B/R Gossip Roundup: Liverpool Must Catch Petr Cech, Loan Move Will Help Januzaj
The transfer window reopens on Thursday, and the Christmas period has not prevented the rumour mill from turning at pace.
The newspapers have been filled with plenty of speculation, with Petr Cech, Sami Khedira and Fabio Coentrao among the high-profile names to be linked with moves.
Let's take a closer a look at the transfer rumours of the past week.
Fabio Coentrao Poised for Premier League Switch, but to Which Club?
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Another transfer window is approaching, which means only one thing—another Fabio Coentrao link with the Premier League.
And sure enough, Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express has not disappointed this week, and he claims Manchester United will be joined by Arsenal and Liverpool in the chase for the Real Madrid left-back.
According to the article, the Portugal international is "surplus to requirements" at the Bernabeu and has a £25 million price tag.
Coentrao has spent much of this season on the bench with Real, making just 114 minutes' worth of appearances in four La Liga matches so far.
So to say the 26-year-old is on the way out of the Champions League holders is hardly a leap of imagination, but the question here is where will he end up.
At Arsenal, Coentrao would be up against Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal for a first-team spot, but Arsene Wenger's finances are likely to be tied up in a move for a central defender.
Liverpool, meanwhile, could be an interesting option with Alberto Moreno currently occupying the left-back spot.
The 22-year-old arrived at Anfield in the summer and has proved to be a decent addition for the Reds, although question marks still exist against his understudy, Jose Enrique.
The signing of Coentrao would offer an experienced player for Moreno to learn from, but whether the Portuguese defender would want to play second fiddle once more is open to debate.
Manchester United, though, are a different matter. With summer signing Luke Shaw still to find full fitness consistently, manager Louis van Gaal will be looking to strengthen his options with Marcos Rojo his other possibility in the position.
The Old Trafford club will not blanch at the £25 million quoted either as United prepare for a potential assault on the Premier League title in the second half of the campaign.
Believability meter: High
It seems highly unlikely that Coentrao will be sticking around at the Bernabeu for the near future, but it is United who are set to land the Portugal international ahead of their Premier League rivals.
Sami Khedira Would Provide Chelsea with Midfield Bridge
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There have been fewer more unfortunate footballers in world football this year than Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira.
Injuries had robbed the Germany international of a place in the Real team for the opening months of 2014, before an issue in the warm-up before the World Cup final saw Christoph Kramer take his place.
Khedira, of course, did play in the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid in May and recently returned to action in Real's Club World Cup title win this month.
But Simon Johnson of the London Evening Standard claims Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is set to reunite with his former Bernabeu charge with a pre-contract agreement.
There would be few people who would argue that the Blues' summer signings had not been a success, but Mourinho knows that he must continue to build his squad to maintain their levels of success.
And in Khedira, the Stamford Bridge boss will have experience and, perhaps more importantly, a familiar figure to work with at the west London club.
Just two months after Mourinho was unveiled as head coach at the Bernabeu, Khedira signed for Los Blancos from Stuttgart.
The Germany defensive midfielder would act as a natural bridge for two of Mourinho's other signings at Chelsea—Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas.
Khedira, 27, might not be as strong in the tackle as Matic nor have the same creative element of Fabregas, but his experience and ability would be a solid addition for Mourinho.
Believability meter: Medium to high
This seems like a strong rumour, with the pieces fitting together nicely. Mourinho needs to strengthen his squad and Khedira is a known figure to him after their time at the Bernabeu.
Inter Interest in Tottenham's Aaron Lennon Offers Boost for England Winger
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The form of Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon this season seems to sum up the inconsistency which has often dogged the north London team.
The England international has impressed and disappointed in near-equal measure in the Premier League so far under Mauricio Pochettino.
Such has been the indifferent nature of his form in his meagre number of appearances, two different views of the player were proffered by Bleacher Report writers within days of each other.
At the end of November, Sam Rooke claimed the winger should be considered for a move, but within two weeks of that article, Thomas Cooper wrote of Lennon's resurgence mirroring former Spurs team-mate Gareth Bale.
This week, the Daily Star reported that Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini is looking at a possible move for the 27-year-old, who has a value of £7 million, according to the article.
The Star also says that Fredy Guarin could be dangled as a potential carrot to trade for the White Hart Lane club, while presenting Hull and QPR as other potential suitors.
Whatever the truth of the rumour, it is more than arguable that Lennon should make a break from Spurs to further his career.
The winger, who joined Spurs from Leeds United in 2005, is the longest-serving player currently at White Hart Lane, but his star has fallen significantly under Pochettino this season.
The Spurs boss has given Lennon just three starts in the Premier League this season, while his appearances in the Europa League and Capital One Cup have been similarly negligible.
It is all a long way from the days of three successive nominations for the PFA Young Player of the Year award which coloured his early seasons at Tottenham and appearances in World Cup finals with England in 2006 and 2010.
