Gossip: United eye £50m defender, Payet to Arsenal
DIM VIEW
As Mesut Ozil remains open to an unlikely reunion with Real Madrid, Arsenal might need to start scouting around for a potential replacement. According to The Sun, they’ve already found one.
It is a transfer exclusive, and it is that the Gunners are lining up a ‘sensational swoop’ for West Ham forward Dimitri Payet.
The potential January move relies on two things: That Arsenal are still ‘flying high’ in the table, and that the Hammers are still battling relegation. If both come to pass, Arsenal will make their move.
Wally Downes Jr adds: ‘Payet could play in any of the three slots across Arsenal’s attacking midfield if he rekindles the form he showed last season.’
Considering he is 29 and recently signed a rather expensive new contract at London Stadium, boosting his transfer value, it is difficult to see this happening.
TO THE VICTOR…
Manchester United have made no secret of their pursuit of a defender, and yet again it is Duncan Castles who brings us an update on Saturday morning. How does he keep getting these scoops? It’s as if he is speaking on behalf of a manager who is desperate to get his points across in the media. Almost.
Top of United’s list of defender targets is one Victor Lindelof, who you will have surely heard of by now. ‘Discussions have been opened’ with Benfica over the 22-year-old Sweden international.
He will not come cheap, however. The Portuguese side have priced him at an initial £50million, owing to the fact that numerous clubs want him, and that a January sale significantly weakens their hand.
Another line is found right at the bottom of Castles’ article: United also want Nicklas Sule, a centre-half for Hoffenheim.
WALKING ON MEMPHIS
We end with news on Memphis Depay, because we all love news on Memphis Depay. It is no secret that he is likely to leave, but where will he go?
According to eminently reliable Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, Roma is his destination. The Serie A side want a loan move initially, but that could become a permanent switch by the summer.
The claim is that there will be an option in the deal to sign Depay for £21m by season’s end. That would make all sorts of sense for both sides. That’s why we fear it might not happen.
AND THE REST
Atlanta’s hot prospect Franck Kessie is being watched by several Premier League clubs…Leicester have agreed a £15m deal with Belgian club Genk for their 19-year-old Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi…Former England manager Sam Allardyce, 62, is being lined up to replace Alan Pardew, 55.