Transfer update: PSG ‘raising Pogba funds’; Ronaldo ‘shock’
There is just one week to go in the summer transfer window and this time next week, clubs will be scrambling to get any last-minute deals over the line despite having months to complete their business. Almost every Premier League team are expected to be active between now and August 31 including Wolves, Brighton, West Ham, Watford, Crystal Palace and Southampton, who all feature in this week’s column…
Wolves like Guedes amid Adama exit fears
Valencia’s Goncalo Guedes is one of the names Wolves have in mind if they lose Adama Traore to Tottenham.
Spurs remain in talks with Molineux chiefs over a deal after seeing a loan offer which included an option to buy, rejected by Wolves yesterday.
Fabio Paratici has now set his sights on landing the jet-heeled Spanish winger for Nuno Espirito Santo, who wants to reunite with his former player in north London.
Adama’s exit now looks just a matter of time with Tottenham expected to change the option to buy to an obligation, which could be enough to sweeten Wolves with Adama keen on the move.
Express Sport understands that should Traore depart, Wolves are long-term admirers of Guedes, who has endured a mixed time with Valencia since joining permanently from Paris Saint-Germain for around £36million in August 2018.
Furthermore, the Wolves hierarchy are looking for additional cover for Pedro Neto, who has suffered a setback in his recovery from a fractured kneecap. He is now not expected to return until at least February.
Guedes usually operates on the left side of a front three but can also play on the right or through the middle.
RB Leipzig’s Ademola Lookman is another realistic alternative under consideration and he would cost significantly cheaper than Guedes, at closer to £15m.
Wolves are also understood to be lining up a shock bid for Cardiff and Wales striker Kieffer Moore as potential cover for Raul Jimenez.
Taylor’s Tuesday Transfers: There is just one week left of the transfer window… (Image: GETTY)
Taylor’s Tuesday Transfers: Goncalo Guedes is one option under consideration by Wolves (Image: GETTY)
West Ham turn down striker proposals
West Ham have turned down the chance to sign a number of strikers in recent weeks and it’s easy to see why after Michail Antonio struck a memorable double last night in the 4-1 win over Leicester.
The dynamic frontman is now West Ham’s all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League with 49 in claret and blue and Antonio now looks a clear upgrade on club-record signing Sebastien Haller.
The French-born Ivory Coast international, who flopped in east London before joining Ajax in January, cost a staggering £45million in the summer of 2019 and now West Ham are operating with extra caution when recruitment is concerned as they look to build on last season’s achievements.
In the past few weeks, the Irons have turned down the chance to sign Tammy Abraham, Alassane Plea from Borussia Monchengladbach, Sevilla’s Luuk de Jong and Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard.
With West Ham seemingly in need of some extra depth at centre-forward, a number of sporting directors, agents and intermediaries have proposed multiple players to the Hammers but the club has shown little interest and want to do things off their own accord.
There is an element of truth to reported interest in Montpellier’s Gaetan Laborde, though.
The Ligue 1 club knocked back a bid for the striker from West Ham in January but he’s now unlikely to leave Montpellier before the deadline as strike partner Andy Delort closes in on a move to Nice.
Brighton reignite Nunez interest with Cucurella deal close
Brighton know they will have to table close to £25m to land Benfica frontman Darwin Nunez and a bid is not being ruled out before next week’s deadline.
The Seagulls were beaten to a deal by the Primeira Liga club last summer after seeing an offer of £20.4m rebuffed by Spanish side Almeria.
Graham Potter is mindful of Danny Welbeck’s fitness record and wants some additional firepower in attack after letting Florin Andone head out on loan to Cadiz.
The £50m Brighton received from Arsenal for Ben White means there is money to spend and Shane Duffy’s revival following his loan at Celtic has already eased the need to replace the England international at the back.
As reported five weeks ago in the fourth instalment of Taylor’s Tuesday Transfers, Brighton are now closing in on the signing of Marc Cucurella.
The South Coast club were in advanced discussions with Getafe yesterday to organise the structure and timing of payments for his £18m release clause.
Versatile Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist Cucurella is deemed perfect for Potter’s system and is expected to rival Solly March for the left-wing-back spot, while he can also play in attack or at full-back.
Taylor’s Tuesday Transfers: Brighton are back in for Darwin Nunez (Image: GETTY)
Watford try to shift Hughes and Gray
Watford remain optimistic they can offload Will Hughes before next week’s deadline after signing Ozan Tufan on loan as his potential replacement.
The Hornets have held talks with both Crystal Palace and Burnley respectively over a potential deal after failing to agree a new contract with the 26-year-old, despite extensive talks.
Hughes has been a fan-favourite at Vicarage Road ever since he arrived from Derby but Watford are eager to recoup a fee for the midfielder this summer before his deal expires at the end of the season.
Both Hughes and striker Andre Gray were banished from Xisco Munoz’s first-team set-up in pre-season as the Spaniard attempted to lay down a marker but striking a deal for the duo has not been easy.
According to Spotrac, Andre Gray is the club’s top earner and he currently nets a whopping £70,000 per week.
Middlesbrough, QPR and Birmingham are amongst the clubs to have expressed an interest in taking the former Burnley striker on loan but his considerable pay packet has made things difficult.
Gray knows he is unlikely to earn this kind of salary again and is therefore happy to see out the rest of his contract in Hertfordshire but Watford want him off the books.
So far, the Championship clubs that have expressed an interest in signing Gray have been reluctant to share a significant percentage of his wages meaning he could end up staying put beyond the deadline.
Taylor’s Tuesday Transfers: Andre Gray and Will Hughes could leave Watford before the deadline (Image: GETTY)
Crystal Palace still want a striker
Crystal Palace are still keen on adding another striker to their squad within the next eight days.
Sources close to Celtic frontman Edouard believe Selhurst Park is the most likely destination for the Frenchman, should he leave Glasgow.
A deal is there to be struck at £15m should Patrick Vieira want to do so but it’s unclear whether the Eagles will move for him at this stage or instead opt for other targets.
Palace saw an undisclosed offer rejected by Blackburn Rovers for Adam Armstrong before he sealed a £15m switch to Southampton earlier this month.
The club also passed on the chance to re-sign Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea after an underwhelming second loan spell in south-east London.
As previously reported in Taylor’s Tuesday Transfers, Eddie Nketiah and former Everton and Fulham winger Lookman are also on Palace’s radar.
Taylor’s Tuesday Transfers: Odsonne Edouard remains an option for Crystal Palace (Image: GETTY)
Southampton among favourites for Thierry Small
Southampton are among the favourites to sign 17-year-old left-back Thierry Small following his departure from Everton.
As exclusively revealed on Express Sport back in April, Small was prepared to snub a three-year professional contract at Goodison Park in favour of senior opportunities elsewhere.
Now the teenager has terminated his two-year scholarship with the Toffees – with one year remaining – meaning he is free to sign for another club.
Southampton look the most likely destination for the marauding left-back at this stage but the Saints or any other club will have to pay Everton a compensation fee if they are to sign Small.