HOT FOOTBALL GOSSIP: Chelsea ‘quadruple swoop’, Sanchez ‘happy’ at Arsenal

When it comes to signing players, the approach favoured by many managers is the good old-fashioned “swoop”. The tabloids are filled with reports about Louis van Gaal swooping for Bale or Muller, Sam Allardyce swooping for his ex-players, Arsene Wenger going for a swoop in the youth leagues of Europe. It’s like a ruddy owl sanctuary. Sometimes, a manager will even swoop for two players at once. And in extreme cases, an ambitious coach will hurl himself into a daring “triple swoop”. But today’s Star has Chelsea attempting something even more audacious: the Blues are reportedly lining up an outrageous, unprecedented “quadruple swoop”.

The location that should be bracing itself for an assault from the skies from a jet pack-wearing Roman Abramovich and his team of winged assistants is Madrid, specifically Atletico. All four targets in the quadruple swoop are from the La Liga outfit, and to make things even more complicated, one of the them is the manager.

Atletico striker Antoine Griezmann, midfielder Koke, defender Diego Godin and gaffer Diego Simeone are apparently in the sights of Abramovich, in a move that would put an abrupt end to the swooping days of Jose Mourinho. No transfer fees are mentioned - the sums were probably too tricky for the Star to work out - but it’s likely the Spanish side will object to becoming the La Liga version of Southampton, even if their shirts do look a bit similar.

The Premier League struck another blow against La Liga when Alexis Sanchez played down speculation of a move to Real Madrid. The Chilean forward said he is “very happy at Arsenal” before adding in the next sentence that he is “never happy with what I do”. Slightly confusing.

The Gunners may have also got mixed signals from Riechedly Bazoer, the Ajax starlet who they were linked with this week but who has also been flirting with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, according to the Mirror.

Another so-called “wonderkid”, Porto’s 18-year-old Ruben Neves, appears to have moved a step closer to signing for Liverpool, with the Mirror reporting that an informal approach from Anfield was “welcomed by the player’s entourage”. Although this sounds like it could just be some fellow teenagers he’s been hanging around with on the streets.

Meanwhile, the Newcastle Chronicle has poured cold water on reports that Man Utd outcast Victor Valdes is on his way to Tyneside as a replacement for the injured Tim Krul. The local paper says Steve McClaren will put faith in his existing reserve keepers instead.

Finally, Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has been linked with a player who, amazingly, has never played for West Ham or Bolton. The Black Cats are possibly interested in £10m-rated Beskitas midfielder Ouzhan Ozyakup, reports the Sunderland Echo. He sounds promising but come on, he’s no Kevin Nolan.

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