Gossip: Chelsea eye Giroud as Aubameyang deal stalls
AUBAMEYANG DEAL STALLED
Arsenal may be planning on having Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in their squad for next Tuesday’s clash with Swansea, but they are going to have have to buck up their ideas fast in the meantime.
According to Kicker, “an agreement is currently more questionable than ever”. This is because Arsenal are seemingly reluctant to get close to the figure Borussia Dortmund are demanding for the Gabon centre-forward.
Apparently, their second offer was only marginally above the £43.7million (50m euros) opening bid they submitted last weekend. Dortmund are demanding £61.2million (70m euros) and the Gunners’ dawdling is not going down well.
The Bundesliga club believe Arsenal may be stalling, believing that the pressure is on the selling club, especially since Aubameyang has made clear his desire to move. But Dortmund don’t appreciate being blackmailed in such a way.
CHELSEA EYE GUNNERS STRIKER
The knock on effect of the Aubameyang deal stalling is that Olivier Giroud still has no idea where he’ll be playing next month. Now, though, there’s a new name int he frame.
With the prospect dwindling of a move to Dortmund, it seems Chelsea have now arrived at the Arsenal striker, having seemingly gone through every other target-man in Europe.
After considering Andy Carroll, Peter Crouch and Ashley Barnes, the Mirror claims Giroud is now a possible target should they fail to land Edin Dzeko.
While the merry-go-round speeds up as the deadline approaches, with their hopes fading of landing Giroud, Dortmund could turn instead to Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi to replace Aubameyang.
SPURS CHIEF MEETS PSG STAR
Tottenham have yet to sign anyone this month but that could change following a meeting between Daniel Levy and Lucas Moura in London yesterday.
French outlet RMC claims the Brazil star travelled to London on his day off to hold negotiations with the Tottenham chairman. It is claimed that Levy is a fan of Moura, though Mauricio Pochettino is not quite as keen. When it comes to spotting a player, whose judgement would you trust?
Anyway, apparently Spurs had already proposed a loan deal with the option to buy in the summer but PSG told them to do one, having already lowered their asking price to just under £22million. Negotiations are said to be continuing but given Moura has only played 76 minutes in Ligue 1 this season, it’s fair to say he’s finished in Paris.
AND THE REST
Neymar would be allowed to join Real Madrid but only if he delivers Champions League success to PSG first…Roman Abramovich is angry with Antonio Conte after the boss distanced himself from Chelsea’s signings this season. (Star)Newcastle hope to sign Danish star Nicolai Jorgensen for a club-record £18million within 48 hours…Brighton are plotting an £8million move for highly-rated Charlton defender Ezri Konsa…Liverpool have fought off late competition from Manchester United to land Falkirk youngster Tony Gallacher…Watford have enquired about taking Loic Remy on loan from Las Palmas…Stoke are yet to agree a fee with MLS club New York City for Jack Harrison…Sevilla are closing in on the loan signing of Swansea midfielder Roque Mesa.
Brighton are discussing moves for Real Betis’ Victor Camarasa and Charlton’s Ezri Konsa…Manchester City are eyeing a move for PSG teenager Claudio Gomes…Rennes is West ham striker Diafra Sakho’s most likely destination…West Ham are targeting Fulham captain Tom Cairney and are set to offer £15m, while also bidding £12m bid for Norwich midfielder James Maddison…Crystal Palace have had a second bid rejected for Lille defender Ibrahim Amadou…Arsenal are keen on signing Corinthians’ Brazil Under-20 midfielder Maycon…Leicester boss Claude Puel says winger Riyad Mahrez will not be going anywhere during the transfer window…Sandro Ramirez has told Everton he wants to leave the club already…Watford are close to signing Sweden goalkeeper Pontus Dahlberg, 19, from IFK Gothenburg…Bournemouth winger Connor Mahoney is set to join Barnsley on loan.
