Man Utd, Arsenal to bid for Laporte; PSG step up Brahimi chase

Man Utd, Arsenal to bid for Laporte

Premier League giants Manchester United and Arsenal are readying bids for Athletic Bilbao hotshot Aymeric Laporte, Daily Express can reveal.

It is no secret that both Louis van Gaal and Arsene Wenger are desperate to improve their defensive options in January and they appear locked in the battle for the France Under-21 international.

Having been impressed with the youngster’s performances in La Liga and incredible maturity he is showing, the two sides are reportedly prepared to match his £32 million release clause in the January window.

Manchester United will probably try to use summer signing Ander Herrera in an attempt to persuade his former teammate to move to Old Trafford, but Arsenal are not without chances.

Aymeric Laporte has been playing at a very high level ever since he was handed his La Liga debut during the 2012/2013 season and he has so far amassed 58 league appearances for los Leones.

Having finally ended the barren run of results by defeating Almeria, Athletic are 13/10 favourites to see off Sevilla at San Mames.

PSG step up Brahimi chase

Paris Saint-Germain are stepping up their interest in FC Porto midfielder Yacine Brahimi, according to Radio Monte Carlo.

The Saints have been keeping close tabs on the Algerian this season and they are being linked with a January bid for his services.

Appearing on L’After Foot show, Radio Monte Carlo journalist Nicolas Villas revealed that the representatives of Yacine Brahimi had been in Paris few days ago.

This is enough to suggest that the Saints are seriously thinking about luring the Algeria international to Parc des Princes in the upcoming transfer window.

Brahimi, who has just been voted Best African Player in the 2013/2014 La Liga season, joined FC Porto from Granada this summer and in turn enjoyed a bright start to his career in Portugal.

The 24-year-old started a total of 12 matches for the Dragons in all competitions, managing 4 goals and 5 assists in the process.

Another Benfica starlet on Valencia radar

Portuguese media outlet A Bola has learned that Valencia are keeping close tabs on Benfica youngster Goncalo Guedes.

With new los Che owner Peter Lim also the chairman of an investment company that has done plenty of business with the Eagles in the past, it is hardly surprising that Benfica players continue to be linked with moves to Mestalla.

Andre Gomes and Rodrigo Moreno have already made the said switch, while Enzo Perez is widely expected to follow in the footsteps, with talented attacker Goncalo Guedes the latest footballer on Valencia radar.

Los Che plan to purchase the 17-year-old in the near future, but they will also allow him to remain at Estadio da Luz for the next couple of years.

Valencia could face a stiff competition for the attacker who has yet to be handed his senior debut, with Arsenal, Bayern Munich and few other top clubs believed to be keen.

While he was an unused substitute in the Champions League clash against Monaco, Guedes has made ten appearances for the reserve side in the second division this term and scored 3 goals.

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