Welcome back to Football Transfer News.
The transfer rumour mill is a fast-paced smattering of elements of truth mixed up with a whole lot of smoke. Nonetheless, sifting through the mess can be fruitful (sometimes), so let’s take a look at the transfer turnstile that was today.
1. Swansea Stand Their Ground Over Gylfi Sigurdsson
With interest from both Everton and Leicester City, Swansea have stuck a £50,000,000 price-tag on Icelandic superstar Gylfi Sigurdsson. With the club stating “if any business is to be done, it will be done on the terms we want”. A strong statement from a club that in today’s market generally struggles keeping hold of their top players. Whilst Swansea are hoping that their high demands is enough to stop clubs from coming in for their talisman, Paul Clement is aware that someone may be willing to pay the fee. As he stated “I am planning for him to be here, but there is clearly some very strong interest in him. We will have to see what happens” in an an interview with the clubs website.
2. Arsene Wenger Expects Alexis Sanchex to Remain at Arsenal
According to the Arsenal boss, Alexis Sanchez has not shown any desire to leave the club and is fully expected to play a part this season. Wenger said that he thinks “the easiest way to manage a player is in the final year of his contract. It is in his interest to do as well as he can“. This is huge news for Arsenal fans, with the arrivals of Alexandre Lacazette and Saed Kolasinac, Arsenal suddenly have one of their best XI’s for a decade. If they are able to compete for bigger trophies than the FA Cup this season, there is every possibility a new, long term deal can be reached. As hinted by the manager, as he claimed “Nobody knows today if Sanchez will be on his final year of his contract next season, because he can extend his contract with us at the start of the season or during the season”. On the flip side however, an exit is looking increasingly likely for Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Who is no closer to signing a new contract with the club amid interest from Liverpool.
3. Hammers in for Joe Hart
West Ham United are preparing a loan move for out-of-favour England ‘keeper Joe Hart, with Manchester City looking to shift his wages from the books. With a goalkeeper brought in for the second consecutive summer, Hart looks to be done at the Etihad. It remains to be seen whether or not Manchester City would accept another loan deal or whether they would rather the shot stopper leave on a more permanent basis. With the former league champions setting a £20,000,000 price-tag on the player, it is unknown whether Premier League clubs want to part with so much money – as they will have to meet his £120,000 per week wage demands. It is unlikely that Hart travels to the USA with City as a part of their preseason work, and so a move away is more than likely at this point. It is just a matter of crunching the numbers.
4. Everton Switch Their Attention to Christian Beneteke
Following reports that they were looking to sign Olivier Giroud from Arsenal, it seems as though Everton’s number one target to replace Romelu Lukaku is a fellow Belgian. Christian Benteke – who has recently revitalised his career at Crystal Palace, has become Ronald Koeman’s ideal candidate in what would be a like for like swap with the new Manchester United striker. Another tall, powerful and deceptively speedy forward that teams can either play off or play through, Benteke would fit the Everton system perfectly. With Crystal Palace trying to finance a move for Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho, they may have to part with their talisman in order to secure the Fren
ch centre-half.
5. Kurt Zouma Seeking Loan Move
With the arrival of Antonio Rudiger, Zouma has become surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and is looking for a period away on loan as a result. Both Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion have reported interest in the midfielder, as both Chelsea and Zouma would prefer he played consistent Premier League football. Zouma has never really been able to hit the heights at Chelsea since his highly touted arrival as a promising young defender. With all the physi
cal traits a young centre-back could wish for, it has been difficult for the Frenchman to transfer this into sustained minutes due to an unfortunate string of injuries. If he is able to stay fit whilst out on loan, Zouma – still only 22, will look to prove to Antonio Conte he is ready for a place in Chelsea’s 2018/19 side.
