Arsenal are reportedly weighing up a potential £75million bid for young Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo.
Caicedo, 21, has been one of the breakout stars of the Premier League season, starting 18 of Brighton's 19 league fixtures to help his side up to sixth.
The talented central midfielder has already earned 28 caps for Ecuador and collected valuable experience at the Qatar World Cup, where he scored against Senegal in the group stage.
Brighton have rejected some serious bids already this month, and while they have reportedly set Caicedo's price at nine figures, Arsenal are prepared to test how much money they are willing to turn down.
TOP STORY – ARSENAL PREPARE BUMPER BID FOR BRIGHTON TALENT
According to Fichajes, Arsenal are determined to add reinforcements before the end of January, and they will see if £75m is enough to pry Caicedo away from Brighton.
Metro had previously reported Brighton would hold out for a fee in the range of £100m, having already batted away a £50m approach from Chelsea.
Fichajes believes Arsenal are willing to outspend Chelsea in the pursuit of Caicedo, which has them in the driver's seat if Brighton are willing to budge before the transfer window closes.
ROUND-UP
– According to the Daily Telegraph, Chelsea and Liverpool will both pursue 24-year-old Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes, who is expected to cost £55m.
– 90min is reporting Tottenham are confident they will complete their move for 23-year-old Sporting right-back Pedro Porro in the coming days after negotiations over his release clause.
– 90min adds Sporting will target 22-year-old Brighton full-back Tariq Lamptey as Porro's replacement, although Lyon are also interested in the Seagulls defender.
– Everton have lowered their asking price for Anthony Gordon to £40m plus add-ons after their initial £60m valuation put off Newcastle United, per the Telegraph.
– Gazzetta dello Sport is reporting Inter will demand £35m (€40m) for 26-year-old right-back Denzel Dumfries, who is a target of Chelsea, Newcastle and Manchester United.
Alonso lauds Leverkusen's 'fight' in St. Pauli triumph
Xabi Alonso lauded Bayer Leverkusen's fight in their 2-1 win over St. Pauli on Saturday, earning the champions a third-straight Bundesliga triumph.
Alonso's side struck twice in the first half through Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Tah, with Morgan Guilavogui reducing the deficit in the 84th minute for St. Pauli.
Leverkusen improved their record against newly-promoted sides in the Bundesliga, having lost just one of their last 21 games against them (W16 D4).
But the reigning champions were made to work for their win, registering an expected goals (xG) total of 0.88 from their six shots compared to St. Pauli's 1.82 from their 12 efforts.
"Yes, we didn't discuss for today, but after Kiel, for example, what we can do better," Alonso told reporters following Saturday's victory.
"How to play with more intelligence in those minutes. Today wasn't spectacular, but we were more efficient and playing with more intelligence from minute one.
"When you play every three days, it's not easy to defend everything all the time. I have to praise my team for finishing today's game with a win.
"But that is what we need to realise about the situation that we are in. To fight for results and to fight for points. Yes, the first half was good, and the second half was okay."
The victory moved Leverkusen up to third in the Bundesliga, seven points behind leaders Bayern Munich, who beat Heidenheim 4-2 on Saturday.
But their attention will turn swiftly to the Champions League, with Inter the visitors to the BayArena on Tuesday.
Alonso's side find themselves sixth in the new 36-team standings in the competition after five games, taking 10 points from those games and scoring 11 times.
Super-sub Musiala thrilled to end Bundesliga drought on home soil
Jamal Musiala felt "good to celebrate with the Bayern Munich fans" after netting his first Bundesliga home goals of the season in the 4-2 win over Heidenheim.
The Germany international climbed off the bench to score twice at the Allianz Arena, where he had not found the net in the German top flight since an 8-1 rout of Mainz in March.
Musiala's 11th Bundesliga appearance of the season was his first as a non-starter.
However, he said the breather was welcome and made him feel rejuvenated upon entering the contest, before taking his goal tally for the campaign to 12 in all competitions.
"Recently, I've played a lot of games in a row," he said. "That's why it was good that I got a break and came back energised.
"I've finally scored here in the [Allianz] Arena again. It feels good to celebrate with the fans."
Good morning #FCBayern Fans!
of the log and unbeaten in the #Bundesliga. pic.twitter.com/Ah7XbvVMFV
Vincent Kompany's side got back to winning ways following their 1-0 defeat by Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB Pokal on Tuesday, in which Manuel Neuer was sent off early on.
And the Bayern boss was pleased by the response of his players.
"We started this week with a tough schedule, played 70 minutes with 10 players against Leverkusen, so it was always a dangerous game for many reasons," he told reporters during his post-match press conference.
"The first half was very good, possession was fluid. The second half - although we stayed calm when we conceded - the last 15 to 20 minutes, the feeling for Heidenheim is totally justified that they are still in the game.
"Still, we created a lot of chances. It was a tough week. We scored four goals. It was still a very, very good day."
Sporting director Ashworth leaves Manchester United
Dan Ashworth has left his role as Manchester United's sporting director just five months after joining the club.
United pushed hard for the highly rated Ashworth, who was in place at Newcastle United, and spent five months on gardening leave before officially starting with the Red Devils, who reportedly paid significant compensation to his former club.
His first day on the job came on July 1, but now just five months later, he has left Old Trafford by mutual agreement.
"We would like to thank Dan for his work and support during a transitional period for the club and wish him well for the future," a statement from the club read.
Ashworth led United's recruitment drive over the summer as the club aimed to back Erik ten Hag, who they subsequently dismissed at the end of October.
Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte were all brought in to boost United's senior squad.
United lost 3-2 to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, as new boss Ruben Amorim suffered a second straight defeat, and his first at Old Trafford.
That loss left United in 13th in the Premier League.
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