WINDOW WATCH
■ASTON VILLA are closing in on a £25million deal for Everton left back Lucas Digne (right). Talks were advancing last night as Villa manager Steven Gerrard moved ahead of competition from Newcastle United, West Ham and Chelsea. Gerrard wants the 28-year-old to add more experience to his relatively young defence. Meanwhile, Philippe Coutinho has flown over for his medical prior to joining Villa on loan from Barcelona. The Midlands club have also discussed a move for Yves Bissouma, who is a Newcastle target too, but Brighton want £50m. ÷NEWCASTLE UNITED are keen on Ivory Coast defensive midfielder Ibrahim Sangare, 24, from PSV Eindhoven. They have also held talks with
Monaco over defender Benoit Badiashile, and have added Hugo Ekitike of Reims to their list of striker targets. Burnley’s Chris Wood has also been proposed. ■TOTTENHAM will listen to offers for Tanguy Ndombele, who was substituted in their FA Cup tie with Morecambe yesterday and left to a chorus of boos. Spurs also expect offers for winger Steven Bergwijn, who is a target for Ajax, as they prepare an £18m bid for
Wolves’ Adama Traore.
Defenders Japhet Tanganga and Joe Rodon continue to be of interest for clubs seeking loan deals. ÷LEEDS full back Cody Drameh, 20, is wanted by Cardiff on loan. He has also had interest from Nottingham Forest and Swansea City, but Marcelo Bielsa has yet to approve a move. Meanwhile, Leeds have opened talks with midfielder Adam Forshaw over a new contract. ■STOKE CITY have approached Manchester City for defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who is on loan at Anderlecht. City midfielder Tommy Doyle wants a new loan after cutting short his spell at Hamburg. ÷CELTIC are poised to beat Middlesbrough to the £3.6m signing of Riley McGree from MLS side Charlotte FC. The 23-year-old Australia midfielder had been on loan at Birmingham City. ■MANCHESTER UNITED’S Ivory Coast winger Amad Diallo is wanted by Wayne Rooney’s Derby County on loan. Anthony Elanga is keen to go out on loan too, but Ralf Rangnick wants to keep him at United. ÷ MILLWALL want more than £2m for winger Jed Wallace, who is a target for Nottingham Forest. The price tag could prompt the 27-year-old to sign a pre-contract agreement with Turkish side Besiktas instead.