Liverpool have been busy on the phones this week, making direct contact with RB Leipzig over a potential deal for Yan Diomande. The Ivorian midfielder has been on their radar for a while now, and it looks like the Reds are serious about getting something done. Liverpool have had a habit of identifying exactly the right profile of player for their system, and Diomande fits the mould of a dynamic, high-energy midfielder who could thrive under their setup. Whether Leipzig are willing to do business at a price that suits everyone is another matter entirely, but the opening of talks is always a decent sign.
Over at Arsenal, things are getting a little complicated. The Gunners are reportedly facing competition from Paris Saint-Germain for not one but two of their targets. That is a headache nobody wants, because PSG have the financial muscle to make most clubs blink first. Arsenal have been building smartly and steadily, and fair play to them for that, but going toe-to-toe with a club that essentially has a blank cheque is never straightforward. It will be interesting to see how Edu and the board navigate that one.
Meanwhile, Brentford appear to have hit a wall in their pursuit of Cologne winger Said El Mala, with reports suggesting the player himself is not particularly keen on making the move to west London. That is a bit of a gut punch for Brentford, who have done a brilliant job in recent years of finding gems that other clubs overlook. El Mala is a talented young player, but if his heart is not in it, you would rather know now than three months into a stuttering spell where everyone is scratching their heads wondering why it is not clicking.
All in all, it is shaping up to be one of those windows where the big clubs are circling each other's targets and the smaller clubs are doing their best to hold things together. As a Manchester United fan, the less said about our own transfer business the better, but at least there is plenty happening elsewhere to keep things entertaining. Let me know your thoughts.