Lennon is in grave danger of becoming a forgotten man if he remains at Spurs. A move away would benefit all concerned.
Believability meter: High
When Lennon broke on to the Premier League scene following his move from Elland Road, he appeared to be a name for the future. But his star at Spurs has been on the wane throughout this season.
A transfer away from White Hart Lane could be the ideal boost for his career, no matter which club he decides on.
Liverpool Must Not Delay in Chance to Sign Chelsea Goalkeeper Petr Cech
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If one man could be forgiven for not marvelling at the form of Chelsea this season, it is Petr Cech.
For so long, the Czech Republic international was the undisputed No. 1 at Stamford Bridge as he helped the club to the Champions League, Premier Leagues and several cups.
This season has been somewhat different, however. The return of Thibaut Courtois from his lengthy loan spell at Atletico Madrid saw Jose Mourinho promote the Belgian above Cech in the Blues' first-team pecking order.
Consequently, the former Chelsea No. 1 has made just a handful of first-team appearances so far this season, including just one Premier League start.
Now, according to Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror, help could be at hand for Cech from another top-flight club.
Lewis quotes Cech's agent, Viktor Kolar, as saying:
"It’s unlikely Petr will leave Chelsea in the January transfer window.
The club and coach want to keep him to help win the title. I think Arsenal should have made an offer to him. I think Petr would be considering it.
Liverpool need to strengthen their position in goal and they know Petr will be available in the summer.
"
Liverpool and manager Brendan Rodgers have endured a tawdry first half of the season, wiping away the goodwill granted to them after the near miss on the title last term.
One issue which has been in the thoughts of Reds supporters has been the goalkeeping situation.
Simon Mignolet's form has proved to be a cause for concern, while his current replacement, Brad Jones, has failed to impress, as Squawka.com noted.
Liverpool's need for a new goalkeeper is paramount if they are to make any kind of impact on the Champions League placings for next season.
The Reds could also be risking letting another club, like Arsenal, sneak in if they delay any move for Cech.
It is unlikely Chelsea will allow the goalkeeper to leave to strengthen a rival Premier League club in mid-season, but it is worth Rodgers taking the chance to tempt both Mourinho and Cech.
Believability meter: Medium to high
This transfer rumour might have been put in motion by Cech's agent, but it is one Liverpool should not delay on.
An experienced Premier League goalkeeper rarely becomes free; one with medals galore alongside that is even rarer.
Moussa Sissoko Not the Right Midfield Move for Arsenal
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is considering a £16 million bid for Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko, according to John Cross of the Daily Mirror.
According to the report, Sissoko has said Arsenal were his "favourite club" as a child. Wenger reportedly has £20 million to spend in January.
"I have ambition. My goal is to play at the best clubs, playing the Champions League, win trophies, but today I am a Magpie and I am very happy," Sissoko is quoted as saying.
Believability meter: Low
Arsenal do need to strengthen in midfield and Sissoko can play a deeper role. But at £16 million, his price tag is a bit too high. The Gunners also need cover in defence, and Sissoko's reported fee would leave little money for further recruits.
B/R correspondent James McNicholas has argued that signing Sissoko would be the wrong move for Arsenal, writing:
"Sissoko's revelation will have given Arsenal encouragement that he could seek to emulate his idol by playing under Arsene Wenger in north London.
However, Vieira and Sissoko are different players. Although the two men share the honour of representing France and a distinctive loping stride, Vieira was principally a defensive player.
That's what Arsenal miss and what they urgently need—someone with the positional nous and discipline to protect the back four.
Sissoko, for all his talents, is not that man.
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The Sissoko rumour is an intriguing one, but it doesn't quite make sense for Arsenal at the moment.
Loan Move a Good Option for Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj
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Adnan Januzaj's Manchester United career is in danger of fizzling out, as he has found himself down manager Louis van Gaal's pecking order.
The Belgian was heralded as a future United star when breaking through last season and was rewarded with a long-term contract.
However, things have changed somewhat under the stewardship of Van Gaal. Januzaj has played just one minute of football for United since being subbed after an hour in the club's win over Crystal Palace in early November.
The teenager's chances of regular playing time at United look bleak in the short term, which has led to talk of a loan move.
The Mail’s Simon Jones clearly feels that is an option, as he claims French giants Paris Saint-Germain have entered the chase.
As Jones correctly points out, Januzaj is eligible to play in European competition having not featured for United this term.
If United do make Januzaj available for loan, the youngster could well have a host of teams to pick from given the regard in which he is held.
But PSG, with the carrot of Champions League football to dangle, would certainly be an attractive option.
Believability Meter: Medium
Januzaj needs regular playing time in order to continue his development. That is the one thing that could count against PSG, as the winger may find himself on the fringe in Paris.
However, there is a lure of potentially getting his hands on silverware with PSG in the mix to defend their Ligue 1 crown.
Whether it is PSG or not, a loan move looks good for Januzaj as it will hand him the chance to secure regular playing time.
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