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Transfer news and rumours LIVE: Arsenal weigh up Maitland-Niles offer

January 29, 2021
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Goal takes a look at the biggest transfer news and rumours from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and around the world

Spezia want Sutalo

Atalanta defender Bosko Sutalo is being courted by Spezia, Gianluca Di Marzio reports.

Crotone are said to harbour an interest in the versatile Croatian too, while Spezia are also in the market for a central midfielder.

Pochettino gives Mbappe & Messi updates

New PSG boss sets out his stall

Mauricio Pochettino has spoken about Kylian Mbappe’s future and a possible PSG move for Lionel Messi.

The new manager is relishing the task of coaching Mbappe and Neymar in Paris and responded to allegations of disrespect from Joan Laporta

Mauricio Pochettino says he expects Kylian Mbappe to stay at Paris Saint-Germain “for many years to come” amid speculation linking the forward with Real Madrid and Liverpool.

Mbappe has long been linked with a move away from PSG but there are question marks over whether any club could actually afford to sign him.

The 22-year-old recently said he was considering his options with a long-term contract offer on the table from PSG. His current deal is set to expire in 2022.

“Who doesn’t love Kylian, we say to each other? He makes himself loved, with his smile, his face and his energy,” Pochettino said in an interview with Marca.

“At the age of 19 he was a world champion, impressive things have happened to him, but he is special and different, with a lot of emotional intelligence. He has a lot of potential to develop but he is already [someone for the] present, not just the future.

“It’s a challenge and a good thing to work with this kind of talent, it makes you a better coach. You give this type of player a solution and he gives you five back.

“There are a lot of rumours, but I think he will be at PSG for many years to come, and that’s the club’s hope. We are counting on him for as long as we are here. It’s true that he has to make a decision [on his future], but he seems happy and very committed to this project.”

Pochettino was also asked about rumours linking PSG with a move for Lionel Messi.

The new head coach was careful not to fuel such speculation but, with PSG accused of disrespect by Barca presidential candidate Joan Laporta, Pochettino noted that no football clubs are perfect when it comes to pursuing players from other clubs.

“Whatever I say will be misunderstood, and I love what I have here,” he said. “Great footballers fit in any league and any team.

“I respect players who belong to other teams, because they [the teams] can get angry and I understand why.

“We understand that in the world of football there are no saints; nobody can complain that each club does its best to improve their team. But this does not hide a hidden message on our part.”

Pochettino’s eventual success or failure in Paris could come down to the form of Mbappe and strike partner Neymar, and the former Spurs boss is enjoying the task of coaching the pair.

“The relationship with them is spontaneous and natural. We took an approach to show them that we are genuine and expect the same from them. We don’t prejudge people and when we arrive at a place, we are open to that change.

“They are eager to see how you arrive and how you talk to them. They are people first and foremost and have an emotional intelligence that makes them understand any situation.

“Sometimes we relate to each other with gestures. Trust is not achieved in a year, it is with a gesture or a word, and we have had a feeling with them and with everyone since the first day.”

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Pepe set for Porto move

Gremio forward Pepe is close to joining Porto, Gremio president Romildo Bolzan has told Radio Guaiba.

“With regard to Gremio and FC Porto, we are already in a very advanced situation and close to completion,” Bolzan said.

Pepe has scored three goals in six games for Brazil’s under-23 side but is yet to receive a senior call-up.

Leverkusen confident of Gray deal

Bayer Leverkusen are confident of securing a move to sign Demarai Gray from Leicester, claims Sky Sports.

Gray is out of contract at the end of the season and it is reported the deal could be completed in a matter of hours.

No Monaco contact for Torreira

Monaco have not been negotiating with Arsenal for Lucas Torreira, according to Fabrizio Romano.

There had been reports that Monaco were looking to pick up Torreira’s loan at Atletico Madrid, where he has struggled for first-team minutes.

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Klopp considers transfers after Matip injury

Jurgen Klopp suggested Liverpool could look to the transfer market for defensive reinforcements after confirming an ankle injury to Joel Matip.
The Cameroonian defender went off at half-time in the Premier League win over Tottenham, which Fabinho missed with a muscle issue

Liverpool’s centre-back crisis has deepened after Jurgen Klopp confirmed Joel Matip suffered an ankle ligament injury in the win over Tottenham.

The former Cameroon international was substituted at half-time of the Reds’ 3-1 victory, with Klopp later admitting the issue looks to be a serious one.

