With recent events having reminded us of the need to tackle the climate emergency, this transfer window is doing its bit by constantly recycling rumours about the same players and the same putative moves. The latest compostable Frenkie de Jong story is that should the Barcelona midfielder move anywhere at all – and he wants to stay put – Bayern Munich or Chelsea, rather than longtime suitors Manchester United, would be his preferred destination. Spanish outlet Sport describes the serial Bundesliga champions as “a club that aspires to everything and a city with all the attractions”.
Talking of Barcelona and their oddly capacious transfer wallet, Xavi Hernández’s side could be bolstered by Tottenham’s Sergio Reguilón if they cannot secure a deal for the Chelsea full-back Marcos Alonso. The Arsenal defender William Saliba is also in their sights if they don’t win the race to sign Sevilla’s Jules Koundé. It’s a tough life being as poor as them – no wonder they wanted that Super League.
Talking of Arsenal, their signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko has made it more likely they will offload Nuno Tavares. The Portuguese outlet O Jogo suggests Brighton might want to take him on loan for a season, especially if Marc Cucurella is finally lured to Manchester City.
Someone might want to tell Premier League newcomers Nottingham Forest that you don’t have to spend it all at once. Steve Cooper’s side are once again keeping the Mill busy with reports that they’re mulling over a move for Emmanuel Dennis, who intermittently shone in an otherwise dismal season for Watford. The Championship yo-yo club value him at £24m, mind, which might test them given that Forest are apparently prepared to sling Jesse Lingard £200,000 a week as they seek to beat West Ham to the winger’s signature.
Frank Lampard is said to be keen on bringing Adnan Januzaj to Everton, the Belgian forward being a free agent after leaving Real Sociedad, for whom he scored 44 goals in 166 appearances. West Ham, Napoli and Sevilla are also sniffing around him though.
Monaco are interested in Leicester’s Boubakary Soumaré but the Foxes won’t sell at the £15m the Ligue 1 club are offering, having paid £23m for the midfielder 12 months ago. There’s also talk that Leicester may listen to offers for James Maddison, Kelechi Iheanacho and Timothy Castagne to boost their own transfer funds.
Crystal Palace and West Ham could be competing for Dwight McNeil’s signature but Championship club Burnley will want at least £15m for the midfielder – those leveraged buyouts don’t pay for themselves. McNeil still has two years remaining on his contract but wants to remain in the Premier League. Meanwhile the former Clarets captain Ben Mee is on Brentford’s radar. The west London club have reportedly held talks with the 32-year-old defender.
And Newcastle, Aston Villa and Leeds are in a bunfight over the Bordeaux teenager Sékou Mara. The French club have been demoted to the third tier due to their financial problems and may need to sell the 19-year-old forward.
