TOP STORY: Atleti stadium move forcing Griezmann sale

We might be smack bang in the middle of the January transfer window, but Manchester United already have one eye on what they will be doing next summer and that's planning an eye-catching move to sign Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid.

According to the Telegraph, the sale of Atletico's star turn Griezmann could be necessary due to the club's costly move into their new 67,000-seat Wanda Metropolitano stadium next season.

United, named the world's richest football club by Deloitte on Thursday, are one of the few sides that could reasonably afford to pay Griezmann's reported £86 million release clause.

The only real problem this presents for Jose Mourinho is how he finds room for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and potentially Griezmann in his team!

Chicharito could face Gio Dos in L.A.

In a move that would surely have Mexico fans watering at the mouth, MLSSoccer.com is citing an AS report that claims that El Tri teammates Javier Hernandez and Giovani Dos Santos could be city rivals in Los Angeles.

How you ask? Well Hernandez, whose goals tally at Bayer Leverkusen has taken a hit this campaign compared to last, is reportedly the subject of interest from 2018 expansion franchise Los Angeles Football Club. "Chicharito" -- a former Man United and Real Madrid player -- has just seven goals to his credit in all competitions for the Bundesliga side and has been a hot name in the transfer rumour pages of late.

Fellow Mexico international Dos Santos has been with the LA Galaxy since 2015, after a high-profile move from Villarreal to Major League Soccer, and has flourished in America's top flight, scoring 18 times in 41 appearances for one of the league's premier franchises.

The report concedes that no move for Hernandez would be made by the fledgling franchise before a coach is hired, but afterward, perhaps it's time to start dreaming of a scintillating rivalry in the City of Angels.

Young to be tempted by China move?

Just when Chinese Super League clubs were supposed to be tightening their belts amid new financial restrictions, Shandong Luneng is rumoured to be ready to offer Ashley Young £16m in wages over three years if he quits Manchester United.

The 31-year-old has been pushed to the fringes under Jose Mourinho, with West Bromwich Albion, Watford and Swansea City among the Premier League clubs said to be monitoring his situation at Old Trafford with interest.

But the Daily Mirror reckons Young also has admirers in the Far East where he could link up with ex-Fulham boss Felix Magath and former Premier League strikers Graziano Pelle and Papiss Cisse.

United, for their part, are said to be willing to sell former England international Young if they can recoup a fee of around £10m for a player they paid a reported £17m for in 2011.

Bournemouth coming for Begovic

Antonio Conte is having a tough time keeping his Chelsea squad together this month. Oscar and John Obi Mikel have departed for China, Diego Costa is said to want to follow suit and now Asmir Begovic is the subject of interest from Bournemouth.

The Premier League leaders rejected an opening offer of £10m for Begovic, the Daily Telegraph claims, but could be open to the Cherries returning with a bigger offer. Conte, understandably, wants his trusted No. 2 goalkeeper to stay until the summer, but would grant him a move if he really wanted one due to the fact that Thibaut Courtois is well established as the club's first choice between the posts.

Another option, the report adds, is that Bournemouth put their interest on hold until the end of the season. But that could be problematic due to the possibility of Everton and West Ham, both credited with interest last summer, returning.

Tap-ins

- Thirteen-year-old Finley Burns has a notable distinction next to his name, as the Times reports that Manchester City have paid a record transfer fee to Southend United for the (very) young man's services. The move was finalised last week, but no fee was included in the announcement. However, the outlet claims that City could pay more than £250,000 for the academy recruit if he signs a professional contract to play at the Etihad.

- Piece by piece, Everton have been upgrading their squad -- adding Ashley Williams and Yannick Bolasie in the summer and more recently Morgan Schneiderlin and Ademola Lookman. But Standard Liege striker Ishak Belfodil won't be joining them at Goodison Park, the Guardian reports, due to manager Ronald Koeman's uncertainty as to whether the Algerian would provide an improvement on what is already available.

- Leicester City remain hopeful of agreeing a £10m deal to sign Gaston Ramirez from Middlesbrough, according to the Daily Mail, that would include a big pay-rise for the Uruguayan attacker. Although Boro boss Aitor Karanka is keen to retain Ramirez's services, that fee for a player signed on a free transfer six months ago must be tempting.

- Sunderland's Patrick van Aanholt and William Remy of Montpellier have emerged as defensive targets for Crystal Palace, the Daily Mail claims. Manager Sam Allardyce, who saw a move for Arsenal right-back Carl Jenkinson fall through, will also have to contend with interest from Marseille in France international midfielder Yohan Cabaye.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by Michael Wade

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