TRANSFER NEWS LIVE – Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip coming out of the Premier League and more.
West Ham medical
Samir Nasri is undergoing a medical ahead of a short-term deal with West Ham, reports claim.
Nasri, 31, is still serving an 18-month drugs ban for breaching Uefa’s doping regulations.
But his suspension will be lifted in late December and the France international will be eligible to play from January onwards.
West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini, who managed Nasri at Manchester City, is the driving force behind the proposed six-month contract.
With Andriy Yarmolenko sidelined for the remainder of the season with Achilles injury, the Evening Standard claim West Ham are prepared to accept Nasri’s lofty £80k wage demands.
Man City Head Physio joins Liverpool
Drama in the Physio room!
Manchester City Head Physio Lee Nobes is joining Liverpool, reports claim.
Nobes, who frequently features in the Amazon documentary All or Nothing, is leaving the Etihad Stadium after 11 years of service.
According to website Training Ground Guru, Nobes will assume his role on November 26 after the international break.
Liverpool’s previous Head Physio Matt Konopinski left the club in September to join the England setup.
Loris Karius deal
Besiktas would like to sign Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius on a permanent deal, according to the club’s president Fikret Orman.
Karius joined the Turkish club on a two-year loan spell in August having fallen down the pecking order at Anfield.
Various recent reports claimed the 25-year-old would be dropped, while others said Besiktas wanted to send him back to Liverpool early.
However, Besiktas president Orman has dismissed rumours and revealed he hopes to sign Karius.
“Karius is an excellent keeper, god willing we will sign him on a permanent transfer,” he told Turkish newspaper Harberle.
Wanted: Vilius Piliukaitis
Manchester United and Liverpool are leading the chase to sign Blackburn talent Vilius Piliukaitis.
That’s according to website TEAMtalk, who are claiming that Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham have also shown interest.
Piliukaitis, 17, arrived at Ewood Park on an initial loan deal from the Lithuanian National Football Academy this summer and quickly showcased his abilities.
He won the Man of the Match award for Blackburn’s Under-18 squad against Manchester City and fired two goals against West Brom during a 4-1 victory on November 3.
The Lithuania Under-18 international attracted interest from Spurs and Liverpool before joining Blackburn – who have the option to sign him on a permanent basis.
But that could mean little if the Premier League’s elite come knocking.
Wanted: Simon Mignolet
Simon Mignolet’s days at Liverpool could be numbered with Patrick Vieira’s Nice interested.
Mignolet, 30, is playing second-fiddle to £65million summer signing Alisson.
The Belgian international hasn’t played a single minute of Premier League football this campaign – making his one and only appearance in the 2-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Chelsea.
Belgian newspaper Het Belang van Limburg claim Nice want to secure Mignolet’s signature doing the January transfer window.
And that’s because Arsenal legend Vieira isn’t satisfied with his current options of Yoan Cardinale and Walter Benitez.
Eden Hazard latest
Chelsea star Eden Hazard insists he’s happy at Stamford Bridge despite persistent links to Real Madrid.
The Belgian international, who drew a blank in yesterday’s goalless draw with Everton, has frequently been tipped to complete a mega-money transfer to the Bernabeu.
Hazard, 27, says he’s always enjoyed himself at Chelsea but stopped short of committing his long-term future to the club.
“For the last seven years with Chelsea, I have always enjoyed myself. When I am on the pitch I try to give happiness, first to me and then to the fans who are watching the game,” Hazard explained. “At the moment, we are doing well and that’s why I am doing well. So I am happy to play at the moment.”
Premier League incoming
Dani Alves wants a Premier League transfer.
The Brazil international, 35, joined Paris St-Germain after a brief spell with Juventus – and spurned Manchester City’s advances to complete the free transfer.
But Alves now wants another opportunity to sample the Premier League.
“The idea that I might finish my career without going to the Premier League, it is not possible,” Alves told the Telegraph. “For sure, this is the most amazing football in the world.
“First, because of the respect for the players from the fans, and then because of the passion on the pitch. If I can play, that would be perfect, but I will make it there one way or the other.”
Solari announcement today
Santiago Solari’s future will be decided today.
Interim boss Solari has overseen four-consecutive wins since succeeding the sacked Julen Lopetegui last month – and could now be handed the Real reins full-time.