“Ankle ligament,” he told reporters in his post-match press conference. The 29-year-old will undergo a scan to determine the severity of the problem, but initial fears are that it could be a serious one.

That leaves the reigning champions in what Klopp described as “an incredible situation”, with all three of their senior centre-backs sidelined, and Fabinho, who has filled in so admirably this season, also nursing a problem.

The Brazilian missed the game at Spurs with what the club describe as “a minor muscle issue” and is a doubt for Sunday’s trip to West Ham as a result.

It meant Jordan Henderson, the captain, moved back into defence, partnering Matip in the first half and Nat Phillips in the second. Those, incredibly, were the 15th and 16th different centre-back partnerships Liverpool have fielded this season; in 20 Premier League matches they have started with 11 different combinations.

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Klopp was asked, naturally, if the injury to Matip would force the club to act in the transfer market by making a signing before Monday’s deadline.

“We think about everything, as you can imagine,” he said. “We think about everything the whole time.

“We try to do the right thing and we have to do the right thing. I am not picky but we need to find the right player.

“We have players still, but it’s incredible what’s happening in defence.”

Liverpool at least ended their five-game winless league run with a dominant performance in north London. Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Sadio Mane were all on target – the first league goals the Reds have scored since December 27 – in a victory which moves them up to fourth in the Premier League table, four points behind leaders Manchester City who boast a game in hand.

Seri to leave Fulham for Bordeaux

Fulham midfielder Jean-Michael Seri is set to join Bordeaux on loan until the end of the season, the Guardian reports.

The Ivory Coast international has made only one start for the Cottagers so far this season.

Pochettino opens door to Ramos move
Madrid captain is out of contract

Mauricio Pochettino seemed to open the door to a move for Real Madrid’s out-of-contract captain Sergio Ramos in an interview on Thursday.

The former Tottenham boss had been linked with the Santiago Bernabeu hotseat but may instead look to pry away Madrid’s out-of-contract captain

Mauricio Pochettino has denied he ever turned down the chance to manage Real Madrid, while opening the door to a possible move for Sergio Ramos.

The new Paris Saint-Germain manager had been linked with Madrid after leaving Tottenham, with some reports claiming he had turned down a direct offer from president Florentino Perez.

Pochettino says there is no truth to these claims, adding that his former club PSG offered him “the perfect project”.

Asked by Marca if he was indeed ‘the coach who turned down Perez’, Pochettino replied: “That never happened. Clubs are always above the individual and anyone who can say such a thing is out of place.

“This is not the case [that he rejected Madrid], although there was a lot of talk at the time. We have a lot of respect for the teams that may have been interested in our staff.

“It wasn’t like that and of course I have been approached by clubs, but the one we received with love was from PSG. And this is the ideal project.”

PSG are one of the many clubs linked with a move for out-of-contract Madrid captain Sergio Ramos.

Pochettino said Ramos would find ‘one of the biggest clubs in the world’ if he were to move to Paris, acknowledging he has arrived at PSG with the task of winning the club a first Champions League title.

“After one month [at PSG] I am finding players with great leadership. The great [players] are able to play and coexist in different projects and cultures, but I am very respectful.

“PSG’s strategy has been the same for years, ever since we signed Ronaldinho: to look at market opportunities and bring in those who can improve what we have.

“We will see in the coming months. Here, Ramos would find a great club with the obsession to always win. PSG are one of the biggest [clubs] in the world.

“Nothing else matters here except winning. Winning the Champions League has been a dream for 50 years; we have never won it. Even when I was a player it was an obsession.

“That’s the objective; we can’t just think about doing well in the Champions League, we’re talking about winning it. Since we [the coaching team] lost the final at Tottenham, our dream is to have the chance to play in a final again.”

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Atalanta close on Shakhtar’s Kovalenko

Atalanta are close to signing Ukraine midfielder Viktor Kovalenko from Shahtar Donetsk, according to DiMarzio.

The 24-year-old recently passed 200 appearances for Shakhtar in all competitions after coming through the youth ranks at the club.

Atalanta are also said to be interested in Malmo’s 21-year-old defender Anel Ahmedhodzic.

Columbus get a new Kitchen

Arsenal weighing up Maitland-Niles exit

Gunners mulling over loan moves

Ainsley Maitland-Niles could be set to leave Arsenal on loan, reports The Athletic.

West Brom are said to be pushing hard to sign him with an unnamed top-four side also interested.

However, it is unclear whether Arsenal will allow Maitland-Niles to leave, given his versatility with a busy few months to come.

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