As we approach the busy Christmas football period, clubs up and down the country and beyond are already planning on who they will be bringing in during the January transfer window.
We’ve had a look around to find some of the best, realistic and interesting potential transfers that could take place across the winter season. Here is a list of five transfer rumours, reports and confirmed developments for us to explore.
1. Spurs demand 250m Euros for Christian Eriksen
What’s the story? Spanish news outlet Marca claims that Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Christian Eriksen will be targeted to replace former Spurs midfielder Luka Modric in Madrid.
However, it is believed Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has demanded upwards of £250 million from the Spanish giants to bring the Danish international to the reigning Champions League holders.
Key stat: So far this season, Eriksen has scored and assisted four times in 12 Premier League matches, meaning he is directly involved in Tottenham’s scoring every 1.5 games.
Could the move happen? Real Madrid are most definitely going through a period of poor form and necessary transition. Eriksen would bring quality to a Madrid team witnessing talents such as Modric and Isco being linked with moves away. But Levy is notoriously difficult to deal with and it looks like the club are briefing to UK media that there have been no talks with Real Madrid.
2. Man Utd trigger David De Gea extension
What’s the story? Manchester United have decided to trigger the one-year extension in David De Gea’s contract which means he will be staying (or will at least be under contract) at the Old Trafford club until the summer of 2020.
With constant interest from the likes of Real Madrid and most recently Paris Saint-Germain, United are doing all they can to keep Spain’s number one in England.
Key stat: De Gea has kept 95 Premier League clean sheets in 250 appearances and he has made 694 saves in total.
Could it happen? Well, it has. The club confirmed it. Every time it is reported that De Gea will be departing Old Trafford, he doesn’t. Due to United refusing to sell him, being offered a new contract, rumoured clubs signing other goalkeepers (Real Madrid bought Thibaut Courtois this summer) or, in this case, United triggering their option to extend his deal for another year. Whether he ever leaves remains to be seen. The next question is whether he signs a new contract. Rumour has it he’ll want around £300,000 per week.
3. Everton boss Marco Silva interested in Aaron Ramsey and Abdoulaye Doucoure
What’s the story? According to the Mirror, Watford’s Doucoure is next in line to be snapped up by former club coach Marco Silva.
Doucoure has enjoyed a fantastic season under Javi Gracia so far, helping Watford to ninth place in the Premier League table. Everton themselves are making progress but lack that real bite in the middle of the park, which is where Doucoure would come in handy.
Everton are also interested in bringing Ramsey to Goodison Park with the Welshman told he will not be offered a new contract at Arsenal. His current deal expires next summer, so Unai Emery may want to cash in rather than lose him for nothing.
Key stat: Doucoure has the joint-second number of away assists in the Premier League (3), with only Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser accumulating more (5).
Could it happen? Both deals have potential. Doucoure wouldn’t be the first Watford player to join up with Silva, with Richarlison enjoying his start to life on Merseyside.
For Ramsey, the cost of this move would be significantly cheaper but surely clubs bigger than Everton would be interested. Maybe Theo Walcott could persuade him?
4. Paulo Sousa to replace Mark Hughes at Southampton
What’s the story? Southampton manager Mark Hughes is struggling big time and is surely now on his last legs at the south coast club. Paulo Sousa, the former QPR and Leicester manager, has reportedly held talks with the Saints board about replacing Hughes at St Mary’s, with Sousa’s experience and style of play contributing factors in the link.
Key stat: Southampton’s Carabao Cup exit to Leicester City in the week was the 11th successive match they have failed to win in all competitions. If Hughes is sacked, it’ll be the fourth time a Premier League club has cut ties with the Welshman (Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City beforehand).
Could it happen? You have to split this into two parts. Could Hughes get sacked? Yes, absolutely. Southampton have been terrible and Hughes has seemingly done little to help change that.
Would Sousa want the job? He has worked with clubs in English divisions before (Queens Park Rangers, Swansea City and Leicester City) so he is used to the intensity of such a relegation-battling role. Southampton may want to explore all options before making a decision, though.
5. Alexis Sanchez’s desperation to leave Man Utd has peaked
What’s the story? The United star hasn’t exactly been shining since his switch from Arsenal to United in January of this year.
The final nail in the coffin seems to be Jose Mourinho’s decision to leave the Chilean out of the United squad to face Young Boys in the Champions League, even though Mourinho said Sanchez was not injured. He has since, however, been ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring injury.
Key stat: Having scored 80 goals in 166 appearances for Arsenal (a goal every 2.07 games), Sanchez has scored just four in 30 games for Manchester United (a goal every 7.5 games).
Could it happen? For the money Sanchez is on, he hasn’t been living up to his end of the bargain. There were also reports earlier in the season from the Times that
Sanchez would need to take a considerable pay cut in order to allow more clubs to come in for his signature. United would need to agree on a transfer fee first, which would be interesting to see how much they still value the former Arsenal favourite at.
The post Saints replacing Hughes? Man Utd extend De Gea deal? Five big transfer stories from this week appeared first on Squawka News.
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