Transfer Gossip: Drastic action considered to complete Arsenal deal with three clubs affected; Leeds Utd go big for classy Tottenham target

Arsenal chief Edu and manager Mikel Arteta

The termination of a deal is being considered if it’ll help an Arsenal move involving a London rival cross the line, while Leeds have been told what it’ll take to sign a high profile Tottenham target after seeing their first bid rejected – both in deadline day’s Transfer Gossip.

ARSENAL DEAL AT A CROSSROADS

‘Reluctance’ on the part of Fulham over one specific aspect of the deal is holding up an Arsenal move, while a third club could also be affected with drastic action being considered, per a report.

Deadline day promises to be a busy one at the Emirates, with all eyes on who’ll be signed to bolster the midfield ranks.

However, exits are also expected, with Brazilian forward Marquinhos on the cusp of joining Norwich City on a six-month loan.

Another, more senior first-team star who’s been heavily linked with a loan departure is Cedric Soares.

The 31-year-old has tumbled down the pecking order to third choice at right-back. Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are both comfortably clear in Mikel Arleta’s mind.

As such, ESPN and Fabrizio Romano both reported last Wednesday that a loan agreement that would see Cedric join Fulham had been struck.

Both sources claimed the Cottagers were even prepared to pay Cedric’s entire salary in full. ESPN reported Cedric pockets around £100,000-a-week.

News on the deal went conspicuously quiet in recent days, and with good reason, according to the Evening Standard.

Fulham could terminate Brighton loan to make room

The move now appears to be in jeopardy with Fulham stated to be ‘reluctant to cover his wages in full.’

Furthermore, Marco Silva’s side have already filled their quota of two loans from fellow Premier League sides. They count Dan James of Leeds and Shane Duffy of Brighton among their ranks.

The report does stress Cedric is still ‘expected’ to complete the move at some stage on deadline day, though there’s clearly hurdles that haven’t yet been jumped.

In order to solve the loan quota issue, it’s claimed Fulham could in fact cancel Duffy’s loan and return the Irishman to the AMEX. Duffy has only started once under Silva this season – an EFL Cup second round defeat to Crawley Town.

In the event a Cedric loan does go through, an option to buy will not be included.

LEEDS UTD MAKE ZANIOLO PLAY

Leeds Utd are aiming high in the final hours of the window after making an unsuccessful bid to sign Tottenham target Nicolo Zaniolo, and the Whites have been told what it’ll take to secure the remarkable coup, per a trusted source.

It’s already been a momentous winter window for Jesse Marsch’s side. New additions have been made in defence, midfield and up front, with Max Wober, Weston McKennie (loan) and Georginio Rutter all arriving.

Furthermore, Fabrizio Romano reported centre-back, Diogo Monteiro, has ‘signed’ and passed a medical too.

The 18-year-old Servette star will fill the void left by Diego Llorente who is heading to Roma on a six-month loan with an option to buy worth €18m (approx. £15.8m).

However, that might not be the only piece of business Leeds and Roma conduct.

The trusted Gianluca Di Marzio reported late on Monday night Leeds had tabled a loan offer to sign Nicolo Zaniolo.

The 23-year-old’s time at Roma is up amid a total breakdown in talks over a contract extension.

The Italy international – who plays primarily in central attacking areas – was heavily linked with a move to Tottenham earlier this month. However, Spurs shocked Everton when hijacking their loan move for Arnaut Danjuma and links to Zaniolo have since subsided.

Roma remain open to shifting Zaniolo and Di Marzio reported Leeds thundered in with a loan bid. The Serie A powerhouse wasted no time knocking the proposal back given they’re seeking an outright sale only.

Di Marzio then confirmed the price Leeds must pay if they’re to secure the fantastic coup. A transfer fee of €27.5m (approx. £24m) must be bid and the Whites must also agree to include a 10 percent sell-on clause.

Those are the same figures Bournemouth have already bid this month and once received, Roma did accept the offer. However, Zaniolo personally snubbed a move to the Cherries.

If Leeds stump up the cash and meet Roma’s demands in the window’s final hours, they’ll be hopeful they get a different answer from Zaniolo.

EVERTON EYEING FOUR FORWARDS

Finally, Sean Dyche has no fewer than four forwards on his radar as Everton go in search of late-window fireworks, per a report.

The Toffees’ task of avoiding relegation was already difficult enough prior to selling Anthony Gordon to Newcastle. The 21-year-old put pen to paper over a £45m switch (including add-ons) on Sunday.

New manager Dyche has a perilously short space of time to sign adequate replacements, and the Liverpool Echo detail four names he’s casting his eye over.

Rennes’ Kamaldeen Sulemana, Newcastle’s Ryan Fraser, Coventry City’s Viktor Gyökeres and Man Utd’s Anthony Elanga are the quartet in question. If Erik ten Hag were to sanction an Elanga exit, it’d only be via the loan route.

The report acknowledges senior Everton officials believe ‘two’ new forwards are needed and that determination was made even before Gordon was sold.

As such, multiple new additions could be made on Merseyside before tonight’s 11pm deadline. The fact Everton bid £45m (including add-ons) for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher shows they’re prepared to splash the cash.