Solari’s future is set to be determined today as Spanish league rules dictate caretaker managers cannot be in charge of a club for more than 14 days.
After that time, the temporary boss must be made permanent if they are to continue in the role – and it will be exactly two weeks today since Solari was put in charge.
“The important thing is to do what is necessary for the good of the team, everything else doesn’t matter,” Solari told reporters after yesterday’s 4-2 LaLiga victory at Celta Vigo.
Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal
Unai Emery’s hopes of signing Lille star Nicolas Pepe in January have taken a knock.
Yesterday, The Sun reported that Arsenal were targeting the £45m-rated winger following Danny Welbeck’s devastating injury.
But Lille president Gerard Lopez has staunchly denied that Pepe will leave in the winter market.
“What if Barcelona gives me €100million (£87m) by Pepe? He will not leave this winter. I want him to continue here, we want him to stay, he wants to stay,” Lopez said.
Vice-president Marc Ingla provided a similar response: “We do not think about it before the summer. In principle not (even for €50m or €60m), because we are in the logic of going at least until the end of the season.
“When we talk about it with him, we feel that he is in a mission with LOSC this season, and not thinking about transfers until the summer. It is true that he is a very sought-after player.”
Wanted: Heritier Deyonge
Manchester United and Chelsea are interested in signing PSV Eindhoven teenager Heritier Deyonge.
That’s according to French newspaper L’Equipe, who claim the European heavyweights will fight PSG for his signature.
Deyonge, 16, joined PSV in 2012 and is reported to have made rapid progress with the club’s Under-17 side.
PSG are loosely thought to be favourites after Deyonge told French website FootMercato: “I like Neymar, Kylian Mbappe,” in a recent interview.
Gerard Pique defends Ousmane Dembele
After a week in which Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele failed to show for training and the spotlight on his apparent lack of discipline increased further, Gerard Pique said it was time to teach the Frenchman that football is a 24-hour job.
Dembele was not included in the squad for Barca’s 4-3 defeat at home to Real Betis on Sunday after not turning up to training on Thursday and, according to local media, not informing the club of his whereabouts for 90 minutes.
“We were also young and we have also committed mistakes,” Pique told reporters. “From experience, we have to help him to understand that football is a 24-hour job and he has to live accordingly. I’m convinced that he’s going to improve in this respect and that decisions like the one the coach took will help him.”
The 21-year-old has struggled to fully adapt at Barca since signing from Borussia Dortmund and has been linked with Premier League duo Liverpool and Arsenal in recent months.
Lorenzo Pellegrini interest
Manchester United are considering a January pursuit of Roma star Lorenzo Pellegrini.
Express Sport understands the Portuguese will be handed a £100m war chest.
And, according to Italian news outlet Calciomercato, Pellegrini is being monitored very closely.
The 22-year-old was a standout performer for Roma last term with a series of eye-catching displays in midfield.
Calciomercato add that Pellegrini has a tantalising £26m release clause that Roma are desperately trying to raise with a bumper new deal.
Monchi not interested
Roma transfer guru Monchi has no interest in joining Manchester United.
Monchi arrived at Roma from Sevilla in 2017 having contributed to 11 trophies and secured bargain signings like Dani Alves, Ivan Rakitic and Sergio Ramos.
Barcelona, Manchester United, PSG and Atletico Madrid have all been linked with Monchi in recent months.
But the Roma chief, who has brought exciting talents Cengiz Under and Justin Kluivert to Rome, dismissed the claims.
“I’m happy to work here and I want to stay for many years because I have a lot of confidence in the club,” he explained.
“I hope the rumours of my departure stop. I don’t want to leave, my goal is to work in the best way that I can. As long as there is trust, I will stay here. My only idea is to stay here.”
Frenkie De Jong bid
Manchester City are prepared to spend a fortune to sign Ajax midfielder Frenkie De Jong.
De Jong, 21, has forged a reputation as one of the most promising midfield talents in Europe since making his senior debut in May 2015.
He’s scored twice in 19 appearances for Ajax this campaign and his exploits have attracted attention from Real Madrid and Barcelona.
But the Daily Mail claim City expect to beat their challengers with a £50million bid next summer.
Source:www.express.co.uk