Thursdays Football Headlines

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Thursday's football transfer rumours and what might have been (February 01 2018)


A look at the back page headlines in today's newspapers as Arsenal fell £10million short in their pursuit of Jonny Evans.

Arsenal offered just £12 million for West Brom defender Jonny Evans in a late failed bid, according to reports. Albion had valued Evans at £30million in the last window and it would have taken a bid of over £20million to even bring them to the table this time.

The Daily Telegraph reports that both Manchester City and Everton were rumoured to be eyeing up the Northen Ireland international as well, but the 30-year-old will be staying at The Hawthorns until the summer at least.

Sky Sports reports that the Gunners may not have been able to spend more due to the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's £56million price tag. Should Evans go in the summer he may cost a new side just £3million due to a reported relegation release clause in his contract.

Wantaway Leicester playmaker Riyad Mahrez is said to have been left "depressed" after Man City walked away from a deal, having been quoted a price of £95million for the Algeria international, according to reports.

Sky Sports reports a friend of the 26-year-old commented: "By my calculations, Leicester would have made £59.8million profit on the player they bought from Le Havre for £350,000." Pep Guardiola was said to have earmarked Mahrez as a potential late target for the Premier League leaders after the blow of losing Leroy Sane to injury. City made bids of £50million and £60million, but the Foxes bosses would not budge, according to The Sun.

Manchester United defender Daley Blind saw his hopes of a move to Roma scuppered after Reds bosses demanded a permanent deal, the Daily Express reports.

The Serie A side were reportedly only prepared to take the 27-year-old on Holland international on loan. Roma ultimately went for Sporting Lisbon's Argentinian left-back Jonathan Silva, 23, who will be in Italy for the rest of season.

Crystal Palace offered Lille up to £16m for captain Ibrahim Amadou, although the French side pulled the defender off the market, Sky Sports said. Amadou, 24, was reportedly keen to move to Selhurst Park, where bosses had offered to take him on loan until the end of the season for an initial £2m fee, with a £14m obligation to buy at the end of the campaign.

Mesut Ozil is said to have turned down a £435,000-a-week contract with a Chinese club before signing a new deal with Arsenal, The Sun reports. The Germany midifielder, 29, is rumoured to have been a target for Guangzhou Evergrande, who were prepared to pay him around £22m-per-year. The deal would have far exceeded his new contract at the Emirates said to be worth £350k-a-week.