Tottenham consider shock move for Man Utd outcast as Red Devils target Everton starplaceholder image
Tottenham consider shock move for Man Utd outcast as Red Devils target Everton star | Getty Images
A round-up of the latest Premier League transfer rumours you might have missed - with stories from Spurs, Manchester United, Everton and more.
Every evening, 3 Added Minutes comb through the gossip columns to bring you up to date with all the biggest (and strangest) Premier League transfer rumours which you might have missed – and today, we kick things off with a story concerning Tottenham Hotspur.
According to TeamTalk, Spurs are responding to Juventus’ alleged interest in Randal Kolo Muani by “weighing up” moves for potential replacements – with two names on their radar, one of which may come as something of a surprise.
The first isn’t unexpected, with Spurs said to be “keeping a close eye” on the situation surrounding Crystal Palace’s wantaway striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, but they are also said to be looking at a bid for Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee, who is said to be “emerging” as an alternative.
The Dutchman, whose time at Old Trafford has been less than happy, is also said to be “on the radar” of Crystal Palace and Juventus themselves, setting up a potentially intriguing domino rally of transfers as deadline day nears. There’s no suggestion that an approach has yet been made, nor any word on how much United might demand for Zirkzee.
The 3AM Verdict: We can’t easily see this one happening, especially as Zirkzee has struggled as an out-and-out striker, but Spurs haven’t always taken the obvious path with their transfers. Should Juventus and Spurs reach a deal for Kolo Muani, we suspect that Mateta is a more likely target, but who knows? Few forwards will be available for reasonable fees this winter, after all.
Manchester United plot move for Everton star
Manchester United, for their part, are also said to be looking for attacking reinforcements – and according to TeamTalk (again) they have added Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye to their shortlist, even though it could take a “mammoth fee” to prise him away from the Hill Dickson Stadium.
Ndiaye, who recently helped Senegal to win the Africa Cup of Nations, is said to have a “growing number of admirers” at Old Trafford and is apparently seen as a “strong fit” for the club. Other clubs are also said to be “tracking” the 25-year-old, too, although they aren’t named.
There’s no word on quite how mammoth that fee might have to be, but it’s likely to be large enough that United are said to be looking at a summer move for Ndiaye and there’s no suggestion that their plans could be brought forward to the current transfer window.
The 3AM Verdict: Not an implausible story, although there’s little detail here and no firm evidence of United’s interest is presented. We suspect that United are looking at a number of attacking options ahead of the summer, and Ndiaye may well be one name on a very lengthy shortlist. One to watch, but not until the end of the season.
Fulham ‘monitoring’ Liverpool star as crunch decision looms
Let’s wrap things up with a story from Caught Offside which we will report and then promptly dismantle, for reasons which will become obvious – they allege that Fulham are “monitoring” the situation of Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott, amid speculation that Aston Villa could terminate his rather fruitless loan spell in the Midlands.
With “discussions” about his future ongoing, Elliott and his agents are “exploring alternatives” to a return to Anfield, where he faces the prospect of spending yet more time warming a bench. Fulham, as a result, are said to be “considering” a short-term deal for the star of England’s successful recent European Under-21 Championship campaign.
There’s no word on the specifics of the terms of such a deal but it’s discussed as likely being a loan until the end of the season. Fulham “remain poised” to strike should Villa decide to cut his stay in Birmingham short.
The 3AM Verdict: Caught Offside may not want to listen to the source for this story going forward. FIFA rules prevent a player from registering for more than two teams involved in the same competition in any given season, and Elliott has already played for both Liverpool and Aston Villa, meaning that he simply cannot play for Fulham or any other English side until 2026/27. We report this story solely because it is, in our view, worth dismantling inaccurate stories that readers may have seen floating around elsewhere. This one definitely won’t happen.
Continue Reading