Gossip: Forsberg to Arsenal or Liverpool and…
FORSBERG TO LEAVE LEIPZIG…FOR ARSENAL OR LIVERPOOL?
Juventus are the other team mentioned by Bild as a possible destination for Emil Forsberg, the Swedish winger who is tearing up the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig. With five goals and nine assists in RB’s unexpected title challenge, the 25-year-old is hot property just two years after joining the German club from Malmo for £3m.
Forsberg’s agent Hasan Cetinkayahas told Bild: “I can’t confirm any names. But after the great first half of the season, big clubs have reached out to me. RB are on a good way to become a big club, which plays in Champions League soon. In spite of that I can’t promise that Emil will stay in Leipzig this winter.”
PEP MOVING FOR N’ZONZI
The caveat here is that this story is from Daniel Cutts of The Sun Online and he is a man who loves an exclusive more than he loves the truth. But here goes: He claims that ‘MANCHESTER City boss Pep Guardiola is ready to bring forward his interest in Sevilla star Steven N’Zonzi to this January’. The reasoning is that Ilkay Gundogan is injured and Fernandinho keeps getting himself sent off.
The price is said to be £25m, or – because this is nonsense tabloid nonsense – a combination of some money and two players, with Sevilla loanee Samir Nasri and former Sevilla winger Jesus Navas the names mentioned. We shall believe it when it appears in our completed transfers list.
SCHNEIDERLIN TO MARSEILLE
‘MARSEILLE have entered the race to sign Manchester United outcast Morgan Schneiderlin this month, SunSport understands,’ and we all scratch our chins and wonder when Marseille got the kind of money to be spending £24m on a French international midfielder. We certainly cannot imagine that Schneiderlin would fancy that move to a French also-ran if the alternative is Everton.
The suggestion is that Manchester United are reluctant to sell to Everton, presumably because they are seen as a long-term threat to the top six, and would rather sell their unwanted midfielder abroad or to West Brom.
AND THE REST
United midfielder Michael Carrick is still waiting to be offered a new contract, with his current deal expiring in the summer…Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will wait until the summer before making a move for Atletico Madrid defender Lucas Hernandez…French Ligue 1 side Lille are looking to sign Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi on loan…Antonio Conte is on the trail of West Ham powerhouse Michail Antonio…Sunderland have rejected West Ham’s bid to re-sign 34-year-old striker Jermain Defoe for £5m…Watford have made an £8m offer for Brentford striker Scott Hogan…
…Liverpool have rejected approaches from five clubs for midfielder Kevin Stewart…Everton will move to sign Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson, 23, if they fail to land manager Ronald Koeman’s top target Virgil van Dijk…Premier League champions Leicester will move to sign Norwich winger Robbie Brady once they offload Polish international Bartosz Kapustka, who is yet to play for the club…West Brom are looking to sign Southampton striker Shane Long and Leeds defender Charlie Taylor this month…Aston Villa have made a £3m bid to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Henri Lansbury…Birmingham have made a £4m bid to sign Crystal Palace winger Bakary Sako.