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Transfer Talk: Mourinho and Wenger on the hunt for defenders

Paul Pogba, Manchester United, there's a transfer saga going on. Now we've ticked that box, let's...



Transfer Talk: Mourinho and We...
Soccer

Transfer Talk: Mourinho and Wenger on the hunt for defenders

Paul Pogba, Manchester United, there's a transfer saga going on. Now we've ticked that box, let's move on to something else.

Manchester United are not finished with their transfer dealings despite the record fee they're lining up for Pogba apparently, and Jose Mourinho has pinpointed the defence as a worry.

Given that he's unlikely to try the whole Daley Blind at centre back thing, he's looking at Southampton's Jose Fonte as a target, if he can step in and scupper the deal between the Portuguese and Everton. They'll probably need to bid over £9 million for him, so given the way they've been negotiating recently, expect them to seal the deal for £26 million soon enough.

Meanwhile, the Manchester Evening News report that both Milan clubs are looking at Bastian Schweinsteiger, with Mourinho happy to let the German leave in order to clear some space in the squad for a midfielder. Who could it be?

Ashley Williams is a wanted man after a strong performance at Euro 2016, and if Ronald Koeman's deal for Fonte falls through, he'll move on to bringing the Welshman to Goodison instead. That comes after Arsenal apparently expressed an interest in Williams too, given that Per Mertesacker has been struck down with injury. Wenger is apparently looking at Swansea’s Federico Fernández if they can't get a deal done for either Johnny Evans or Williams.

Romelu Lukaku's price continues to rise despite not playing any football, as Everton are now looking for £75 million for the striker from Chelsea. Despite reports that he wants to go back to London, Everton are holding firm on the price as they really want to make sure that they get a good wedge of profit after paying £28 million for him just two years go.

Staying in London, Danny Drinkwater could be the subject of a bid from Tottenham Hotspur as Mauricio Pochettino mulls over a £20 million bid for the midfielder. Although Vardy turned down the chance to leave, speculation persists over Riyad Mahrez while N'Golo Kante has already signed on the dotted line for Chelsea, as Claudio Ranieri struggles to keep his title-winning team together.

Saido Berahino could finally be set for a move away from the Hawthorns, after they agreed on a deal for Diafro Sakho with West Ham, which will see the Senegalese move to West Brom for £15 million. Spurs could be his destination given they have been interested in Berahino for a long time, and Tony Pulis might be willing to cash in on his potential now instead of trying to get the want-away player to settle. 

In the best of the rest: Hull are still trying to find a replacement for Steve Bruce, with Chris Coleman and Gianfranco Zola believed to be the front-runners; Granit Xhaka said he never spoke to Jurgen Klopp and that Arsenal's attractive footballing style was what lured him to London; Lucas Leiva has been the subject of a £2.5 million bid from Galatasaray; Celtic are closing in on a deal for Scott Sinclair for £3 million; Burnely and Sunderland are in the hunt for Manchester United's Paddy McNair; Oscar has drawn interest from Inter; and West Ham are interested in Andrew Ayew as well as Cameron Borthwick-Jackson from Manchester United.

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