Rumour Reel: Chelsea chase Payet, Draxler on Red Devils radar
Published:
Holly Thackeray | June 17, 2016
As Euro 2016 continues to put players in the shop window, Premier League clubs are set to snatch some of the tournament’s top prospects, with Chelsea and Manchester United stealing the headlines this Friday morning. So, brew the tea and read on for our round-up of the latest transfer rumours…
Chelsea set sights on stealing Payet
Tabloid news have West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet mooted more and more likely to move on from east London with every passing fantastic France performance, and Chelsea are the team tipped to sweep in and buy the playmaker from under boss Slaven Bilic’s nose.
The Croatian coach has been waxing lyrical about the Hammers hero as a pundit and it’s no wonder after two goals in as many Euro games. Though, such potent performances come with a price, meaning the Irons could lose the ever-improving 29-year-old to a bigger club, but the Blues would certainly have to spend big to snatch the Bleus sensation.
Incoming Stamford Bridge coach Antonio Conte has also been one of many managers linked with triggering Leicester City engine room enforce N’Golo Kante’s release clause, and there could be a boost for Chelsea and others as the Foxes are said to be close to completing a £12m transfer for 23-year-old Nice defensive midfielder Nampalys Mendy.
With an alternative potentially in place, are the Premier League champions just reinforcing or planning for life without Kante at the King Power Stadium?
Draxler to become a Devil?
While, further up north, Man Utd manager Jose Mourinho could finally bring Germany attacker Julian Draxler to English shores. Widely expected to move to Arsenal in seasons past, the now Wolfsburg boy wonder may well be about to fill football gossip columns for another summer.
A Schalke departure seems to have revived the 22-year-old talent’s career, which had seemed to stall following a bright start. After netting eight goals and as many assists in all competitions for Die Wolfe this term it appears adaptable Draxler has now popped up on the Red Devils’ radar, with the Mancunian club requiring additional quality on the wings and across attacking midfield.
In more Man Utd news, the Red Devils are also believed to be ready to raid Ligue 1 giants Monaco for the second season in a row, just one summer after snapping up Anthony Martial, but this time for Brazilian right back Fabinho.
The four capped Samba Boys star has excelled in Monaco and is also able to be deployed as a defensive midfielder, though it is thought Mourinho is eyeing the 22-year-old to bring more dynamism to his backline.
Staying with Red Devils links in Ligue 1, reports suggest the Old Trafford outfit have already made an offer for emergent Bordeaux and France Under-20 talent Adam Ounas. United are ready to fork out around £7.9m for the teenager, who can operate as a central or wide attacking midfielder, but it could well take more to prise his potential from France.
Man City to make Sane decision, Lewandowski lurking
Could Man Utd’s reported interest in Ounas be due to missing out on Schalke young-gun Leroy Sane? Currently away at the Euros with Germany, the exciting winger is apparently valued at £40m with Manchester City and Pep Guardiola supposedly leading the queue for the 20-year-old’s services.
Though, Man Utd could also dampen the blow of losing out on Sane, who could bring an extra dimension to the Sky Blues attack with his searing speed and dribbling, by recruiting Basel and Switzerland striker Breel Embolo. For a boss that purportedly doesn’t like youth, Mourinho sure seems to be linked to a lot of teenage talents.
Finally, in news that would probably interest every single Premier League team, Poland and Bayern Munich poacher Robert Lewandowski is purportedly open to offers from England if a mooted move to Real Madrid does not come off.
Supposedly unsettled in Bavaria, the fierce frontman would be inundated with offers if he became available, though reports that the 27-year-old is also in talks with Bayern for a new contract also mean this tale, highlighting former boss Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool as an option, should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Related
