Manchester United plan Riyad Mahrez and Robert Lewandowski bids; Arsenal to miss out on Adrien Rabiot; Radamel Falcao latest

TRANSFER TALK: A look at today's most intriguing transfer rumours 

Simon Rice
Monday 21 December 2015 09:10 GMT
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Riyad Mahrez celebrates scoring a goal for Leicester
Riyad Mahrez celebrates scoring a goal for Leicester

Manchester United are seemingly preparing to spend big yet again when the transfer window next opens, with the club being linked with a couple of huge bids. According to reports, they are ready to test Leicester's resolve with a £29m bid for Riyad Mahrez. The Algeria winger has been sensational this season, scoring 13 Premier League goals already. However, United's hopes of signing him are slim, with Claudio Ranieri insisting just last week that Mahrez wouldn't be sold at any price.

United will also make an audacious bid for Robert Lewandowski. According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo the club are "crazy" about the Bayern Munich striker. Again, the chances of the target's current club letting him leave are slim - this is a player who has scored 23 goals in 26 appearances this season. The reports suggest a bid of £51m will be made for the Poland international.

The future of Radamel Falcao should become clearer in the next week. The Colombian has been awful at Chelsea, scoring just one goal and failing to resurrect a career that took a nose dive at Old Trafford. The on-loan Monaco player is due to have talks with Chelsea's interim manager Guus Hiddink at which point it will be decided whether he will remain at the club for the rest of the season or try to find another.

Arsene Wenger has said Arsenal will try to do business as early in the January window as possible, conceding the club could be in trouble after the Christmas fixtures due to the club's current injury crisis. He told BeIN Sport: “Yes, we are short and the number of games we have to play in January are very important. God knows how we will come out of the Christmas period, with a lot of demand on the physical front so we need to do something. I would love to give you some names, downstairs on the bar with a coffee but not in front of your camera.”

One player it won't be is PSG youngster Adrien Rabiot. The 20-year-old midfielder was linked with a move to the Emirates after publicly expressing a desire to go out on loan for the rest of the season due to his frustration at lack of game time at the Parc des Princes. However, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has been angered by Rabiot's demands and ruled out a move: “I was very disappointed - I said it to his face. His statements are unacceptable,” he told Le Figaro.

Adrien Rabiot could join Arsenal for the rest of the season

Finally, Liverpool are reportedly closing in on FC Basel striker Breel Embolo. The Switzerland international has caught the attention this season with eight goals in 23 appearances. The 18-year-old been linked with a host of clubs and is contracted to Basel until 2019, but according to reports Liverpool are leading the race to sign him in January.

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