Gossip: Chelsea in 'pole position' to snare Ake, Fabregas linked with Madrid and Barca want Alderweireld
Once again Nathan Ake is the centre of attention, well for three Premier League clubs at least.
The talented Bournemouth defender is being heavily linked with Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United, all BIG clubs. Two of them are even above the Cherries in the Premier League table!
The Telegraph report that Chelsea are in pole position to sign him (again). They report the Blues have a gentleman’s agreement with Bournemouth to re-sign the defender for around £40m; double what they sold him for last year. The only caveat is that Ake must agree to the move – if he doesn’t Spurs and United will be ready to pounce.
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Both are looking or defensive reinforcements, but for the Spurs their need may be greater. That’s because the Mail are reporting that Barcelona are ‘sizing up’ a January move for Toby Alderweireld.
Barca are facing a mini-defensive crisis with Samuel Umtiti a long-term absentee and Thomas Vermaelen’s brief foray from the treatment room and on to the playing pitch already finished. With Alderweireld able to leave Tottenham on the cheap next season, Spurs may just consider cashing in.
But in better news for Spurs fans, Harry Kane had a brilliant response when asked if he’d like to leave north London for Real Madrid: “Sorry, not today” was his response. Zing! OF course, he may not have heard the question and just wanted to shut down the interview before it started. Still classic though.
Mournho to Munich? Think again…
If Jose Mourinho were to lose his Manchester United job, he would not be able to walk into Bayern Munich, say ESPN. Shocking! That’s despite Bayern sitting sixth in the table after seven whole matches. They report Mourinho would even have to take an ‘intermediate’ job (whatever that means) before he’d even be considered to take over at the usually German powerhouse.
Cesc Fabregas could return to Spain on a free transfer. The Chelsea midfielder is in the final year of his contract and has only featured three times under Maurizio Sarri so far this season, and the Mail report Atletico Madrid will offer him a ticket to the Spanish capital in the form of a pre-contract agreement in January.
Aaron Ramsey latest
It wouldn’t be a Gossip column without at least one update on the want-away Arsenal midfielder. And the latest favourite to sign him is… (spins wheel)… AC Milan!
The difference today is that Milan believe they have a secret weapon: former Arsenal chief Ivan Gazidis has shacked up the Italian giants and the Rossoneri think that will give them an advantage over their rivals. However, they may still have a fight on their hands…
ESPN report that Ramsey is ‘open’ to a move to a Premier League rival, with Manchester United and Chelsea interested but Liverpool have ruled themselves OUT.