Euro Paper Talk: Man Utd, Chelsea scout £20m Champions League striker

Man Utd and Chelsea scout a Champions League striker, Arsenal and Man Utd are upping their efforts to land a £35m-rated Porto star, while Liverpool have asked PSG about Julian Draxler, according to Wednesday’s European papers.

DUO SCOUT TURKEY STAR

Chelsea and Manchester United have joined the list of admirers for Cenk Tosun, according to a report in Turkey.

The two clubs had scouts in attendance at last night’s 1-1 Champions League draw between Besiktas and Porto, according to Fanatik.

And the Turkish international, who led the line, did not disappoint as he claimed a wonderful assist for Anderson Talisca to score for Besiktas.

Turkish-Football have reported that Newcastle have entered talks with Tosun’s representatives with Besiktas valuing the 26-year-old, whose contract expires in 2019, at £20million.

 

ARSENAL, MANCHESTER UNITED UP EFFORTS TO LAND £35M PORTO STAR

Arsenal and Manchester United both sent scouts to watch Porto midfielder Danilo Pereira in action last week, according to reports.

The 26-year-old, who has won 27 caps for Portugal and was part of their victorious squad at Euro 2016, is a reported target for the two Premier League giants.

Pereira was on target in his side’s 3-2 Primeira Liga win over Portimonense on Friday night, and according to O’Jogo both United and Arsenal had scouts watching on.

The report claims that United chief Jose Mourinho regularly monitors players at his former club, while PSG are also said to be keen on the player.

The defensive midfielder’s style is thought to be well suited to the Premier League and a January bid could well be in the offing for a player rated in the £35m bracket by his club.

 

LIVERPOOL CONTACT PSG OVER SHOCK LOAN SWOOP FOR GERMAN STAR

Liverpool have contacted PSG in a surprise bid to take Julian Draxler to Anfield in a loan deal in the January transfer window.

The Germany playmaker is said to be frustrated at the Parc des Princes after being asked to fulfill a deeper midfield role under Unai Emery and while he is settled at the club, L’Equipe claim Liverpool are hoping to cash in by bringing him to the club in a short-term deal.

Draxler was a Liverpool target prior to the player’s move to Paris last year and initially impressed, scoring 10 goals in 25 appearances.

But the arrival of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar have forced him to play deeper – and Draxler’s influence has waned as a result, having only scored two goals in 14 games this season.

And with the player desperate to show PSG what they’re missing, L’Equipe report Jurgen Klopp wants to take him to Anfield until the end of the season. They add that while a permanent deal would be difficult for Liverpool to pull off because of Draxler’s reluctance to give up on PSG, they could have more luck if they offer him a loan.

 

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AND THE REST

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reportedly held initial talks with Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio over a move to the Etihad in a bid to beat Manchester United to his signature (Diario Gol)

Real Madrid have drawn up a five-man shortlist of players they’d like to sign to revolutionise the club (Diario Gol)

Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t want Mauro Icardi at Real Madrid because he prefers to play with Karim Benzema (Don Balon)

Arsenal and Galatasaray target Arda Turan has told Barcelona he wants to quit the club as soon as the transfer window opens (Fanatik)

PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola remains coy over his future amid claims he is set for a January move to Newcastle (Foot Mercato)

Besiktas president Fikret Orman has confirmed to the Turkish press he’s received no offers for Tottenham Hotspur target Dusko Tosic (TrtSpor, via Sport Witness)

Antoine Griezmann has put Manchester United back on alert by admitting there is still a “possibility” he could sign for them (AS)

Griezmann has also admitted he had the chance to join Tottenham in the summer of 2014 (AS)

Besiktas defender Pepe has admitted that he would like to be reunited with former Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo (CNN)

Ronaldo has hit out at the media over claims he has fallen out with Real Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos

Fulham and QPR are both interested in a move for PSG midfielder Christopher N’Kunku (Calciomercato)

Rafael van der Vaart, formerly of Tottenham, Real Madrid and Real Betis, is set for a move to Indonesian side Bali United (Football Espana)