Chelsea are preparing for life without Diego Costa, but they face strong competition from Manchester United for a Serie A starlet – according to Sunday’s papers.
Blues Line Up Costa Replacement
Chelsea are ‘plotting’ a £75million move for Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller should they be forced to sell Diego Costa this month.
The Spanish international was absent from Chelsea’s 3-0 victory against Leicester on Saturday evening, but Antonio Conte insisted both before and after the game that it was only a back injury ruling him out of action.
However, there are still concerns over whether Costa will return to action next week amid reports of a £30million-a-year move to China and a training ground bust-up with Conte.
If the Blues are left with no option to sell Costa, the Daily Express believe that Muller, who recently said he was unhappy on the bench at Bayern Munich, will be their first choice to replace him.
Muller has been linked with a move to Manchester United in the past but, as they have seemingly turned their attention to Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, it leaves Chelsea free to move in on their former target.
The 27-year-old has only scored once in the Bundesliga this season and was dropped before the winter break for the top-of-the-table clash with RB Leipzig.
United Move In On Chelsea Target
Chelsea, meanwhile, have a tough fight on their hands to land Atalanta ace Franck Kessie as Manchester United have entered negotiations with the Serie A club – according to reports in Italy via The Sun.
Kessie, who is currently with the Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations, has been labelled the ‘new Yaya Toure’ has already been the subject of a rejected bid from the Blues.
Now Manchester United are ready to make their move as Jose Mourinho looks to use the funds he has received for Morgan Schneiderlin’s recent transfer to Everton.
Atalanta are believed to be holding out for at least £34million for the 20-year-old midfielder, whose agent revealed back in December that there was a lot of Premier League interest in his client.
Sevilla Want Rashford Loan
It would be one of the most surprising moves of the window, but the Sun reports that Sevilla are "desperate" to take Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United.
The Red Devils youngster has seen plenty of game time this term, though Zlatan Ibrahimovic's class means there are only so many starts as a centre-forward available this season under Jose Mourinho.
The 19-year-old has shown another side to his game recently by proving effective from the left wing, yet Sevilla, and West Ham too, would be prepared to make him the focal point of their attack.
Costa Going Nowhere
Diego Costa's whirlwind 24 hours saw him reportedly row with Antonio Conte and his medical staff, amid reports of a mega offer from the Chinese Super League, before Chelsea earned a thumping 3-0 victory without him against Leicester, and now the Star reports that he won't be moving to China this month.
Many of the Sunday papers ran with a similar theme, that the £30 million-a-year offer, after tax, from Tianjin Quanjian is largely academic, as Chelsea will not entertain selling their prized forward.
Conte managed to mastermind a second 3-0 win in the space of a few weeks without his talisman -- after downing Bournemouth on Boxing Day -- and senior players are believed to have begun work to persuade the 28-year-old to stay and fire the Blues to the title.
City To Prise Davies Away From Spurs
Manchester City are keen on Tottenham left-back Ben Davies, with The Sun saying a £20m offer is being readied for the 23-year-old.
The former Swansea star's versatility, having featured as a centre-back for Wales, has attracted Pep Guardiola. With Danny Rose having a firm grip on the left-back spot right now, Spurs might just be tempted to cash in on a squad player with City desperate for players to fill their homegrown quota.
Reds To Raid Saints Again
In their now-annual shop on the south coast, Liverpool will look to sign Jose Fonte from Southampton, the Mirror reports.
The Portuguese defender is upset by the club's reluctance to offer him the contract extension he desires, yet Jurgen Klopp is ready to give the Euro 2016 winner an escape route. The sweetener for Saints could be Mamadou Sakho in return, in a move that could satisfy all concerned.
Others
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to agree a new contract with the club in March, the Daily Mirror reports, in order for the Gunners to then be able to turn their attention to tying down Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to new deals.
