Gossip: Liverpool want 'astronomical fee' for Coutinho, Man Utd target £54m defender', Swansea 'chase Hammer Sakho'
It’s 2 January, which means there are just four days left to take advantage of Nike’s free personalisation offer on Philippe Coutinho Barcelona shirts – as was advertised on the sportswear giant’s online store on Saturday evening (for one hour before it was deleted).
Nike are offering Coutinho shirts on their websites. Imagine the audacity from Barcelona. Laughing stock of world football if we don't at least to attempt to do something about this. pic.twitter.com/u7vmnUTlID
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) December 31, 2017
So if you want to snap up this fantastic deal, you better get your skates on. Barcelona would be grateful if you do, because they are allegedly going to need all the money they can get to ensure the Liverpool playmaker actually signs for them.
The Telegraph reports that the Reds were so offended by the apparent “arrogance” of the Nike advert that they are planning to raise their asking price for Coutinho from massive to “astronomical”.
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Having already rejected a bid of £115m for the Brazilian in the summer, it’s not clear what fee Liverpool will demand this time. But it’s safe to say that Barca will need to flog a hell of a lot of Coutinho shirts to cover their costs.
So roll up, roll up – you’ve got until 6 January. FREE PERSONALISATION! What not to like??
Man Utd get Ghoulam boost
Sticking with the theme of massive transfer fees, the Sun claims that Manchester United have been “boosted” in their pursuit of Napoli left-back Faouzi Ghoulam, who may soon be available for the princely sum of £54m.
The Serie A leaders are apparently close to securing Ghoulam’s replacement in the shape of Benfica full-back Alex Grimaldo, who is on the verge of a £27m move to Italy, and will then happily let Ghoulam move to Old Trafford for double the price.
The Mirror, however, has a very different version of events. It claims that Grimaldo, not Ghoulam, was the man United wanted, but that they are now set to “miss out” on the 22-year-old Spaniard because he is going to Napoli. It’s all getting rather confusing, but the one thing we can all agree on is that £54m for Faouzi Ghoulam is a lot of money.
At the less salubrious end of the Premier League table, West Ham and Swansea are set to engage in some complex transfer swappery in their respective desperate attempts to pull away from the relegation zone.
The Guardian says the Hammers are keen on Swans centre-back Alfie Mawson and midfielder Ki Sung-yeung, while Swansea are keen West Ham attackers Diafra Sakho and Andre Ayew, who the Hammers originally signed from Swansea, as you know.
It’s riveting stuff for everyone except the players, who would all probably rather play for a team that is not haunted by the drop.
Elsewhere, Chelsea have suffered a setback in their pursuit of Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini after the 33-year-old suggested he will extend his contract in Turin (Sky Italia), Arsenal and Everton are set to battle it out for 24-year-old Hoffenheim midfielder Karim Demirbay (Mirror) and Huddersfield are close to signing Monaco defender Terence Kongolo on loan until the end of the season (Huddersfield Examiner). There is something quietly self-assured about the name Terence Kongolo that inspires total confidence he will succeed in the Premier League.
