Chelsea are preparing to sign an Arsenal and Tottenham-linked forward with Todd Boehly’s spending power tipped to be decisive, while Everton are in dialogue over a move to sign a striker Man Utd came close to landing – both in Wednesday’s Transfer Gossip.
CHELSEA AT IT AGAIN
The Blues are a genuine threat to Arsenal in the transfer market once more, with a report revealing a forward also on Tottenham’s radar is now in Chelsea’s sights.
Todd Boehly’s January spending has already surpassed the £160m mark following their move for Mykhaylo Mudryk.
The Ukraine ace had been earmarked for a move to the Emirates, though Arsenal were ultimately unwilling to match Chelsea’s offers on both transfer fee and personal terms.
That’s led Mikel Arteta and co. to move on to other targets, such as Raphinha and Moussa Diaby. North London rivals Tottenham too are in the market for a new attacker given Lucas Moura will leave at season’s end.
One player they’ve both converged on is Brighton’s Leandro Trossard who’s in the midst of a falling out with manager Roberto De Zerbi.
The 28-year-old Belgian was axed from the squad to face Liverpool last weekend after reportedly leaving a training session without authorisation. Questions over his application since De Zerbi took charge have also been raised.
De Zerbi has since opened the door for Trossard to return, though the player is keen to taste Champions League football and the Mirror report he’s ready to make a move.
Spurs have already seen a verbal offer worth around £12m rejected, per the Athletic. The Mirror deem Arsenal ‘big fans’ of Trossard who’d be a readymade addition to their frontline. However, Chelsea have other ideas.
It’s claimed they’re now in a tug-of-war with their London rivals over Trossard as they push for a complete overhaul of their attacking options.
Their January business is far from over and Chelsea’s ‘superior financial firepower’ means they could ‘easily trump anything offered’ by Spurs or Arsenal.
Trossard has 18 months remaining on his Brighton dealand the Seagulls are expected to command around £25m for the wantaway star.
Chelsea have another advantage in the fact their manager, Graham Potter, knows Trossard well. Potter was at the AMEX when Trossard was first brought to England in 2019.
EVERTON MOVE FOR MAN UTD TARGET
Frank Lampard’s quest to sign new firepower has brought him to a veteran striker Man Utd came close to landing last summer, per a report.
The Toffees are the joint-second lowest scorers in the league at present with only Wolves (12) having found the net on fewer occasions than their tally of 15.
Reinforcements at centre-forward are a must if they’re to have any hope of beating the drop. Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues to struggle with form and injury, while Neal Maupay has scored just once since arriving from Brighton.
Atalanta’s Duvan Zapata is in their sights, with the Colombian goal machine wanted via the loan-to-buy route.
The Mirror’s reporting on that front has since been backed up by Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb. However, after their Zapata approach was reportedly rejected, that same outlet now claim former Man Utd target, Marko Arnautovic, is now in play.
The Austria international, 33, was a surprise striker target for Man Utd last summer and an official bid of around £7.6m was tabled.
An improved offer was reportedly in the works, though the plug was pulled thanks to two major reasons.
Arnautovic ultimately remained with Serie A side Bologna, though TMW report he’s now in contact with Everton over a move to Goodison Park.
A deal is stated to be ‘warming up’ and contact between intermediaries is flowing. Arnautovic is actually sidelined through a foot sprain at present, though will return to full fitness before the month is out.
The former West Ham and Stoke frontman has been a big hit in Italy, notching 23 goals in 50 matches for Bologna.
His combative style could see him mirror Richarlison’s impact if signed. The Toffees have lacked bite and aggression in the final third since the Brazilian’s £60m move to Tottenham.
Whether a permanent or loan deal is being targeted isn’t stated, though it’s likely to be the former. A loan exit would make little sense for Bologna given Arnautovic is their starting centre-forward.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST WANT RECENT NEWCASTLE SIGNING
Finally, a Newcastle attacker signed just 12 months ago is a transfer target for fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest.
That’s according to Football Insider who state New Zealand international, Chris Wood, is in Steve Cooper’s sights.
Wood was a £25m signing from Burnley in the last winter window, though Alexander Isak’s club-record arrival has pushed him down to third choice behind Callum Wilson too.
Wood hasn’t been all that effective when given the nod anyway. Indeed, his tally after a year on Tyneside stands at five goals in 39 across all competitions.
That’s not stopping Forest from registering their interest, however, with FI reporting they’re ‘plotting a surprise move’.
Cooper is angling for more options up front and both permanent and loan deals are being explored.
It’s claimed Magpies boss Eddie Howe might be open to moving Wood on, though only if he’s able to sign a replacement.