West Ham have so far insisted that wantaway star Dimitri Payet is not for sale... However, according to the Daily Mirror, that stance has now changed with the Hammers looking for a fee of £35 million for the Frenchman after deciding that they will be better off cashing in and re-investing the money in new players.
News of not one, but two transfers at Bayern Munich, who have just announced that they will be signing Niklas Sule and Sebastian Rudy from Hoffenheim in the summer.
Jose Mourinho wants a reunion with Nemanja Matic, the Daily Mirror claims. The Manchester United boss is apparently hoping to bring his old player at Chelsea to Old Trafford in the summer, believing him to be an ideal fit for the holding role in his team alongside Ander Herrera.
The Sunday Express suggests Chelsea will look to sign Thomas Muller for £75 million if Diego Costa leaves. The Germany international has struggled for goals for some time now but it's hard to imagine Bayern Munich cashing in on their homegrown star.
Real Madrid have won the race for "the next Zlatan Ibrahimovic," with Marca reporting that AIK's super talent Alexander Isak will sign for Los Merengues. Zinedine Zidane welcomed the 17-year-old Swedish striker to Valdebebas in November last year and the deal will be finalised within the next week to leave Juventus, Bayern Munich and Chelsea all disappointed.
West Ham have turned to Burnley's Andre Gray to solve their striking concern, with the Mirror quoting a £15m bid will be offered to the Clarets. Having seen Brentford dig in their heels on the fee required for Scott Hogan and Sunderland rebuff their attempts to bring Jermain Defoe back to East London, the Hammers will now focus on Gray.
Manchester United ‘s Marcus Rashford has reportedly emerged as a shock loan target for Sevilla (The Sun)
Arsene Wenger is expected to agree new Arsenal deal in March – so the Gunners can turn their attention to Sanchez and Ozil (Daily Mirror)
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is also interested in replacing Costa with Real Madrid’s 24-year-old Spain forward Alvaro Morata (Sun)
Blues owner Roman Abramovich is adamant Costa will stay at Stamford Bridge (Daily Mirror)
Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng are interested in signing Manchester United’s 31-year-old England winger Ashley Young (Sun)
Liverpool want to sign Southampton’s 33-year-old Portugal centre-back Jose Fonte and may offer their 26-year-old France defender Mamadou Sakho in exchange (Daily Mirror)
Paris St-Germain are interested in signing Chelsea’s 23-year-old Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi (L’Equipe – in French)
The French club also want to sign 26-year-old Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke (Express)
Manchester City are considering making a £20m bid for Tottenham’s 23-year-old Wales left-back Ben Davies (Sun)
West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan says the club will not be selling 29-year-old attacking midfielder Dimitri Payet in the January transfer window (Guardian)
At a meeting between Payet’s representatives and club officials, a sale at the end of the season was not ruled out (Sunday Times – subscription required)
Marseille would be willing to loan France international Payet back to West Ham for the rest of the season if the Hammers agree to sell this month (Daily Mail)
Aston Villa hope to sign Middlesbrough striker Jordan Rhodes, 26, on a permanent deal. However, the Premier League club want £10m for the player (Birmingham Mail)
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes midfielder Paul Pogba, 23, can have the same impact as Frank Lampard had at Chelsea (Sunday Times – subscription required)
Nottingham Forest are likely to reject any future Derby offers for 26-year-old midfielder Henri Lansbury now that negotiations over a potential US takeover have come to nothing (Nottingham Post)
Brazilian club Corinthians hope to sign 38-year-old former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba (Globo.com – in Portuguese)
Newcastle are considering re-signing 25-year-old England winger Andros Townsend from Crystal Palace (Daily Mail)
Newcastle want to sign Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney, 25, despite the London club valuing the player at £20m (Newcastle Chronicle)
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanaka suggested he would like to re-sign Patrick Bamford after the 23-year-old striker’s loan spell at Burnley was ended by parent club Chelsea (Evening Gazette)
Former Liverpool and Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince is in contention to become the new England Under-21 manager (Mirror)
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