Rumour Reel: Martial wants out of Man Utd
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We check in on the latest transfer news
Taking a selection of done deals, gossip and the plain ridiculous, we thumb through the latest news during the January transfer window.
Snodgrass on the move
Hull’s Scottish ace Robert Snodgrass looks to be on his way out of the club after The Tigers accepted a £10m bid from Burnley. The 29-year-old Glaswegian has been the standout performer in an otherwise dull season for Hull, and it shows a real lack of ambition to let him go to a Premier League rival. Perhaps they have one eye on playing in the Championship next term.
That deal to Turf Moor looks to be close to being signed, but Middlesbrough threw a spanner in the works at the 11th-hour, and are said to be interested in getting the attacker for themselves to boost the quality of football being played at the Riverside. With West Ham also taking an interest, it looks like Snoddy will have options.
West Ham busy in the market, honest
All the news coming out of Stratford so far this month has been about players leaving West Ham, mainly Payet who looks certain to get his wish and a big-money move to France. The Hammers have already shown that they won’t be short-changed on their star-man however, even if they appear to have accepted his fate.
He will need replacing and chairman David Gold logged onto Twitter recently to lay the fears of fans to rest, assuring them that everyone behind the scenes are working tirelessly to get their intended targets in through the front door. That’ll be music to the ears of the East London support who have watched their side rattle around looking lost in their big new stadium.
Watford get their man
Watford pounced to snap up Argentine forward Mauro Zarate from Italian side Fiorentina on a two-and-a-half-year deal. The 29-year-old is all too familiar with the challenges of English football, having plied his trade at West Ham, QPR and Birmingham.
A former employee of Inter Milan, Zarate comes with an impressive CV. The Hornets will need to see him hit the ground running however and fans of the club will be hoping that he can have an instant impact on a frontline that has netted just 25 goals in their first 22 league starts.
Martial fancies a Spanish break
Several newspaper sources have claimed Manchester United’s Anthony Martial wants a move away from the club in order to play more first team football. He has been used sparingly this season and La Liga high-flyers Sevilla are said to be on hand to offer game time.
United don’t seem too keen on the idea however and it is believed Jose Mourinho and his backroom staff put a block on a temporary move to the sun. It may still happen, and a lot of the details are sketchy and little more than gossip at present, but it would certainly make sense that the Frenchman wanted more time on the field of play.
The Heat is on
There’s no lack of interest in Burnley shot-stopper Tom Heaton after the 30-year-old Englishman was seen in inspired form for The Clarets this season. His current employers aren’t in a rush to part company with their number one however and, with three-years left on his contract, they can afford to be picky.
If reports in the press this week are to be believed, Liverpool, Manchester City and Everton have all made their feelings clear, but they won’t be able to pick the goalie up on the cheap, with Burnley believed to be looking for something in the region of £15m.
