Chelsea target Antoine Griezmann; Manchester City eye John Stones; Real Madrid ready David De Gea swoop
On the eve of transfer deadline day, catch up with today's biggest news from across the Premier League and beyond
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea are planning a swoop for Atletico Madrid ace Antoine Griezmann if Eden Hazard completes his long-suggested transfer to Real Madrid in the summer, according to the Daily Mail. The Blues are looking to undergo a major squad redevelopment at the end of the season, possibly under Griezmann’s current manager Diego Simeone, and are increasingly said to be coming round to the idea of losing their Belgian star.
Hazard has struggled for form and fitness this season while Griezmann, on the other hand, has been scintillating for Atletico in La Liga, helping the Spanish club launch another title bid. The Frenchman is valued at the Vicente Calderon in the region of £50m but has a release clause written into his contract equating to £60m. Interim Blues manager Guus Hiddink hopes that, even if there are big bids for last season’s PFA Player of the Year in the summer, the club will reject them. “It’s not up to me, it’s up to the club,” said Hiddink. “When he gets his rhythm back, then he’s of big value to Chelsea.”
Manchester City have emerged as surprise favourites to ensnare England defender John Stones from Everton in the summer. Despite enduring a terrible night as City defeated the Toffees in the Capital One Cup semi-final second-leg on Wednesday, the Etihad hierarchy are keen to establish an English core to their squad in future. Plans are being drawn for the imminent arrival of Pep Guardiola, the Bayern Munich manager, at the end of the season.
Premier League rivals Chelsea, who still hope to prize Guardiola away from City’s clutches, failed with a succession of bids for Stones last summer and may be inclined to return with fresh terms in the near future. But the Daily Mirror report that City are desperate to get their man and will be prepared to part with upwards of £50m to secure the 21-year-old’s services. With long-term concerns persisting over captain Vincent Kompany’s fitness, the central defensive area remains a worry for City. With Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid known to be keen on Stones, the north west club will have to move quickly.
David De Gea is likely to be the subject of yet more interest from Madrid in the summer, it has been suggested by the Sunday People, as Manchester United brace themselves for offers. The La Liga outfit announced on Friday that the Fifa Appeal Committee has provisionally suspended the two-window transfer ban imposed on them for irregularities with regard to signing players under the age of 18.
That means they are free to pursue their long-term targets, with United’s Spanish goalkeeper very much among them, before the close of business next summer. The report states Real will offer United around £23m and hand De Gea a £6.5m payment by way of an apology for their failed attempts to secure his signature last season, causing great disruption to his plans. The 25-year-old has yet again been in fine for the Red Devils despite their stuttering form this campaign.
Newcastle United could turn to Swansea City striker Bafetimbi Gomis after appearing to fail with bids for Alexandre Lacazette and Loic Remy. The Magpies have long admired Lyon man Lacazette and were prepared to pay up to £20m to tempt the Ligue 1 club into selling their prized asset this January. According to the Daily Telegraph, Gomis has grown unsettled in Wales and would jump at the chance to leave this month.
Steve McClaren’s men usually don’t sign players over the age of 28 - in accordance with their future planning strategy - but are they becoming increasingly desperate to garnish their January transfer business with a new striker. The 30-year-old earns in the region of £60,000-a-week at Swansea, a figure Newcastle will look to negotiate down, but he may be prepared to lower his demands if it secures a move away from the Liberty Stadium.
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