Arsenal and Newcastle tipped to rival West Ham for the signing of Ba
Demba Ba has been told he can leave Chelsea if they sign another striker, and Arsenal are likely to bid for him, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Ba, 28, has been linked with a return to West Ham and it is suggested that another of his former clubs, Newcastle, are likely to be interested along with Fulham.
Chelsea apparently want to at least recoup the £7.5m they paid Newcastle for him a year ago and would be reluctant to sell to a title rival.
The Telegraph also say Chelsea have had a £50m bid for Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuaín rejected.
Meanwhile, there is continued speculation over the future of Chelsea playmaker Juan Mata.
Napoli, managed by former Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez, have shown an interest in him, according to the Daily Mirror, while The Independent say Mata’s representatives have sought assurances from Jose Mourinho that the Spaniard will not be sold.
Chelsea value him at £25m and are prepared to send him on loan to a non-English club for the rest of the season, according to the Daily Star.
The Daily Mail claim Mata is resisting attempts by manager Mourinho to force him out of Stamford Bridge, at least until the end of the campaign.
The Mail also say Southampton’s Luke Shaw will snub a possible move to Chelsea and that referee Mark Clattenburg is being investigated after the south-coast club accused him of ‘abusing and insulting’ their captain Adam Lallana during their New Year’s Day defeat against Mourinho’s side.
The Sun report that Kevin de Bruyne’s future is unclear as he is reluctant to leave Chelsea on loan again and the club do not want to sell him.
The Star say Arsenal are determined to sign Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa, who is supposedly also wanted by Chelsea.
Finally, the Mirror say Inter Milan are set to put Manchester United and Chelsea on alert by releasing midfielder Esteban Cambiasso this summer.
The 33-year-old, who played under Mourinho at Inter, apparently earns £3.7m a year.
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03/01/2014 @ 12:02 pm
Morinho, pliz we hav no tym to waste. Go 4 Costa this wkend b4 we loz hm to Arsnal. Only 3 signings this month are enough: Costa, Guarin & Luke Shaw. Das o!
03/01/2014 @ 9:00 am
I advice wenger to go for costa ontime before all eyes Will be on him and also barbatov is good to have strikers at list four in a club.my mind is diago costa.