EPL Transfer Round: Cancelo Out, Maguire An Option For Inter Milan And Arsenal Consider Their Options Outside Caicedo

Written By Onyeka Daniel

With less than 48 hours to the closing of the January transfer window, it is expected that deals will be agreed much fast as clubs try to get their businesses done before the closing of the deadline.

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The top story is the imminent exit of Manchester City defender, Joao Cancelo for Bayern Munich, on an initial loan deal plus an option to make it permanent at the end of the season. While this move has come as a surprise to many, It’s understood Cancelo made City bosses aware of Bayern’s interest in him and told them he wanted a new challenge.

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The news will come as a shock to City fans, who regard Cancelo as one of the best defenders in Europe . The 28 year-old has become increasingly frustrated by his lack of game time under Guardiola and made his feelings known to the coach. Cancelo has started just three games since returning from the World Cup, with Guardiola preferring to play teenage defender Rico Lewis ahead of him.

Manchester United will be less than inclined to let their Swedish defender, Victor Lindelof leave the club rather than Harry Maguire as Erik Ten Hag wants to have some sort of cover for his first choice pairing of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez.

Italian side, Inter Milan are in the lookout for a new defender as they’re about to Milan Skriniar to French side, PSG and have set their sight on Lindelof. It’s unclear if they will consider Maguire instead or look elsewhere.

Arsenal could consider the bitter option of looking elsewhere for midfield reinforcement after seeing their second bid of about €70 million rejected for Moises Caicedo by Brighton recently. Leicester city midfielder, Youri Tielemans, Real Socieded midfield engine, Martin Zubimendi and Everton’s Amadou Onana are the three names.

For Tielemans, he could come cheap this January as his contract is set to expire in June and will be leaving the club anyways, but the Foxes are said to have decided to resist all offers for the player as they need him to avoid relegation and would rather lose him for free rather than accept a minimal sum for him now.

As for Zubimendi, he has a €60 million in his current contract and his signing appears the easiest, but the player and his club wants to continue together, hence Arsenal will need to convince the player between now and before the closing of the transfer window in order to complete his signing.

The words on Onana is that he has rejected all offers as he wants to stay and help the Toffees avoid relegation with Chelsea also said to be interested. Everton have reportedly submitted a €45 million offer to sign Chelsea midfielder, Connor Gallagher, with the Blues yet to respond to the offer.

Following the confirmation of Sean Dyche as their new coach and the sales of Anthony Gordon, the club have moved swiftly to save their season and the signing of Gallagher is expected to raise the quality of their squad but they will have a hard time in convincing Chelsea that a move is in their best interest.

Gallagher spent last season on loan at fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace where he performed very well, scoring 8 goals and providing 3 assists in 34 league appearances.

He was expected to become a starter upon his return to Chelsea. However, although he has been given a decent level of game time under new boss Graham Potter, he has only managed to amass 2 goal contributions in 18 appearances for the blues.

According to a report from the Athletic, Everton have already submitted a verbal offer to sign the 20-year-old Ghana winger, Kamaldeen Sulemana after sanctioning the departure of Anthony Gordon.

The Toffees sold Gordon to Newcastle United for a fee of around £40 million and they are looking to bring in the 20-year-old winger as his direct replacement.

Rennes value the player at €30 million, and it will be interesting to see if the two clubs come secure an agreement before the January window closes. Everton need to add more quality to their attack in order to survive the relegation battle this season.

Meanwhile…

Brighton have completed the signing of young Swedish midfielder, Yasin Ayari from AIK, but he’s not expected to be a replacement for the wantaway Ecuadorian, Moises Caicedo. Brighton are determined to keep Caicedo after rejecting a second bid consecutive bud from Arsenal for him.