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Man City confident of completing deadline day signing after talks held this morning

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Man City confident of completing deadline day signing after talks held this morning

Manchester City’s recent negotiations with Porto over Nico Gonzalez have hit a snag, with Porto demanding that the Premier League champions pay the Spaniard’s £50 million release clause to secure his transfer.

Despite this, Gonzalez is keen to join Manchester City before the winter transfer window shuts, having previously declined a move to the club as a teenager.

Pep Guardiola’s team is in dire need of a midfielder to cover for the injured Rodri, with neither Mateo Kovacic nor Ilkay Gundogan proving adequate replacements.

Fortunately for Manchester City fans, according to TBR Football’s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey, the club is optimistic about securing Gonzalez’s signature. Guardiola views the former Barcelona player as a capable temporary stand-in for Rodri.

TBR Football also reports that Manchester City anticipates Gonzalez will make an immediate impact if the deal goes through on Monday.

Given how highly the club values the 23-year-old, paying the £50 million release clause seems like a prudent move, especially with their top-four Premier League position still in jeopardy.

Guardiola has a preference for players who can adapt to various roles, much like Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, and Manuel Akanji have done. Gonzalez, primarily a defensive midfielder, has shown versatility at Porto this season, playing in a double pivot or in more advanced midfield roles alongside Alan Varela, contributing significantly both defensively and offensively.

Should Manchester City sign Gonzalez, his ability to fit into different tactical setups could make him a key player under Guardiola.

David Ornstein: Man City pushing for deadline day midfield transfer

Manchester City are racing against time to finalize the transfer of Porto’s Nico Gonzalez before the transfer window closes. Although no deal has been confirmed yet, discussions are in progress as City seeks to enhance their midfield for the critical end of the season.

David Ornstein from The Athletic has highlighted Gonzalez as a key target for midfield support. At 23, Gonzalez’s versatility in playing both defensive and central midfield roles aligns perfectly with Pep Guardiola’s tactical needs.

Having risen through Barcelona’s La Masia academy, Gonzalez featured in 37 matches for Barcelona before his move to Porto in 2023. At Porto, he’s become indispensable, with 68 appearances across all competitions.

The transfer negotiations are complicated by a 40% sell-on clause Barcelona still holds from Gonzalez’s €8.5 million transfer to Porto, which could impact the deal’s financial structure. With the deadline looming, City must consider these financial aspects while convincing Porto to release their midfield star.

Manchester City have already made several acquisitions this window, including defenders Vitor Reis, Juma Bah, and Abdukodir Khusanov, plus forward Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt. Gonzalez’s potential addition would further deepen their squad, vital for their ambitions in various competitions.

For City supporters, the idea of bringing in Gonzalez is thrilling. Known for his technical prowess and tactical understanding, he could provide the much-needed stability in a midfield often stretched by injuries and rotation needs.

His multi-positional capabilities would give Guardiola additional options in team selection, especially useful with the careful management of Kevin De Bruyne’s playing time and Rodri’s heavy defensive responsibilities. Gonzalez could be a vital rotation player for intense matches.

The main challenge lies in negotiating with Porto this late in the transfer period. If an agreement is reached, Gonzalez’s arrival might prove to be a significant boost for Manchester City in their quest for success both domestically and in Europe.

Ethan Blake

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English Premier League

Major Mario Lemina development emerges on transfer deadline day, he’s already left the country

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Major Mario Lemina development emerges on transfer deadline day, he's already left the country

The saga surrounding Mario Lemina’s transfer might finally conclude in a way that Wolves fans would celebrate, as he nears a departure from the club.

Throughout the transfer window, Lemina caught the eye of several teams. Initially, Al Shabab made the first move for him back in January. Despite this, Vitor Pereira’s previous club couldn’t finalize a deal, leading to Galatasaray stepping in as a potential new home for the 31-year-old.

It has become evident that Wolves supporters were keen for Lemina to move on, especially after he declined to play in the match against Newcastle and expressed his desire to leave Molineux. Now, it looks like he might get his wish, with Galatasaray on the verge of securing the ex-Juventus player.

With Mario Lemina’s contract set to end in 2025, Wolves had initially set a £5 million price tag on their former captain. But as the transfer window nears its end, it seems the club’s leadership is ready to accept a lower fee to move him off their roster.

Journalist Ben Jacobs reported on X that Galatasaray has settled on a £2.5 million transfer fee for Lemina, after Al Shabab couldn’t secure his services last month.

The Turkish club has been keen on signing him throughout the window, and with no last-minute issues, they might confirm his transfer before the deadline.

The deal is progressing quickly; Lemina has already been spotted in Turkey, suggesting his transfer is imminent.

After Wolves’ stunning 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, Lemina congratulated his teammates but knew he wouldn’t regain favor after his refusal to play against Newcastle.

His actions have paved the way for a return to Turkey, where he previously played for Fenerbahçe.

If all goes according to plan and he inks a deal with Galatasaray, he’ll depart Wolves after two years, having made 77 appearances and scored six goals.

Ethan Blake

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English Premier League

Report: Arsenal now make last-gasp approach to sign “world-class” European striker

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Arsenal make ‘promising offer' to beat Man Utd in the race to sign £10m exciting star - report

Arsenal have made a last-minute approach to Juventus about possibly signing Serbian forward Dusan Vlahovic, according to TBR Football.

The future of Vlahovic hangs in the balance as contract extension talks have hit a snag, stirring speculation about his potential exit. The 25-year-old has seen his role diminished at Juventus, with just eight goals from 19 Serie A matches under Thiago Motta. This has caught the attention of several Premier League teams as the transfer window nears its close.

He could be the key addition for Arsenal, especially with Gabriel Jesus sidelined due to an ACL injury and Bukayo Saka nursing a hamstring issue. Over the weekend, Arsenal, along with three other Premier League clubs, made inquiries about the striker, who was once dubbed ‘world-class’ when he moved from Fiorentina to Juventus in January 2022.

The Gunners had the opportunity to sign Randal Kolo Muani on loan from PSG but opted out, as Kolo Muani has now become Motta’s choice for the starting striker position.

Both Manchester United and Aston Villa have also sought details on Vlahovic’s status at Juventus. Aston Villa previously rejected a £60 million offer from Arsenal for their striker Ollie Watkins, prompting Mikel Arteta to look elsewhere for a forward before the transfer deadline.

Arsenal to smash Nico Williams release clause as Tel talks stall

Arsenal’s pursuit of Bayern Munich’s striker Mathys Tel appears to be in vain as FootballTransfers reports that Nico Williams is Mikel Arteta’s top transfer target for the summer.

The Gunners have been on the hunt for a new striker this transfer window. They were unable to secure RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, and their bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins was declined.

Recent discussions with Bayern’s young talent, Mathys Tel, have hit a snag due to Bayern’s inflexible demands. They prefer either a permanent transfer or a loan with an obligation to buy, conditions Arsenal are not prepared to accept. Instead, Arsenal sought a purchase option for the 19-year-old.

With the transfer window closing, Arsenal might still push for a last-minute striker, with Watkins and Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic being potential targets to back up Kai Havertz, especially since Gabriel Jesus is out for the season.

However, the club’s focus is also on future transfers, with Nico Williams at the forefront of their summer plans. FootballTransfers previously broke the news that Arsenal attempted to sign the Spanish winger in January but failed to finalize the deal despite matching his release clause.

Arsenal plans to revisit this in the summer, potentially willing to pay more than Williams’ €58 million release clause for better payment terms, which could benefit them under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Williams seems open to joining Arsenal in the summer, influenced by the presence of his fellow Spanish internationals David Raya, Mikel Merino, and Martin Zubimendi, who are set to join the club then.

Ethan Blake

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West Ham ponder €30 million move to sign Spanish striker from La Liga club

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West Ham ponder €30 million move to sign Spanish striker from La Liga club

West Ham United are considering a move for 24-year-old Spanish striker Isaac Romero from Sevilla, potentially for €30 million before the transfer window closes on Monday.

According to Spanish media outlet Fichajes, Romero has caught the attention of West Ham as they seek to strengthen their forward line. The East London club has been actively looking for a new striker, and Romero has become a target due to his performances in La Liga.

Romero, a native of Lebrija, worked his way up through several local football academies before returning to Sevilla in 2019. After a stint with Sevilla’s reserve team, he made his first-team breakthrough in the 2023/24 season, becoming a regular. He’s featured in 35 matches for Sevilla, contributing nine goals and six assists, which has not gone unnoticed by European clubs, including West Ham.

The interest from West Ham makes sense given their current striker situation. With Niclas Fullkrug and Michail Antonio sidelined for the long term, Danny Ings is their only available senior centre-forward under new manager Graham Potter. This has led West Ham to explore various options, including Romero and Eli Junior Kroupi.

However, the report does not confirm if West Ham will definitely sign Romero or whether they’ll offer the €30 million, especially since they are also close to securing a loan deal for Brighton’s Evan Ferguson.

West Ham agree to recall loan star, Graham Potter keen to use him – David Ornstein

West Ham United have decided to bring James Ward-Prowse back from his loan at Nottingham Forest, as per David Ornstein.

The Athletic’s journalist shared on X on February 2 that Ward-Prowse will return to West Ham on Deadline Day after both clubs agreed to end his loan early.

Ward-Prowse had only five Premier League starts and ten appearances overall for Forest after moving there on August 30.

New West Ham manager Graham Potter, who started on January 9, is eager to utilize Ward-Prowse as he reshapes the team, reversing the decision made by his predecessor, Julen Lopetegui, who sanctioned the loan.

It’s unusual for a player to be loaned out just a year after joining a club, suggesting the transfer didn’t go as planned.

However, Ward-Prowse has more to offer at West Ham after a decent first season. Lopetegui’s choice to let him go, especially when the team needed midfield strength, seems questionable, particularly with the underwhelming performance of new signing Guido Rodriguez.

Ward-Prowse’s return is expected to improve West Ham’s midfield, especially with his renowned set-piece expertise.

Potter’s move to bring him back is seen as correcting previous mistakes by Lopetegui. Although the decision to recall him so late might indicate some urgency, additional midfield options are certainly needed at West Ham.

Ethan Blake

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