Chelsea unveiled their huge new signing as the Blues spending spree looks set to continue as Arsenal had to pivot after missing out on a $155m star.
A three-way battle between Premier League clubs could break out as they eye up a Barcelona star.
Catch up on all of the biggest whispers doing the rounds in the latest edition of the Rumour Mill!
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GUNNERS OFFERED DISGRUNTLED BRIGHTON STAR
Despite sitting eight points clear atop the Premier League table at the halfway point of the season, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said the Gunners are still looking for ways to get better with reinforcements expected to be added to the squad ahead of the January 31st transfer deadline.
“We had some injuries, long-term injuries and it’s not helpful but we can focus on tomorrow. Train better, train better and review the game. We will try to improve the team,” Arteta said.
“There are always a few parties involved. The club are willing and they have my support and I have their support.”
According to a report by The Independent, the North London club are understood to have two positions highlighted as a priority at the Emirates Stadium, with Sporting director Edu reportedly chasing a new midfielder and wide attacker during this month’s transfer window.
The report claims that Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign Brighton outcast Leandro Trossard after missing out on primary target Mykhaylo Mudryk to Chelsea.
This news comes after Belgian winger Trossard, 28, returned to his homeland this week following a fallout with manager Roberto De Zerbi. The Seagulls manager dropped Trossard from his squad that thrashed Liverpool 3-0 on Saturday due to attitude problems.
However, according to reports by The Sun and HITC, the Gunners will need to be quick if they are eager to secure a move for Trossard as they are set to face stiff competition from Premier League rivals Tottenham and Newcastle.
Another player that has come up as an option for Arteta’s squad in the wake of their failed bid for Mudryk is Barcelona’s Raphinha, with Arsenal reportedly having reached out to the winger’s agent as the Catalan club is rumoured to be open to offers as they again attempt to balance finances, according to Sky Sports News.
The Gunners previously made a bid to sign the 28-year-old from Leeds during the summer transfer window before he eventually made his way to the Spanish giants, but are monitoring the situation at Camp Nou with Raphinha having only appeared in seven out of a possible 16 La Liga games so far this season.
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has urged his former club to sign Barcelona star Raphinha following their failed move for Mykhaylo Mudryk.
“100% they need to bring players in. Quality players. That’s why they went for Mudryk. I think they’ll probably go for Raphinha now at Barcelona, in my opinion. I think they’ll go for him. They need players,” he told Sky Sports.
“You watch the Newcastle game and they’ve got no one to bring on. Arsenal have earnt the right now for teams to come and sit behind the ball.
“They need a bit more guile. Might not just be the goal. It’s that fresh brain, sometimes. They need more players to win the Premier League. I’d be shocked if they did it with just this squad.”
Two other players touted as possible new wing options following Chelsea’s shock Mudryk hijacking are Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha and Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard, according to football.london.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, 30-year-old Zaha could reject new contract talks and leave Crystal Palace in the upcoming transfer window, with the winger reportedly looking for a move to a top-six club – enter Arsenal.
Meanwhile the Gunners also appear interested in signing 32-year-old Hazard with the club having even made contact with Real Madrid about a potential move for the former Chelsea star, according to a report by Media Foot.
Despite the Belgian’s association with the rival Blues, Hazard has previously admitted that he was an admirer of Arsenal growing up.
“When I was little, the team I watched the most was the French national team. For me, the players I looked up to were Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry,” he said.
“It’s difficult for me to admit because of my relationship with Chelsea, but I really liked the Arsenal team at the time. They had players like Robert Pires, [Sylvain] Wiltord, and [Patrick] Vieira, so it was mainly French players that I followed growing up.”
Arsenal have two more fixtures to take in before the end of the month – a Premier League clash with Manchester United at Emirates Stadium and a FA Cup fourth-round meeting with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium – with the hope being that fresh faces will be acquired to aid efforts in those contests.
BARCA OUTCAST EDGES CLOSER TO EXIT AS PL TRIO EYE MOVE
A bidding war looks set to commence as interest in Barcelona’s Memphis Depay heats up following reports he has informed the Catalan club of his desire to leave during the January transfer window, according to a tweet by journalist Fabrizio Romano.
With the 28-year-old’s contract set to expire on June 30, Barcelona have been eager to move the forward this month for compensation rather than lose him for free in the summer.
Although the Netherlands international was hit by injuries pre-World Cup, he has still racked up just 206 minutes of first-team football since August 13 with the forward having seemingly having fallen out of favour under Xavi having made just three starts all season.
Barça and Atlético, the club that has shown the most interest in Memphis, continue with negotiations, although there is no agreement between the parties. In fact, an exchange of players between the two clubs has been raised, but, beyond Memphis, they do not agree on the second player. On the part of Atletico, they have offered Thomas Lemar, but Barça want Yannick Carrasco.
