The transfer column
*Wayne Rooney’s representatives have shelved talks with Manchester United about a new contract amid growing unrest at Old Trafford
*Tottenham are expected to pursue their interest in Blackpool’s Tom Ince this January
*Nemanja Matic’s agent is due in London for talks with former club Chelsea
*Arsenal target Tonny Sanabria looks to have snubbed the Gunners in favour of a move to Roma
*Fulham fear Man United and Liverpool will swoop for starlets Moussa Dembele and Patrick Roberts during the transfer window
This is the Transfer Column, where Sportsmail delivers the very latest news, gossip and rumours from around the football world three times a week.
In today’s column: Wayne Rooney’s camp delay contract talks with Man United, Tottenham look set to firm up their interest in Blackpool winger Tom Ince and Nemanja Matic’s agent is expected for talks with London.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Manchester United’s victory over Shakhtar Donetsk could prove a small step in the right direction for more than one reason. United have been trying to open contract negotiations with Wayne Rooney but so far all talks over a new deal have been shelved.
Rooney’s camp are determined to take stock of the growing unrest around Old Trafford before making any decision on arguably the most pivotal contract of his career.
Much has been made of growing interest from other clubs, which is to be expected considering his rejuvenation under David Moyes this season, but United’s strong stance on that front will not change; Rooney is not for sale.
United do want to open talks with Rooney’s camp as it makes sound business sense to protect an asset they value at around £35million. He has 18 months left on contract, is 28 years old and is regarded as England’s best player heading into the World Cup.
With other such players, the price would be expected to drop as the contract runs down but United will remain resolute rather than sell to the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal who remain interested.
Both clubs do not want to waste time as other strikers, albeit some more expensive, are likely to come on the market in the summer if not before. In turn, Rooney’s camp will evaluate United’s form, progression and potential to develop in the New Year and may even wait until the World Cup before committing to fresh talks.
Rooney intimated back in October 2010 that he was concerned about United’s rate of progress and ability to attract world class players. An intervention from Sir Alex Ferguson and lucrative new deal seemed to appease him but those grumbles of dissatisfaction are proving prophetic.
Robin van Persie has been the one true world class addition since but United have struggled to attract others as Chelsea and Manchester City continue to invest heavily.
Much rests on Moyes’s shoulders, and the business sense of chief executive Ed Woodward, to buck that trend starting in January. Qualification for the Champions League knockout stages will help in the laws of attraction but how quickly that squad can be moulded into born-again Premier League title contenders will have a bearing on Rooney’s decision.
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Tottenham are not ruling out a move for Blackpool’s Tom Ince next month. The England U21 international will not sign a new contract with the Championship side so is free to talk to foreign clubs and has had interest from Ajax and Inter Milan.
Swansea have already expressed a desire to sign him and a sale to a UK club in January would certainly suit Blackpool. They want a fee of around £5million and would press for a similar figure at any summer tribunal if he allows his contract to run down.
Due to his age, and despite the fact he joined from Liverpool, Blackpool are due a training-on fee. However, should he move abroad, Blackpool will pick up little more than £155,000.
Tottenham see potential in Ince, as do Newcastle, they flirted with the idea of a bid in August but held off. They will check on a price for January but may take another chance and wait till summer for optimum value.
Newcastle remain interested but have also checked on Aiden McGeady at Spartak Moscow and Wilfried Zaha at Manchester United although the latter seems destined for West Bromwich Albion on loan if he leaves Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, an old favourite of Tottenham’s, Leandro Damiao, is back on the market again. Internacional are willing to drop their price to around £14million for the Brazil striker who has been linked with rivals Santos.
Internacional president Giovanni Luigi told RBS TV: ‘There are no negotiations under way as the league just ended on Sunday. The possibility of Leandro Damiao leaving is still open, but nobody has contacted me.’ However, Tottenham are likely to abstain from any bidding and look elsewhere in their search for a striker.
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Chelsea’s hopes of re-signing Nemanja Matic could improve after this weekend when his agent is due in London for talks. The 25-year-old Serbia international has matured into one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe and understandably all the top clubs are interested in signing him from Benfica with the Portuguese willing to deal at around £25million.
His transfer to Benfica, as part of the deal that brought David Luiz to Stamford Bridge, left many people scratching their heads around Chelsea. Although he hadn’t shown his full potential, several coaches at Cobham training ground say the signs were there and while he was on loan at Vitesse. However, Benfica mad ethe best of it and are ready to make a tidy profit.
Ironically, Luiz could help offset Chelsea’s expenditure if Barcelona come up with the desired £35m for the Brazilian although Barca are weighing up what cheaper alternatives are in the market.
One player who is staying is England left-back Ashley Cole. The nature of the deal he signed in the summer, means another year will soon be added to the 32-year-old’s contract.
Jose Mourinho is looking for a long-term replacement with Southampton’s Luke Shaw and Sevilla’s Alberto Moreno among the candidates but he confirmed Cole, despite interest from franchises in the MLS, remains part of immediate plans.
