David De Gea to Real Madrid; Alexander Pato to Chelsea; Andros Townsend to Newcastle; Saido Berahino to Leicester
A round-up of the biggest transfer news and rumours of Friday 15 January
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United’s transfer plans could drastically change after news broke on Thursday that Real Madrid had been hit with a transfer ban for the next two windows, meaning the futures of David De Gea, Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale are now much clearer.
The Sun claims that Real – who were given the ban by Fifa along with rivals Atletico Madrid – will launch an incredible £250m spending spree this January in a bid to strengthen the squad before the ban kicks in at the end of the season. Should it go ahead as planned, Real will not be allowed to register another player until summer 2017.
With hopes of signing United goalkeeper De Gea and Chelsea winger Eden Hazard in the summer all but gone, it’s claimed that they could be top of a high-profile hit list that Real want to sign before the 1 February deadline. Alongside them are the names of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero.
However, the Daily Star claims that two English players will feature in their emergency transfer plans with Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Everton defender John Stones wanted by Zinedine Zidane.
After Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp ruled out a move for Brazil striker Alexander Pato, reports have emerged that Chelsea now lead the way in the race to sign him from Corinthians. ESPN Brazil claims that the Blues are close to signing the former AC Milan striker, although the Telegraph adds that a £10m offer will need to be made before Pato is allowed to negotiate a move.
Premier League title challengers Leicester City are the latest team to be linked with a move for sought-after West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino, with the Daily Mirror claiming that Claudio Ranieri has identified the England Under-21 international as a prime candidate to strengthen his squad. Leicester are currently level on points with Premier League leaders Arsenal, with striker Jamie Vardy and attacking midfielder Riyad Mahrez a big reason behind their surprise form this season.
Ranieri wants to bring in support for Vardy, and want away Berahino is seen as the ideal candidate to do just that. However, the Telegraph reports that West Brom have issued another hands off warning to both Tottenham and Newcastle, having blocked Spurs’s summer bid for the forward.
Newcastle look primed to continue their recruitment campaign this month with a £12m bid for Tottenham’s Andros Townsend, having already completed the signings of Henri Saivet from Bordeaux and Jonjo Shelvey from Swansea for a combined £17m. Townsend is also wanted by Watford, but The Sun report that Newcastle will look to try and talk Spurs down from their £14m valuation of the England international.
The Magpies will look to offload one player this month too, with French flop Florian Thauvin in talks to return to Ligue 1 side Marseille on loan until the end of the season according to The Times, despite only moving to St James’ Park at the start of the campaign.
Finally, both Liverpool and Spurs are believed to be in the hunt for non-league player Yasin ben el-Mhanni, with the 20-year-old London-born winger currently turning out for Ryman League side Lewes. The Daily Mail claims that both Premier League sides are considering a move for El-Mhanni, who recently spent time at West Bromwich Albion and has been dubbed the “non-league Riyad Mahrez”.
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