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A round-up of the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle and more...
Every morning, we comb through yesterday’s gossip columns to bring you a round-up of the biggest and wildest Premier League transfer rumours which you might have missed over the past 24 hours – and today, we start with a story involving Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.
This tall tale comes courtesy of Caught Offside, who claim that the top-flight trio are among sides “interested” in striking an ambitious and seemingly unlikely deal with Barcelona to sign superstar defender Pau Cubarsí.
The Spanish side are “very keen to keep” the 19-year-old, who has already established himself among the leading centre-halves in Europe, and his minimum fee release clause is set at a staggering €500m (£430m), a fee that none of the sides are remotely likely to pay.
Bayern Munich are also watching Cubarsí, and apparently the circling vultures are hoping that talks over a new contract at the Camp Nou struggle to get off the ground. But there is said to be "no concern” at Barcelona over the youngster’s future, and they plan to offer an improved deal soon.
The 3AM Verdict: Absolutely no chance. Barcelona may have a persistentlychallenging financial situation to deal with but they still don’t sell their superstars and Cubarsí is second perhaps only to Lamine Yamal in terms of sheer unsellability. We don’t doubt that any of these sides would love to get their hands on the supremely talented young defender, but it isn’t happening.
Newcastle pick ‘perfect moment’ to solidify pursuit of French star
Over to a more plausible story from Sport Witness (via Sacha Tavolieri and sources in the French media), who claim that Newcastle United may have picked the “perfect moment” to make a move for RC Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser – and are said to have “made concrete progress” in their attempts to sign him.
Apparently Lens are loathe to sell the 21-year-old, who has established himself as their clear first choice over the past year or so, but have financial needs which may necessitate the sale of the rising star, who Newcastle allegedly view as a long-term starter between the sticks.
Accordingly, a deal worth around €40m (£35m) is now being “discussed,” with Newcastle seemingly hopeful that they can twist Lens’ arm. The Magpies have yet to decide whether to meet that price, and Lens have yet to definitively decide whether to sell, but talks appear to be advancing.
The 3AM Verdict: The wrinkle in all this is that other sides have been tentatively linked with Risser as well,including Tottenham Hotspur, so there could be competition even if Newcastle do choose to stump up. Eddie Howe’s team are looking at alternatives, too, so this deal could go either way even if talks are as far advanced as this report suggests.
West Ham, Brighton & Leeds among suitors for South American centre-back
Let’s wrap today’s digest up with a story from Sports Boom’s Efrem Konur, who reckons that it’s “only a matter of time” before Premier League sides start bidding for 22-year-old River defender Lautaro Rivero.
Brighton & Hove Albion, who love a young South American starlet, have “identified” him as a possible signing and potential replacement for Jan Paul van Hecke should the Dutchman leave the Amex Stadium this summer, while West Ham and Leeds are also said to have made Rivero a “strategic priority.”
River view their young defender as a “precious asset” but it’s suggested that they’ll still sell him if the price is right, with a transfer fee in the “€15-20m bracket” (£13-17m in sterling) speculated as being the ballpark. There’s no word on what the player himself wants to do as yet.
The 3AM Verdict: A speculative piece with no mention of the sources who have linked those three sides with Rivero, but he’s certainly a talent who’s liable to draw some attention over the coming months. Whether any of those three sides are likely bidders remains very much unclear.
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