Werner stance
RB Leipzig chief Oliver Mintzlaff has insisted that Timo Werner is happy staying at the Bundesliga club for the rest of the season.
Werner was linked with a January move to Liverpool but decided to stay in Saxony as Leipzig bid to win their maiden Bundesliga title.
The striker did not score in his side’s 3-0 win over Werder Bremen on Saturday but after the game Mintzlaff revealed Werner’s state of mind.
“We hear these reports all the time,” he told Transfermarkt.
“Someone makes something up, and everyone else copies it. Werner is happy here and wants to play the rest of the season.”
Sancho contact
Chelsea have stolen a march in the race to sign Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho by already opening talks with the club.
According to France Football, Blues director Marina Granovskaia has begun chatting with equivalents in Germany over a transfer.
Sancho is rated at over £100million and under contract at Westfalenstadion until June 2022.
The 19-year-old has also attracted attention from Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool.
Grealish release clause
Manchester United can seal a deal now for Jack Grealish by activating the player’s £60million release clause – but they must act fast.
That is because the Sunday Mirror claim that Aston Villa are drawing up a new contract to try to convince their talisman to stay.
Grealish’s £60m valuation was inserted into his current deal which he signed in September 2018 and runs until June 2023.
But Villa chiefs have plans to hand to him a bumper new deal which rivals his demand for a £10m-a-year terms, trebling his wage.
Arsenal phone Cazorla
Arsenal staff have made phone calls to former midfielder Santi Cazorla regarding his Villarreal team-mate Samuel Chukwueze.
The Gunners passed up an opportunity to sign the Nigerian international for £4million in 2017 and are now beginning to regret their decision.
The 20-year-old has impressed at Estadio de la Ceramica with three goals and three assists in all competitions this season and Cazorla has now confirmed Arsenal’s interest in the winger to Marca.
Asked if he receives calls from Arsenal figures about Chukwueze, Cazorla said: “Yes, friends of Arsenal especially. They ask me about them and believe that tomorrow they can make the leap to the Premier.
“It is good that great teams are interested in young Villarreal players, but for now I tell them to leave them alone here. They have to take steps still. The two have a great personality and feet on the ground.”
