With concrete transfer news thin on the ground, it is the time of year when a footballer's every utterance is scrutinised for hidden meaning and signs of discontent. And sometimes they don't have to say anything at all for the rumour mill to grind into action:
• Is Alexis Sanchez really injured or is the Chilean hitman too busy weighing up his Emirates future? According to Spanish rag Mundo Deportivo, the Arsenal ace "is ready to quit" north London. Why? That's a question addressed by Metro, which reports that Sanchez is allegedly "unhappy at the attention being received by Santi Cazorla". The Spanish sizzler has scored six goals in his last ten matches, while Sanchez has hit nothing more than a barren spell and as a result Mundo Deportivo claim the South American is ready "to walk". Metro is sceptical of the report but then again who would have imagined at the start of the week that Jack Wilshere and a shisha pipe would ever be mentioned in the same sentence?
• You can't keep a good man down, or in Borussia Dortmund's case, it looks like you can't keep him at all, but as to where Marco Reus will end up next season remains a matter of conjecture. But the Daily Star claims the 25-year-old German international won't be going to Barcelona after he declared: "Where would I play at a club where the attack is made up of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar?" The Star claims Reus' comments "will be a huge boost" to Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, all of whom have been linked to the frontman in the past.
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• Meanwhile the Daily Express is just one of several media outlets to report that Pedro has dropped his clearest hint yet that he could leave the Camp Nou at the end of the season. The Spain international, who has been at Camp Nou for almost 11 years, is still only 27 and feels there is still a lot of gas in the tank. Unfortunately he's now bit-part player at Barcelona and that's not to his liking. "I don't know [if I will stay]." He told the Spanish press. "For now, I'm happy at the club, but you never know what is going to happen tomorrow... we'll see what happens after that." Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have all been linked with Pedro but then, aren't those three clubs after just about anyone these days?
• It doesn't look like St Etienne star Loic Perrin will be joining Arsenal in the near future, says Talksport. The defensive midfielder held talks with the Gunners during the January transfer window only for the English club to pass up the chance to sign him. "I think I was on a shortlist but not at the very top apparently," revealed Perrin, with a hint of regret. "I don't think many Ligue 1 players would refuse a club such as Arsenal."
• Spurs' boss Mauricio Pochettino has dismissed speculation linking goalkeeper Hugo Lloris with a big money move to the continent at the end of the season. According to Goal.com, the French gloveman is being tailed by Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, even though the 28-year-old signed a new five-year contract last July. But his scintillating form between the sticks has caught the eye of Real and PSG, prompting Pochettino to fire a shot across their bows. "Hugo is happy here with us, he's very happy," he declared. "It's difficult for these types of club to get him."
