Paper Talk: Arsenal and Chelsea linked with players

Mark Holmes
Mauro Icardi: Closing in on Arsenal move?

Mauro Icardi: Closing in on Arsenal move?

Arsenal could move for Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi, while Chelsea are in talks with the agent of Nigerian youngster Kelechi Nwakali.

ARSENAL TO MOVE FOR ICARDI

Arsenal will make a move for Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi in the January transfer window, claims Italian publication Tuttosport.

The Gunners, along with Chelsea and Liverpool, were linked with Icardi over the summer, but Arsene Wenger ultimately failed to add a single outfield player to his squad.

With his side now looking like realistic Premier League title contenders, Wenger could be ready to spend on Icardi, who has scored only four times for Inter this season but netted 27 times in 48 appearances for the Nerazzurri in 2014-15.

CHELSEA OFFERED NIGERIAN YOUNGSTER

‘Chelsea have pulled ahead of Arsenal in the race to sign Nigerian youngster Kelechi Nwakali’, reports the Daily Express.

The 17-year-old has also been linked with Manchester City, but the midfielder’s agent says neither the Citizens nor West Ham are in the running any more, while he is yet to hear back from Arsenal.

“We are in contact with Chelsea, Udinese and Olympiakos,” Klay Ekeocha told allnigeriasoccer.com.

“Udinese made a ridiculous offer of €800,000 for the Most Valuable Player of the FIFA Under 17 World Cup.

“We are working hard for the player, his family and academy. Manchester City and West Ham are no longer involved because of work permit issues.

“We got in touch with Arsenal and there’s no feedback yet.”

AND THE REST

Southampton will resist Manchester United’s attempts to land Sadio Mane in January (Daily Mail)

Paris Saint-Germain are willing to pay Cristiano Ronaldo more than £400,000 a week to join them from Real Madrid (Daily Mirror)

Pep Guardiola is set to sign a new contract at Bayern Munich (Daily Mirror)

Remi Garde banished Jack Grealish to Aston Villa’s under-21s yesterday and is facing the first battle of his reign over the club’s plan to appoint Steve Round (Daily Telegraph)

Newcastle and Stoke City have joined the race for Oxford midfielder Kemar Roofe, 22 (The Sun/Daily Star)

Crystal Palace want Peterborough midfielder Erhun Oztumer, 24 (The Sun)

AS Monaco and Marseille have an interest in Everton’s winger Kevin Mirallas ahead of the January transfer window (France Football)

Feyenoord will make a January transfer window move for QPR midfielder Leroy Fer (Daily Mirror/Daily Star)

Fulham are targeting Birmingham boss Gary Rowett after Nigel Pearson and Steve Holland pulled out of the race to succeed Kit Symons (Daily Mirror)