Hot Football Transfer Gossip: Chelsea 'swoop for Aguero', Van Dijk 'only wants Liverpool move', Arsenal 'give up on Mbappe'
“It only takes a minute girl, to fall in love,” sang Gary Barlow in Take That’s 1992 hit (which was actually a cover of a 1975 track by US funk outfit Tavares but that’s not important right now). It was quite a dubious claim anyway – most people would probably suggest it takes longer than a minute to fall in love, especially if it was Gary Barlow you were having to falling in love with.
Perhaps Gazza could update these lyrics to be more relevant to the times, not to mention more accurate. Something like, “It only takes a tweet girl, to start a transfer rumour.” Because this fact is indisputable.
Proof comes in the Star’s story about a sensational Chelsea swoop for Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero – a move that has reportedly been given the “green light” by City boss Pep Guardiola.
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It’s a 227-word article sourced in its entirety from an 18-word tweet posted by Spanish journalist Manu Sainz, who has a blue tick on his profile so it must be true.
The tweet itself is not especially convincing. Sainz says he has “been told” Chelsea want Aguero – but he doesn’t say by whom – and adds that “Guardiola would have already given the OK”, which is just an assumption. But it’s enough for the Star to go big on it (and Hot Football Transfer Gossip too, to be fair).
Meanwhile, an Arsenal legend has called on the Gunners to sign Aguero in a swap deal with Alexis Sanchez.
“If I were Arsenal I’d be ringing up Man City and saying ‘Give us Aguero and you can have Sanchez’,” said the Magic Man – aka Paul Merson. He’ll probably be appointed the club’s Director of Football next week.
It’s certainly a role that requires ambition, as the Gunners proved once again by re-joining the race for in-demand Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk (Express).
Tapping
The Dutchman is keen on a move to Liverpool, however, and could still move to Anfield for £60m despite a recent tapping up scandal (Sun).
Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger has finally given up on signing Kylian Mbappe and will instead focus on his Monaco team-mate Thomas Lemar (Telegraph), who has apparently “demanded” that the Ligue 1 champions let him move to the Emirates (Sun).
Diego Costa appears to be moving closer to a Chelsea exit after he was pictured “partying in an Atletico Madrid shirt” on Instagram, reports the Mail. Oh, Diego. There’s nothing chavvier than the guy who wears a football shirt on a night out.
Elsewhere, the Blues are set to swoop for Atletico winger Yannick Carrasco (Express), Loic Remy is set to leave Stamford Bridge and will be targeted by Everton and Southampton (Metro) and Birmingham City manager Harry Redknapp wants to make an audacious triple swoop for Ashley Cole, Robbie Keane and Stewart Downing (Mirror). Has he hit his head and woken up thinking it’s 2006?
