Gossip: Hazard to Man United for £90m. Oh, and Griezmann too.
ERM, HAZARD TO MAN UNITED FOR £90M?
There’s nothing quite like reading ridiculous rumours to remind you that the transfer window reopens in just over a week. The Sun are not hanging about.
Neil Custis has a back-page exclusive on Wednesday, with his claim that Jose Mourinho is planning a £90m move for Eden Hazard, and believes he can beat Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain to his signature.
The story basically comprises of Custis saying that Mourinho is desperate to continue his relationship with Hazard, but let’s just say we’re doubting the likelihood of all this. Even if Mourinho does want Hazard, surely Chelsea and the player also get a say?
Still, you got yourself a back-page splash. Who actually cares whether it’s true or likely.
ARSENAL TO BID £42M FOR LOZANO
A deal that might be more likely to actually happen concerns Arsenal and PSV striker Hirving Lozano, although backing Arsenal to spend £42m on an Eredivisie youngster seems pretty bold.
Mexican outlet Super Deportivo say that Lozano has caught Arsene Wenger’s eye as a possible replacement for Alexis Sanchez. The 22-year-old has scored ten Eredivisie goals for PSV this season.
All very well, but if that fee of £42m is accurate, surely Wenger would prefer a more established option?
GRIEZMANN TO MAN UNITED
You will forgive us for our cynicism, but this is precisely the type of story that we keep on file. It clangs as guesswork, quite frankly. In the Daily Mirror, Neil McLeman writes that Atletico Madrid are now ‘ready’ to sell Antoine Griezmann to Manchester United having fallen out with Barcelona.
Atletico have lodged a complaint with FIFA over Barcelona’s behaviour in meeting Griezmann’s family to discuss a move, which has reportedly put the move in jeopardy. It’s therefore an easy jump to suggest that United, who have previously shown serious interest in signing Griezmann, may be back in the race.
The story contains no actual evidence for a move to United happening or Atletico being ready to sell to them. In fact, the best it comes up with is ‘Griezmann is also a huge David Beckham fan’. A move to Preston North End it is.
AND THE REST
Brighton could look to offer Marko Grujic a way out of Liverpool in January…Marseille are keen on Crystal Palace left-back Pape Souare…Paul Clement faces the sack if Swansea lose to Crystal Palace…Crystal Palace have emerged as a contender to sign Manchester United keeper Sam Johnstone.