The transfer window is heading into the final straight and the last-minute dash to secure all-important transfers is speeding up. Here, we look at the top rumours doing the rounds in Europe’s media today.
CITY PLOT DOUBLE SWOOP FOR LAPORTE AND FRED
Manchester City are moving on from the Alexis Sanchez saga with bids incoming for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred and Athletic Bilbao centre-back Aymeric Laporte, according to Goal.
Laporte was previously targeted in the summer of 2016 but rejected a move to City in favour of remaining at his boyhood club while Fred is viewed as the long-term replacement for Fernandinho.
RATING: 7/10
VERDICT
City are hopeful they can get both pieces of business done before the end of the month although the Laporte deal is complicated by the fact he has pulled out of moving to the Etihad Stadium before.
His €65million release clause is more than affordable but it remains to be seen whether they can lure him away from the Basque club. Fred, on the other hand, is widely expected to move to the Premier League but the question is when.
According to the report, they are trying to convince the Ukrainians to allow the Brazilian to depart in this window rather than wait for a summer arrival.
Manchester City want to sign both Fred (24) from Shakhtar Donetsk and Aymeric Laporte (23) from Athletic Bilbao this month. Laporte has shown the desire to join City now and Txiki has contacted his agent, though an agreement has not yet been reached. [@Sammy_Goal] pic.twitter.com/GWegdtxETf
— City Watch (@City_Watch) January 23, 2018
VIDAL TARGETED BY MAN UNITED AND CHELSEA
Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal is wanted by both Chelsea and Manchester United, according to the Daily Express.
Vidal has a year remaining on his current contract and Chilean journalist Maks Cardenas reports there is a chance the 30-year-old could follow international team-mate Alexis Sanchez to Old Trafford.
RATING: 6/10
VERDICT
Leon Goretzka’s summer arrival from Schalke could spell the end of Vidal’s Bayern career and Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is a known admirer of the Chilean.
Tiemoue Bakayoko’s dreadful first season with the Blues has sparked talk of reinforcements but they will face a stiff battle from United who need to bolster their own midfield with Michael Carrick’s retirement and Marouane Fellaini’s probable departure.
