Jose Mourinho has urged Manchester United’s board to move for a £50million left-back target, while a Serie A giant is keen on signing United star Juan Mata, according to Thursday’s papers.
Liverpool Working On £90m Lemar Deal As Star Says Yes To Klopp
Liverpool are reportedly in talks with Monaco on a deal to secure a replacement for Barcelona-bound midfielder Philippe Coutinho.
The Anfield Club look set to lose Coutinho to Barca this January, with recent reports suggesting the La Liga club will shatter two records in Spain to push through a €110million deal for the Brazilian.
According to Yahoo Sports, Jurgen Klopp is being proactive in the transfer market and is currently working on a deal to bring Monaco star Thomas Lemar to Merseyside.
The Reds had a bid rejected for the Frenchman in the summer, while Arsenal had a bid accepted but Lemar rejected the move as he felt the Gunners weren’t the right destination for him.
According to the report, Lemar has remained in contact with Liverpool and would be willing to join Klopp’s side in January should the two clubs agree a fee.
Mourinho Urges Man Utd To Push Through Defender Deal
Jose Mourinho is reportedly urging the Manchester United board to sanction a £50million move for Tottenham defender Danny Rose.
The England star has long been linked with a switch to Old Trafford and talk of a potential Spurs exit was ramped-up when he criticised the club’s pay structure towards the end of last year.
It is no secret that Mourinho is chasing a new left-back in January, with Luke Shaw and Matteo Darmian not considered good enough for a long-term future with the Red Devils.
Converted winger Ashley Young has been filling in this season, although Shaw has impressed when called upon after a public fall-out with the United chief over his fitness and professionalism in the summer.
Rose has had his own fitness issues, having only returned from a long-term knee injury in October, while he also suffered a recurrence to the injury in the Boxing Day win over Southampton.
Should that injury keep the 27-year-old on the sidelines for another spell, the likelihood is that United will stick with what they have and revisit the situation in the summer.
Daily Mail Says Mourinho’s Going, Telegraph Claims He’s Extending…
Manchester United have held ‘extensive’ talks with Jose Mourinho over an extension to his deal, reports The Daily Telegraph.
With the Daily Mail claiming the club are worried Mourinho is preparing to quit at the end of the season, the broadsheet has on Thursday suggested the opposite.
James Ducker says that Mourinho’s willingness to discuss a new contract has give United officials hope that the Portguese boss has a desire to remain at the club.
Mourinho has 18 months left of the £12million-a-year deal and discussions between United and his representatives have already taken place over an extension.
The report states: “It is thought talks accelerated last month, and will continue, with United committed to securing the longer-term future of the former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager.”
There are no indications as yet as to the potential length of a new contract, although there is an option in Mourinho’s current deal to extend by a further year to June 2020.
Umtiti Mulling City Offer
With Philippe Coutinho heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, the Blaugrana may experience the other end of a deal this month, as Manchester City look to lure Samuel Umtiti to the Etihad, according to L'Equipe.
The France international has met with Blues officials, the report states, with the 24-year-old reportedly asking for time to consider a potential switch. City boss Pep Guardiola watched on as Virgil van Dijk joined Liverpool for £75 million, but Umtiti, who has thrived at one of the world's biggest clubs this season, is available at his buyout clause for just €60 million.
A hamstring injury before Christmas has kept out the former Lyon star recently, but Barca will be eager to initiate contract negotiations to increase his buyout clause and maintain his services during his prime years.
Evans Availability To Spark Manchester Derby
West Brom could issue Jonny Evans with a contract ultimatum, reports the Mirror, with the Northern Ireland international wanted by both Manchester United and Manchester City.
The 30-year-old has 18 months to run on his contract and the Baggies will put a new deal worth £100,000 a week in front of him to sign.
Failure to do so will convince West Brom to sell, with the Red Devils eyeing their former player for £20 million, although the Baggies wanted £30 million last summer when crosstown rivals City came calling.
West Ham Join Walcott Race
West Ham have joined the race to sign Theo Walcott from Arsenal this month as his World Cup hopes fade, writes the Express. Newcastle, Everton and Southampton are also preparing offers for the Gunners star.
The 28-year-old has featured just five times in the Premier League this term, all as a substitute, and has 18 months left on a £120,000-a-week contact.
The quartet of clubs are plotting loan moves, which could suit all parties before deciding on the player's long-term future in the summer.
Others
Robbie Keane could make a sensational return to Wolverhampton Wanderers to join their promotion push to the Premier League, according to the Mirror. The 37-year-old is currently playing for ATK in the Indian Super League but would jump at the opportunity to return to Molineux.
Tottenham are ready to put a stop to one rumour by convincing Harry Kane to extend his contract again with the Mail revealing the club will break their wage structure to place their talisman on £200,000 a week. The 24-year-old would move beyond Raheem Sterling, on £180,000 a week, as the highest-paid Englishman.
Liverpool have identified £90m-rated Monaco man Thomas Lemar as replacement for Philippe Coutinho (Daily Mirror)
Robbie Keane could make an amazing return to Wolves as they close in on promotion to the Premier League (Daily Mirror)
Everton are closing in on the transfer of Cenk Tosun after face-to-face talks with the Besiktas president (Daily Mirror)
West Brom are ready to sell Jonny Evans this month if he won’t commit to a new contract, with Manchester United & Manchester City ready to swoop (Daily Mirror)
Huddersfield are preparing a third bid to sign Norwich midfielder Alex Pritchard (Daily Mirror)
Inter Milan are keen on Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata (Daily Mirror)
Sergio Aguero says he is in the dark over his long-term Manchester City future (The Sun)
Manchester United fear Jose Mourinho could resign at the end of the season (Daily Mail)
Stoke boss Mark Hughes is set for talks with the board amid their awful run of form and questions over his future at club (Daily Mail)
Tottenham are ready to smash their wage ceiling to make Harry Kane the highest paid Englishman in the Premier League on £200k-a-week (Daily Mail)
Crystal Palace are speaking to Lille about a deal for their versatile defender Ibrahim Amadou, 24, who is priced at £16m (Daily Mail)
Sevilla are interested in Everton striker Sandro Ramirez (Daily Mail)
Watford want Sunderland midfielder Didier Ndong, Leicester striker Islam Slimani and Liverpool outcast Lazar Markovic in a triple January swoop (Daily Star)
Southampton, West Ham, Newcastle and Everton are all in the running to sign out-of-favour Arsenal winger Theo Walcott (Daily Star)
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho will block Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s transfer to Inter Milan (Daily Star)
Striker Cameron Jerome is free to leave Norwich and is wanted by Cardiff and Birmingham, two of his former clubs, in a £1m deal (Daily Star)
Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett has returned to former club Wolves to sign full-back Sylvain Deslandes and midfielder Connor Ronan on loan (Daily Star)
Swedish side Ostersunds want to sign forgotten Celtic midfielder Liam Henderson (Daily Express)
Juventus are determined to keep Alex Sandro this month, frustrating Manchester United and Chelsea (The Independent)
Bayern Munich have confirmed their interest in the Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka, who previously attracted interest from Liverpool (The Guardian)
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