Sportskeeda's take on the EPL transfer rumours of 23rd August, 2016
Only a week remains for clubs in the Premier League to make final changes in their squads before the transfer window slams shut. Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool are mostly done with their transfers, but there still could be some movement.
However, we can expect more transfer excitement among the fans of the London clubs as they aren’t done with their signings yet. Arsenal and Chelsea are very much in the transfer market for defenders, and it remains to be seen if they can bring someone into the club in the last few days.
Arsene Wenger has been forced to sign a defender after injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista and the Gunners have been strongly linked with a move for Valencia’s Shkodran Mustafi but the local Spanish media have said it several times that there are no offers from the North London club.
Arsenal’s interest in Mustafi is widely reported in the Spanish media and the English media but Valencia are reluctant to let Mustafi go except if Wenger is ready to match his release clause of €50m.
More cover for Manchester United
Manchester United have also been linked with a move for Jose Fonte with reports about their interest in the defender originating from the English media. Jose Mourinho might need some cover for Eric Bailly, who is likely to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations in January and Fonte could be a valuable addition.
Fonte is fresh from his team’s success at the Euros, and could be a leader at the back for Manchester United. Manchester Evening News have also confirmed Mourinho’s desire to sign Fonte, but it remains to be seen if Southampton would be willing to let him go in the final days of the transfer window.
While we’re talking about defenders, Liverpool have also made Mamadou Sakho available. It has been reported that Jurgen Klopp is keen on letting the defender go elsewhere to revive his career but Liverpool have reportedly not given up on Sakho yet but want to send him out on a loan spell.
The news was widely reported last night by most Liverpool based journalists and we won’t really be surprised if Liverpool offload Sakho permanently should they get a decent offer for the player. The French international signed a contract extension before Klopp’s arrival at the club but was sent back from the club's pre-season tour of the United States due to disciplinary concerns.
Chelsea are also looking for a centre-back but have failed to sign one so far. Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly was considered to be a primary transfer target for Antonio Conte but the Serie A club is reluctant to let him go.
The latest reports suggest Chelsea tried to sign AC Milan’s Alessio Romagnoli, who moved from AS Roma for around £21m last season but their bid of €35m was rejected as the Serie A club don’t intend to sell him. The Blues could return with an improved offer in the coming days, but time is really not on their side and they need to act quickly.