Gossip: Tielemans for United, Michy for Spurs

TIELEMANS FOR MAN UNITED?
This seems rather more likely than Friday’s nonsense about Neymar, Gareth Bale, Ronaldo, Pele, Maradona and Andy Booth. The Daily Star claim – about two months after we first heard talk of their interest – that Manchester United are lining up a January move for 18-year-old Youri Tielemans, already called up to the Belgian squad. The fee has already raised to £30m, with Chelsea, Manchester City, Everton and Aston Villa also said to be interested. Villa? That’s cute.

Tielemans already has a Belgian title winner’s medal from 2013/14, having broken through at the tender age of 16. The show-off.

TOTTENHAM GO FOR MICHY
‘Tottenham Hotspur are preparing to make an early offer in January for Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi in a bid to secure back-up for Harry Kane,’ it says here on MailOnline. What they basically know is that Tottenham – along with Arsenal – sent scouts to watch Belgian international Batshuayi in action against Rennes last week. There is talk of a £15m bid, which would make the 22-year-old significantly cheaper than Saido Berahino.

Batshuayi has scored ten Ligue Un goals already this season and has scored on his two substitute appearances for Belgium.

What he said last week: “The team that makes me dream? Real Madrid. Do PSG make me dream? No, not at all.”

What Marseille president Vincent Labrune said last week: “There is not a single top 15 world club that is not interested in Batshuayi. He is proving himself on the pitch. And if clubs want him then they are going to have to pay up – around €50m.”

Hmmm. Maybe that £15m valuation was a tad optimistic.

CHEIKH HIM OUT
Chelsea and Manchester City are among eight Premier League clubs sending scouts to watch Angers central midfielder Cheikh Ndoye this Sunday, according to L’Equipe. And who is Cheikh Ndoye? He is a 29-year-old Senegalese midfielder who has been phenomenal in Angers’ unlikely rise to second place in Ligue Un, despite only making the move from Ligue Deux (?) in the summer. He can also play at centre-half, which would certainly be handy for both Chelsea and City.

AND THE REST
Watford are in talks with Roma over the loan signing of Juan Iturbe…Fenerbahce are keen to sign Radamel Falcao in January…Juventus are targeting Brazilian teenager Rogerio, who has been dubbed “the new Marcelo”…Alvaro Negredo has turned down the chance to join Barcelona on loan in the January transfer window (sorry, what?).