He said: ‘Naturally he will get his contract, because he’s a valuable player for us. Even if you are not playing every game and you are not a first-choice player, like he was always, I don’t think it means that you are not well, that you are not deserving a new contract.’
Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg will be awaiting the outcome of Patrick de Koster’s meeting at Chelsea next week although Bayer Leverkusen seem favourites. The Belgian represents Kevin de Bruyne and has vowed to find a solution to the winger’s future.
Schalke have also been linked amid speculation highly-rated Julian Draxler could go in the opposite direction as part of a deal.
De Koster said: ‘I will fly to London next week to find a solution with Chelsea. Should Kevin be allowed to leave, I will call [Bayer Leverkusen squad manager] Michael Reschke within 30 minutes. We have an excellent relationship. ‘Dortmund, Gladbach, Schalke and Wolfsburg have also been in touch with me. Kevin will take a look at where is best for him.’
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Roma look to have taken Paraguay international striker Tonny Sanabria from the clutches of Arsenal. The Barcelona B team striker has been the subject of discussions between all parties over a £3million deal and Arsenal had seemed favourites.
Rumours had been reported of certain passport and work permit issues but the 17-year-old is due to pick up a Spanish passport in weeks.
An announcement is imminent that he is opting to join up with a French coach but that means seems more like Rudi Garcia than Arsene Wenger.
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Fulham have been growing increasingly concerned over the futures of teenagers Moussa Dembele and Patrick Roberts. Dembele, 17, has been scoring plenty of goals at U18 and U21 level prompting his promotion to the first team squad against Swansea while winger Roberts, 16, has also impressed for Fulham and England.
Manchester United and Liverpool have been circling but it is understood United are also keeping a keen eye on Fulham’s young defenders.
Scouts have also been watching Eintracht Frankfurt’s 18-year-old Mac Oliver Kempf but have had company in their counterparts from Juventus.
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Hull boss Steve Bruce’s search for a striker has led him back to an old favourite in Georgios Samaras of Celtic. Sportsmail reported Bruce’s interest in October in the Greece international who he also tried to sign for Sunderland.
The 28-year-old is out of contract in the summer and that is attractive to Bruce who wants two new strikers on a limited budget. Samaras doesn’t have the best strike rate but works hard and has impressed Bruce against European opposition.
The Hull manager has watched him personally and is weighing up an offer with Samaras also among the options being considered by wealthy MLS franchise Toronto.
Bruce had coach Steve Agnew watch Newcastle’s Shola Ameobi last week who is also out of contract while Bruce remains keen on Nantes striker Filip Djordjevic and has been offered a deal for Marseille striker Jordan Ayew that would cost around £3million.
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Meanwhile, Celtic’s flirtation with Burnley striker Danny Ings may be short and sweet with the Championship side valuing him around £7million.
Burnley themselves are poised to hold talks this week with the representative of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake before he meets up with Leicester City also.
Ebanks Blake is a free agent after leaving Wolves in the summer. The 27-year-old former Manchester United trainee had talks with Crystal Palace in the summer and has been training with Nottingham Forest and Wolves to maintain his fitness. Ipswich and Leeds United are also showing tentative interest.
Leeds need another striker after loanee Dexter Blackstock was ruled out for the season and sent back to parent club Nottingham Forest. There have been a few bookmakers slashing the odds on a return to Elland Road for former favourite Luciano Becchio, who is struggling to get a game at Norwich, but that is understood to be little more than a possibility at this stage.
Everton are among clubs showing interest in West Bromwich Albion’s Shane Long. Roberto Martinez wants a player to share the goals burden of Romelu Lukaku and wanted Long at Wigan. The Republic of Ireland international has yet to agree terms on a new contract at the Hawthorns.
Brighton manager Oscar Garcia is ready to utilise his contacts in his native Spain with an audacious bid to lure Jean Marie Dongou from Barcelona. Garcia has limited resources at his disposal but is willing to be creative and tap into Barca’s rich seam of talent.
Dongou, a Cameroon U20 international, is a regular in the Barcelona B side and grabbed headlines last week when he came on as a substitute for Alexis Sanchez in Barcelona’s Copa del Rey tie away at Cartagena and scored in a 4-1 win.
Dongou is only 18 but has shown an ability to compete physically with older players and is tipped for a bright future. Barcelona may yet decide though that the Championship is too big a risk.
Premier League and Championship clubs will be represented at Austria Vienna’s Champions League tie against Zenit St Petersburg tonight.
Austria international striker Philipp Hosiner is among those being watched with Fulham, Crystal Palace, Everton and Wigan all represented.
The 24-year-old has scored nine goals this season. Stoke face competition from PSV Eindhoven in their attempts to prise Luuk de Jong from Borussia Monchengladbach but the Dutch would prefer a loan if possible.
Manager Mark Hughes is chasing two strikers and a midfielder as he looks to inject more pace into his side. He is also among the suitors for Nantes’ Djordjevic with Kenwyne Jones once again pondering his future at the Britannia. Lille and Lazio remain keen on 26-year-old Djordjevic at Nantes while Hull, West Ham and Fulham are also in the hunt.
—Daily Mail
