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Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal next manager stance, Tottenham eye Man Utd target, Chelsea fee
Transfer news LIVE is here with all of the latest news from Arsenal, Tottenham, Man Utd, Chelsea and beyond as gossip breaks and deals are arranged.
Transfer news LIVE - Sunday December 8
- Arsenal want to make former midfielder Mikel Arteta their next manager
- Tottenham have entered the race for Man Utd transfer target Merih Demiral
- Chelsea believe they can re-sign defender Nathan Ake from Bournemouth for £40m
- Liverpool have been warned off a January move for highly-rated winger Jadon Sancho
West Ham succession plan
West Ham could appoint David Moyes or Chris Hughton if under-fire Manuel Pellegrini is axed by the Hammers board.
The Sun report Pellegrini has been told he has two games to save his job - with Arsenal and Southampton next up respectively.
West Ham have started eyeing candidates in case they have to take action, with former interim London Stadium gaffer Moyes in the frame.
Hughton - out of work since leaving Brighton - is also on West Ham’s radar as they mull over their options going forward.
Arsenal recruitment process
Mikel Arteta may have to pass three rounds of interviews even if he wants to quit Manchester City for Arsenal.
The Telegraph report Raul Sanllehi and Edu would be first up, followed by a chat with Huss Fahmy and Vinai Venkatesham.
Arteta would then need to jet out to the USA for a sit down with Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke and his son Josh.
The recruitment process could mean Arsenal fans are left waiting for a new permanent manager to be appointed.
Liverpool transfer eyed
Flamingo hotshot Gabriel Barbosa admits he would love to join Liverpool - with starring alongside Roberto Firmino high on his wish list.
"Firmino is great. He's been successful for many years in Europe. He is a powerful forward and he has been great for Brazil. He is an inspiration that I look up to," Barbosa said.
"It would be a pleasure to play with him. Maybe we could team up for Brazil in the future and Liverpool is a team that everyone wants to play for.
"But it's hard to talk about this at the moment. My focus is totally on the Club World Cup."
Man City exit ruled out
Manchester City prospect Phil Foden has put to bed rumours he could leave the Etihad in search of first-team football.
"I want to play in the derby, in a Champions League Final in Istanbul – which I believe we can. I want to play for City in big games and I want to play for England," Foden told Express Sport ahead of Saturday’s showdown with Manchester United.
"I am excited for the future so hopefully I will play regularly next year. I am so excited to see where that goes."
Foden has been tipped to succeed David Silva in City’s midfield, with the Spaniard leaving at the end of the season.
Arsenal's Mikel Arteta problem
Arsenal face heartache if Mikel Arteta is promised he is going to be Pep Guardiola’s successor at Manchester City.
Express Sport understands Arteta is the leading candidate to replace countryman Unai Emery in the Emirates hotseat.
The highly-rated coach has helped Guardiola guide City to back-to-back titles - as well as last season’s cup successes.
Arsenal might have to look elsewhere, however, with The Telegraph reporting a guarantee he will become City boss a probable barrier to Arteta heading back to north London.
Mauricio Pochettino's Arsenal hint
Mauricio Pochettino admits he will be heading back to London amid speculation he could cross the divide to manage Arsenal.
The former Tottenham boss said: "It’s important to have a moment of calm to lower the decibels and find the energy to take on a new project, and we’ll see where that is.
"I’m going to spend a few days here [in Rosario] with my family and friends, and then I’ll return to London next week."
Pochettino has also been linked with Manchester United, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Everton since leaving Spurs.
Everton next manager update
Everton are not poised to appoint Niko Kovac as their next manager - despite the former Bayern Munich boss attending Saturday’s win over Chelsea.
Kovac was spotted in the directors’ box at Goodison Park, less than a month after he was sacked by Bayern and just days after Marco Silva lost his job.
Speculation that he could be about to fill Silva’s boots is premature, however, with Kovac talking down the rumours.
Goal claim he informed them he is simply taking in a few Premier League games over the next few weeks - one of which was Everton’s 3-1 victory.
Newcastle duo set for exits
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce could axe forgotten men Jack Colback and Henri Saivet in January to make room for potential new arrivals.
Neither player was included in Newcastle’s 25-man squad for the first half of the 2019/20 Premier League campaign.
But they’re both pocketing in the region if £40,000 a week - which Newcastle chiefs will be desperate to get off the wage bill.
The Telegraph report St James’ Park’s money men could negotiate settlements which will see Colback and Saivet walk away in January, though.
Arsenal want Man Utd outcast
Manchester United outcast Chris Smalling has been identified as a transfer target by Arsenal, Everton and Leicester after impressing on loan at Roma.
Smalling swapped the Premier League for Serie A in the summer after United paid a world-record fee to sign Harry Maguire from the Foxes.
He might, however, be playing his football in England again next season with a trio of top-flight teams set to battle it out for his signature.
Arsenal, Everton and Leicester are all keen on Smalling, who’s been a regular under Paulo Fonseca at Roma so far this term.
Man Utd transfer order
Manchester United legend Gary Neville reckons Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to add a few older heads to his Red Devils ranks.
"It’ll give them massive confidence but I still don’t think it changes what United need to do in January," Neville said on Sky Sports, after United’s 2-1 win over Manchester City.
"They still need two or three, if they can get, experienced players in to bolster that squad. They need it desperately. McTominay and Fred have done brilliantly today in front of that back four.
"But they just can’t do it week in, week out. That’s been demonstrated over a period of time. It doesn’t change anything today but it does give confidence and gives Ole that little bit of breathing space that they can go and win big games."
Arsenal boss Freddie Ljungberg under the cosh
Arsenal interim boss Freddie Ljungberg is reported to have failed to win over the squad Unai Emery left behind at the Emirates.
