Chelsea lead Gvardiol race

Chelsea are confident of winning the battle to sign Josko Gvardiol.

Real Madrid and Manchester City have both contacted RB Leipzig over the Croatian defender, as reported by 90min.

Chelsea are said to be in more advanced discussions and even want a deal done in January – even if a summer switch has greater chance of happening.

Liverpool and Manchester United are monitoring the situation.

Arsenal enter Cunha race

Matheus Cunha will be available for just £26m in January.

Standard Sport recently revealed that Atletico Madrid had offered the forward to Chelsea.

Spanish outlet Sport now add Arsenal to the list, as well as Leeds, Aston Villa and Wolves.

The Gunners are said to be keen having lost Gabriel Jesus to injury.

Nkunku deal could ease Chelsea’s Rafael Leao interest

Chelsea’s pursuit of Christopher Nkunku has calmed AC Milan’s fears over Rafael Leao.

Italian network SportMediaset report on the £62m outlay on Nkunku making it unlikely they will splash up to £100m in a further deal for Leao.

The Portuguese winger may be available for cheaper than that though, given his contract expires in 2024 and talks are still ongoing over an extension.

Arsenal tipped for cut-price Mudryk deal

Shakhtar Donetsk have so far held strong in their desire to recoup a huge £86million fee for Mykhaylo Mudryk.

Arsenal are in talks with the Ukrainians over the 21-year-old winger following the injury to Gabriel Jesus.

The Athletic journalist David Ornstein has said that no club will pay that fee and he expects Arsenal to be successful in acheiving a cut-price deal, with the Kroenkes backing Mikel Arteta financially so he can win the Premier League title.

Youri Tielemans catches Chelsea’s eye

Leicester fought off interest in Youri Tielemans during the summer but will struggle to keep him long-term.

Out of contract in June, the midfielder was a target for Arsenal and has previously been tipped to be the subject of a fresh approach from the Gunners.

Now, Daily Express, via TMW, say Chelsea are ready to make a move and even offer Leicester a deal in January.

Gordon to commit future to Everton

Everton are pushing for Anthony Gordon to sign a new contract and commit his long-term future to the club.

The 21-year-old was strongly linked with a move to Chelsea in the summer, but an agreement could not be reached on the fee between the two clubs.

Keen to avoid a repeat of those rumours, The Telegraph report that Everton have offered the winger a new contract and Gordon is close to signing it. Alex Iwobi is also likely to agree an extension.

Kante pushes for Barcelona move

N’Golo Kante is close to agreeing a move to Barcelona.

That’s according to Sport, who report that the Frenchman is close to finalising a pre-contract agreement to join the La Liga side in the summer, when his Chelsea deal expires.

Kante has made just two Premier League appearances this season due to injury, which also kept him out of the World Cup, and has seemingly decided that he wants to leave the Blues.

Thuram available on the cheap

Manchester United have reportedly received encouragement in their bid to sign Borussia Monchengladbach attacker Marcus Thuram.

The 25-year-old came on for France in the World Cup and got an assist, flicking a header on for Kylian Mbappe who they volleyed into the bottom corner.

Thuram’s contract expires at the end of the season, and according to Sport Bild he will be available for just £10m in January. Man United, Arsenal and Chelsea are among those keeping tabs on the situation.

Winterburn tells Arsenal to avoid Ronaldo

Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn has urged the Gunners to stay away from Cristiano Ronaldo, as the 37-year-old looks for a new club after leaving Manchester United.

Winterburn told Free Super Tips: “It’s a no from me and there’s only one simple reason – it would be a short-term gap to fill.

“A lot of people might say that’s great, let’s do it. I wouldn’t be able to argue with that, but I think the way Arsenal start games, they press high, they’re full of energy.

“And Ronaldo is an unbelievable player – but I don’t think he has the legs to be able to do that any more.”

Napoli: Kvaratskhelia going nowhere

Napoli director Cristiano Giuntoli has made it clear the Serie A leaders have no intention of selling Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Newcastle are among the Premier League clubs linked with the 21-year-old, who has eight goals and as many assists so far this season.

Kvaratskhelia only arrived in Italy in the summer, so it’s no surprise that Napoli are reluctant to lose him already.

“No, there’s no chance we will let him go”, Giuntoli told Sport Express.

“It doesn’t depend on the fee or on the proposal. He will just stay with us.”