It certainly wasn’t the wildest of days for the silly season transfer rumor mill, but there was still plenty of gossip to spare with less than a week to go in the window.
In totally bonkers news, The Express is reporting on a Spanish tale that claims Real Madrid could sell Karim Benzema to either Arsenal (maybe logical) or Manchester United (less so) in order to fund the purchases of Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling (he’s about to sign a new deal at Anfield) and Tottenham’s Harry Kane (Come on, now). But just in case it isn’t clickbait, we’re acknowledging it.
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Adnan Januzaj’s agent claims that Paris Saint-Germain came calling for the 19-year-old, but Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal refused to sell or loan the youngster to the Ligue 1 power. “The coach considered him as an important player for squad. He is counting on everyone,” is the quote from the agent in the Manchester Evening News.
Arsenal’s Joel Campbell should finally get some consistent playing time with a loan deal expected at Villarreal. One of the stars of Costa Rica’s run at the World Cup, Campbell has been a transfer mill favorite since the end of the tournament in Brazil. Now it seems he could be headed in the other direction as Gabriel Paulista heads to the Emirates.
Sky Sports says Southampton is interested in Feyenoord man Tonny Vilhena, who recently turned 20. He has yet to score this season but registered six goals and eight assists as an 18-year-old last season.
A couple of Cardiff alums could be swapping London homes if Alan Pardew is able to pull Jordon Mutch away from Queens Park Rangers. It’s said that the deal would bring Fraizer Campbell to Loftus Road. And Pardew could splash cash on Lille defender Pape Souare, giving the Senegalese man a new home when he returns from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko has been often linked with Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, but the Northeast England club’s first-half MVP isn’t in a hurry to leave town. Sissoko said he appreciates his time with the Magpies and, while admitting that PSG is a hard club to turn down should it come to that, he’s focusing on his 4 1/2 years contract with the Magpies.
Newcastle ‘s chief scout Graham Carr may have found a pair of Spanish youngsters to bring Tyneside. The man who brought Ayoze Perez from Tenerife for a steal this summer is said to be after Racing Santander striker David Concha, 18, and Sporting Gijon defender Jorge Mere, 17.