So where are we at with our current transfer targets, and what have their managers said at the pre-match press conferences.
Chelsea have been linked with numerous targets this transfer window. Realistically just 3 potential first team signings have arrived but with the season kicking-off tomorrow, more are needed.
Danny Drinkwater has been a target for Antonio Conte, Drinkwater`s manager at Leicester City, Craig Shakespeare said in The Mail
“We don`t want to be a selling club, we want to add to it, We don`t want to sell our best players. The speculation is always going to be out there at this time of year. You know when you have good players there might be an interest in them. You have to deal with reality but also keep a calmness about you as well.”
So, that`s not a definite no from Shakespeare, but he`s not keen and with Chelsea nowhere near wishing to pay the £30m Leicester asking price, the chances seem slim.
Another prospect is Swansea City`s Fernando Llorente, Paul Clement has spoken about the possibility of the 32 year old leaving for Stamford Bridge.
“He has got a year to go on his deal and we’d like him to stay for this year and longer. I’m confident he will because of the conversations I’ve had with Fernando. He’s happy here, he likes the work we’re doing, and he likes the way we play. He’s a really good player and it’s a shame with the injury he got in the summer. It’s a freak one and he did finish off the season strongly. His goals were vital and we want to have him as an option.’
Again not totally ruled out but unlikely.
The winner of our ‘Which Englishman should Antonio Conte sign poll`, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain`s current boss Arsene Wenger was reported in The Evening Standard ahead of tonights season opener,
“I think in his career he had some bad moments because he had some small injuries. Last year he was much more stable. Personally, I think he is a hugely talented player. He is on the way up and he will continue to move up because that potential is there. He is today very conscious of his qualities as well, which he was not always, and I personally believe he will be a very great player.”
Wenger non-committal as ever there and not ruling anything out or in, but with less than a year left on the Ox`s contract and Arsenal`s squad overflowing with players, this one`s still on. Chelsea are believed to be preparing a £35m bid. Update: Oxlade-Chamberlain played all 90 minutes of Arsenal’s season opener against Leicester City.
Everton`s Ronald Koeman in the The Guardian has spoken about the possibility of Ross Barkley leaving. The article believes the Toffees are after a fee in the region of £30m for the midfielder
“We won`t let him go cheap, of course not, We have the experience of what we need to pay for players who came here and had one year of contract. If there is a club thinking we can wait until the last day and we put some money on the table and we get Ross Barkley, sorry, you do not get Ross Barkley.”
Another one not to be ruled out. Barkley certainly wants away from Goodison Park.
Tottenham`s Danny Rose recently had an outburst where he criticised the clubs lack of big-name signings and questioned his pay, feeling he isn`t paid what he believes he`s worth. He has subsequently apologised and his manager Mauricio Pochettino, as reported in The Evening Standard has said,
“I forgive him and now we move on. Of course [he has a future at Tottenham]. Nothing has changed in my vision or perception of him. The moment he apologised, we moved on. For me it’s in the past, the situation.”
The article believes the defender has been fined two weeks wages by the club, with the player believed to be contesting it. This one still has legs, Rose won`t be happy with the fine, assuming he does actually believe he`s undervalued at Spurs.
Last up Southampton`s Virgil Van Dijk, who was subject of an aggressive bid by Liverpool which Southampton rebutted. The defender handed in a transfer request last week. Speaking ahead his side`s game this weekend Southampton`s manager Mauricio Pellegrino said,
“Virgil is an important player and we need him focused on our club. My reaction is the same that I said three weeks ago. We are expecting him to come back, to train with us because we need the players, we need all of them. Hopefully he can change his point of view.”
With the transfer request in and Southampton`s reluctance to deal with Chelsea, this one is still a possibility. The only fly in the ointment being van Dijk`s desire to join Liverpool.
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