The Paris Saint-Germain manager Unai Emery is feeling the heat following his team’s fourth league defeat of the season over the weekend. That’s twice the number of Ligue 1 losses the French champions suffered in total last season, when they won the title by 31 points, scoring 102 goals in the process. Guingamp was the scene of their latest humbling, with Yannis Salibur and Nill de Pauw inflicting the damage in a 2-1 defeat that leaves PSG third in the table, seven points behind surprise leaders Nice.
While midfielder Marco Verratti said “it’s not a problem with the coach” and blamed himself and his team-mates for what he labeled “a crisis”, French TV station TF1 claim Emery is about to be shown the door by PSG technical director Patrick Kluivert and replaced by Louis van Gaal. This news is unlikely to come as music to the ears of PSG’s Argentinian winger Angel Di Maria, who the Dutchman bombed out of Old Trafford during his spell at Old Trafford. Italians Roberto Mancini and Fabio Capello are also being linked with Emery’s Parian post.
Fresh from scoring his 15th and 16th goals for Manchester United over the weekend, former PSG linchpin Zlatan Ibrahimovic is ready to turn down further overtures from China to stay at Old Trafford. The Mail reports that the Chinese government were prepared to bankroll the move for the modest, mild-mannered Swede in the hope that his profile would help boost the profile of the country’s Super League and encourage other players to sign up. Ibra turned down a previous offer to go to China to sign for United after leaving PSG and is ready to extend his contract with the club after his successful introduction to life in the Premier League. On loan at Stoke from Manchester City, Wilfried Bony may not be so reluctant to head for China and is understood to be mulling over a January move worth £12m per year.
Hoffenheim defender Niklas Süle was believed to be on his way to Chelsea for £30m in one of the next two transfer windows despite turning down an offer from the Premier League leaders last summer, but now it seems Bayern Munich have turned the 21-year-old’s head and agreed an undisclosed fee with their Bundesliga rivals. A central defender who began life as a striker, Süle was part of the Germany team that won silver at the Olympics.
Marseille want Mathieu Flamini, who has failed to make much of an impression at Crystal Palace since moving there in the summer. The struggling south London side are also ready to dispense with the services of Malian midfielder Bakary Sako, who is wanted back by his former club Wolves.
Already disgruntled Hull City fans will be annoyed but unsurprised to learn that their star player, Robert Snodgrass, has turned down the offer of a contract that would extend his stay. The Scot is tied to the club until next June but looks certain to move on to pastures new, whether Hull stay in the Premier League or get relegated.
Highly regarded Ivorian 19-year-old Franck Kessié currently plays for Serie A side Atalanta, but is wanted by a host of other clubs including Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham. While Chelsea remain favourites to sign the midfielder, reports suggest Tottenham have made the Italian side a £19m offer.
