Coral’s Rumour Reel: Chelsea chasing Real’s Rodriguez?
Published:
Holly Thackeray | December 12, 2015
Chelsea on the road to Rodriguez
Premier League champions Chelsea are eyeing Real Madrid attacker James Rodriguez, according to the Saturday morning papers, as Jose Mourinho continues to be tipped to make marquee signings in the hope of reviving his struggling Stamford Bridge side.
The Colombia superstar had previously been linked with switching the Bernabeu for Old Trafford, having apparently not taken to life under new Los Blancos boss Rafa Benitez, though the Blues (6/5 with Coral for a Premier League top six finish) now look like favourites for the playmaker.
One blockbuster transfer the Mourinho’s London Blues may miss out on, however, is long-term defensive target John Stones.
Manchester United are instead the club now leading the pack for Everton’s star centre half, with the Red Devils supposedly willing to splash £50m on the Englishman in summer, as they seek to replenish their rearguard. Would a potential Chris Smalling-Stones partnership leave Daley Blind and Phil Jones out in the cold?
Batshuayi on radars of London rivals?
Tottenham are still targeting a striker in the January sales, though may have to pay full price for Marseille and Belgium marksman Michy Batshuayi.
Aiming to throw a spanner in the works could well be noisy neighbours Arsenal, though, as the Gunners are also believed to be targeting the bullish Belgian, but Spurs could get their bid in first.
Watford in ambitious Iturbe link
Readers may rightly have to blink twice at this rumour, as Premier League new boys Watford are tipped to try for 22-year-old Argentine attacker Juan Iturbe, currently plying his trade for Roma.
The Hornets (3/1 for a top 10 finish) may well have Serie A contacts in abundance, but borrowing this top South American prospect on loan would certainly be a coup. We’ll believe it when we see it.
Going in the other direction, from England to Italy, could be Norwich City striker Kyle Lafferty, with Palermo apparently keen to nab their former poacher and take him back for a second stint in Sicily.
Liverpool not looking for reinforcements
Reds coach Jurgen Klopp has quashed talk over January transfers, stating he will give his current Anfield crop the chance to cover gaps in his squad.
The German tactician, trying to put press off the scent, said: “I don’t feel we have to look at other people just because they cost £20m.
“In midfield we have Hendo [Jordan Henderson] back so that’s like a new option for us…we have other offensive players and we have more strikers than others, so where is the space?”
So, Liverpool fans may have to wait until summer to see Klopp’s first moves in the transfer market. Watch this space.
Related
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