Gossip: Vardy, Costa, Robben, Griezmann

Matt Stead

MAN UNITED JOIN VARDY PARTY
Whatever it is you’re doing, stop; the Daily Star have a juicy little EXCLUSIVE for us on Sunday morning.

After Barcelona joined Real Madrid in the chase for Leicester striker Jamie Vardy in midweek, thereby taking the whole joke a little too far, Manchester United have now been linked with a £15million move for the in-form England international.

Paul Hetherington is the man responsible, and he claims that United have sent a scout to Leicester’s last two games, with Vardy impressing in both to maintain his record-breaking run of scoring in nine consecutive league fixtures over one season.

It is obviously a coincidence that Leicester’s last two games came against West Brom and Watford, United’s opponents in their last and their next Premier League fixtures. ‘UNITED SCOUT OPPOSITION’ is a less sexy headline, to be fair.

 

GOODBYE, DIEGO COSTA
Diego Costa has not been very good this season. The Spain striker admitted himself that he returned from the summer break overweight, while his record of 21 goals in 37 games in his debut season has become just three in nine this campaign.

Reports emanated last week that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho would look to root out the ‘bad apples’ in his under-performing squad, and the Sunday Mirror believe one of such ‘bad apples’ could be the struggling Costa.

Their man Andy Dunn claims the club will be on the lookout for two strikers in the January transfer window, including a replacement for Costa as they prepare to offload the 27-year-old.

Not only that, but Dunn reports Mourinho considered selling Costa back in the summer, but the Spaniard’s popularity within the squad spared him. Club captain is reportedly a fan of Costa’s, which makes sense considering their respective personalities.

As for potential striking targets, the Mirror believe Gonzalo Higuain is the most likely, while the Sunday Express have an EXCLUSIVE on the Blues chasing Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann, who would cost at least £40million.

 

UNITED TO TARGET ROBBEN
Arjen Robben is ‘at war’ with Robert Lewandowski. Arjen Robben wants to leave Bayern Munich. Manchester United want a winger with pace. Manchester United want Arjen Robben.

That’s the gist of the Sunday Mirror’s report, with Simon Mullock believing Louis van Gaal is monitoring the situation between club and player in the hope of snaring his countryman.

Robben’s selfishness has reportedly angered Lewandowski, and United could therefore make a move.

Robben turns 32 in January, has a contract at Bayern until 2017 and will probably win a lot of trophies in Germany this season. Would he relish leaving to join Van Gaal considering the manager himself has just one season left at Old Trafford?

 

AND THE REST
Newcastle are ready to make a January bid to sign £20m-rated West Brom striker Saido Berahino, 22…Tottenham are considering a £7m move for Dynamo Kiev defender Domagoj Vida, 26…American investors are set to buy Everton, taking the number of US-owned Premier League clubs to six…Juventus are planning a raid on the Premier League and are targeting moves for Chelsea playmaker Oscar and Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri…Chelsea’s Eden Hazard is a transfer target for Roberto Mancini at Inter Milan…Manchester United are hot on the trail of Germany’s new rising star Leroy Sane – Schalke’s pacy young winger.