Transfer gossip: Smith wants Barbet, Express and Star reckon
Some of the recent transfer speculation involving the area’s clubs…
Dean Smith wants to sign Yoann Barbet for Aston Villa, the Express and Star believe.
The defender is the latest Brentford player to be linked with Villa since Smith left the Bees to take over as manager of the Midlands club.
The Express and Star think Barbet is one of Smith’s targets for the approaching transfer window.
Wise talks strikers
Former Chelsea star Dennis Wise believes the club will target Leicester striker Jamie Vardy or Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, the Express say.
Wise told the newspaper that either forward would be a useful signing for the Blues during next month’s transfer window.
Wise said: “Chelsea will want a striker. Someone who can score goals and at the moment we haven’t got someone who will get 25 goals a season.
“Unfortunately not loads of them about, so it’s about getting the right one. There are a couple of goalscorers they should be willing to pay for, like Lewandowski or Jamie Vardy.”
Fekir linked with Blues again
Nabil Fekir has again been linked with Chelsea, this time by the Mail.
It is claimed that Chelsea are considering a move for the Lyon playmaker, who was previously tipped to join Liverpool.
Lyon could be willing to agree a deal in January for Fekir to move to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, the Mail say.
Batshuayi reportedly offered to Palace
Chelsea have offered Michy Batshuayi to Crystal Palace, also according to the Mail.
It comes amid reports that Valencia could cut short Batshuayi’s season-long loan when the January transfer window opens.
Palace have also been linked with Chelsea’s Victor Moses.
Speculation over Higuain continues
Chelsea have held talks with AC Milan and Juventus over Gonzalo Higuain, The Sun say.
There have been reports that Higuain, who played under Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri at Napoli, could have his loan at Milan cut short and instead move to the Bridge on loan from Juve with a view to a permanent transfer.
