Everton & West Ham ‘in mix’ for shock striker deal as Man Utd target £47.5m wonderkidplaceholder image
Everton & West Ham ‘in mix’ for shock striker deal as Man Utd target £47.5m wonderkid | Getty Images
The biggest new Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Everton, West Ham, Manchester United, Arsenal and more.
There are just four days left before the January transfer window finally slams shut – nobody ever closes them carefully – and with so much rumour and gossip floating around, we’re here with our daily round-up of some of the biggest and strangest Premier League transfer stories you might have missed.
We’ll start with a story from Sport Witness – who cite Turkish media outlet A Spor – which suggests that Everton, West Ham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest are “all interested” in striking a deal for former Aston Villa striker Jhon Durán before the January deadline arrives.
Durán lasted just six months in Saudi Arabia after his £64m move and is currently on loan with Fenerbahçe, but that relatively complicated situation isn’t dissuading his many suitors, who all have him “on their radar” with loan moves likely to be the order of the day.
Whispers that the Colombian could leave Turkey have been made to look stronger by his withdrawal from his current club’s Europa League squad – although the official explanation is that he has a knock, and it’s said in any case that he “doesn’t want to leave Fenerbahçe.” The club, however, could be keen to take a chance to make some money out of a loan player.
The 3AM Verdict: There’s no word on the finances involved in this deal, which will massively impact how realistic this rumour is – it may only be a loan, but Fenerbahçe would have to be compensated for the early termination of their agreement with Durán. A difficult deal to get done then, but there is time. One to watch, and an intriguing story for several sides.
Manchester United and Arsenal among suitors for Bundesliga wonderkid
Over to a story from Sports Boom gossipmonger Efrem Konur now – he reckons that Manchester United and Arsenal are interested in a “blockbuster move” for Ivorian wonderkid Bazoumana Touré, who has made a big impression for both Hoffenheim and his national team over the past few months.
When not gushing excitably over a player who is apparently “the hottest prospect in football” and a “future Ballon d’Or contender,” Konur’s report states that both Premier League sides’ scouts have been “ever-presents” in the stands for the 19-year-old’s matches, with both teams looking ahead to a summer bid.
The big barrier to such a deal will be Bayern Munich, by the sound of it. The German giants are “already planning” a deal to sign Touré. Apparently it’s already “nailed on” that he will leave Hoffenheim in 2026, even with the destination to be determined. His club have apparently set the asking price as high as €55m (£47.5m).
The 3AM Verdict: This article reads like it was written by Touré’s agent rather than a professional journalist, and we’re treating it with due scepticism – but the winger is certainly a big talent, is very quick, and will likely attract plenty of attention if his career continues its upwards trajectory, even if it’s too early to suggest that Manchester United and Arsenal will make a bid, especially at that price tag.
Wolves ‘on cusp’ of signing the Chinese Casemiro
Let’s wrap up with an intriguing story for any Wolves fans reading – according to TeamTalk, the club are “on [the] cusp” of securing a deal for 21-year-old defensive midfielder Xu Bin, a China Under-23 international who supposedly idolises Casemiro.
Apparently the deal which is in the works would see Wolves sign Xu on a free transfer from current side Qingdao West Coast, and he’s already said to have made the journey to England after an impressive showing with his country in the Under-23 Asian Cup.
It’s suggested that UK work permit restrictions could be a problem, and he may be loaned out to a European side to get around that issue (or, it’s suggested, a Championship club, which suggests an author not entirely familiar with immigration law). However the deal gets done, Wolves are said to be “closing in” on this one quickly.
The 3AM Verdict: An interesting deal – from what we can tell based on stats and the scraps of tape available to us, Xu is a legitimately talented defensive midfielder and could be a shrewd signing, although the work permit issue makes it rather complicated and potentially pointless if he can’t meet the requirements quickly. It sounds like it’s a deal which will happen, however, with Western media seemingly just now catching up to reports from China.
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