The transfer window is heating up! Transfer Talk brings you live updates on all the latest rumours and done deals.
TOP STORY: Griezmann ‘to demand huge wage’
Just as he was in the summer, Antoine Griezmann is being linked with Manchester United — but they will have to dig very deep to sign him from Atletico Madrid, according to the Sun.
It reports that Griezmann “will demand a staggering £400,000 a week to snub Barcelona and join United.”
The France international has been mooted as the subject of an £89 million United bid in the summer but, with Barca also interested, the paper says United “have been told their initial wage offer of £290,000 a week is short of what Griezmann wants.”
The forward will “ask for an extra £100,000 a week after seeing the huge sums other stars have gone for,” according to the report, which quotes “an Old Trafford source” as saying: “The goalposts have moved significantly since the first attempt to sign Griezmann.”
LIVE BLOG
07.30 GMT: Monday’s Transfer Talk live blog kicks off with news that Liverpool striker Divock Origi is open to turning his loan move to Wolfsburg into a permanent one.
He told reporters: “I think everything’s possible. I focus on the here and now. I have a good relationship with Liverpool, but feel really well here at Wolfsburg. We’ll sit down at the end of the season, and talk we’ll see what’s next. Right now, I am here for another six months, and I am open for everything.”
Liverpool keen to bring Keita move forward
So out, for an eye-watering £142m, goes Philippe Coutinho. And in, sooner than expected, comes … Naby Keita?
With Liverpool having agreed to sell Coutinho to Barcelona, the Telegraph reports that they could try to bring Keita in this month.
Last year they signed the RB Leipzig midfielder, due to move to Anfield at the end of the season, in a deal worth more than £55m.
But the Telegraph says that although Liverpool are ready to pay more to move the transfer forward, Leipzig “are determined to retain Keita as they seek to qualify for the Champions League.”
It adds that although the Reds would favour an earlier move, “they are respectful of Leipzig’s stance given the professional way negotiations proceeded” despite being in a position to table “a tempting offer.”
Keita would prefer to join Liverpool this month with Leipzig out of this season’s Champions League but Jurgen Klopp is “keeping all options open” if that can’t be agreed upon.
One of those options could be Monaco’s Thomas Lemar, according to the Mirror.
Although the French champions have said they do not intend to sell big-name players this month, the Mirror says Liverpool “are ready to test their resolve.”
Saints face challenge to bring Walcott back
Although Southampton want Arsenal’s forward Theo Walcott to return to the south coast, the London Evening Standard has warned that won’t be easy.
Southampton are eager to spend some of the £75m they received from the sale of Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool on a move for Walcott.
But the Standard says “they will have to dramatically upgrade their wage structure if they are to afford the £120,000-a-week wages he is believed to earn at Arsenal — significantly more than any Southampton player.”
Tap-ins
– Crystal Palace will step up their attempts to sign Getafe goalkeeper Vicente Guaita in the face of competition from Watford, the Independent says.
It reports that Palace “are keen to improve their goalkeeping options” and have their eyes firmly on Guaita, who appears increasingly likely to leave this month.
– Chelsea defender Jake Clarke-Salter could soon be embroiled in a Championship struggle, with Sunderland set to take him on loan for the rest of the season, according to the Mail.
It reports that Clarke-Salter, an Under-20 World Cup winner with England, has opted to join Sunderland despite interest from Birmingham and Sheffield United after boss Chris Coleman convinced him.