Gossip: Van Persie linked with Chelsea, speculation over Bamford, Dembele and Phillips
A round-up of the latest transfer speculation involving the area’s clubs…
Chelsea have lined up Robin van Persie as a possible signing if they do not complete a loan deal for Alexandre Pato, the Express claim.
Former Arsenal and Manchester United striker Van Persie, 32, is currently with Turkish side Fenerbahce.
The Express say Chelsea have expressed an interest in signing the Dutchman on a short-term deal.
Pato’s agent Gilmar Veloz has told Brazilian television that a deal has been agreed for the former AC Milan forward to join Chelsea on loan for the rest of the season.
Pato, who has been keen to secure a transfer to England for some time, is expected to complete his move from Corinthians on Wednesday.
Chelsea will reportedly pay all of Pato’s current wages – said to be £30,000 a week.
Patrick Bamford will be allowed to leave Chelsea but the club want to insert a buy-back clause in any permanent deal, The Telegraph reports.
West London Sport recently revealed that QPR had made an enquiry about the 22-year-old forward and were told he wanted to join a Premier League club.
The Telegraph say Norwich and Championship promotion-chasers Hull and Middlesbrough are keen to land Bamford and that Blues youngsters Bertrand Traore and Charly Musonda are wanted by Hamburg and Dutch side Heerenveen respectively.
Meanwhile, Fulham have told Tottenham they cannot have Moussa Demebele before Monday’s transfer deadline, The Guardian reports.
Spurs are said to be keen to sign Dembele as cover for Harry Kane, but the Whites have reportedly refused to sell Dembele to them unless the north London club are prepared to loan the 19-year-old forward back to them for the rest of the season.
And French media reports claim Monaco are close to agreeing terms with Dembele, whose contract expires at the end of the campaign.
A number of other clubs have previously been similarly tipped to sign Dembele but no move has materialised.
Bournemouth could be about to revive their interest in Matt Phillips, the Daily Mirror say.
West London Sport recently revealed that the Cherries were among the clubs keen on the QPR winger and that Middlesbrough had had a £6m bid for him rejected.
The south-coast side have since signed Benik Afobe and Lewis Grabban, but the Mirror suggests Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe could turn his attention back to Phillips after Junior Stanislas suffered a knee injury.
And Livingston manager David Hopkin says Nottingham Forest have tabled a bid for the Scottish club’s 16-year-old striker Matthew Knox, who is also on QPR’s radar.
Swansea City are also said to be interested in Knox, who recently trained with Manchester United.
Hopkin told the Edinburgh Evening News: “We’ve had a couple of bids for him. The board are looking at Forest’s offer at this moment in time, but I think he can go higher.
“Swansea and QPR have also shown their interest. If he doesn’t go anywhere then we’ll be delighted to have him.”
