As teams and players get desperate for switches, and the transfer window seems to race to its Sept. 1 finish, we see our batch of handed-in transfer requests.
Reports today are that Everton’s John Stones has joined West Brom’s Saido Berahino as Englishmen to try and force their clubs’ hands in getting big-name switches.
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Stones has been linked with Chelsea, and the Blues may be getting more antsy given the shoddy play of John Terry to start the Premier League season. The Telegraph is reporting that Stones’ transfer request has been submitted to the Goodison Park hierarchy. Chelsea is now being linked with Zenit’s Argentine center back Ezequiel Garay and — personal opinion alert — that move would be a bigger boon to Stamford Bridge in the short-term for sure, as well as less of a risk.
And the Baggies say they’ve turned down a second Tottenham bid for Berahino, with chairman Jeremy Peace quoted as saying, “The sale of this player is not on our agenda.”
Yesterday, West Brom was linked with a move for Manchester United’s Jonny Evans, and today it’s a former Manchester City man who’s said to be ready to move away from Midlands club. Joleon Lescott is apparently wanted by Tim Sherwood at Aston Villa.
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Sky Sports says Juventus may be open to loaning 6-foot-2 Italian striker Simone Zaza to West Ham. The 24-year-old joined Juventus from Sassuolo just this summer after scoring 21 goals over two years with i Neroverdi.
We understand the Hammers have been negotiating with Juventus over a £1.4million loan move with an option to buy set at £11.5million.
Finally, Marca says Liverpool target Asier Illarramendi is close to making a move from Real Madrid to join David Moyes at Real Sociedad instead.