A round-up of the biggest football transfer stories circulating around Europe, including the future of Radamel Falcao, Gonzalo Higuain’s links to Liverpool, and Arsenal’s new wonderkid.
Arsenal
Premier League club Arsenal appear to be on the verge of sealing a deal for Polish teenager Krystian Bielik, his club Legia Warsaw have confirmed.
Bielik, 17, travelled to London on Friday to have a medical at Arsenal ahead of completing a move understood to be worth £2.5million (AED 13.97m).
The defensive midfielder arrived at Legia at the start of the season and has made just five starts, but it is believed Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger wants to integrate the youngster into the first-team squad immediately.
“I’m going to London to fulfill my dreams. I hope I will become an Arsenal player soon,” Bielik told Legia Warsaw’s official website.
Legia coach Henning Berg, who is well accustomed to English football having spent a decade as a player at Blackburn and Manchester United, believes Bielik has a massive future ahead of him.
“He doesn’t have any weaknesses,” Berg said. “He is a physical player with good skills, good understanding, a good match mentality and good decision-making in the game. For his age, he is quite far ahead compared to others in his age group.”
Radamel Falcao
Colombian striker Radamel Falcao is attracting interest from Serie A’s two biggest clubs, with Juventus and Roma both keen to take him to Italy.
The Monaco forward is currently on a season-long loan at Manchester United, who have the first option to make the move permanent for a figure in the region of £43million (AED 240.4m)
However, a combination of injuries and squad rotation has resulted in the 28-year-old failing to cement a place in the first-team.
Falcao has made his intentions clear that he would like to carve out a long-term career at Old Trafford, but his recent snub from the squad for United’s defeat against Southampton has him considering his options.
And according to reports, Juventus and Roma have contacted Falcao’s representatives to discuss the logistics of a permanent summer move away from Monaco.
Falcao’s agent, Jorge Mendes, also cast doubt over his client’s future at United but stating the striker deserves to be starting at any club in the world.
“They have an absolutely brilliant player, one of the very best in the world, who would without any doubt play 90 minutes of the match, every time, with any other club,” Mendes said.
“I don’t know [if he will stay].
“He is a fantastic player, and I think it’s very difficult for Manchester United fans.
“The truth is, right now we don’t know what will happen. What we do know is that he will play in one of the very best clubs in the world next season, whether that is Manchester United or not.”
Manchester United
On the topic of Manchester United, fresh reports have emerged claiming manager Louis van Gaal could be given as much as £150million (AED 839m) to spend this month on new players.
Long-term targets Kevin Stootman and Mats Hummels are listed among those Van Gaal is keen to sign, while the Daily Mirror claims the Dutchman is also keen on Southampton full-back Nathaniel Clyne.
United already spent £150m during the summer transfer window on the likes of Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and British record signing Angel Di Maria for £59.7m (AED 333.8m)
But Van Gaal is set to meet with United chief executive Ed Woodward to discuss an outlay on new players to bolster his squad ahead of the season run-in.
Roma midfielder Strootman has been on Van Gaal’s wishlist since the summer and the Italian club revealed a “huge offer” would make them listen to bids for the Holland international.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund defender Hummels is one of the most sought-after players in Europe and given United’s defensive shortcomings this season, a move for a World Cup-winning centre-back makes sense.
Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar, who van Gaal knows well from their time together for the Netherlands, was expected to be the subject of a bid from United, although a recent knee injury makes a move to Old Trafford this month unlikely.
Kevin Mirallas
Everton forward Kevin Mirallas has decided to delay contract talks with the Premier League club until the summer, putting top clubs around Europe on alert.
The Goodison Park club are keen to tie Mirallas down to a new contract now that he’s entered the final 18 months of his existing deal and attempted to open negotiations earlier this season.
However, the Belgium international has revealed he will evaluate his situation once the season is over.
“I don’t feel any problem with my situation,” 27-year-old Mirallas told the Liverpool Echo.
“I’ve spoken very well with the manager and the chairman, and there is no problem.
“The best thing, for me and for the team, is that I finish the season well. Then after that I will go away on holiday, and when I come back we will talk about my situation.
“But like I say, the most important thing in the meantime is to play well for the team.”
Real Sociedad
Burnely’s Danny Ings is attracting the interest of David Moyes, who is keen to take the in-form striker to Real Sociedad, according to a report by The Independent.
The English forward, who has scored six Premier League goals this season, will be available on a free transfer this summer should he fail to agree a new contract with Burnley.
According to the report, the idea of playing in Spain is appealing to Ings, who wants to move to a club where he will be a first-team regular rather than make up the numbers at the Premier League’s bigger clubs.
With the 22-year-old’s contract due to expire in six months, he is permitted to talk to clubs outside of the Premier League and pen a pre-contract agreement.
Ings is also reportedly attracting interest from English clubs Tottenham, Manchester City and Chelsea, although Sociedad’s advantage of being able to discuss terms immediately could work to their advantage.
