Chelsea to rival Manchester United for Victor Lindelof, third Dimitri Payet bid rejected and more transfer news
All the latest gossip and rumours on Tuesday 24 January, 2017
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
With a week to go until the transfer window shuts until the summer, Antonio Conte is finally shifting his focus from who wants to leave to who can he persuade to join.
Conte has been after another centre-back for his title push with Chelsea and it appears he has settled on Manchester United target Victor Lindelof, according to the Mirror.
The 22-year-old was expected to make a £38m switch to Old Trafford in January but interest in him appears to have cooled from Jose Mourinho, leaving the Blues in a position to take full advantage.
United are still in pole position to sign Lindelof and Chelsea’s sudden interest may trigger the Old Trafford club to commit, one way or another.
And United look set to miss out on another Benfica target, with Paris Saint-Germain ready to sign 20-year-old winger Goncalo Guedes, after the player reportedly said his goodbyes to his teammates this week.
BeIN Sports report that United were interested in Guedes, as well as teammate Lindelof, but insist PSG are about to make their second big signing of the month, after the arrival of Julian Draxler from Wolfsburg.
A player not yet heading to France though is Dimitri Payet, after West Ham rejected a third bid for on-strike talisman, according to Sky Sports.
The Frenchman is desperate to return to Marseille, who have been locked in talks with the Hammers since Slaven Bilic confirmed Payet would refuse to play for the club.
West Ham want £30m for the player and while the Ligue 1 club think view their offer as substantial, the Hammers still see it as unacceptable.
Liverpool are also keen to hang on to their chief playmaker, with the Reds opening talks with Philippe Coutinho, in a bid to keep him out of the clutches of Barcelona, report The Times.
Coutinho signed a five-year deal in 2015 but Jurgen Klopp is keen to reward the Brazilian for his fine form so far this season.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments