José Mourinho has his eye on defensive reinforcement, as per, with Real Madrid’s Éder Militão tickling his fancy. The Brazil international, who turns 23 next week, is being sought on a loan deal with a view to making it permanent, reports Corriere dello Sport. Not only that, Tottenham also like the cut of the Stuttgart winger Nicolás González’s jib, though they see the 22-year-old Argentina international as a more likely summer recruit than someone they wish to throw into England’s Covid winter weirdness.
However, Spurs face a tussle to keep hold of Harry Winks, in whom Valencia are interested. According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham have rejected one offer from the Spanish club, but Valencia aren’t taking no for an answer at this stage. The 24-year-old has made only seven league appearances this term but Mourinho is keen to keep him.
Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are both hovering around the Brest midfielder Romain Favre. The 22-year-old joined from Monaco for £450,00 only last summer, but his capabilities as both an attacking midfielder and wide man have attracted the attention of clubs with deeper pockets. The French outlet Le10 Sport claims that, despite signing a five-year deal in 2020, Favre could be lured to Old Trafford come the summer.
Another one-time Manchester United target, Moses Caicedo, is likely to be on his way to Brighton, who are close to completing a deal for the Ecuador midfielder with his club, Independiente del Valle, thereby foiling Newcastle’s interest.
Lyon are closing in on a deal for Leicester’s Islam Slimani, who has fallen down the pecking order of late but is still in reasonable demand across Europe. And the Leicester Mercury reports that the Algeria striker is due to have a medical with Lyon on Wednesday. On the other side of the ledger, Leicester have been linked with the promising Middlesbrough midfielder Marcus Tavernier. They may face competition from Everton and Leeds, mind, and with Tavernier having signed a new contract at the Riverside only last summer, he won’t come cheap. Leeds have also been linked with Sampdoria’s 22-year-old Norwegian defender Fredrik Andre Bjorkan, according to the Yorkshire Post.
Moussa Dembélé could be poised to swap a French title race for a Spanish one, with La Liga leaders Atlético Madrid reportedly close to securing a deal for the former Celtic and Fulham striker. Goal.com claims that Diego Simeone, Atlético’s manager, is confident a deal – likely to be an initial loan with an option to buy – will happen and that Dembélé has told Ligue 1 leaders Lyon he wants a new challenge.
And Burnley are planning to use some of that takeover cash to lure the Everton right-back Jonjoe Kenny to Turf Moor.