Manchester City are considering stepping up their interest in Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi with a formal bid.
Guehi has emerged as a serious target for City following injuries to key centre-back pair Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol.
City are willing to pay the money to sign Guehi now ahead of rivals - including long-term admirers Liverpool
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City are willing to pay the money to sign Guehi now ahead of rivals - including long-term admirers LiverpoolCredit: Getty
Even though they are resigned to losing their skipper when his contract expires in the summer, Palace’s asking price for a January sale has been set at north of £35million.
It is unlikely City will go that high for a player they can snare for nothing at the end of the season, but talkSPORT understands sporting director Hugo Viana is prepared to make an offer between now and the window closing.
Liverpool came close to signing Guehi last summer before Palace boss Oliver Glasner blocked the move on deadline day.
At this stage it is thought the champions are not planning to make a January move for the England international, believing the total cost of the package is prohibitive.
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Guehi, who is seeking a wage of around £200,000-a-week, can sign a pre-contract agreement with European clubs and is relaxed about seeing out his contract with the Eagles.
No United return for Rashford
Manchester United are not planning to bring Marcus Rashford back to Old Trafford despite Ruben Amorim’s departure.
Rashford was consigned to United’s so-called ‘bomb squad’ after the now ex-United boss questioned the forward's attitude.
The England international is excelling on loan at Barcelona, who have the option to sign him permanently for around £26m at the end of the season, and with Amorim out of the picture some United fans are hoping for a reconciliation between Rashford and his boyhood club.
However, talkSPORT has been told the decision to offload Rashford was as much influenced by club officials including director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada as Amorim himself.
With Wilcox and Berrada remaining as the main decision-makers, a Rashford return seems highly unlikely.
Barcelona player Marcus Rashford celebrates with the Spanish Super Cup after beating Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia
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Rashford has performed well at Barcelona and helped them to Super Cup glory against Real Madrid - but United have no plans to welcome him backCredit: Getty
Gallagher says goodbye to Madrid
Tottenham-bound Conor Gallagher sent a classy farewell message to Atletico Madrid teammates and coaching staff before jetting to London for his medical.
As exclusively reported by talkSPORT on Monday night, Gallagher has agreed a five-and-half-year deal with Spurs, bringing to an end his 18-month stint in Spain.
As he was not able to say goodbye in person, the England international made sure to thank all his colleagues for the welcome they gave him after moving to Atleti in the summer of
2024.
Sources close to Gallagher is grateful to Atleti boss Diego Simeone in particular for allowing him to leave on amicable terms to chase his World Cup dreams.
Gallagher believes he has more chance to catching the eye of England boss Thomas Tuchel by playing week-in, week-out in the Premier League.
talkSPORT can also reveal Aston Villa were confident of completing a deal for Gallagher before Tottenham’s dramatic late hijack, which has left manager Unai Emery reeling having also missed out on the 25-year-old when he fled Chelsea.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher.
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Gallagher has already said farewell to his Atleti teammates ahead of his return to London with SpursCredit: Getty
Conor Gallagher playing for Chelsea
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Gallagher began his career at Tottenham's rivals Chelsea at the age of six and even captained the Blues during his time thereCredit: Getty
Hammer time over for Paqueta
West Ham bosses fear Lucas Paqueta could effectively go on strike to force his way out of the club.
Paqueta is desperate to leave England and return to his native Brazil.
The £51m record signing was left out of the squad for Sunday’s FA Cup third round win over QPR after reacting badly to West Ham rejecting a £35m bid from Flamengo.
While manager Nuno Espirito Santo wants to keep the midfielder, sources have told talkSPORT it is far from certain that Paqueta will play in this weekend’s crunch London derby at home to Tottenham.
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The 28-year-old is understood to have told chairman David Sullivan he has no intentions of still being on the club’s books come the start of the next season.
With the Brazilian window open until March, the best case scenario for the Hammers is that they can persuade him to stay and aid their relegation survival fight for another few weeks at least.
Lucas Paqueta playing for Premier League side West Ham
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Paqueta wants out of West Ham and could resort to desperate measures to force an exitCredit: Getty