Arsenal & Liverpool Steal March On Man Utd After Opening Talks With £40m Target

Managers are now making moves to try and strengthen their squads during the January transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest gossip from around the globe. Today, Arsenal & Liverpool join the chase for Tiemoue Bakayoko…..

Arsenal and Liverpool have stolen a march on Manchester United after opening talks with Monaco over a potential deal to sign £40m-rated midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, according to a report in the Daily Star.

Bakayoko has developed in to one of the hottest prospects in European football in recent months after establishing himself as an important member of the Monaco first team following his move from Rennes in 2014.

The 22-year-old’s potential has attracted interest from England with the Daily Star reporting earlier this week that Manchester United are ready to accelerate their interest after learning that Chelsea had identified the midfielder as a possible new recruit.

The newspaper suggested that Jose Mourinho is desperate to sign Bakayoko as a long-term replacement for Michael Carrick and is ready to launch a £40m bid for the French under-21 international this month.

However, it looks like United will face even further competition as the Daily Star are now citing a report coming from Le10 Sport that claims Arsenal and Liverpool have now made contact with Monaco to enquire about Bakayoko’s availability.

The Gunners may view the youngster as a long-term replacement for Santi Cazorla with the 32-year-old’s future at the Emirates in doubt as his contract expires in the summer and he’s endured another frustrating injury-plagued campaign.

Jurgen Klopp is also expected to be in the market for a deep-lying midfielder with Lucas Leiva set to depart soon after failing to hold down a regular first team place and Bakayoko would provide some stiff competition to the likes of Emre Can and Jordan Henderson.

However, it looks as though the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and United are in for disappointment as the Daily Star say that Monaco have made it clear they have no intention of selling the midfielder this month.

The player is contracted to the club until 2019 and Monaco have a huge Champions League double-header against Manchester City coming up so understandably they are in no rush to cash-in.

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To make matters worse, Bakayoko confirmed last month that despite the interest being shown in him from the Premier League, he has no intention of leaving Monaco during the winter transfer window.

Bakayoko is quoted as saying by the Daily Star:

“I have had a good first six months, but the season is not over. I won’t leave Monaco this winter, that’s a certainty. I don’t want to leave.

“Of course the Premier League makes you dream, but I have no reason to leave this winter.

“Right now, I have two ambitions: finish champions of France and go as far as possible in the Champions League.”

So it looks as though Arsenal, Liverpool, United and possibly even Chelsea will have to wait until the end of the season before they can continue their battle to try and sign one of the best young defensive midfielders in European football.