A draw against Norwich in Ljungberg’s first game in charge was followed by a demoralising defeat to Brighton on Thursday night.
The Daily Star report Arsenal players have not fully given their backing to the Swede, who has been tipped by some to take the Gunners job full time.
Arsenal will return to action against West Ham on Monday night with Ljungberg in need of a win at the London Stadium.
Rangers to tie Steven Gerrard down
Rangers boss Steven Gerrard is set to be rewarded with a new contract after a strong start to his managerial career at Ibrox.
Gerrard helped maintain the Light Blues’ position as the best of the rest last season and they have kicked on this term.
As well as eyeing Scottish Premiership glory, Gerrard has his sights on beating Celtic in Sunday’s Betfred Cup final.
Ahead of the Hampden Park face off, Rangers have hammered out terms on a contract which will keep Gerrard in Glasgow until 2024.
Man City make Jadon Sancho decision
Manchester City will not stand in the way of one of their Premier League rivals signing Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.
The Citizens had previously been tipped to launch a move to re-sign the England winger, who they nabbed from Watford when he was a kid.
However, the Sunday Mirror indicate City don’t want the teenager, who’s set for a starring role at next summer’s Euro 2020 tournament.
Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea are all understood to be keen on Sancho, who bagged a brace as Dortmund thrashed Fortuna Dusseldorf of Saturday.
Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid plots
Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud is wanted in January by Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid - but only if he’ll be available for free.
The Frenchman has slipped down the forward line pecking order since Frank Lampard succeeded Maurizio Sarri at Stamford Bridge over the summer.
Chelsea, though, are still demanding a £5m fee to let the World Cup winner go in the next transfer window.
That might be too much for Inter and Atletico, who could wait until the summer before snapping up Giroud when he becomes a free agent.
Celtic helped by exit
Celtic hero Chris Sutton believes the Hoops are better off without Brendan Rodgers following their former boss’ move to Leicester earlier this year.
"Lennon has done a remarkable job at Celtic this season," Sutton wrote for the Daily Record. "It was always going to be tough to come in after Brendan Rodgers upped sticks but you’ve got to say Lenny has taken the team up a level.
"He’s got Celtic stronger at the back, scoring more goals and far more entertaining. There was a sizeable chunk of fans who didn’t fancy him coming back as boss again but you’ll not find a dissenting voice now."
Lennon has the chance to win yet another piece of silverware on Sunday when Celtic face Old Firm rivals Rangers in the Betfred Cup final.
Newcastle want Jarrod Bowen
Newcastle have earmarked Jarrod Bowen as a target thanks to his goalscoring exploits with Championship side Hull this season.
The Telegraph report that while Steve Bruce is reluctant to discuss potential transfers publicly, the Toon boss is happy for talks to go on behind the scenes.
Newcastle have apparently lined up Bowen, who has bagged 14 goals in 20 appearances for the Tigers since the campaign kicked off in August.
Newcastle might even terminate the contracts of Jack Colback and Henri Saivet to make room on their wage budget for new year arrivals.
Everton drop transfer plan
Everton look set to scrap a move for Nottingham Forest ace Matty Cash following Marco Silva’s sacking earlier this week.
Express Sport understands the former Toffees boss was interested in luring the midfielder-cum-right-back to Goodison Park in January.
However, the Portuguese’s departure means Everton are likely to shelve plans to sign the £20m-rated star.
Crystal Palace and Southampton have also had Cash look at this season as they plan to bolster their respective squads.
Liverpool’s Jadon Sancho warning
Liverpool’s hopes of landing Jadon Sancho have taken a hit with Borussia Dortmund adamant the wideman will not be leaving in January.
Dortmund director of sport Michael Zorc said: "We’re continuing to plan with him. He’s a fundamental player for us and I do not see any scenario where he leaves us.
"We have already had some situations with him to talk about, and there have been a lot of interviews in the last few weeks.
"We are in a good way; when he came off the bench in Barcelona and also in Berlin, he gave us a top performance."
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Chelsea’s Nathan Ake stance
Chelsea reckon they can take Nathan Ake back to Stamford Bridge for a fee of £40m - around £30m less than his whopping market value.
The Dutchman has established himself as one of the Premier League’s top young centre-backs while on the books at Bournemouth.
Frank Lampard is interested in prising him away from the Vitality Stadium after Chelsea’s transfer ban was chopped in half following an appeal.
The Telegraph report the Blues are confident a buy-back clause means they can re-sign Ake for £40m - a whole lot less than the £70m price tag Bournemouth slapped on him over the summer.
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Tottenham chase Man Utd target
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho wants to beat former club Manchester United to a deal for out-of-favour Juventus defender Merih Demiral.
Express Sport understands United - along with Arsenal and Manchester City - have been given the green light to make an offer for the Turkey international in January.
It seems, though, that Tottenham have got wind of Demiral’s availability, with Mourinho eyeing up the centre-back.
The Sun report Tottenham have contacted Demiral’s representatives over a potential switch which could see him go on to partner Davinson Sanchez in defence.
Arsenal next manager latest
Arsenal have put Mikel Arteta at the top of their managerial wish list after seeing Brendan Rodgers and Patrick Vieira commit their futures to Leicester and Nice respectively.
Arteta enjoyed a decent stint as a player at the Emirates and was previously seen as an option to succeed his former manager Arsene Wenger.
Now, 18 months on from missing out on the Arsenal job to Unai Emery, Express Sport understands Gunners chiefs are looking at the Spaniard again.
Manchester City, though, will put up a fight to keep the former midfielder - who has been earmarked as a potential replacement for Pep Guardiola.