Rumour Reel: Toure can’t be bought

Jose and those above have one eye on the future and are looking for the next hot-shot to fill the boots of Rooney and Ibramovich when they pack up for good. That’s no mean feat, but Griezmann would certainly fit the bill and some of the red tops have the deal already agreed. If that’s true, we should be on for a whopping transfer fee.

Morata to the bridge

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte continues his search for an attacker to take over from Costa, who looks half-way out of the Stamford Bridge door. Money man Abramovich has done his best to settle the 28-year-old favourite, but to no avail.

Costa looks to be sticking to his guns with this move, which is surprising, but his current employers won’t let the grass grow. A host of big names have been linked with the Premier League leaders already this month, and we’re betting plenty more will be before it’s concluded, with the latest being Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata. Money seems to be no object for Chelsea, and that’s lucky as they will need to make a heavyweight offer to get their man. At present, it’s filed under gossip

Efe off to Ewood

Blackburn Rovers look set to turn to Scottish champions, and runaway league leaders, Celtic in a boost to strengthen their defence for the second-half of the season. Nigerian Efe Ambrose hasn’t played much football since the arrival of Brendan Rodgers, but boasts Champions League experience, and would be among friends at relegation-threatened Rovers.

Charlie Mulgrew, who scored a winner against Newcastle this season, twice, currently plays his football at Blackburn as does another former team-mate of Ambrose in Anthony Stokes. The 28-year-old would surely grab the opportunity with both hands, but he’d be expected to hit the ground running, with Rovers currently showing -12 in the goal difference tally.

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