The_Guardian_-_2016-12-29

with Marco Reus. Arsenal could be licking their transfer wounds after PSG supposedly agreed a
deal for long-term target Julian Draxler, but you’d think that after being linked with him for so very
long, even Arsenal would have got the German forward by now if they’d really wanted him.
Here’s one: West Ham are apparently thinking about a £6million bid for Jermain Defoe, who the
history buffs among you will recall used to play for them Hammers. Defoe is 34 and not exactly a
long-term prospect, but desperate times and all that. Another option could be AC Milan forward
Carlos Bacca, who they tried to sign in the summer, without success.
And further in their hunt for a striker, West Ham are apparently in the scrum of clubs keen on Scott
Hogan, banging them in for Brentford this season, with West Brom, Reading and Norwich weighing
up whether to pay the apparent £15m price tag. Speaking of strikers, Liverpool are thinking of
nabbing Gabriel Barbosa, given that he hasn’t settled at Inter.
PSG are after Son Heung-min, it says here, which seems a little odd. One would think their
ambitions are a little higher than a bloke who can’t get in the Spurs team, but there we go. Who are
we to question these things? Should he leave, a candidate to replace him might be Max Meyer, who
is not in fact a Bond villain who lives in a hot air balloon, but a Schalke winger. £30m, to you.
Spurs are also duking it out with Chelsea for Marc Cucurella, an 18-year-old big-haired left-back in
the Barcelona youth system. Chelsea might not need him mind: Antonio Conte has been impressed
with Nathan Ake’s work on loan at Bournemouth, so those that know say.
Will anyone stop Chelsea winning the league? –
Football Weekly Extra
Read more
In further Chelsea news, they are keen on Monaco midfielder Tiemoué Bakayoko, but so are
Manchester United and folks, only one of them can have him. United will have a slot to fill in their
midfield, because Morgan Schneiderlin is off. But to where? Is it West Brom or Everton? Nobody
knows. But it’s probably Everton. And quite right too.
Other bits and bobs doing the rounds include a number of clubs - specifically Celtic, Rangers and
Aston Villa - weighing up a move for Barnsley midfielder Conor Hourihane, who is both excellent
and out of contract in the summer. A heady combination. Brighton have enjoyed Glenn Murray’s
work while on loan with them, so they’re well up for paying the £2m it would take for Bournemouth
to release him for good. Stoke are looking to gazump Villa for Manchester United goalkeeper Sam
Johnstone. And of course Crystal Palace are in need of a new manager, but we all know who that’s
going to be. Happy Christmas everyone.
This article was downloaded by calibre from https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/dec/23/football-transferrumours-west-ham-want-jermain-defoe-back