Gossip: Luiz to Arsenal; Zaha to Chelsea, Man City or Arsenal
ARSENAL WANT TO SIGN DAVID LUIZ
Well well, this would be a turn-up. It’s pretty clear that David Luiz has burned a few bridges at Chelsea, but it would still be a massive surprise if Antonio Conte agreed to sell a senior player to a top four rival in the January transfer window having moaned about his lack of squad depth all season.
The Daily Express run an exclusive from Tony Banks that Arsenal could make a ‘SHOCK’ £30m move for Luiz, with Arsene Wenger impressed by the Brazilian’s ability to play in central defence or as a defensive midfielder.
In The Sun, Andrew Dillon also writes that Arsenal will make a move, although this time he says that the offer will be worth £25m. He also says that Conte is ‘desperate’ to have Luiz back in his Chelsea team, which suggests that Luiz’s camp has leaked out this story.
MANCHESTER CITY, ARSENAL, CHELSEA LIKE ZAHA
In our top ten today, Daniel Storey wrote:
‘It’s about this time that you realise every member of this top ten plays for a top-six club. But when you consider just how far the best are ahead of the rest, what choice is there? Any player outside the top six who shows exceptional form is soon targeted by an elite team. I suspect Riyad Mahrez, Wilfried Zaha or Wilfred Ndidi might be next.’
Now we’re not saying the man is a soothsayer, but on Tuesday morning we have a raft of reports linking elite clubs with a move for Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha.
In the Daily Mirror, Adrian Kajumba writes that Manchester City are ready to go up against Chelsea and Arsenal in a bid to sign Zaha. He says that City have ‘begun the groundwork’ for a deal for Zaha, and mentions a fee of £40m. The story is their back-page splash.
No, we don’t know what ‘doing the groundwork’ means, either.
MKHITARYAN’S OFF, BUT WHAT ARE THE DETAILS
It’s not that Jose Mourinho falls out with all of his creative players, but there is certainly a pattern. After Henrikh Mkhitaryan showed some pretty ropey form for Manchester United over the last 18 months, it’s looks like he will be out on his ear come January.
The Daily Mail write that United are expecting a fee of £35m for Mkhitaryan, with Inter interested in his services. Surely they will struggle to get that much for a player who turns 29 in January and who was signed for only £25m?
In the Independent, Miguel Delaney instead writes that Borussia Dortmund have actually shown the most interest in Mkhitaryan, and want to bring back the Armenian.
AND THE REST
Arsene Wenger wants to sign Mainz starlet Abdou Diallo… Mikel Arteta is being lined up as a future Arsenal manager… Manchester United transfer target Sergej Milinkovic says he is happy at Lazio… Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino will tell the board to resist any offers for Virgil van Dijk… West Ham are preparing moves for Liverpool striker Danny Ings and Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter.