Today’s gossip is getting round the wind
A
n old adage of the transfer window dictates that only desperate clubs do business in the final days before the deadline, so it’s a surprise to absolutely no one that Manchester United, West Ham and the Old Firm clubs are involved in today’s tittle-tattle.
United, who have rejected Kobbie Mainoo’s request to leave on loan before Monday’s 7pm deadline, are fumbling around trying to get their midfield ducks in a row, having seen the current, er, ducks dominated by Grimsby. Carlos Baleba looks like a no-go this window but Adam Wharton is a midfielder admired by United – though that’s also viewed as a tricky deal to do. Crystal Palace will surely not be parting with the 21-year-old having already lost Eberechi Eze and possibly Marc Guéhi too. Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid also like Wharton.
Palace have been credited with an interest in their former loanee Conor Gallagher this window, but West Ham have since emerged as a possible destination for the Chelsea-reared midfield chaser. Why Gallagher would want to swap Atlético Madrid for a relegation battle in east London at this stage is unclear. Dimitri Colau, a 19-year-old centre-back from Paris FC, clearly fancies himself some Stratford East frostbite this winter as a West Ham switch is close.
