Virgil van Dijk is named after a Latin poet famous for telling the story of a hero’s epic journey and subsequent ascent to glory on the battlefield, and it is proving an apt sobriquet for the heroic Dutch defender, who the Mail report in their outsize back-page splash is about to set off on another voyage as soon as Manchester City formalise their £50m bid. The best part of the deal is that not only would the move strengthen City’s own porous defence, it would have the happy side-effect of forcing Southampton to cling on to José Fonte, otherwise expected to move to their arch-rivals from Old Trafford. They are not alone in considering a big-money move for Van Dijk, however, with the Star and the Mirror both countering that Paris Saint-Germain will pay £40m for him.
The French giants would do well not to undertake any long-term transfer planning, with the Sun reporting that they are ready to make a third attempt to convince Arsène Wenger to return to France – and that their target is finally “ready to say oui”. The 67-year-old Arsenal manager will remain in London for the remainder of this season, after which he may pack his bags and head for home. “Unai Emery could be sacked if PSG go out of the Champions League in February,” they write, “and an interim coach will be appointed until Wenger gives his answer.” Roberto Mancini, Louis van Gaal and Clarence Seedorf are mentioned as potential alternatives should Wenger, in the end, say non. Again.
The Star’s big transfer exclusive is news that José Mourinho has entered the race to sign Dimitri Payet, a sprint previously dominated by Arsenal. “Old Trafford bosses have asked sources close to Payet to keep them informed of the situation,” they report, adding that Manchester United would be willing to nearly double his £120,000-a-week salary. The Express however insist that West Ham “will resist all offers for Payet”, and that ideally they would like to improve their squad in January, standing poised to pounce should 34-year-old Darijo Srna’s move to Barcelona break down, ready to snap up Bournemouth’s Max Gradel on loan and preparing a £12m bid for Atlético Mineiro striker Lucas Pratto. Slaven Bilic also hopes to usher quietly towards the exit a small gaggle of his most hopeless summer signings, including Sofiane Feghouli, Arthur Masuaku and Álvaro Arbeloa, as well as loanees Simone Zaza, Gokhan Tore and Jonathan Calleri.
Manchester United may have other priorities beyond Payet, however. The Telegraph detail a £180m quartet of imminent arrivals, with the Benfica defender Victor Lindelof likely to be the first of them to arrive, and indeed the only one to turn up in January. He will be followed, when summer comes, by his current team-mate Nélson Semedo – who, like Lindelof and Mourinho, is represented by Jorge Mendes, but is also wanted by Bayern Munich – the Monaco midfielder Tiemoué Bakayoko – on whom Chelsea are also keen – and by way of cherry on this extraordinarily rich cake, Atlético Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, whose club may come to regret setting his release clause at the eminently affordable €100m.
Robert Snodgrass could be playing in the Championship even sooner than the rest of the Hull team, if he accepts a January move to Newcastle. The Star reports that there are two clubs chasing the midfielder, with West Bromwich Albion offering some competition, that the player “looks set to quit” the KCOM Stadium in the new year, and also that “Snodgrass has no concerns about dropping into the Championship”. A fee of £10m is suggested, for a player whose contract is due to end next summer. He may not arrive in Newcastle in time to play alongside Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is valued at £15m and is apparently on the shopping list at Swansea, West Ham and Crystal Palace.
