Arsenal are readying a £44m bid for a classy Croatian midfielder Lovro Majer, Newcastle are eyeing a bargain double approach on Leicester, while Sunday’s Transfer Gossip also suggests Eddie Howe has a cut-price raid on Inter Milan in his sights.
LOVRO MAJER SUBJECT OF STRONG ARSENAL INTEREST
Arsenal are plotting a £44m swoop to sign Lovro Majer in January as they look to beat a string of rivals to his signature.
The 24-year-old Croatian is making a big name for himself in France with Rennes, following his move from Dinamo Zagreb last year. But it seems his stint in France will be a short one with the Ligue 1 side ready to sell for a vastly-inflated profit.
Indeed, having cost them £10.7m (€12m) in summer 2021, they are now willing to sell him for four-times their investment. Majer, an attacking midfielder who can also operate slightly deeper, scored six times and added nine assists last season.
As such, he’s being compared to Luka Modric, who also, like Majer, won three league titles at Zagreb before moving overseas.
That form has brought him to Arsenal’s attention with the Gunners scouting him on multiple occasions. And his latest display, during Croatia’s 2-1 win over Denmark on Thursday, has seemingly convinced them to make a move.
Now the Daily Mirror suggests the Gunners are ready to make their move to beat a series of rivals to his signature.
Any deal will not come cheap with Rennes seeking around £44m for their star. But Arsenal know they will have to act quickly with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Liverpool also watching the midfielder.
Lovro Majer the latest midfielder linked with Arsenal
Mikel Arteta is desperate to bolster his central midfield options, with plenty of stars on his radar.
The Gunners saw a summer deadline day offer for Douglas Luiz fall short and it remains to be seen if they will move again in January. However, they are seemingly lifted by reports suggesting he fancies the move to Emirates Stadium.
He’s not their only option either with Palmeiras star Danilo also in their sights. Manuel Locatelli and Konrad Laimer are also being suggested as potential options for Arteta.
The Gunners boss could also come back in for Youri Tielemans, who will have just six months left on his deal come January.
Either way, the signing of a new midfielder will be top of the agenda for Arteta and Edu in the winter window.
The Gunners have made a superb start to the new season and will want further additions to ensure they don’t run out of steam.
However, it seems Majer may now be their No 1 target with scouts raving about his displays.
NEWCASTLE PLOT DOUBLE RAID ON LEICESTER
Newcastle are weighing up a January move for Youri Tielemans – and could have an ace up their sleeve.
The Belgian star surprisingly remains a Leicester player after failing to secure a summer move. But with just six months left on his deal by the time the January window opens, his time there may soon be cut short.
Indeed, the cash-strapped Foxes are unwilling to let him leave on a free and would rather secure £15m in January. And as Arsenal and Manchester United’s interest fades, the options for Tielemans may be dwindling.
Now the Daily Mirror claims summer suitors Newcastle are plotting a fresh move in January.
And it seems Tielemans’ relationship with Newcastle coach Graeme Jones could help seal the deal. Indeed, Jones knows the midfielder well from his time working with the Belgium national side. As such, Jones could play a key role in helping convince Tielemans to move to St James’ Park.
A lowly £15m represents a bargain deal and Newcastle hope Leicester will have little choice but to accept.
And Tielemans might not be the only player raid the Magpies raid the Foxes for in the new year.
That’s after amid claims they are also plotting a fresh move to prise James Maddison from the King Power in January.
The England cap will have just 18 months left on his deal come the new year – and he’s yet to agree an extension.
They saw a £50m offer rejected in the summer – but any deal now could cost them much less, Football Insider reports.
And his fee could be as low as £35m, another relative transfer bargain. That means Newcastle could spend a total of just £50m to land two of the Foxes elite stars.
MAGPIES CHASING STEFAN DE VRIJ DEAL
January certainly looks like being a busy month for Newcastle with the Magpies also reportedly keen on Stefan De Vrij.
The Inter Milan defender is reportedly on Eddie Howe’s shopping list as he looks to form an all-Dutch central defence.
Per multiple reports, Howe wants De Vrij as a partner for summer signing Sven Botman.
And it’s unlikely that Inter will stand in his way with the 30-year-old currently struggling for first-team football.
His contract at the San Siro is due to expire in June 2023, meaning he’s available for a bargain fee.
And Inter will likely listen to offers of just £10m for the 58-times capped defender.
But his experience and know-how would hugely benefit the Magpies as Howe looks to make their defence even meaner.
