Hot Football Transfer Gossip: Berahino, Sane, Vidic, Ivanovic

For a striker who has scored three goals in 15 Premier League appearances this season, it’s amazing how many teams seem to want Saido Berahino playing up front for them. But West Brom’s sexiest substitute continues to seduce managers everywhere, with Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink the latest to be impressed by Berahino’s three-month non-scoring streak. Either that or he really loved his FA Cup goal against Bristol City.

The Express reports that Hiddink has earmarked Berahino as the man to strengthen his options in attack, where Diego Costa is Chelsea’s only fit striker and he could get punched by Oscar at any moment. As we already know, the Dutchman will face competition for the £25m-rated Berahino from Liverpool, Stoke and Newcastle, as well as favourites Spurs, who will probably try to get him on deadline day for about £4m. Other names on Hiddink’s shortlist, according to the Times, are £30m-rated Jamie Vardy and £0m-rated Emmanuel Adebayor.

As Berahino’s price tag drops by the week, the value of Schalke midfielder Leroy Sane seems to rise, and the 20-year-old German is now tipped to cost about £40m for whoever wants to buy him. The Mirror says Manchester City have been “watching developments closely”, in which case they will be alarmed to read that Barcelona and Real Madrid are also interested.

Manchester United seem determined to buy someone from La Liga, but they can now add Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez to the long list of players (Bale, Neymar, Ramos etc) they have failed to snare from the Spanish top flight. The Star reports that United’s pursuit of Niguez is “doomed to fail” so they have instead try to persuade their old mate Gary Neville to sell them Valencia midfielder Andre Gomes.

Another one of their old mates, Nemanja Vidic, is back on the market due to being released by Inter Milan after failing to make a single appearance this season, with the Mail reporting that the Serbian centre-back will limp across the pond to seek solace in the MLS.

The Italian side would apparently like Branislav Ivanovic to replace his compatriot at the San Siro, but the Sun reports that Chelsea are set to offer the improving defender a one-year contract extension at Stamford Bridge.

Bournemouth are keen to continue their January spending spree with the £8m capture of QPR’s Matt Phillips (the Sun), while Sunderland want to revive their £5m move for Ivorian defender Lamine Kone (the Chronicle).

And finally, the good news for West Ham fans is that Guangzhou Evergrande want to take misfiring striker Nikica Jelavic off their hands, according to the Standard. The bad news is that Andy Carroll’s latest injury means Jelavic is the club’s only fit centre-forward, so they’ll probably have to keep him.

@darlingkevin