Gossip: Arsenal eye James Rodriguez, Spurs deal preferred by Real

ARSENAL EXPLORE RODRIGUEZ DEAL, REAL PREFER SPURS OPTION
Arsenal haven’t got a pot to piss in this month and their head of recruitment is ticking off the days until he’s through the door in a couple of weeks. So you will have to excuse our scepticism at the prospect of them signing James Rodriguez.
According to The Independent, the Gunners have explored the possibility of signing the Colombia playmaker on an initial loan deal with the option to buy in the summer. Rodriguez is currently three-quarters of the way through a two-year loan stay at Bayern Munich from Real Madrid, but Bayern wouldn’t be too bothered to see the 27-year-old cut short the agreement.
Rodriguez is said to favour a return to Real to fight for a place next season but it seems he would be pissing in the wind. Real are reportedly keen to sell the former Monaco star, ideally to Spurs to pave the way for Christian Eriksen to move to the Bernabeu. Aye, Daniel Levy will definitely go for that…
GUNNERS EYE JUVE KEEPER
A more likely signing for Arsenal might be Juventus goalkeeper Emil Audero.
The 22-year-old is currently on loan at Sampdoria as he approaches free agency in the summer. Samp may look to make his deal a permanent one, but Gianluca Di Marzio reckons the Gunners are monitoring the Indonesian-born Italy Under-21 stopper with a view to replacing Petr Cech in the summer.
POGBA’S U-TURN OVER UNITED FUTURE
Six weeks ago, Paul Pogba wanted to quit Manchester United, and plenty of supporters would have offered to escort him off the premises had Jose Mourinho not got there first to offer the midfielder a more direct route through a window of his choice.
But with Mourinho gone, it’s all change. Pogba is putting in a shift for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the France star’s mood has changed so much that The Sun reckons he wants to sign a new contract to stay with United.
The story quotes an ‘Old Trafford source’ who says there is now “no chance” of Pogba leaving the club and Mino Raiola will sit down with United after the January window to discuss an extension to his contract and the inevitable pay rise.
ESPN suggests Anthony Martial will beat Pogba to the punch. It is claimed that negotiations with the France forward have ‘taken a significant step forward in the last two weeks’ with only ‘final details’ to be agreed on five-year terms.
AND THE REST
Bayern Munich are set to make a £10million bid for Man City’s teenage striker Rabbi Matondo… West Ham have had a £35million bid for Duvan Zapata rejected by Atalanta… Cardiff will offer £2million for striker Josh Maja but Sunderland want £4million… West Ham have told Marko Arnautovic he can leave in the summer but not this month… Man City have given up on Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong with PSG now sniffing… Aboubakar Kamara is in talks to join Yeni Malatyaspor on loan from Fulham until the end of the season… Burnley are interested in signing Vincent Janssen, with Spurs said to be willing to accept £12million… Bristol City winger Antoine Semenyo, currently on loan at Newport, is on the Chelsea and Man Utd’s radar.