Paper Talk: New Badstuber bid; Man United’s £24m demand

Mark Scott

Manchester United are trying to juggle their midfield options as Chelsea eye Swansea swap deal and two Liverpool defenders have been linked with moves – according to Monday’s papers.

REDS DUO ON THE MOVE?

Bournemouth want to reinforce the strength of their defence with the loan signing of either the frozen-out Mamadou Sakho or the recently returned Joe Gomez, according to the Daily Mail.

The Cherries have been dealt a blow after Chelsea opted to recall Nathan Ake from his impressive loan spell at the Vitality Stadium and Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe wants to move quickly to replace him.

Liverpool are said to be holding out for a ‘substantial fee’ for Sakho, who has not spoken to manager Jurgen Klopp since he was set home early from the Reds’ pre-season tour in America, but are willing to compromise later on in the January transfer window.

Gomez, meanwhile, may be a more suitable and more realistic target as he looks for regular first-team football after returning from a 15-month spell on the sidelines in the 0-0 draw against Plymouth in the FA Cup third round at the weekend.


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It is believed that Howe’s good relationship with Liverpool, which allowed Brad Smith and Jordon Ibe to both move south in the summer, will stand him in good stead in his pursuit of the defensive duo.

GOING LOCO FOR BAKAYOKO

Manchester United are in locked in a three-way battle to sign AS Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, according to the Daily Record.

The tenacious 22-year-old has recently stated that he was not looking to leave the Ligue One club in January, but it is believed that Monaco may be tempted to cash-in on him given that both Chelsea and Manchester City are also keen on a move.

The report states that Bakayoko is part of Jose Mourinho’s ‘medium-term plan’ to make Manchester United into title challengers again by adding ‘four or five top quality additions’ which will be staggered over the next two transfer windows.

Monaco have reportedly set Bakayoko’s asking price at €25million and Mourinho is in the process of making room for him in the squad by stating that Morgan Schneiderlin is free to leave the club this month.

However, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte and Man City gaffer Pep Guardiola are both said to be keen admirers of the French U-21 international and are ready to match Manchester United in any transfer negotiations.

AND THE REST

Alexis Sanchez: Visibly frustrated against Bournemouth

French champions Paris St-Germain are preparing a £60m summer bid for Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez, 28, who has 18 months to run on his current Gunners’ deal (Maxifoot)

Alternatively, Atletico Madrid have Chile international Sanchez earmarked as a possible replacement for Antoine Griezmann should the 25-year-old France striker leave (Don Balon)

Barcelona’s Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic, 28, is close to joining Manchester City (Jutarnji List)

Chelsea’s Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi, 23, could move to Swansea City on loan as part of a deal for Spain striker Fernando Llorente, 31, to head to Stamford Bridge (South Wales Evening Post)

Southampton are targeting Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho as a replacement for captain Jose Fonte, but face competition from Galatasary for the 26-year-old France international (Mirror)

Manchester United have told Everton they will have to pay more than £20m for France midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, 27 (Daily Mail)

United boss Jose Mourinho says he remains open to keeping Netherlands winger Memphis Depay, 22, at Old Trafford (Daily Mirror)

Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil, 28, says he wants reassurances over Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s future before he commits to signing a new contract at the club (Kicker)

Torino have turned down an Arsenal bid worth 65m euros for 23-year-old Italy striker Andrea Belotti, according to the Serie A club’s sporting director (Sky Sport Italia)

However, the Gunners say they have not even approached the Italian club about Belotti (Evening Standard)

Swansea City have been linked with Bayern Munich and Germany defender Holger Badstuber, 27, with new boss Paul Clement ready to use his contacts at the Bundesliga club (Wales Online)

New Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce says he will have money to spend, but admits the club may have to pay “astronomically high” transfer fees for players during the January transfer window (Talksport)

And the former England boss will outline his transfer plans to Palace chairman Steve Parish in the next couple of days (BT Sport)

Former Charlton and West Ham boss Alan Curbishley has been linked with a shock return to management with Australian side Melbourne City (Adelaide Now)

Leicester City are set to make an improved bid to sign Italy defender Francesco Acerbi, 28, from Sassuolo (Gazzetta dello Sport)


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West Brom and Sunderland are also interested in Acerbi (GazzaMercato)

West Ham are in talks to sell their Algeria winger Sofiane Feghouli, 27, to Italian side Roma (Sky Sports)

Watford may enter the race to sign Nottingham Forest’s English midfielder Henri Lansbury. Derby and Aston Villa have already bid for the 26-year-old (Nottingham Post)

Sunderland’s Wahbi Khazri is a doubt for the start of Tunisia’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign after the 25-year-old midfielder was taken off on a stretcher in a warm-up game against Egypt (Sunderland Echo)

Swansea City’s Argentina defender Federico Fernandez, 27, is attracting interest from Spanish side Real Betis (Wales Online)

Didier Drogba, 38, says he could return to former club Marseilles. The ex-Chelsea striker has been without a club since leaving Montreal Impact at the end of the 2016 Major League Soccer season (Canal+, via Eurosport)

Middlesbrough’s former England striker David Nugent, 31, is set to join Derby in a £3m deal instead of team-mate and Scotland forward Jordan Rhodes, 26 (Sun)