TRANSFER NEWS LIVE UPDATES: Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and more…
Thursday November 9
Real Madrid transfer chase
07:15: Real Madrid want to sign Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
AS claim Real are continuing their search for a new shot-stopper.
David De Gea and Thibaut Courtois are on their radar but the dup are tied down to big contracts at Premier League sides Manchester United and Chelsea respectively.
Arrizabalaga, 23, would be a cheap option for Real and the Spaniard is already being tipped to eventually replace De Gea as the nation’s No 1 goalkeeper in years to come.
Chelsea in double swoop for Barkley and Benteke
07.00: Antonio Conte is keen to bolster his squad with the additions of Everton’s Ross Barkley and Christian Benteke, of Crystal Palace, in January.
Barkley came close to joining the Blues in the summer but an injury delayed the move before the midfielder opted to stay at Goodison Park.
Conte reportedly feels he is weak in the striker’s position and reckons Benteke could be a perfect fix.
However, it is unclear if the Eagles will want to part with their star forward or face staring relegation straight in the face.
Barcelona back in for Coutinho
06.30: Barcelona are preparing to heat up the chase for Phillipe Coutinho once more with a bumper January offer.
The back page of Spanish publication Sport claims that Ernesto Valverde’s side are lining up a mega £120million move for the playmaker.
Coutinho is apparently growing increasingly frustrated with manager Jurgen Klopp after he was not allowed to leave for the Nou Camp in the summer.
And the La Liga outfit are hopeful of completing the deal when the transfer window reopens.
Arsenal want £30million for Ozil
06.00: Arsenal have reportedly slapped a £30million price tag on German playmaker Mesut Ozil.
The 29-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season.
However, Arsene Wenger is believed to want to cash in on his star midfielder in the winter window.
Rumours coming out of Ozil’s camp are that Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United are interested in taking him to Old Trafford.
But it is unclear if United will match the valuation put up by the Gunners.
Mikel preferred Mourinho over Ferguson
05.30: John Obi Mikel has opened up about how why he chose to sign for Chelsea rather than Manchester United in 2015.
The Nigerian had an agreement to move to Old Trafford but pulled the plug at the final hour.
“I’d signed a deal at United but had to tell him: ‘Sorry, I want to play for Chelsea,” Mikel said.