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A round-up of the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Spurs, Arsenal, Sunderland, Liverpool and more...
Once again, we’ve scoured the gossip columns for some of the biggest and juiciest new Premier League transfer rumours which you might have missed over the past 24 hours – and today, we start our morning round-up off with a tale involving old rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.
Sport Witness report that Spurs have joined several other sides in showing interest in AS Roma full-back Wesley, who is still “attracting attention” from top sides, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal both said to be “in the race.”
Spurs are said to have started “keeping an eye” on the 22-year-old, who could be in Brazil’s starting line-up for the World Cup off the back of an impressive season in Serie A. Most importantly for Tottenham’s chances of landing him, it’s said that Roma’s asking price isn’t putting them off.
The Giallorossi apparently want €60m (just over £52m) for Wesley, a price tag which is said to reflect their “reluctance” to let him leave – but if Roma miss out on Champions League football, as seems likely, then they may be forced to bow to financial pressure and sell. For a few sides, including Arsenal, that may be too much money, but Spurs are suggested to be happy to press ahead.
The 3AM Verdict: Sport Witness note that other sources have suggested a lower price tag, and Spurs will have a tough time convincing Wesley to sign for them over other sides if their potential rivals aren’t priced out of the race. They’ll have an even tougher time if they get relegated, of course. For what it’s worth, we’re rather sceptical of aflurry of recent stories suggesting new Spurs targets just days after Roberto De Zerbi’s appointment. We doubt that an inside track into the new regime has been established so quickly.
Sunderland prepared for ‘ transfer battle’ as they turn back to old target
Let’s stick with Sport Witness for our second story of the day, which also happens to involve AS Roma – but this time as a team that could rival Sunderland for the signing of a long-standing defensive target: Bologna centre-half Jhon Lucumí.
Sunderland remain “very interested” in the Colombian, who they tried and failed to sign last summer, but now Roma are “in the hunt” and see him as a likely replacement for Evan Ndicka should the Ivorian leave this summer, as has been widely rumoured.
Lucumí seems unlikely to sign a new contract offer at Bologna and is “increasing likely” to be on his way. He was also said to be “keen” to take up Sunderland’s offer at the time, although apparently he’s also expressed an interest in living in Rome…
The 3AM Verdict: We suspect Sunderland do still have at least some interest in Lucumí, who they pursued vigorously, if unsuccessfully, last summer. It’s very hard to say whether they could beat Roma in a straight race for his signature, however, and there can be very little confidence about where the Colombian might land this summer.
Bournemouth ‘weighing up’ summer bid for Fulham star
We’ll wrap today’s digest up with a story from Sports Boom which suggests that Bournemouth are “weighing up” a bid for Fulham wing-back Ryan Sessegnon as they search for reinforcements this summer.
Sessegnon’s deal technically expires this summer, although his current club have the option to extend it for another year, but now is the time for the Cottagers to sell if they want to make any money – and with the Cherries apparently identifying the 25-year-old as a “key target,” they may get their chance.
Sessegnon is said to be “open to testing himself” at a bigger team, but it’s not clear that Bournemouth would necessarily qualify. Fulham, for their part, are “reluctant” to part ways with the former Spurs man, too. There’s no word on how much they might demand if negotiations do open up.
The 3AM Verdict: A perfectly plausible but otherwise uncorroborated transfer rumour, so we’ll remain gently sceptical about it all until we see more. Bournemouth do likely need a new left-back this summer, however, and they can’t always sign a previous unheard-of wonderkid…
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