Transfer Tit-Bits

*£72m for Paul Pogba + £40m for John Stones That’s the equation facing Roman Abramovich’s bank balance to help steer Chelsea back on course this season, according to The Daily Express. The $A158m would smash the British transfer record, with Jose Mourinho pushing the club to really tempt Juventus’ resolve, particularly given the clubs are already talking, with Juan Cuadrado moving to Turin on loan for the season. Juve reportedly knocked back a £55m offer already, but the London Evening Standard says Mourinho knows he cannot rely on Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas as defensive options in a 4-2-3-1 for the entire season. If the 28-year-old French midfielder can’t be snared by Deadline Day, he will remain in Chelsea’s sights. However, Barcelona’s transfer ban will be done by then, so the Catalan club would come into the picture as well. With the club’s defensive struggles this term, the Pogba pursuit won’t stand in the way of a fourth and final £40m – double the initial valuation – bid for Everton’s John Stones, reports The Guardian, after the centre-back handed in a formal transfer request at Goodison Park overnight. According to The Express’ report, the Pogba pursuit will not curtail the chase for the 21-year-old English centre-back. The Daily Mail suggests a £5m for Tottenham defender Federico Fazio from Roberto Martinez’s club is another sign that contingencies are being sounded out at centre back.

*REAL Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi has long been linked with a move to Liverpool, but The Guardian reports that Tottenham are mulling over the defensive midfielder. It has been clear this season that Mauricio Pochettino’s side are short in the middle of the park, so the 25-year-old appears a perfect target.

His old club, Real Sociedad, are also in the mix, but they want him on loan, whereas Rafa Benitez’s club are happy to let the Spaniard go.

*Meanwhile at White Hart Lane, West Brom have rejected a third bid for Saido Berahino, reports Sky Sports, with a £21m deal knocked back. Spurs won’t relent, however, supposedly ready to up the bid for the 22-year-old who didn’t feature on the weekend because of the distraction.

“West Bromwich Albion can today confirm the club have rejected a second offer from Tottenham Hotspur for Saido Berahino,” the statement read.

“Our position remains unchanged. The sale of this player is not on our agenda,” *West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace added.

Erik Lamela’s time at White Hart Lane could also be up, with The Daily Mail suggesting Roberto Mancini wants him at Inter Milan.

*EVERTON v Barcelona – that’s not a transfer battle you’d expect to see, but according to talkSport, the La Liga giant are after Dynamo Kyiv’s playmaker Andriy Yarmolenko.

The 25-year-old would be perfect for the Toffees, but he’s also seen as a possible replacement for Pedro – after January 2016, of course, when their transfer ban expires.

*ASTON VILLA could make a play for Roma attacking midfield talent Adem Ljajic.

The 23-year-old, who was with the Serie A outfit in Melbourne this off-season, needs to be off-loaded off Roma’s wage bill, reports The Daily Mail, but Tim Sherwood’s transfer kitty might not have enough funds in it to secure the deal.

*FINALLY, Canal+ in France say talk about Arsene Wenger signing Edinson Cavani are nonsense, with the French manager reportedly never interested in Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguayan striker.