Although transfer chatter has taken the proverbial back seat with the domestic leagues and European competitions taking full flight, there are quite a few noises being made as impressive early season performers have been thrust into the transfers limelight, as well as long-term transfer targets of the top clubs.
Here is a round-up of the latest rumours and reports doing the rounds, and plenty of them feature the top English clubs, as well as some French-Iberian flavour regarding the move for an ex-Manchester United favourite, and also an unlikely transfer from the lower leagues for a Premier League giant.
Valencia’s Gaya a wanted man across England
Valencia left-back Jose Luis Gaya has been linked with a transfer to three major Premier League clubs — Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. According to the Daily Express, London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea are after the highly-rated 20-year-old, who has established himself as a key member of the current Valencia side after being thrust into the first team as a regular last season.
Meanwhile, reports from Metro suggest the Spaniard could land at Old Trafford, with Manchester United having suffered a setback after the injury to Luke Shaw. According to the reports which have cited Spanish outlet Fichajes, United could offer upto €49.4m to land the coveted defender. A real battle seems to be on the cards, with the three heavyweights of England in a proverbial tug-of-war for the youngster.
PSG up the ante in Ronaldo chase
French champions Paris Saint-Germain are ready to make Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo the first £100m footballer as they are prepared to offer up to £109.2m for the services of the Portuguese, according to a report in the Sunday Times. Ronaldo, the current FIFA World Player of the Year, has been linked to Manchester United in the past, and the reported move by the Paris-based club means United will have a real challenge on their hands in the pursuit of their long-term target.
United have made multiple attempts in the past to lure Ronaldo back to Old Trafford, and PSG’s financial muscle might be enough to fend off the interest from the Red Devils. Although Real Madrid president Florentino Perez isn’t keen on selling his most prized asset, his head will definitely be turned if the Parisians make an offer he can’t refuse.
Arsenal eyeing Championship defender
Another Arsenal link, and this time it is Leeds United’s versatile right-back Sam Byram, according to Metro. The Gunners are ready to offer £8m for the 22-year-old, who has reportedly rejected a new contract offered by the Whites as he looks set on moving away at the end of his current contract, which expires next summer.
Looking at the bigger picture though, Arsenal already have the young Hector Bellerin manning the right side of defence and buying another youngster makes little sense, and given Byram would crave for more first team action should he leave Leeds, a move to north London looks unlikely at this stage.
Liverpool linked with Cheryshev, again
Liverpool have again been linked with a January approach for Real Madrid winger Denis Cheryshev, who had reportedly been Anfield-bound countless times in the summer transfer window. All this according to Marca, reported by Sky Sports, as the 24-year-old Russian fails to cement his place in Los Blancos’ first team.
The left winger, who is contracted to the Bernabeu outfit till the summer of 2017, made his first appearance for Real Madrid at the weekend, coming on to replace Karim Benzema in the dying stages of Los Blancos’ 1-0 Liga win over Granada.
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