Arsenal and Chelsea are set to go head-to-head for yet another January transfer target as the Gunners prepare to break the bank for England star.
Meanwhile in Northern England, Newcastle United are planning a possible Stamford Bridge raid as Eddie Howe eyes off a trio of Chelsea stars.
Catch up on all of the biggest whispers doing the rounds in the latest edition of the Rumour Mill!
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Gunners hoping Rice will soon be on the menu at the Emirates
After losing out to Chelsea in the race for Mykhailo Mudryk and Joao Felix already this transfer window, Arsenal have reportedly now turned their attention to acquiring West Ham United’s Declan Rice prior to the January 31st deadline and are growing increasingly confident that they can beat Chelsea to the England midfielder’s signature.
Rice, 24, is proving to be a hot commodity with a number of clubs – including Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City – reportedly eager to acquire the midfielder at the end of the season but Arsenal believe they are in a strong position thanks to their eight point lead at the top of the Premier League table as the season reaches the halfway mark.
Unwilling to sign a contract extension to remain at London Stadium, the Hammers are expected to sell Rice at the end of the season with the club reportedly seeking £100 million ($A175.6m), according to The Daily Mail. His current contract runs until 2024, but includes a club option for an additional year.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly looking to add a winger this month before then seeking a central midfielder and left-sided centre back in the summer. As a young and aggressive player, Rice fits into Arteta’s recruitment model.
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The England midfielder has repeatedly expressed his desire to play Champions League football and Arteta’s side are well on track to return to Europe’s elite competition, as they sit in first place in the Premier League, eight points clear of nearest rival Manchester City.
Meanwhile Chelsea, the Gunners main competition for Rice’s signature this transfer window, are ten points outside the top four and will likely need to win the Champions League for the second time in three seasons in order to secure their place in the competition next season.
However, the Blues have flexed their financial muscle since the new ownership group – led by US billionaire Todd Boehly – took over the club in a record $7.5 billion deal, having twice beaten Arsenal in the transfer window this month (signing Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk yesterday for £88.6 million – $A155m – and Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid for a reported £10 million – $A17m.
The west London club have long been considered the favourites to land Rice because he supports the Blues, has previous ties to the club having played for their Academy until the age of 14, and is also best friends with current Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.
Another Rice suitor, Manchester United, pulled out of an attempted pursuit last January because West Ham reportedly asked for £150 million ($A263.4m).
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Rice has signalled his intentions to depart the Hammers by rejecting at least three contract offers (reportedly worth more than £130,000 a week – $A228k) which would have seen him become the highest earner at the club.
While Arsenal have a transfer policy that they will not overpay for players, they spent months in talks to sign Mudryk but could not match the sums offered by Chelsea and they walked away from a deal for Felix because of the £10 million loan fee, the Gunners are prepared to make a considerable effort – the club is reportedly prepared to break their transfer record and splash £80 million ($A140.2m) – to sign Rice, according to The Times.
However, Arsenal are desperate not to repeat past mistakes – most notably paying a club-record £72 million ($A126.4m) for Nicolas Pepe in 2019 only for the winger to struggle to make an impact in north London prior to being loaned out to Nice.
Villa announce $31.6m deal for new attacking weapon
Aston Villa have reached an agreement to sign Colombia forward Jhon Duran from Chicago Fire in a reported £18 million ($A31.6m) deal.
Villa are set to pay an initial £14.75 million ($A25.9m), with the fee potentially rising due to add-on clauses in his contract.
“Aston Villa can confirm that an agreement has been reached with Chicago Fire for the permanent transfer of 19-year-old striker Jhon Duran,” said a statement from the Premier League club on Tuesday (AEDT).
“The deal is subject to the player passing a medical, agreeing personal terms and obtaining the necessary work visa.” Duran scored eight goals and provided five assists in 27 MLS appearances for Chicago last season.
The teenager, who has played three times for Colombia, is set to be Villa’s second January signing after the arrival of Real Betis defender Alex Moreno.
Newcastle set sights on Chelsea trio in attempted Stamford Bridge raid
According to a report by The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is keen to add reinforcements to the midfield of his team this transfer window – especially after injuries to some of his players (namely Jonjo Shelvey and Bruno) – with the Seasiders “looking at the possibility of signing Chelsea players Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Hakim Ziyech”.
Edwards claims that after landing three new players via transfer this month, the Blues will be forced to “cut two non-homegrown players from their Champions League squad ahead of their Round of 16 tie against Borussia Dortmund next month”.
The insane spending spree in West London, which is showing no signs of slowing down with Chelsea reportedly eager to sign one or two more players before the window closes, has presented Howe and Newcastle with an unexpected opportunity to attempt a raid on the struggling Blues in what is seen as somewhat of a “potential fire sale”.
Although the deep-pocket Saudi Arabia-based board at Upton Tyne were keen to limit Newcastle’s spending this window, with a view to the offseason transfer window, the Seasiders push for the Champions League next season – coupled with the unique circumstances at Chelsea this season – may be too good an opportunity to refuse.
Red Devils chasing 22-year-old Serbian international prior to deadline
Despite having already secured a loan deal for Dutchman Wout Weghorst this month in an attempt to help their attack in the short term, Manchester United have reportedly turned their attention to securing Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic on a long-term deal before the end of the current transfer window, according to Corriere Torino.
Despite the 22-year-old goalscorer having only joined the Italian giants from Fiorentina for £66.6m ($A115.9m) in the January window last year, Juve are reportedly keen to hold onto Vlahovic for the rest of the season before selling him in the next transfer window.
However, clubs in the Premier League – including Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal – are targeting him this transfer window.
Furthermore, Corriere Torino claimthat the Red Devils have continued to follow the player, who is currently out with a groin injury, with an offer of €90 million ($A140m) likely needed to convince Juve to sell the forward prior to the January 31st deadline.
In the last campaign, the young striker – who earns a salary of around €7 million ($A10.9m) per year – scored 29 goals in all competitions and also provided 6 assists. In 15 appearances for the Bianconeri so far this season, Vlahovic has directly contributed in 9 goals (7 goals and 2 assists).
At the FIFA World Cup in Qatar last year the 19-capped international only started a single game for Serbia, but did find the net in the 3-2 defeat against Switzerland.
