Losing a European Championship quarter-final on penalties can really focus the mind. Before 12 days had elapsed since Italy’s rather late and disappointing night in Bordeaux, Antonio Conte was barking out the orders to his new Chelsea charges for the first time at Cobham. And when just about 12 days had elapsed, if we’re being strict on the timings, news broke that the Premier League’s new Bond villain-alike was looking to snap up a new henchman. Around £29m says that N’Golo Kanté is in line to be the Jaws of Chelsea’s new-look midfield, with Leicester’s top brass discussing the bid while their counterparts nibble away at their toes, piranha-style, in a bid to get things moving by the weekend.
We might be hearing the sound of Nampalys rather more than we expected if that one goes through. Chelsea are not done there, even if their next target resides a little further away. Gabriel Barbosa, the very highly-rated Santos striker, would reportedly welcome a union despite the interest of Juventus – and Conte hopes that £25m will get his man.
Rather more expensive would be the apparent Arsenal target Gonzalo Higuaín. Heard this one before? Yes, and we all know how that went. But the Gunners are back. Leaner, meaner and in town to thrash out a deal with Napoli, who got their man last time but now find him making eyes at a long-standing admirer after rejecting an £800,000-a-week (yes) salary at Hebei China Fortune. Will Napoli budge on their £80m valuation? Will Olivier Giroud sashay the other way? We don’t know, yet, because a meeting between the two clubs is said to have been put on hold to avoid prying eyes.
Watch this space. Seeing those words is pretty much like breathing to Arsenal fans, so here’s another puff of rich oxygen: Julian Draxler. Yes, Arsène Wenger seeks another not-quite-striker, believing that he can convert the Wolfsburg man into one. Their £55m price tag looks a bit rich for Arsenal’s blood, but with Wolfsburg’s financial power on the wane there might just be leeway to reach a positive conclusion.
West Ham expect to be busy in the attacking department too, with Carlos Bacca’s possible arrival paving the way for Enner Valencia to join Lazio. The Hammers would also love to strengthen further back, with Ecuador’s Copa América sensation Arturo Mina a possibility, although the herd of Premier League clubs chasing the Independiente del Valle centre-back also includes Southampton and Everton.
Might Everton in fact require a defender rather urgently? What if Manchester City just get it all done sharpish and sign John Stones? Not unless negotiations begin at £50m, say the Toffees, who are still braced for an offer and remain keen to sign Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly for what would be a similarly eye-watering price. How on earth could modest City afford such a fee? If they need a leg-up they could also sell Vincent Kompany to Besiktas for £25m.
Any other business? There’s your daily Paul Pogba tale – he’s agreed terms with Manchester United! – and your rather less frequent morsel about Cristian Tello, who is interesting Tottenham. And that’s about that, until we toss these names high up into the air again and see how they land tomorrow.
