Aaron
Ramsey's ongoing contract saga with Arsenal has taken an unexpected
turn as it emerges Premier League rivals Chelsea are apparently
preparing a £30million bid for the Welshman.
According to the Daily Mail, new Gunners manager Unai Emery is confident that Ramsey will stay at the Emirates
and sign a new,
Rather lucrative deal but Stamford Bridge spies are
hiding in the bushes (not literally) ready to pounce if it looks like a
transfer is a possibility.
Ramsey only has 12 months left on his current contract, meaning he
can begin negotiations with other clubs in January over a free transfer -
something Arsenal aren't incredibly eager to happen.
At 27-years-old, Ramsey - in theory - has his best years as a
midfielder ahead of him and any signs of 'deadlock' in the contract
talks will trigger a Chelsea bid. Is £30million anything close to
Ramsey's valuation?
If you can hear a sobbing sound in the background, that's just Danny
Drinkwater, dragging his gym bag behind him as he slumps into the
training ground.
Fake news?
Jose Mourinho is lighting fires around Old Trafford
to create that trademark siege mentality he so loves... but is
everything actually going pretty well behind the scenes at Man Utd?
According
to the internet, which has never ever lied or been wrong about
anything, Toby Alderweireld and Willian may be on the verge of wearing a
red shirt this season. In fact, they've already tried it out!
Is it
real? Nobody seems to know for sure but it's all over the internet and
causing quite the stir. If Aldeweireld were to sign for Man Utd, what
would happen to their ambitious bid to pry Harry Maguire from the claws
of Claude Puel?
Yes, it's the transfer story that just won't go away and the latest
update on Maguire's protracted move to Manchester United is... that
there is no update, other than that Leicester don't want to sell him
even more than they did yesterday, and the day before that.
The Foxes want at least £65million for their ball-playing defender, who is on holiday after his exploits in the World Cup.
Leicester manager Claude Puel is determined not to lose Maguire or
Kasper Schmeichel, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea in recent
weeks:
"I think we can keep them. We cannot lose players just a few days before the beginning of the season," he said.
"We would not be able to find a solution and we cannot be be behind.
Kasper and Maguire are so valuable for us. It is important to maintain
our structure, our squad and all our valuable players for the team."
Coming from America
Barcelona
have confirmed that Lucas Digne has left the club's pre-season training
camp in the USA and is expected to finalise a move to Everton to become
Leighton Baines' heir, or more likely, direct replacement.
According
to various reports, the French left-back could cost around £18million,
and he would slot in nicely to Marco Silva's back four - but only if
Roma don't steal his signature.
The Serie A side are also believed to be
heavily interested in their former player.
Digne
made 42 appearances over two seasons for the Catalan giants but was
never able to dislodge Jordi Alba, something he shouldn't really feel
too bad about.
“The last two years have been a dream of mine since I was a child,”
the 25-year-old wrote on Instagram. “I have been able to realise those
dreams and I want to thank you very much to everyone.
“Firstly, the club has given me everything since I arrived. Thanks to
all the physios, the staff, the security people and everyone who makes
the club a family.
“The city of Barcelona will always stay with me and the people have
been incredible. Finally, my colleagues, who before being the best
players in the world are amazing people, always help you.
“Barcelona is more than a club. It’s an incredible family. A very strong hug to all and much luck for the season ahead.”
Ben Woodburn might be a Villain
Aston Villa have had a pesky transfer embargo lifted by the Football League, as reported by John Percy,
and the first thing Steve Bruce wants to do with his new powers is sign
Liverpool wonderkid Ben Woodburn on a season-long loan.
Villa are favourites to land the 18-year-old and Jurgen Klopp is said
to be happy to let him develop at Championship level at this stage in
his career, rather than simply train alongside the seniors and turn out
for the Under 23s.
Wigan and Sheffield United are also interested but Villa are believed to be Klopp's preferred choice for Woodburn.
A tall order
Burnley's
inspired summer of transfer shenanigans is really heating up with The
Sun reporting that they've offered an enormous £500,000 to secure the
deadly services of Peter Crouch.
Still only 37, despite it feeling like he's a staple of the 90s,
Crouch has the magic touch that Sean Dyche needs and with five goals in
31 games last season, can really bring the thunder/mild drizzle, medium
breeze to Burnley's ambitious attempt to simply survive in the Premier
League.
Crouch
would provide backup to Sam Vokes and Chris Wood (who also enjoy a
header) but would not solve the dilemma of a potential six month absence
of Nick Pope,
Who might miss the first half of the season after
sustaining a dislocated shoulder in Burnley's 1-1 draw with Aberdeen in
their first leg Europa League qualifier.
And the rest
Paco Alcacer could be on his way to Leicester, Thibaut Courtois is
the subject of a £100million bid from Real Madrid for both him and
Willian,
New Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac says Robert Lewandowski isn't
going anywhere and clubs including Chelsea and Liverpool are said to be
interested in signing Borussia Dortmund's high potential American
winger Christian Pulisic for something around £70million.
