Gossip: Man Utd forced into January move; Arsenal snubbed

HURRY UP, MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United would obviously like to wait and sign Christian Eriksen for nothing in the summer, but growing interest across Europe in the Dane – and their own poor form – could force them to pay actual money in January, according to the Daily Mail. Eriksen is free to negotiate with foreign clubs now, which could potentially leave United in the cold.

Inter are the latest suitors to be credited with interest in a player who has already been linked with Paris-Saint Germain and Juventus. Eriksen played 90 minutes as Spurs lost 1-0 to Southampton on New Year’s Day.

Meanwhile, Jan Vertonghen – who also played in that game – is attracting interest from Ajax and Napoli, and Tottenham are reluctant to wait until the summer and lose him for nothing.

 

UP YOURS, ARSENAL
“I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news,” was Red Bull Leipzig’s Twitter response to an Arsenal fan hoping for the January signing of Dayot Upamecano, which we are duty-bound to call a ‘transfer message’. Maybe Arsenal won’t care a jot after their 2-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday (read 16 Conclusions here). Maybe they will be just fine with David Luiz and Sokratis after all.

Anyway, the Mirror put a £80m price tag on Upamecano, which probably rules out any kind of transfer in January or beyond. Especially with Mikel Arteta making it clear that Granit Xhaka will stay at the club despite interest from Hertha Berlin. Arteta wil meet technical director Edu and head of football Raul Sanllehi on Thursday, but their discussions may begin and end with Eddie Nketiah and his next loan destination.

 

 

AND THE REST
Aston Villa are among the clubs interested in Daniel Sturridge…Henry Onyekuru is set for a loan move to Galatasaray…Lyon are reportedly keen on a move for Olivier Giroud…Rhian Brewster is heading to Swansea on loan from Liverpool…Dejan Kulusevski is undergoing a medical at Italian giants Juventus…AC Milan want Nemanja Matic for reasons unknown.