Tottenham are ready to open talks with Fiorentina over the signing of a £48m-rated midfield enforcer, while Friday’s Transfer Gossip claims Manchester City are expected to launch a huge bid to sign two of England’s World Cup stars.
CONTE WANTS SERIE A MAN TO BOLSTER SPURS MIDFIELD
Tottenham are reportedly ready to open negotiations with Fiorentina over the signing of midfielder Sofyan Amrabat in the January transfer window.
The Morocco enforcer has been one of the stars of the World Cup after leading his nation to the semi-finals in Qatar.
His form for club and country this season has led to strong links to Spurs and Liverpool. However, a report on Thursday claimed that the player’s agent was only interested in a move to Anfield.
But now, Italian publication La Repubblica (via Sport Witness), states that Tottenham are the ‘most interested club’ to sign the 26-year-old – while Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are also said to be lurking.
The report adds that while Fiorentina are unwilling to part with the Morocco star in January, an offer of around €55m (£48m) could convince them into a sale.
Indeed, Tottenham sporting director Fabio Paratici is said to be ‘ready to talk’ to the Italian side in order to ‘understand the margins of negotiation’.
Amrabat a luxury signing for Tottenham
It could be argued that Liverpool’s need for Amrabat is greater than Spurs’, with Jugen Klopp looking to completely revamp his midfield over the next two transfer windows
However, Conte wants to add more depth in his engine room, and the failure of Yves Bissouma to translate his play at Brighton to north London could play a major part in a move for Amrabat.
Bissouma has been one of the best midfielders in the Premier League over the past two years. However, he has looked a shadow of the player who excelled with the Seagulls.
To that end, Conte may decide to cut his losses and move for Amrabat instead to provide competition for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur centrally.
PEP GOES ALL OUT IN STUNNING DOUBLE CITY RAID
Manchester City’s future transfer plans involve trying to sign England duo Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham, according to reports.
Saka and Bellingham both enjoyed impressive World Cup tournaments, enhancing their growing reputations as the Three Lions crashed out to France in the quarter-finals.
Both have been heavily linked away with moves away from their respective clubs and that speculation has only heightened due to their displays in Qatar.
Premier League champions Manchester City handed a new two-year deal to boss Pep Guardiola in December and now expected to back him in the transfer market again.
And according to 90min, plans are being drawn up for City to snatch Bellingham and Saka.
The former has been heavily linked with Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp a huge fan. But City are hoping Guardiola can convince the 19-year-old that a switch to The Etihad is better for his career.
As for Saka, City have been monitoring the Arsenal winger’s progress since last season. The player is currently in contract talks with the Gunners, but that has been dragging on for a year with no conclusion.
Arsenal are said to be willing to make Saka their highest-paid player. But with his contract up in the summer of 2024, they will need to get a deal in place soon to keep City at bay.
If City do attempt to sign the duo, then that could end up being an outlay of close to £200m in the current market.
WEST HAM SUFFER BLOW IN RIGHT-BACK CHASE
West Ham are reportedly moving onto other right-back targets after it became clear they have no chance of persuading Middlesbrough to sell Isaiah Jones.
Football League World revealed back in October that the Hammers and Crystal Palace were both tracking Jones, who caught the eye by breaking through as a right wing-back under Chris Wilder last season.
However, it’s now understood West Ham have been told that Boro are not willing to sell the 23-year-old.
The Championship club are in a strong position financially after offloading Djed Spence and Marcus Tavernier, while new head coach Michael Carrick views Jones as crucial player moving forward.
In turn, that has David Moyes to switch to other targets as he looks for more defensive depth.