Gossip: Arsenal eye £50m defender, Spurs ponder swap deal

Ian Watson
Upamecano

ARSENAL STILL KEEN ON LEIPZIG DEFENDER
It’s the morning after a miserable defeat so of course Arsenal are being linked with a big-money signing.

Apparently, the Gunners are sniffing around Dayot Upamecano again having been linked with the RB Leipzig centre-back before and during the summer. Arsenal, and everyone else, were put off by Leipzig’s £70million asking price, but Calciomercato reckons the 20-year-old’s release clause falls by £17million per year, so Upamecano could be available next summer for roughly £50million.

AC Milan are also said to be interested in Upamecano but Arsenal’s need is arguably greater. They have one new centre-back due at the Emirates next year when William Saliba turns up a year after signing from Bordeaux. But Unai Emery, presuming he is still at his post, almost certainly needs another defender.

 

POCH PONDERS MOVE FOR JUVE NEW BOY
Mauricio Pochettino is still scratching around for a midfield formula that works and reports suggest Tottenham might throw another element into the equation.

Spurs have followed Adrien Rabiot for years but it was thought the Frenchman’s move to Juventus in the summer would end those rumours for at least a year. But Rabiot is struggling to kickstart his career in Turin. The 24-year-old has watched half of Juve’s Serie A matches from the bench and Maurizio Sarri has given the midfielder only 12 minutes in their two Champions League matches so far.

Our friends at Sport Witness have passed on a rumour started by Calciomercato in Italy suggesting that Spurs are ‘seriously thinking’ about offering Rabiot a quick exit. We’ve heard similar gossip before centred on a possible swap deal between Juve and Spurs involving Rabiot and Christian Eriksen.

That idea is floated once more, though Calciomercato make it sound a lot like their idea rather than something Juve are actively considering.

 

PALACE EYE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Crystal Palace are looking for a striker in January to reinforce their push for the top four. Wait, what?

Roy’s boys could have overtaken Manchester City last weekend but now sit in sixth place. The remain short of a centre-forward, which is something they might address by bringing Olivier Giroud across London.

The Sun claims Palace are eyeing a move for the France star who is out of contract at Chelsea next summer. The 33-year-old hasn’t seen any game time with the Blues for the last two months so there is a deal to be done.

The Scottish Sun offers a tartan twist by reporting Palace’s interest in Alfredo Morelos. The Rangers striker could bring his own brand of sh*thousery south for around £20million, though Aston Villa are also said to be interested in the Colombian, who was sent off five times last season.

 

AND THE REST
Man City, Newcastle, Arsenal, Liverpool, Southampton, Norwich, Villa and Palace are all watching Hearts full-back Aaron Hickey… Juventus and Atletico Madrid are eyeing West Brom defender Nathan Ferguson… Leeds are also keen on the 19-year-old… Real Madrid won’t move for Christian Eriksen in January unless they shift some fringe players first… Real might offer Spurs Isco and Mariano Diaz in exchange for Eriksen… Tammy Abraham is close to signing a new contract with Chelsea.