Analysing the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Spurs, Chelsea, Everton and more.
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Welcome to 3 Added Minutes’ daily round-up and breakdown of some of the biggest new Premier League transfer rumours – and we’re starting today’s digest off with an eyebrow-raising story concerning Tottenham Hotspur.
According to TeamTalk, Spurs are “leading the race” to bring an England international striker back to the Premier League, but it’s not Harry Kane, whatever recent gossip might have you believe it’s Ivan Toney.
Toney has been impressive for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli but is apparently “unsettled” in the Middle East and “poised” to make a comeback, with an initial loan deal in January on the table – and his relationship with Thomas Frank is said to “remain strong” after they worked together at Brentford.
West Ham United and Everton have also “entered the frame” and are said to have “sounded out” the 29-year-old striker, but it’s Spurs who are said to be “favourites” to strike a deal as it stands. No agreements have yet been reached, but apparently “momentum is building” behind the scenes.
The 3AM Verdict: We’d like to see some corroboration of this story before we buy it, but it must be said that it makes a lot of sense – Frank knows Toney well, Spurs need a striker, and he would hardly be the first player to experience a sense of regret after moving to Saudi Arabia. One to watch, but the financials will be difficult to sort out.
Chelsea ‘leading candidates’ to snap up big free transfer
Over to Spanish gossipmongers Fichajes now, who claim that Chelsea have become the “leading candidates” to sign goalkeeper Mike Maignan on a free transfer next summer with talks over a new contract with AC Milan said to have “stalled.”
Milan are said to be “confident of reaching an agreement” which would keep the Frenchman at the San Siro, but it’s suggested that Maignan is considering his options with Chelsea “preparing to seize the opportunity” to snap up a free upgrade on Robert Sánchez.
They may not wait until the summer, however, and this report claims that Chelsea could weigh in with a January bid “if an opportunity arises.” There’s no word on what Milan might demand to let him go, and it’s stated that no formal contacts have taken place between the relevant parties.
The 3AM Verdict: This is, of course, not a new story – rather, it’s an old rumour which is resurfacing as negotiations over a new contract continue to go nowhere. We doubt that Chelsea will splash out to sign him in January, especially with Sánchez on much improved form, and our opinion of Fichajes’ reliability isn’t very high, but it’s interesting to see this story doing the rounds again.
Everton star lashes out at transfer ‘lie’
Let’s wrap up today’s column with a story concerning Everton – and it involves left-back Vitalii Mykolenko hitting out at claims that he could leave the Merseyside club in January with his contract close to expiring.
The Daily Mirror report that the Ukrainian has described claims that he is refusing to sign a new deal and is pushing for an early exit “a complete lie” and that his “agent will be talking to Everton representatives soon… I am a professional and will work out my contract 100%.”
Which is good news for Everton fans worried about a lack of depth at the back, although the newspaper reports that the priority isn’t tying Mykolenko down to a new deal but coming to terms with midfielder James Garner instead. Mykolenko is said to have “attracted interest” from unspecified sides in Italy and Spain as his contract enters its final months.
The 3AM Verdict: Mykolenko seems to have made it pretty plain that he wants to stay with Everton, which can only be good news for the team, especially with defensive resources looking rather stretched at the moment. We have no reason to contradict the report and can’t see him leaving in January.