The latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Man Utd, West Ham, Chelsea and more.
With the transfer window continuing to move at blinding speed, 3 Added Minutes are back once more with our regular round-up and review of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours – starting with a story for Manchester United fans.
TeamTalk have an update on the Red Devils’ hunt for a new midfielder, and believe that that United’s “dream” target is in fact Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton – and “could make an approach” in this transfer window.
Wharton himself is said to be “open to joining” but will also not try to force Palace into a transfer. The Eagles, who are already losing Eberechi Eze this summer, will demand at least £60m and are in no rush to sell, but if a big-money move must be made it’s now said that United are “leaning towards” Wharton over Carlos Baleba, another widely-reported target.
This story also pours cold water over suggestions made by other media outlets that United could be in the market for VfB Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller. United are said to not be discussing the 24-year-old and “no concrete plans” to bid.
The 3AM Verdict: This report hedges its bets a bit by also mentioning Morten Hjulmand and Lucien Agoumé – the former is areal target but is proving tricky to sign for a fair price, while the latter is only linked through poor sources. As for Wharton, we don’t see a deal happening, and believe Palace would demand much more than £60m. United are admirers, but this isn’t all that realistic.
West Ham target World Cup & Euros star
Whenever you hear the name Breel Embolo, you probably think of his uncanny knack of scoring goals at major tournaments – and we may soon find out whether his Swiss heroics work in the Premier League, with West Ham United now in the bidding for him, according to Sport Witness.
The AS Monaco man is “on the market” this summer and has been strongly linked with a move to Serie A champions Napoli, but the Hammers are now said to be “competing” for his signature, which is reported elsewhere as being worth around €20m (£16.5m).
Monaco are said to be “waiting on an offer to sell him” and while it doesn’t sound as though that has arrived as yet, the 28-year-old is very much an option. For some obscure reason, the article goes on to claim that West Ham would likely offload a striker currently on the books to make way for Embolo, because apparently they have too many forwards, making us worry that the reporters has them confused with another team.
The 3AM Verdict: That bizarre last suggestion aside, this is all coming directly from an agent as the primary source, and it’s always tough to trust their word on transfer given that they usually have an interest in persuading clubs that lots of different teams want their players. Still, West Ham are likely to sign another forward and Embolo is relatively cheap, versatile and experienced.
Chelsea’s transfer hopes ‘dwindling by the day’
Finally, a story from Caught Offside which suggests that Chelsea’s chances of selling Christopher Nkunku to Bayern Munich – potentially a necessary step before signing Xavi Simons – are “dwindling by the day.”
Bayern’s advisory board have supposedly on decided to sanction a loan move for Nkunku or any other new signing, and Chelsea are only interested in moving the Frenchman on permanently, meaning that Bayern are likely to “miss out” on a deal their coaching staff want to get done.
The good news for the Blues is that RB Leipzig, Nkunku’s former club, are “picking up momentum” as they enter the bidding and are now “the only club willing to offer Chelsea a transfer fee”. Nkunku’s preference, however, is said to be Bayern.
The 3AM Verdict: This all has the ring of a transfer deal that’s going to go down to the deadline day wire, and it will be interesting to see what the ramifications for Chelsea’s interested in Simons are. They’re still after the Dutchman, but want to sell before they buy.
Continue Reading