Paper News and Gossip: Arsenal Draxler Deal Stalls, Man Utd Target Townsend
The last day of the transfer window has dawned and all sorts of rumour and speculation awaits before its close on Friday night.
Arsenal's hopes of adding Julian Draxler to their squad have stalled, according to reports, while Manchester United are considering a surprise move for Tottenham star Andros Townsend.
Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool alsoย figure prominently in the back pages on Friday.
But who else is making the headlines on transfer deadline day? Read on to find out more.
Arsenal Move for Draxler Stalls as Arsene Wenger Considers Options
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Arsenal are considering their options after the move for Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler stalled, report Matt Law and Jeremy Wilson of the Daily Telegraph.
The report claims Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is reluctant to pay the ยฃ37.8 million summer transfer clause the German club are looking for.
Instead, Wenger is weighing up moves for Real Madridโs Alvaro Morata and Barcelonaโs Christian Tello.
The deal for Mirko Vucinic from Juventus is also hanging in the balance, reports Antony Kastrinakis of The Sun (subscription required).
Manchester United to Make Surprise Move for Tottenham Winger Andros Townsend
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Manchester United manager David Moyes is considering a shock deadline day transfer move for Tottenham winger Andros Townsend, reports Justin Allen of The Sun (subscription required).
The report claims Moyes attempted to take the England international on loan while he was in charge at Everton last season.
Intriguingly, Tottenham have been linked with a move for United winger Nani, reports Nick Lustig of the Daily Star.
But any United hope of signing Toni Kroos from Bayern Munich appears to be fading, according to Martin Blackburn of The Sun.
Manchester City Close in on Porto Pair
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Manchester City are chasing a ยฃ46 million double swoop on Porto, claim David Anderson and Ed Malyon of the Daily Mirror.
The report claims the Premier League leaders are in talks with the Portuguese club for central defender Eliaquim Mangala.
And Manuel Pellegrini is also looking to take midfielder Fernando from Porto before the transfer window closes.
Ben Jefferson of the Daily Express claims Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko is prepared to take a pay cut to push through a move to Borussia Dortmund.
Liverpool Confident of Seeing off Tottenham in Chase for Yevhen Konoplyanka
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Liverpool are confident they will see off a late challenge from Tottenham for winger Yevhen Konoplyanka, reports Timothy Abraham of the Daily Star.
According to the report, the Ukraine international is set for a medical with the Merseyside club later on Friday, but Spurs are hoping to hijack the deal for the 24-year-old.
But former Arsenal and Ukraine defender Oleg Luzhny has offered a withering assessment of the Dnipro player, reports David Anderson of the Daily Mirror:
"I don't think the English league is right for him.
Konoplyanka's style of play is better suited to Italy or Spain. The game in England is totally different, it's about power. You have to run back and forth, back and forth. You run at speed up and down, and it's like that for 90 minutes.
I saw how he played in the [World Cup qualification playoff] second leg against France, when Ukraine lost 3-0, and he was like a headless chicken.
It is a completely different level. When you play in the Ukraine, you can afford not to run.
"
Chelsea Closing in on St Etienne Defender Kurt Zouma
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Chelsea are poised to complete the signing of St Etienne defender Kurt Zouma, according to The Sun (subscription required).
The Blues are believed to have agreed a ยฃ12 million fee for the 19-year-old, who will stay with the French club until the end of the season as part of the deal.
According to the report, Zouma said of the proposed deal: "If St Etienne tell me to go to Chelsea, Iโll go straight away. Besides, blue is my favourite colour!โ
Tottenham Look to Dimitar Berbatov as Lewis Holtby Prepares for Exit
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Tottenham are preparing to welcome back Dimitar Berbatov from Fulham as Lewis Holtby moves in the opposite direction, reports Gary Jacob of The Times (subscription required).
However, Charlie Wyett of The Sun (subscription required) claims Norwich City are looking to take midfielder Holtby to Carrow Road ahead of Fulham.
The Canaries are hoping to add Holtby to the loan arrival of defender Joseph Yobo from Fenerbahce, claims Wyett.
Bits and Pieces: Adnan Januzaj, Tom Ince, Roy Hodgson, Lionel Messi
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Away from the transfer windown news, Manchester United star Adnan Januzaj wants to commit his international future to England, reports Martin Blackburn of The Sun (subscription required).
Januzaj is eligible to play for Albania and Belgium, but has told friends he wants to be considered for the Three Lions, claims Blackburn.
Meanwhile, England manager Roy Hodgson has begun a charm offensive on the mayor of Manaus in Brazil, report Donna Bowater and Ben Rumsby of the Daily Telegraph.
Hodgson inadvertently offended Manaus officials in the wake of comments after England were drawn to face Italy in the Amazon region during the World Cup finals.
Back in the world of transfers, Crystal Palace have signed Tom Ince on loan from Blackpool until the end of the season, reports The Sun (subscription required).
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifiย says only financial limits prevent his club from signing Lionel Messi from Barcelona, according to Simon Rice of The Independent.
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