Premier League transfer news and gossip
Liverpool tempted by Dembele
Jurgen Klopp’s weakness for flying wingers could see Liverpool fork out £96m for unsettled Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele, claims the Daily Mail.
The 21-year-old Frenchman joined Barca from Borussia Dortmund in a mammoth deal in 2017 but has so far failed to make an impact at the Camp Nou, and has also been guilty of breaches of club discipline
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Latest Videos FromThe Week
The Catalans paid £96m up front for the striker and could be forced to pay millions more in add-ons if they keep him. So they are keen to sell before they have to fork out the rest of the money.
“Offloading Dembele in January would mean avoiding most of that remaining £26m and it would also remove £10.5m from the wage bill,” says the Mail.
Klopp’s title-chasers are seen as the most likely buyers, but “only if Liverpool come close to matching the original £96m outlay – thus saving some face for Barcelona – will they part company with the player in the middle of the season”.
Ramsey set for Bayern Munich
Aaron Ramsey is set to join Bayern Munich this summer, claims The Independent.
“The Arsenal midfielder is available on a lucrative free transfer this summer when his Arsenal contract expires,” says the website. “There has been plenty of interest in him from within the Premier League, especially from Liverpool and Chelsea, as well as from abroad.
“But German champions Bayern Munich believe that they have won the race to sign the Wales international.”
Talks over a new Arsenal contract for the 27-year-old fell through earlier in the season and there is little chance he will stay at the Emirates.
Man Utd eye Everton Soares
Most of the talk around Old Trafford concerns defenders at the moment, but Metro claims Jose Mourinho has “expressed interest in signing Brazil and Gremio forward Everton Soares”.
The paper says the 22-year-old is “an attacker who can play on either wing or through the middle, is one of Brazil’s most highly rated prospects and made his international debut in September against the United States”.
Scouts have reportedly watched him in action in Brazil and there could be a bid in January.
Spurs concern over Eriksen
Spurs are anxious over the future of Christian Eriksen, who has yet to sign a new deal with the club and will enter the final year of his contract next season.
Talks have stalled over the player’s wage demands, reports The Times.
“Tottenham might have little choice but to meet Eriksen’s demands or risk that his value falls to nothing a year later. Losing him for free would be a bitter pill to swallow given that he is 27 and could be worth upwards of £50m,” says the paper.
West Ham striker wants out
Marko Arnautovic is “ready for the next step” according to the West Ham forward’s agent and brother Danijel. Man United and Chelsea are among the clubs interested in the 29-year-old Austrian. (Daily Star)
Xhaka to head home
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka wants to move back to his first club Basel – but Gunners fans may be disappointed to learn that the 26-year-old Swiss doesn’t intend to head home until he is in his 30s. (Daily Mail)
Villa eye Chelsea prospect
Aston Villa are the latest club to express an interest in Chelsea defender Ethan Ampadu. The 18-year-old Wales international has yet to feature for the Blues’ first team and could leave Stamford Bridge. (Birmingham Mail)
