Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Fulham, QPR, Swansea City and Everton are the talk of the papers today.
All the transfer news and gossip you need to know from the last 24 hours…
QPR are ready to launch a bid to bring back talented teenager Raheem Sterling. Sterling is currently on Liverpool’s pre-season tour of North America and has impressed in his brief showings so far. Only 17 he is rated as one of the Reds brightest prospects. He was reported to be unsettled under Kenndy Dalglish and linked with a permanent move back down south, but he is part of Brendan Rodgers’ plans moving forward long-term. QPR are hoping in the short-term Sterling will be available on a season long loan, and the Mail report they are pushing themselves to the front of the queue should Rodgers decide to loan him out.
Joe Allen is a target Liverpool are keen to bring in, and there are developments on that this morning. The Mirror report a clause in Allen’s Swansea contract allowing him to go to a ‘big five’ club for £15 million. That big five includes Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal. No mention of Tottenham. Liverpool are thought to be the only of these five interested, owing to manager Rodgers’ familiarity with his style of play. The paper report the Reds are only willing to splash out the money if they can offload Andy Carroll to raise funds. Conflicting reports claim Liverpool have had a £13.5 million offer accepted, so this one is fast moving and one to watch.
The Telegraph report that Tottenham have enquired after wantaway Shakhtar winger Willian. The Brazilian is a target for Chelsea, but the Blues interest was initiated in January while Andre Villas-Boas was boss. Now at Spurs the paper report the manager is ready to swoop in for him. Chelsea had an enquiry turned down for the 23-year-old last week, much to the players’ frustrations, with him declaring he wanted a move to London, and is frustrated to be ‘stuck’ in the Ukraine. Shakhtar want £19.5 million for the winger.
A second player Spurs are said to have enquired after is Fulham midfielder Moussa Dembele. The Belgian midfielder is being looked at as a replacement for Luka Modric, whose future is still uncertain. Fulham are believed to want £15 million for the 25-year-old, who is also interesting Manchester United, whose own pursuit of Lucas Moura has gone cold.
And finally, Everton defender Johnny Heitinga is being linked with a move to Turkey, Fenerbahce to be specific. The Dutchman is ‘going to join the club within the next few days’ report the Mirror, with the Toffees looking at a £5 million fee. The paper report it is part of David Moyes desperate efforts to raise cash to bring in Tottenham midfielder Stephen Pienaar. Heitinga has just one year left on his contract, so the offer would be a good fee for Everton for the 28-year-old. Everton still have Joseph Yobo on their books, who has been on loan at Fenerbahce for the past two seasons, and his future remains uncertain. He will follow Tim Cahill out of the club who will confirm his move to the New York Red Bulls imminently.
image: © kong niffe
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