A round-up of the day’s most interesting news surrounding the London clubs in the Premier League, including Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham.
Manuel Pellegrini is aiming to make Lazio’s Brazilian winger Felipe Anderson his first signing at West Ham United, according to reports from Sky Sports.
The Chilean has stressed his desire to get back to playing attacking football at the London Stadium next term, and the 25-year-old’s signature would certainly go a long way towards improving that.
Anderson has been one of Lazio’s standout players since joining from Santos in his native home in 2013, making 177 appearances across five seasons and amassing 34 goals and 42 assists from numerous positions.
West Ham fans took to Twitter to discuss Jose Mourinho’s presence at Austria’s international friendly against Russia, after he was linked with top-scorer Marko Arnautovic yesterday – with the Hammers demanding £50 million (Sky Sports).
The Portuguese manager was spotted attempting to keep a low profile, wearing a baseball cap at the Tivoli Stadium in Germany, and watched Arnautovic provide the pivotal moment in securing the 1-0 win (Daily Mail), teeing up Alessandro Schopf to score the winner shortly before the half-time break.
There are suggestions the manager may have been scouting players on the losing side, in Aleksandr Golovin and Fedor Smolov, as reported by Gianluca Di Marzio, but his interest in the West Ham star will only have grown after watching his vital impact in Austria’s win.
Now across town to north London.
Manchester United are reportedly preparing a £50 million bid for Tottenham’s superstar defender Toby Alderweireld, according to the Sun.
The Belgian international is said to be unhappy with his current £50,000-a-week deal with the Lilywhites, and United are offering over double the weekly wage packet to secure the 29-year-old’s services at Old Trafford this summer.
Spurs are now stuck between not wanting to sell to a rival, and receiving the best possible fee for a player who has a cheaper release clause next summer.
The bad news doesn’t end for Spurs there either.
Roma have reached an agreement in principle with Dutch starlet Justin Kluivert, although Ajax are still said to be negotiating the asking price for the 19-year-old, according to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport.
The winger had been linked with a potential move to Tottenham this summer (Evening Standard), but it now appears Roma will his land his signature in the coming days if terms can be agreed between the clubs.
Pochettino’s search for a left-winger will drag on then, as moves for both Manchester United’s Anthony Martial (Metro) and now Justin Kluivert look to have failed before gathering traction.
Now across north London to rivals Arsenal.
Unai Emery has offered newly appointed Wales captain Aaron Ramsay a lucrative new deal to stay at the club, according to BBC Sport Wales.
The 27-year old is entering the final 12-months of his deal at the Emirates and could leave on a free transfer next summer, but the Spanish manager sees Ramsay as a vital addition to his current squad and will do all he can to avoid losing him.
Chelsea’s owner Roman Abramovic has put the Blues’ renovation of Stamford Bridge on hold after the renewal of his UK visa was delayed, according to reports from BBC Sport.
The 51-year-old’s UK investor visa allegedly expired weeks ago and Abramovic is said to be unwilling to invest in a major project, in a country where he himself is not permitted to work.
The plans to extend Stamford Bridge to a 60,000 capacity has reached £1 billion after delays, including a supposed dispute with a local family.
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