We’re steadily moving into the heart of the transfer window, and as usual there are plenty of juicy rumours floating around the web.
First up is the absolutely ludicrous transfer of Jermain Defoe to Sunderland.
With several outlets reporting this, it looks to be a done deal, with Jozy Altidore heading to Toronto in a swap deal.
However, the most incredible part of the deal is the staggering amount of money Sunderland are throwing at Defoe. It’s believed the 32-year-old will be on a staggering £80,000 a week in a three-and-a-half year deal at the Stadium of Light, enough to pocket him a cool £14m over the next few seasons.
Manchester United’s on-loan striker Radamel Falcao may be playing his football elsewhere next season.
The Colombian, who United forked out £6m and more than £250,000 a week to bring on loan from Monaco, has been hampered by injury since his arrival, scoring just three goals in 13 games for the club.
His agent Jorge Mendes has hinted that the player’s future may lie elsewhere though, saying: “The truth is, right now we don’t know what will happen. What we do know is that he will play in one of the very best clubs in the world next season, whether that is Manchester United or not.”
Falcao has a £40m buy-out clause with Monaco, who are keen to get the player off their wage-bill permanently.
One player who could be leaving United in this transfer window is Adnan Januzaj.
The 19-year-old was one of United’s key players last season, but has struggled to break into the first team under Louis van Gaal.
The Daily Mail are reporting that the Belgian will likely be loaned out during the January window, and it’s sure to spark plenty of interest in the winger.
Liverpool could be in line to snap up long-term target Ezequiel Lavezzi for a cut-price £8m, with PSG reportedly looking to offload the Argentine.
The Reds were targeting Lavezzi in 2012 before his move from Napoli to Paris, and with PSG now keeping a close eye on Nicolas Gaitan of Benfica, it’s thought Lavezzi is now surplus to requirements.
The Express are reporting that Gaitan’s arrival at PSG is the vital part of the transfer, with the French side needing to hold off interest from man United to land the midfielder.
One Liverpool player who could be on the way out o Anfield though is Jose Enrique.
The Telegraph say that new Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is hoping to bring his former Newcastle left back to the club on loan, in a bid to boost their Premier League survival chances.
Enrique was a key part of Newcastle’s side in Pardew’s first season as Magpies boss, before earning a move to Liverpool that summer.
However, Enrique has fallen out of favour with Brendan Rodgers, and Pardew is hoping the lure of first team football can attract the 28-year old to the club.
Despite being set to land Swansea striker Wilfried Bony in an initial £25m deal, Man City are also lining up a £20m move for Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez.
The Daily Mail say that Rodriguez, who has also been a target for Liverpool and Tottenham, is now a target for the Premier League champions.
It would be a huge gamble from City to throw a bid in for the Saints striker, who hasn’t played since a cruciate ligament injury in April.
Shaun Maloney, whose cracker for Scotland broke Irish hearts in November, looks set to be coming back to the Premier League, with Leicester City agreeing a £1m deal with Wigan for the midfielder.
Leicester have been on a good recent run but remain bottom of the Premier League, and Nigel Pearson will now have the former Celtic and Aston Villa man as part of his midfield.
The BBC say that Wigan were eager to accept a bid for the player, whose contract was due to expire in the summer.
