the papers say>
Tottenham’s headline-grabbing move to welcome back Gareth Bale from Real Madrid looks set to last just one season. The 31-year-old’s much vaunted return to the club has been underwhelming, with Bale having played just 161 minutes in the Premier League midway through the 12-month loan deal, partly due to injuries. The Times says a second season with Spurs is “not being considered at the moment”, and the next few months will prove crucial to his future.
Jesse Lingard‘s management have had talks with Ligue 1 side Nice over a loan move, and an official approach is expected next week, according to Sky Sports. United are said to be still undecided about whether to let the 27-year-old attacking midfielder leave. The England international has not started a Premier League match for more than a year, but was in the XI for United’s FA Cup win over Watford last Saturday.
Tottenham and Chelsea are set to battle for the signature of South Korea centre-back Kim Min-jae, the Daily Mirror reports. The 24-year-old is 6’3″ and has been nicknamed The Monster during his current stay with Chinese club Beijing Guoan. Spurs were first reportedly interested in Son Heung-min’s international team-mate as a replacement for Jan Vertonghen when he left the club, but are now said to be redoubling their efforts in the face of interest from Chelsea.
Social media round-up
Odion Ighalo ‘set to leave Man Utd this month’ but striker insists he wants to extend loan transfer https://t.co/lnDLKvD6vb
— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) January 15, 2021
Matteo Guendouzi’s reason for snubbing £27m Arsenal exit shows he’s learnt very little https://t.co/O1thWp2aLN
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) January 14, 2021
Players to watch
Neymar: The Brazilian is set to extend his contract at Paris St Germain, Sky Sports reports.
Manor Solomon: Arsenal are monitoring the Shakhtar Donetsk and Israel winger, the Guardian says.
