Gossip: Higuain, Anderson, Mahrez, Jese, Mane

Daniel Storey

CHELSEA WANT HIGUAIN… OR CHICHARITO
It’s World Striker Day in today’s Gossip Column, and we’ll start with the floundering champions Chelsea. The Daily Mirror claim that Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain is Jose Mourinho’s long-term target. The more pertinent question is whether Jose Mourinho is Chelsea’s long-term option.

The Mirror say that this could spell the end for Diego Costa’s time at the club. That seems a little bit hasty, even given his patchy form.

Next up is the Daily Mail, who claim that Chelsea are looking at Javier Hernandez, among other options. We will assume that them ‘looking at’ Hernandez is followed by the words “No, let’s go for someone better.”

 

MANCHESTER UNITED WANT EVERYBODY
The Daily Mail appear to have shot their load on Tuesday morning, with an extraordinary number of claims regarding potential new players. Either they’ve mined a rich source of transfer news at Old Trafford, or these are a lot of educated guesses.

Lazio’s Felipe Anderson is the first name mentioned, touted to solve the problem of pace and creativity Louis van Gaal has recently referred to. Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez and Ajax’s Anwar El Ghazi are also mentioned. All are aged between 20 and 24.

Not to be outdone, the Daily Telegraph report interest in Newcastle’s Ayoze Perez from United, which is the 137th time we’ve read that this year.

 

ARSENAL WANT JESE RODRIGUEZ
Another day, another Arsenal striker rumour. Amazingly, we’ve only read this one a few times before. The Daily Star claim that Arsenal want Real Madrid striker Jese Rodriguez.

You might be reading a little more about this story later, actually. Basically the Star have taken their hit from the Daily Mirror. They have it from AS, who themselves have it back from the Mirror. To you, to me.

 

AND THE REST
Tottenham are also keen to sign £12m-rated Ayoze Perez… Liverpool are the ‘hot favourites’ to sign Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus, according to the Daily Express… Steve McClaren is ready to launch a January move for Andy Carroll… PSG remain keen to appoint Arsene Wenger as coach, but the Arsenal boss insists the Gunners would have to sack him first… Bournemouth are plotting a January raid for QPR striker Charlie Austin… Galatasaray are keen on signing Arsenal winger Joel Campbell in January… Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are among clubs monitoring the progress of the Denmark Under-19s striker Emre Mor.