Chelsea refuse to give up on their chase for a World Cup-winning midfielder, while Arsenal have drawn up a shock contingency plan as their pursuit for Brighton star Moises Caicedo loses steam.
Elsewhere, a Manchester City star’s alleged training ground bust-up is set to push him out the exit door to a European heavyweight while an Aussie’s Premier League switch draws closer.
Catch up on the biggest whispers doing the rounds ahead of deadline day in the latest edition of the Rumour Mill!
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BLUES MAKE RECORD-BREAKING BID FOR BENFICA STAR
Just like a bad smell that won’t go away, Chelsea are back in for Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
Despite being rebuffed by the Portuguese side for the Argentinian star earlier in the January window, Chelsea has lodged a staggering $AUD$184m bid for the 22-year-old, per The Athletic.
Fernandez, who was named as the best young player at the World Cup en route to winning the trophy, hasn’t even played a full season of football outside of South America just yet.
However, the powerbrokers at Stamford Bridge are seemingly convinced Fernandez is the marquee signing they need to take the club back to the summit of the Premier League.
Fernandez only moved to Benfica last summer for a measly $15m.
Should the Argentine join Chelsea, he would become the Blues’ eighth signing of the January window and take their spending spree to a staggering $601m.
ARSENAL EYE SHOCK SWOOP FOR CHELSEA STALWART
With Brighton playing a straight bat to every one of Arsenal’s advances for Seagulls midfielder Moises Caicedo, it’s forced the Gunners to turn to other targets.
According to the Daily Mail, it appears Arsenal aren’t looking outside of London for an alternative option as the club has reportedly made an approach to Chelsea midfielder Jorginho.
A new central midfielder is a high priority for Mikel Arteta amid Arsenal’s unlikely title push and Jorginho, who has just six months remaining on his Chelsea contract, could be a cheap and immediate alternative to Caicedo.
Given his expiring deal, Chelsea could be tempted to cash in on the Italian star now rather than lose him for nothing in the summer.
Additionally, should Enzo Fernandez join in what would be a record-breaking fee for English football, it would push Jorginho even further down the Blues’ midfield pecking order.
CITY STAR’S TRAINING GROUND BUST-UP SEALS SURPRISE MOVE AWAY
Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo was named in the 2021/22 PFA Premier League team of the season at left back, despite it not even being his favoured position.
Now, the Portuguese star is on his way out of the Etihad — albeit temporarily — as The Times reports Cancelo is headed to European giant Bayern Munich on loan after a lack of recent game time with City.
The German club will also have an option to sign Cancelo on a permanent basis in the summer for $107m.
Cancelo has been kept out of the starting team by Kyle Walker and teenage star Rico Lewis, who has shot to prominence in the games after the World Cup break.
Being kept out of the side has also seen relations between Cancelo and City manager Pep Guardiola reportedly break down, with the Daily Mail claiming the two had a training ground bust-up.
The incident occurred as a result of Cancelo learning he would not be named in the starting team for City’s FA Cup clash against Arsenal last Saturday.
Despite sanctioning Cancelo’s temporary departure to Bayern, reports claim City will not look to immediately replace him with hours remaining in the January window.
SOCCEROO SOUTTAR’S PL DREAM EDGES CLOSER
Harry Souttar is increasingly likely to become the next Australian to play in the Premier League as Leicester City stepped up their interest in the towering defender.
The Telegraph reports the Foxes have tabled a $26m bid for the Stoke City centre back, with Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers desperate to add Souttar to his ranks.
The report claims Stoke are now considering the bid after the Potters thought Leicester’s interest in Souttar had drifted off, with Stoke manager Alex Neil claiming as recently as Monday that he expected the Aussie to stick around.
Souttar would become Leicester’s third arrival in the January window, with Victor Kristiansen and Tete already through the doors at the King Power Stadium.
