Gossip: Barcelona striker shortlist revealed
SEVEN-MAN SHORTLIST TO REPLACE SUAREZ
Luis Suarez is hardly ready for the knackers yard but Barcelona are already making plans to replace him. Seven of them, in fact.
The Uruguay striker is 32 next month but Barca are determined not to get caught out when it comes to renewing their forward line. They are scouring Europe for reinforcements when the time comes and, according to Mundo Deportivo, this is the not-so-short list…
Ajax striker Kasper Dolberg is one of the primary targets, while RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner is also reckoned to be good enough. Then they are looking at Suarez’s Uruguay team-mate Maxi Gomez; Genoa’s Krzystof Piatek; Luka Jovic currently of Eintracht Frankfurt; AC Milan hitman Andre Silva; and finally Lille’s Nicolas Pepe.
Barca’s English scout obviously doesn’t reckon much to the attacking talent in the Premier League, but he has been busy watching Chelsea centre-back Andreas Christensen, apparently.
EVERTON WATCHING WEST HAM STARLET
Reece Oxford appears almost certain to be heading for the West Ham exit. Last week, the 20-year-old had a watch, one given to him by his mother on his 18th birthday, stolen from the dressing room and the Mirror reported that his camp believed it was part of a wider plot to force the one-time-wonder-kid out of the club.
It would be a cunning plan, but West Ham are reportedly keen to shift Oxford off their wage bill. He has a contract until 2021, which was signed when he took possession of the missing Rolex, but the centre-back has failed to push on since penning those terms. Oxford has played on 81 minutes in the Premier League in the last two years.
He has been on loan at Reading and Borussia Monchengladbach, with neither loan move proving a success and Oxford is reluctant to leave temporarily again. And West Ham are said to be open to a permanent deal in January. Manchester City and ‘Gladbach are credited with an interest, but the Daily Mail reckons Everton have also emerged as a possible destination.
AND THE REST
Jose Mourinho wants to sign Porto defender Eder Militao… A number of English clubs are watching striker Ronald Sobowale – the cousin of Bayern Munich star David Alaba – who is currently playing in non-league… Cardiff will try to strengthen in “two or three positions” in January.