The stall in negotiations between the two La Liga rivals, coupled with the Barcelona hierarchy’s preference to sell him to a club outside Spain’s top flight, has opened the door for other clubs to swoop in and seal a move for the wantaway forward prior to the January 31st deadline.
Inter Milan are reportedly now in the box seat to secure Depay’s signature as the Serie A club are in advanced negotiations to sign Memphis Depay from Barcelona in exchange for Joaquin Correa, according to Football Italia.
It is reported that Correa and the two clubs have already agreed terms, it all now depends on whether Netherlands international Depay accepts the move.
English football giants Manchester United have previously been linked to a reunion with their former winger given their need for a forward following Cristiano Ronaldo’s unceremonious departure and Anthony Martial’s fitness struggles.
However, a report by the Daily Star has claimed that the Red Devil’s Premier League rivals Newcastle and Tottenham have both been offered the chance to sign Depay this month. It is claimed the Catalan club are keen to get as much money as they can in for Depay and that the player’s representatives had earmarked a move to Newcastle.
The Magpies are looking to qualify for the Champions League under Eddie Howe. Spurs have also been sounded out as a potential landing spot despite the increased competition for attacking places in north London.
CHELSEA’S BONKERS $155M SWOOP SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED
Chelsea swooped to beat Arsenal to the signing of Ukrainian international winger Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk for a fee that could rise to 100 million euros ($A155 million) on Monday (all times AEDT).
Shakhtar confirmed that Mudryk will cost the Blues an initial 70 million euros ($A108.5m) with a further 30 million ($A46.5m) in performance related add-ons.
The 22-year-old has signed an eight-and-a-half year deal at Stamford Bridge. A long-term target for the Gunners, Mudryk looked set to join the Premier League leaders but Arsenal refused to match Shakhtar’s 100 million euro ($A155 million) valuation.
“We always want to improve the squad,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after his side’s 2-0 win at Tottenham on Monday.
“The club is the first one that is trying to do everything we can to improve the players. But I think as well we have to have some discipline.”
Chelsea had no such reservations as another huge deal takes their spending on transfers in the first season under the ownership of Todd Boehly’s consortium above £400 million ($A700m).
“We are delighted to welcome Mykhailo to Chelsea,” said Boehly and Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali in a club statement.
“He’s a hugely exciting talent who we believe will be a terrific addition to our squad both now and in the years to come.
“He will add further depth to our attack and we know he’ll get a very warm welcome to London.”
Mudryk draped himself in the Ukrainian flag as he was presented at halftime of Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.
He scored 12 goals in just 44 first team appearances for Shakhtar, including three in the group stages of this season’s Champions League.
“I’m so happy to sign for Chelsea,” said Mudryk.
“This is a huge club, in a fantastic league and it is a very attractive project for me at this stage of my career.
“I’m excited to meet my new teammates and I’m looking forward to working and learning under Graham Potter and his staff.”
Potter is under huge pressure to turn Chelsea’s investment into results on the pitch after a run of six defeats in nine games.
The Londoners have already added Benoit Badiashile, David Fofana, Andrey Santos and the loan signing of Joao Felix in the January window.
In a statement, Shakhtar confirmed the deal is a record sale for a Ukrainian club.
“I have mixed feelings,” said Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov.
“In order to win European trophies, I should invite such footballers as Mudryk to our club, to our Ukrainian league and not send them to the best championships and the best clubs in the world.
“However, I am sure that Mykhailo will win respect, sympathy and love of all connoisseurs of world football with his speed, his technique, his impressive and beautiful play.”
BLUES’ SPENDING SPREE TO CONTINUE AS POTTER EYES REUNION
Chelsea could yet add Moises Caicedo to their ranks in January, according to CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs.
The Brighton midfielder is unlikely to move before the summer, but a bid in the region of £75m ($A131.5m) could test the Seagulls’ resolve.
Jacobs claims Chelsea are likely to add “at least two more” signings after confirming Mykhaylo Mudryk, with Noni Madueke another target for the Blues.
HAMMERS SPY LIFELINE TO BOOST SURVIVAL HOPES
West Ham have made a bid of £20 million plus £5m in add-ons ($A43.8m total) for Lorient striker Terem Moffi, according to a report by Sky Sports News.
23-year-old Nigerian Moffi scored 12 times in 18 appearances for the French club this season to sit equal second, behind only PSG superstar Kylian Mbappé (13 goals), on the Ligue 1 top scorers list.
The Hammers are in desperate need of goals and points after slipping into the relegation zone following a 1-0 defeat at Wolves on Sunday (AEDT), extending West Ham’s winless Premier League run to seven games as they fell to 18th on the EPL table.
The highly-rated striker has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs, including Southampton having already had a £15m ($A26.3m) offer rejected, but the Hammers will be hoping they can seal the move as pressure continues to mount on manager David Moyes in what has been a disastrous first half of the season.
