Felipe Anderson to Manchester United; Paul Pogba to Chelsea; Loic Remy to Aston Villa; West Ham latest

A look at the biggest transfer news and rumours doing the rounds on Thursday 31 December

Lazio midfielder Felipe Anderson is wanted by Manchester United (Getty Images)

Lazio midfielder Felipe Anderson is believed to have held further talks with Manchester United ahead of a possible £35m move in January, with the 22-year-old heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford.

Anderson has been heavily linked with a move to United since the summer, and the Daily Mail claims that talks between the two clubs have stepped up a gear with United manager Louis van Gaal looking to strengthen his side after deciding to stay at United for the foreseeable future, despite fears he would be sacked had they lost to Chelsea last Monday.

The increase of interest in Anderson comes after United cooled their pursuit of Southampton forward Sadio Mane, with the 23-year-old Senegalese international valued at over £40m by the south coast club. With United failing to lane Mane in the summer, there is a doubt that they could persuade Saints to sell Mane in January given their inconsistent form in the Premier League, with Ronald Koeman’s side currently down in 12th.

Another midfielder who could be on the move is Juventus star Paul Pogba, with Chelsea believed to be considering a world record transfer for the France international. According to Italian newspaper Calciomercato, Chelsea will look to resume their attempt to sign Pogba when the transfer window re-opens on Saturday, with interim manager Guus Hiddink given the green light to spend despite his reign at the club to end in the summer.

Any move for Pogba could break the current record transfer fee set by Gareth Bale’s £86m move to Real Madrid in 2013, although whether Pogba would be willing to join a club that looks likely to miss out on Champions League qualification next season remains to be seen.

Pogba’s potential arrival could spell the end for current Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas and his indifferent form this season, but Hiddink was quick to play down the prospect of selling the Spain international in the January transfer window. Juventus have been linked with a move for the former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder, and the possibility of Fabregas being offered up in a part-exchange deal cannot be ruled out at this stage. However, Hiddink stressed yesterday that Fabregas is happy at Stamford Bridge and will remain at the club until the summer at least.

One Chelsea player who could be on is way out though is Loic Remy with a loan move to another Premier League club on the horizon, although Hiddink was deeply unhappy with Aston Villa manager Remi Garde’s public declaration that he wants to sign the French striker. Remy has been linked with Villa as well as Crystal Palace and Swansea after making just one start in the Premier League this season.


 Chelsea striker Loic Remy could leave the club on loan in January
 (2015 Getty Images)

Finally, West Ham are believed to be among a number of clubs courting Benfica forward Anderson Talisca, with the 20-year-old Brazilian currently valued at £18m. Any move by the Hammers would have to either be loan deal or be funded by player sales given co-chairman David Gold’s admission that the club do not have any money to spend in the January transfer window, but Talksport claim the club could be in the hunt for the Brazil Under-23 international if Benfica allow him to leave on a short-term deal.

Talisca made an impressive start to life at Benfica after scoring six goals in his first seven appearances following a €4m move from Esporte Clube Bahia, but he has struggled this season and could be given the chance to move to the Premier League in a bid to recapture his goal-scoring form.