Chelsea, Manchester City, Wigan Athletic, Southampton and Middlesborough are the talk of the papers today.
All the transfer news and gossip you need to know from the last 24 hours…
Chelsea are searching for a right-back, and have seemingly been shut out by Marseille in their bid for Cesar Azpilicueta. The Mirror report today that the club are switching their attention to a new target, Swiss defender Stephan Lichtsteiner. He plays for Italian champions Juventus, making 34 starts last season in Serie A, and Chelsea believe they can get their man for as little as £5 million. The 28-year-old only signed for the Turin club last summer after three years with Lazio.
Manchester City have been quiet this transfer window, not signing a single new player, but they are being tempted to change all that. Roma have given them a bit of a mixed signal on star midfielder Daniele de Rossi, inviting them to make a bid, but only one which is ‘out of this world’. Whether City, who seem determined to run their finances tightly for this summer at least, take the bait remain to be seen, but there is no denying a midfield of Yaya Toure and De Rossi is a mouthwatering prospect.
Meanwhile the man he could replace at Manchester City is Nigel de Jong, who has been linked away several times this summer, and today finds himself the subject of a ‘come-and-join-me plea from Dutch teammate Wesley Sneijder. Sneijder told the Italian press he wants de Jong to join him at Inter, and there could yet be movement on a deal if City receive the right bid. De Jong has just one year left on his contract and City may be tempted to cash in.
It looks like there is finally movement on the Joe Allen to Liverpool deal, despite Michael Laudrup‘s determination not to lose the midfielder. The Liverpool Echo report that Joe Allen has told Swansea City he wants the move. The 22-year-old has a clause in his contract permitting him to move on if a £15 million bid is made by the Reds, who now have to commit the cash towards a move.
Tottenham want to loan out fringe player Danny Rose to a fellow Premier League team, and both Wigan and Southampton are interested report the Mirror. Rose was a member of Stuart Pearce’s Great Britain Olympic team, but finds himself stuck for first team football at Spurs, with Gareth Bale and Benoit Assou-Ekotto blocking his path at left wing and left-back.
And finally, Chelsea want to loan out their young starlet Josh McEachran, with a move to the Championship most likely. Bolton have expressed an interest, but the Mail last night reported that Middlesborough have emerged as leading contenders for his signature, and it could be finalised within the coming days.
images: © LaertesCTB, © warrenski
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