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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Will Unwin

Football transfer rumours: Leeds and Everton join Cody Gakpo chase?

Cody Gakpo has had plenty of admirers over the course of the summer.
Cody Gakpo has had plenty of admirers over the course of the summer. Photograph: DeFodi Images/Getty Images

There is not long left in the transfer window, so there is plenty to get excited about. Well, at least there will be some funny panic buys. Will Chelsea buy Paolo Maldini for £70m? Will Manchester United go for Marko Arnautovic again? Will Manchester City bring back Paul Dickov for a third spell? Only time will tell.

What a fun summer it has been for Cody Gakpo. First, Nottingham Forest tried to sign him, then Manchester United showed a bit of interest before going for Antony, and now Leeds, Everton and Southampton are keen on acquiring the PSV Eindhoven midfielder. The Saints had a bid for the Dutchman turned down earlier this week.

Leeds could look to sign a forward after Rodrigo was ruled out with a dislocated shoulder. “We’ve been active and we’re trying everything we can and we’ll see how it plays out here over the next 24 hours or so,” head coach Jesse Marsch said. One potential target is Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan, who worked under the American at RB Salzburg. “I know Hee-chan very well,” Marsch said. “I like Hee-chan, he knows our football. He’s on our list, I can tell you that. Everybody is trying the best that they can and I can only say thank you to Andrea [Radrizzani], Victor [Orta] and Angus [Kinnear] and everybody. We’re trying to find ways to continue to improve our squad, but we have also done a great job and you can see we have a good team.”

Craig Dawson is being targeted by Aston Villa and Wolves. The West Ham defender is supposedly keen to move closer to his hometown of Rochdale. Maybe Craig should consider moving to the League Two club.

Brighton have set their eyes on Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour who looks unlikely to feature too much under Thomas Tuchel this season. The Scotland international spent last season on loan at Norwich, ending in a very disappointing relegation. “We are quite calm,” Brighton head coach Graham Potter explained after their loss to Fulham on Tuesday. “Everyone is doing the same thing, which is to keep working until the end of the window.”

To help build on their fine start to the season, Fulham are looking to add quality and depth to their squad. Former Chelsea and Arsenal winger Willian is on his way, and he will hopefully be joined at Craven Cottage by PSG full-back Layvin Kurzawa and Marseille forward Bamba Dieng. A move for Roma’s Justin Kluivert has collapsed after the forward was, reportedly, refused a work permit. That’s Brexit for you.

Shakhtar Dontesk forward Mykhaylo Mudryk could still end up in the Premier League before Friday. Arsenal and Everton are considering splashing out on the Ukrainian.

Brendan Rodgers finally has a few quid to spend and ink in his pen for cheque signing. Reims defender Wout Faes is a key target as Leicester look to replace the outgoing Wesley Fofana, who is helping feed Chelsea’s centre-back addiction. Alternatively, they could move for Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo, which seems sensible enough. “There has been discussions (about reinvestment) but it’s certainly not going to be the whole fee,” Rodgers said.

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