Striker Talk - Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea

TRANSFER TALK

Transfer Headlines - Striker Talk

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - Spurs representatives are reported to be meeting with Roma representatives today to try and agree a fee for 20-year-old (21 next March) Paraguayan striker Antonio Sanabria. His representatives have contacted Barcelona who have told him while he is on their list he is not their first choice and that if an interesting offer comes along he should take it and not wait for Barcelona.

ARSENAL - ESPN Brazil are suggesting that Arsenal have made an offer for 19-year-old Santos striker Gabriel Barbosa, the highly rated youngster who has been dubbed the next Neymar. It is reported that he has offers from Hebei China Fortune in China and Fiorentina in Italy who are prepared to pay £24.94-million (€30m - AUS$44.91m - US$33.17m).

The Santos President Modesto Roma has said they are doing everything they can to stop Arsenal singing their star striker. Arsenal have already held preliminary talks with his representatives and are believed to have activated his release clause, said to be £41.32-million (€49.74m - AUS$74.46m - US$55m).

Speaking to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, the Modesto Roma said: “Santos will do everything to keep its athletes. It’s good for Santos and for Lucas Lima that he fulfils the contract.

“And the club wants Gabriel to fulfil his too, unless someone pays the release clause. We are open to talk, to negotiate. The career of a player isn’t only based on money.”

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR - The Italian press are suggesting that Michy Batshuayi wants to join Juventus and that his agent will be speaking with them to speed the process up. Sounds dubious, but they suggest it is because other foreign clubs are interested. later news suggests Chelsea have agreed a £31.41-million (€38m - AUS$56.72m - US$42.08m) fee and that Belgium will release him to undergo a medical at Stamford Bridge. 

Toby Alderweireld revealed the form of Harry Kane was a key factor in Batshuayi deciding to join Chelsea. He will now get the Champions League football that he has wanted all along. This will mean we now turn our attentions to Vincent Janssen, already lined up as an alternative, and Antonio Sanabria. We now await news. There willno doubt be a lot of whinging that the fourth choice striker for Belgium is going to a rival, but that is how the transfer season goes.

You have to go into it with a strategy and stick to it instead of acting on whims. We had a transfer strategy and it didn't work on this occasion, we move on to alternatives. I'm more excited by Janssen, he is the one I want us to make sure we sign. I think he is going to be a top goalscorer in the Premier League and a brilliant double act with Kane.

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