Chelsea and City want Benfica ace Oliveira – Friday’s Rumour Round-up
Chelsea and Manchester City are leading the hunt to sign Benfica star Nelson Oliveira. The Blues have been chasing the talented 20-year-old after his impressive performance in their Champions League meeting with the Portuguese club last season whilst he is a long-term target for Premier League champions City. Oliveira has certainly emerged as one of Europe’s brightest young strikers and has also courted interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid. He is currently on loan in Spain at Deportivo La Coruna but will surely be the subject of bids in January given the £24 million release clause in his contract Daily Mail.
Toffees targeting German hammer – Everton boss David Moyes is lining up a deal to sign Germany international Thomas Hitzelsperger in a bid to remedy his midfield crisis. The 30-year-old former Aston Villa and West Ham star is a free agent after leaving Wolfsburg in the summer and could be brought in to replace Darron Gibson after the Irishman was ruled out for six-weeks with a thigh strain. Moyes’ failure to conclude a deal for Belgium international Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe on deadline day has left him short of numbers in the centre of the park and Hitzelsperger is considered an experienced stop-gap. Daily Mirror
City hope to exploit Soriano’s Barca connections – Manchester City are hoping to use new chief executive Ferran Soriano contacts at Barcelona to raid the Spanish giants for three of their young stars. Roberto Mancini is understood to be interested in bringing Cristian Tello, a summer target for Liverpool, to the Etihad Stadium along with midfielder Sergi Roberto and winger Gerard Deulofeu. Mancini is hoping that Soriano, who spent five years at the Nou Camp, can use his close relationship with Barca to conclude the deals in the next few months. talkSPORT
Fulham closing in on Turkish keeper deal – Standard Liege goalkeeper Sinan Bolat is closing in on a move to Fulham as he continues his rehabilitation from a cruciate knee ligament injury with Martin Jol’s side. The Turkish stopper has been out of action since June but has done enough during his time at Craven Cottage to persuade Jol to make a bid for his services in January. The Cottagers boss will reportedly offer £2 million to Standard for the 24-year-old, who is the only goalkeeper to score a goal in the Champions League, when the transfer window reopens as he seeks cover for current number one Mark Schwarzer. Daily Mail
