Transfer news LIVE – Thursday December 12
- Arsenal chiefs would like their next manager to be a former Gunners ace
- Man Utd have stolen a march on their rivals in the hunt for Kai Havertz
- Liverpool have been advised against launching a raid to sign PSG’s Neymar
- Chelsea are focussing on two targets after their transfer ban was halved
Man Utd eye Paul Pogba replacements
Manchester United are gearing up to offload Paul Pogba next summer with Donny van de Beek and Saul Niguez lined up to replace the midfielder.
Real Madrid and Barcelona have been touted as potential destinations for Pogba for the past couple of years and United are looking set to let him go.
The Daily Mail claim United are identifying players to fill the void he’d leave behind in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s midfield, with Van de Beek and Saul on their radar.
Van de Beek has excelled at Ajax, while Saul is a mainstay of Diego Simeone’s impressive Atletico Madrid side.
Transfer news LIVE: Manchester United are preparing for when Paul Pogba leaves Old Trafford (Image: GETTY)
Steven Gerrard given Liverpool message
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard must get his hands on some silverware as a manager if he’s to return to Liverpool one day.
That’s the view of Gordon Strachan, who said: “I’m sure he’ll go to Liverpool when his time comes, but you don’t know when that’ll be – it could be when you’re 21, it could be when you’re 61. As a manager, you’ve got to strike when your stock is high.
“We’ve seen it when managers have stayed at a club too long and then never get their big move, I know loads of managers like that. You saw last season Brendan Rodgers deciding what was best for him – and, in a funny way, everybody has come out of that alright.
“Steven Gerrard has just got to keep winning. He can’t get a move to Liverpool, or anywhere else, if he isn’t. Most managers want to test themselves at the highest level, but Liverpool won’t come for him if he isn’t winning games and winning trophies.”
Transfer news LIVE: Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has been backed to manage Liverpool one day (Image: GETTY)
Barcelona want Carlos Vela
Barcelona are in the hunt for Los Angeles forward Carlos Vela following the Mexican’s stunning 2019 season in the MLS.
Vela’s international team-mate Jonathan Dos Santos said: “As I am now on vacation, I have not had much contact with [Vela]. But it is true, he has that offer on the table [from Barcelona]. I don’t know what he’s going to do.
“He’s very happy in Los Angeles, he had a spectacular season, but Barca looking for you is a very nice opportunity. I’m happy for him. As a Mexican, I hope this possibility can be given.”
Vela – who used to be on the books at Arsenal – has previously plied his trade in Spain with Celta de Vigo, Salamanca, Osasuna and Real Sociedad.
Transfer news LIVE: Barcelona want to get Carlos Vela on board in January (Image: GETTY)
Leicester contract plan
Leicester are planning to get ahead of the game by tying down James Maddison and Caglar Soyuncu to new contracts ahead of the January transfer window.
Maddison is attracting plenty of admiring glances – most notably from Manchester United – following a stellar first half of the season.
Soyuncu, likewise, is being showered with praise having formed a formidable centre-back partnership with Jonny Evans.
The Mirror report Leicester want to reduce the chance of losing either of the duo by securing them on new deals as soon as possible.
Transfer news LIVE: Leicester want to keep hold of James Maddison and Caglar Soyuncu (Image: GETTY)
West Ham sack stance
West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini is safe for now with London Stadium chiefs deciding against sacking the Chilean prior to this weekend’s showdown with Southampton.
Pellegrini is under the cosh following the Hammers’ 3-1 defeat to Arsenal which compounded their alarming start to the season.
However, The Athletic report Karen Brady and co. will not wield the axe until they at least see how the clash against Southampton pans out.
West Ham are reluctant to change personnel mid-season and would rather see Pellegrini turn things around in east London.
Transfer news LIVE: West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini has been given a stay of execution (Image: GETTY)
Chelsea eye Moussa Dembele and Timo Werner
Chelsea jetted in a team of scouts to make fresh checks on Moussa Dembele and Timo Werner when Lyon and RB Leipzig went head-to-head this week.
The Blues are on the lookout for new recruits having had their transfer ban halved following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Frank Lampard and co. are eager to bolster their attack, with Dembele and Werner emerging as prime targets ahead of the January window.
The Daily Mail report Chelsea personnel took in Dembele and Werner’s performances in person as they faced off in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal, Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Real Madrid, Barcelona updates (Image: GETTY)
Liverpool warned off Neymar
Liverpool will not be signing Neymar because the Paris Saint-Germain forward does not have the right profile for Jurgen Klopp’s squad.
That’s the verdict of former Premier League star Craig Burley, who’s given his verdict amid rumours Liverpool want to sign the Brazilian.
“He made a terrible decision to go to PSG from where he was, because he wanted to be the big cheese,” Burley said. “It’s all a bit of a mess, and eventually he will make his move out of there.
“I may look a fool if this happens but I’m quietly confident that Jurgen Klopp – who has galvanised one of the best squads in football with workrate, desire, hard-workingness, all those things, doesn’t want to obliterate it by bringing in some ‘Johnny Big Potatoes’. As good as he is, you can hit ‘miss’ on that. Neymar will not be pulling on a Liverpool strip.”
Transfer news LIVE: Chelsea are fans of Lyon hotshot Moussa Dembele (Image: GETTY)
Man Utd lead Kai Havertz race
Manchester United are in pole position to land Bayer Leverkusen ace Kai Havertz with the Red Devils said to be showing the most interest in the midfielder.
Havertz is one of the most highly-rated young playmakers in the Bundesliga and his performances have turned the heads of plenty of scouts.
United, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus are among the top sides keeping tabs on his development at the BayArena.
SportBild, though, indicate United are at the front of the queue to land the Germany international if he is to leave Leverkusen.
Transfer news LIVE: Liverpool have been advised against signing Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar (Image: GETTY)
Transfer news LIVE: Manchester United are in the hunt for Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz (Image: GETTY)
Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke would like a former Gunners star in the hotseat (Image: GETTY)
Arsenal next manager decision
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke and his son Josh have decided they want their next manager to be a former Gunners player if possible.
Express Sport understands Mikel Arteta has emerged as the frontrunner for the job after impressing during his fledgling coaching career at Manchester City.
And it seems that may in part be down to his ties with Arsenal, as the Daily Mail are reporting the Kroenkes want a man familiar with the north Londoners to replace Unai Emery.
Ex-Arsenal winger Freddie Ljungberg is currently in charge at the Emirates on an interim basis, while former captain Patrick Vieira is a candidate for the full-time job too.
