready to hijack the deal.