A round-up of the latest transfer gossip from across Europe as Aston Villa agree a deal with Middlesbrough to sign Morgan Rogers and Saudi chiefs target a raid on Liverpool.
The Villans have pushed throughout the mid-season window to sign Rogers from Boro, who only signed the 21-year-old last summer. Unai Emery has been intent on adding to the Villa Park natives’ attack after emerging as shock contenders for Champions League qualification.
Aston Villa go into the midweek Premier League fixture list and the visit of Newcastle United sat fourth in the table through 21 games. Emery has overseen 12 wins and four draws so far this season, too. The Villans have further scored 43 goals, the fourth-best return this term.
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Middlesbrough have accepted a £16m bid from Aston Villa to sanction a transfer for Morgan Rogers, reports Sky Sports. The bid is inclusive of add-ons but marks a huge profit for Boro, having paid £1m for him last July. Rogers has struck seven goals and nine assists this term.
Lyon have offered West Ham United an initial £15m, plus add-ons, to seal a transfer for Said Benrahma, per The Athletic. Les Gones also believe the winger is keen on a move to Ligue 1. But the Hammers are yet to respond to Lyon’s offer whilst they weigh up Benrahma’s future.
West Ham could even replace Benrahma with Jota as talks continue with Al-Ittihad about an 18-month loan. The Evening Standard reports David Moyes admires the 24-year-old after his goal-laden spell at Celtic. Yet Ange Postecoglou doubts Jota’s impact in the Premier League.
While Pablo Fornals may also leave London Stadium soon. Sky Sports reports that Real Betis are advancing in their talks with West Ham over the midfielder’s transfer. Manuel Pellegrini’s La Liga side are also hopeful of agreeing a move once they finalise the sale of Luiz Henrique.
Hale End talent Amario Cozier-Duberry may leave Arsenal at the end of his contract in June, per the Evening Standard. The winger is of interest to Ajax, Anderlecht, Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle United. Arsenal remain hopeful of the 18-year-old agreeing a new contract.
Saudi chiefs hope Jurgen Klopp leaving Liverpool at the end of this term improves their odds of a transfer for Mohamed Salah, per talkSPORT. The winger is a top target for Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sport, which targeted a £200m move for the Egyptian last summer but fell short.
talkSPORT also reports that Nottingham Forest are weighing up a £30m bid by Lyon for the transfer of Orel Mangala. The Reds are considering cashing in on the midfielder to aid their books after the Premier League charged them with breaching profit and sustainability rules.
Additionally, talkSPORT adds that Everton are keeping tabs on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as the midfielder is not pushing to leave Leicester City in a last-ditch winter transfer. Brentford and Fulham are rivalling Brighton & Hove Albion for a deal but are unlikely to pay the £40m tag.
Fiorentina are now rivalling ongoing interest from Marseille and Nottingham Forest for the transfer of Borussia Dortmund talent Gio Reyna. Sky Sports notes that the Serie A side have entered the race with the Reds struggling to afford a move, despite Reyna agreeing to join.
Blackburn Rovers have given Adam Wharton permission to travel to London to undergo his medical with Crystal Palace. The Evening Standard reports the midfielder is close to making a £22m, including add-ons, move to Selhurst Park after the two squads agreed on the deal.
Crystal Palace are also close to finalising terms with AFC Wimbledon to loan Kofi Balmer to the League Two team. Sky Sports reports the 23-year-old is primed to secure the move after spending the first half of this season on loan at Port Vale, where he featured in 16 matches.
Chelsea have rejected a straight loan offer from Wolves for Armando Broja, per the Express & Star. Gary O’Neil is keen to sign a striker before the window shuts but Wolves do not have the budget to buy a player. Chelsea are seeking an obligation to buy worth more than £30m.
Brentford are weighing up approaches from Everton, Fulham, Girona and Stade de Reims for Frank Onyeka’s transfer, per the Evening Standard. But the Bees will not let the midfielder go to a Premier League rival on loan. Brentford are loath to improve a potential relegation rival.
Barcelona faced a late battle with Tottenham Hotspur for the transfer of Djurgardens talent, Lucas Bergvall, per the Daily Mail. Spurs made a last-ditch approach to discuss the 17-year-old’s situation. But the Blaugrana are due to sign the Sweden talent in an £8.5m operation.
Tottenham are also interested in a last-gasp transfer for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, per the Evening Standard. But the 23-year-old, who has regularly captained the Blues so far this term, is reluctant to leave Stamford Bridge amid Chelsea’s willingness to cash in on him.
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