Last Word On Football’s Football Transfer News looks at the latest news and rumours from around world football. Today’s edition looks at the latest EFL transfer rumours. We take a look at the Brentford pair interesting Crystal Palace. Plus, are Birmingham City set to do a swap deal with neighbours Aston Villa?
Today’s instalment also looks at the latest news from Sunderland as they look to improve their squad. Also, can Oxford United win the race for a Charlton winger?
EFL Transfer Rumours
Palace Eye Brentford Duo
The Guardian are reporting that Crystal Palace are interested in signing Brentford duo Ollie Watkins and Neal Maupay. The pair could command a fee of at least £30 million. A host of clubs have shown an interest in Maupay as he hit 28 goals last season. Watkins also had an impressive season scoring 12 and creating nine.
Wideman Watkins is seen by Palace as a perfect replacement should Wilfried Zaha leave this summer. Like other clubs, Palace are desperate for more firepower, and it appears Maupay fits the bill. Palace will have to work fast to secure the pair with other clubs closing monitoring the situation.
Midlands Rivals to Do Swap Deal
Aston Villa are set to sign Birmingham City’s Jota. Sky Sports report that the winger is to become Villa’s first signing since gaining promotion. The deal is expected to cost Villa £4 million with Gary Gardener moving to St Andrew’s as part of the deal. Gardener spent last season on loan with the Blues and is a boyhood Birmingham fan.
Jota played for Villa manager Dean Smith at Brentford. He then moved to Birmingham in a £6 million deal. He went on to make 75 appearances, scoring eight goals. His move will save the Blues around £35,000 per week in wages.
Sunderland Looking at Former Loanee
Sunderland are to join the race to sign former England international Stewart Downing. According to The Echo, Downing will leave Middlesbrough at the end of the month when his contract expires. Downing spent time on loan with the Black Cats at the beginning of his career.
Sunderland will face tough competition for the ex-Liverpool winger. Blackburn Rovers and Rangers are reportedly interested. Although Sunderland will once again play League One football next season, a move to the Stadium of Light could appeal. Downing and his family are settled in the North East and a move to Sunderland would see disruption at a minimum.
Oxford Chase Charlton Winger
Oxford United are in the hunt to sign Charlton Athletic’s Tariqe Fosu. The South London Press are reporting that Oxford, Lincoln City and Rotherham United are interested in the winger. The U’s, however, could have an advantage. Fosu played for Karl Robinson while the pair were at Charlton. He was a regular under Robinson but fell down the pecking order when Lee Bowyer took charge.
Fosu joined Charlton from Reading in 2017 and impressed in his debut season. During his first campaign, he scored nine goals, including a perfect hat-trick: goals with his head, right foot and left foot. His current deal ends in July and the Addicks have offered a contract to ensure they receive compensation.
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