Nuno Espirito Santo and Eddie Howeplaceholder image
Nuno Espirito Santo and Eddie Howe | Getty Images
The latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from West Ham, Newcastle, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Leeds and more.
Every morning, our journalists comb through the gossip columns to bring you a quick round-up of some of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours which you might have missed over the past 24 hours – and today, we’re starting with a story involving West Ham, Newcastle and Aston Villa all at the same time.
According to Sports Boom, they’re the three Premier League clubs who are involving themselves in a “transfer race” after rising Hoffenheim starlet Max Moerstedt, a 20-year-old striker whose form has apparently started to generate significant interest ahead of the summer window.
Apparently West Ham, Newcastle and Aston Villa are all “closely monitoring” the Germany age group international, who has scored four goals in 18 games so far this season, with tactical development and physicality said to have drawn particular attention.
Hoffenheim are in “no rush to sell” Moerstedt, who is under contract until 2030, but a package worth up to €30m (£26m) could be enough to force them to come to the table. There’s no word on whether the player himself is looking to move just yet, nor any suggestion that talks have taken place.
The 3AM Verdict: This feels a bit like either agent talk or an overexcitable hype train to us – Moerstedt simply shown us enough (yet) to command a €30m transfer fee and while he may have been watched by a few scouts, we doubt he’s a major priority for any Premier League sides. That could changes quickly, of course, but we’d expect that sort of price point to be too steep unless he starts scoring more frequently.
Liverpool ‘among suitors’ for elite Dutch talent
Let’s take in a story from TeamTalk now, and it’s another one about Premier League interest in a talented player from the continent – in this case, Liverpool’s alleged pursuit of 18-year-old Ajax midfielder Sean Steur.
The youngster’s performances in the Eredivisie are said to have “caused a stir” with Liverpool apparently prominent among his “suitors.” Interest is said to be “surging,” even though the Netherlands Under-18 international only has 10 senior league appearances to his name.
Ajax are supposedly “determined to keep Steur long-term” with the teenager under contract until 2028. Liverpool aren’t the only side chasing him, however, with Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City all suggested as having interest as well.
The 3AM Verdict: This is probably another hype train, too, especially with the subject of a new contract likely to be introduced soon, but Steur has enjoyed an extremely promising start to his young career so we wouldn’t be shocked if Premier League sides were taking a close look at him. It is, incidentally, TeamTalk’s decision to headline with Liverpool’s interest, but there’s no particular reason given to single them out above the other alleged contenders.
Leeds ‘set sights’ on potential Gnonto replacement
We’ll wrap today’s column up with a second story from Sports Boom, who reckon that Leeds United have “set [their] sights” on Colombian international Yáser Asprilla, who could serve as a “replacement” for Willy Gnonto should the Italian leave this summer.
The 22-year-old Asprilla, who is currently on loan at Galatasaray from Girona, spent a couple of seasons with Watford earlier in his career and could be on his way back to England after Leeds began “eyeing him up” as a summer transfer target.
Juventus, AS Roma and Lazio are all said to be interested in signing Gnonto and Leeds have “compiled a dossier” on Asprilla as they look for possible alternatives. Apparently Girona value him at £25m, although it’s not suggested that any talks have taken place.
The 3AM Verdict: This is a slightly odd story – there’s no particular reason that Leeds shouldn’t be keen on Asprilla, but he’d make a strange replacement for Gnonto given that they play in different positions. Asprilla is a central midfielder, after all. We’ll wait to see more corroboration and perhaps a slightly more coherent narrative before we buy this one.
Continue Reading