MOYES £17m COUP
Sunderland boss set to clinch Ndong deal but Kone may still go
SUNDERLAND manager David Moyes is poised to sign Lorient midfielder Didier Ndong in a £17million deal. Club scouts went to watch the Gabon international against Bastia last week only to see him sent off after 30 minutes. However, he did enough in that time to convince them he can make an impact in the Premier League.
The wiry 22-year- old will have a medical today as Sunderland sort out the fine details of his fee.
Moyes is still seeking a midfielder and a forward and is braced for an improved £18m offer from Everton for defender Lamine Kone.
Recruiting a striker has been made more urgent by news that Fabio Borini could be out for up to six months after limping off in Saturday’s draw with Southampton.
LEICESTER’S Leonardo Ulloa is one option. The Argentine wants regular first-team football but is awaiting developments in Leicester’s pursuit of Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani. Leicester had hoped to close a £48m double deal for Slimani and team-mate Adrien Silva. But they have become frustrated as Sporting yesterday hiked Slimani’s price to £ 40m while refusing to sell Silva.
That saw WEST BROMWICH ALBION return to the fray. Albion boss Tony Pulis had earlier sanctioned a £21m bid for Sporting’s William Carvalho. That was rejected so Pulis has tried to resurrect interest in Slimani.
Albion had also made enquiries for WEST HAM’S Enner Valencia but the Ecuador striker last night began talks with Swansea City who hope to seal a £12m deal.
That could see West Ham rekindle interest in Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony though they face strong competition from STOKE.
Mark Hughes, the Stoke manager, wants another striker but is becoming frustrated over his pursuit of West Brom’s Saido Berahino. However, Hughes will complete the loan signing of Holland international Bruno Martins Indi from Porto.
Indi, 24, has 31 caps for Holland and his arrival will allow current Stoke defender Philipp Wollscheid to complete a move to Wolfsburg.
That deal comes after Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho turned down a move to Stoke’s Bet365 Stadium despite terms being agreed earlier this week.
TOTTENHAM are considering a £20m move for Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko after selling Ryan Mason to Hull City for £13m.
Spurs have lined up deals for two 21-year-olds — Espanyol goalkeeper Pau Lopez and Marseille winger Georges-Kevin N’Koudou — but will see if a compromise can be reached with Newcastle over Sissoko with the Championship side asking for £30m.
Tottenham are not pursuing interest in Wilfried Zaha after being told by Crystalystal Palace he was not for saleale and have rejected a £24m offer from Wolfs-burg for striker Son Heung-Min.
EVERTON look to have missed out on Napoli striker Manolo Gabbiadini after the Italian club rejected their £21m offer and offeredd the Italy international a new contract. Evertonon are still in talks with Portorto for winger Yacine Brahimi.himi.
MIDDLESBROUGH, whoo final-finalised the loan signing ofof Calum Chambers from Arsenal, are discussing a move for Aston Villa winger Adama Traore. Boro will also consider offers for striker Jordan Rhodes, should they find a replacement in time, while Southampton hope to clinch a deal for Utrecht striker Sebastien Haller, 22.
Premier League clubs pushed their summer spending through the £1bn barrier last night while those in the Championship also spent big. ASTON VILLA splashed £15m to sign Bristol City’s Ivory Coast international Jonathan Kodjia while Derby are likely to pocket £ 10.5m today after
BURNLEY made an improved offer for midfielder Jeff Hendrick.
As for LIVERPOOL misfit Mario Balotelli, the club hope he can finally reach accord with French side Nice today.