Chelsea Transfer News: Paul Pogba, John Stones, Papy Djilobodji Latest Ahead Of Deadline Day

Everton’s tough stance on the future of John Stones has reportedly seen Chelsea scale back their ambitions as they try to bolster their defense ahead of the close of the transfer window. Chelsea are thought to have had three bids, rising to £30 million, rejected for Everton center-back John Stones, while the player has also had a transfer request turned down. And Everton are now insistent that the 21-year-old will be staying put, with manager Roberto Martinez even suggesting that the transfer request was a mistake.

“Obviously he's been put under massive, massive pressure,” Martinez said after Stones played in Everton’s goalless draw with Tottenham on Saturday, reports ESPN. “The transfer request was something he didn't mean to do.

“We are going to take extra measures in every window from now on to protect players and help them through, because it is all becoming too much. He's already stronger. In the last three or four weeks he's had to mature. We have to give him support and help him so that when he goes away now he feels the Everton support.”

Signing a center-back has become a matter of urgency after a poor start to the season continued with a 2-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday. Having also seen their interest in Zenit St Petersburg’s Ezequiel Garay knocked back, Chelsea are now believed to be turning their attention elsewhere.

According to The Guardian, and other sources, Nantes center-back Papy Djilobodji is now close to a £2.7-million transfer to Stamford Bridge. The 26-year-old’s price tag has been reduced by the fact he has entered the final year of his contract at the Ligue 1 club, still the potential move signifies how Chelsea have had to rapidly move down their list of targets in a their search for a defender before the transfer deadline. Djilobodji, who has also been interesting Trabzonspor and Celta Vigo, is a Senegal international who has been at Nantes since 2005.

The chances of Chelsea getting the type of signing that could reinvigorate Jose Mourinho’s squad now look slim. Paul Pogba could be the answer to many of Chelsea’s problems, given the midfielder’s all-round ability to dominate an area that has been a major weakness for the Blues so far this campaign. Reports have suggested that Chelsea are prepared to test Juventus’ resolve to hold onto the France international with a bid of £80 million.

Yet, leading Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport states that such an offer would be insufficient. According to the newspaper, the Italian champions would only be prepared to open negotiations if Chelsea put 150 million euros (£110 million) on the table. Having already allowed midfielders Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo to leave this summer, Juventus are hugely reluctant to lose Pogba, to whom they have handed the prestigious No. 10 shirt this season.

Liverpool sign Nigerian prospect Awoniyi

Nigeria international Taiwo Awoniyi will spend the season on loan at FSV Frankfurt after being snapped up by Liverpool.

Liverpool have wrapped up a deal to sign promising Nigeria youth international Taiwo Awoniyi.

The 18-year-old striker had been playing with Imperial Academy in his homeland and has been sent straight out on loan to German second-tier outfit FSV Frankfurt.

"This is the biggest club in the world and I'm privileged to be here," he told the club's official website. 

"I'll try to develop myself very well so that when I come back to Liverpool I'll be able to add value to the team.

"When I’m in the red shirt, I will always give my very best to make the fans happy."

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How Manchester United's full-backs got caught short in Swansea

Michael Cox assesses how the Red Devils' chalk and cheese widemen suffered in south Wales on Sunday...

While Manchester United's lack of firepower remains a problem, Louis van Gaal's side started their 2015/16 campaign with three clean sheets in three Premier League games, an impressive defensive record. In fact, taking into account their two Champions League qualifiers, they only conceded one goal in their first five games of the season – and that was an unfortunate deflected own goal.

But their trip to Swansea on Sunday was perhaps their first real challenge of the season. And while Daley Blind's centre-back credentials were given a real test by Bafetimbi Gomis, it was also a huge examination of their young full-backs, up against a team who generally prosper by attacking at speed down the flanks. Peculiarly, Luke Shaw and Matteo Darmian actually struggled more when they didn't have any direct opponents.

Different duo 

Shaw and Darmian are in different situations – one accustomed to Premier League football, the other a newcomer – and they're also very different types of full-back. Darmian is more of a classic one, while Shaw offers a more attacking, modern interpretation of the role.

Italy generally produces safety-first full-backs; often players like Darmian, who are capable of playing on both sides of the pitch. Darmian is naturally a right-back, but an odd one. He doesn't have a particularly good right foot – interestingly, he uses his left hand for writing, perhaps suggesting he's somehow ambidextrous, and he's spent some of his career playing on the left.

Darmian feels like a player who has learned the game rather than been blessed by a staggering ability to play it, and his positional sense and willingness to tackle are more striking than his ability on the ball. He's a good player going forward, but perhaps in the Pablo Zabaleta mould, storming forward with power and with well-timed runs, rather than with outrageous technical quality.

Shaw, on the other hand, offers tremendous acceleration when going forward, and naturally overlaps his winger to stretch the play before swinging crosses into the box. His balance is particularly impressive when dribbling, and he can launch crosses on the run without breaking stride – he's more an Aleksandar Kolarov type.

Caught out

United's visit to Swansea was odd, however. Darmian's defensive performance was questionable, while Shaw was caught out because he was attacking with too much gusto.

Darmian will have been delighted when he realised Swansea were without Jefferson Montero, the flying Ecuadorian winger who has caused Branislav Ivanovic and Daryl Janmaat serious problems so far this season. Wayne Routledge was instead his direct opponent, and aside from one moment when he conceded a free-kick for a clumsy foul early in the second half, he had few problems.

Both of United's full-backs were culpable for the concessions, though. Swansea changed system from a 4-2-3-1 to a narrow 4-3-1-2, which meant Shaw and Darmian had licence to push forward into attack more – but perhaps they did so too much.

For Swansea's opener, both of Manchester United's full-backs were caught high up the pitch, as the away side launched a counter-attack. But a misplaced pass meant Swansea counter-countered, and their move effectively exploited the gaps on either side of the United centre-backs. Gylfi Sigurdsson burst into the space where Shaw might have been, then crossed deep to the far post for Andre Ayew, taking advantage of the fact Darmian was nowhere to be seen.

Something similar happened for the second goal. This time it was Ayew breaking into the space behind Shaw, and he curled a wonderful ball into the path of Gomis. With United's centre-backs shifting across t

Shaw thing

Their overall performances, though, were what we've come to expect. Shaw played far more crosses than Darmian, creating two chances, including the assist for Juan Mata's opener.

And Shaw's defensive work came higher up the pitch. He remains a more impetuous defender, particularly illustrated by the fact he committed three fouls in advanced positions. Darmian defends in a calmer, more reserved way.

While both could do with improving their positioning and ironing out defensive mistakes, United seem to have the right balance from their full-backs – one overlapper, one defender. Given time to develop, they should be United's full-back pairing for many years to come.

Arsenal Transfer News: Cavani, Higuaín, Mahrez Targeted? Monreal Out?

Arsène  Wenger has again not ruled out making a late signing before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, but he has cast doubt on whether the quality of player he desires will become available. Despitewinning 1-0 at Newcastle United on Saturday, Arsenal struggled to break down a team that was down to 10 men from the 16th minute. And, with both Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud missing chances, there was little to dispel the widespread suggestion that Arsenal still require a top-level striker if they are to end their long wait for a Premier League title.

Yet, even if Wenger now accepts that to be true, his options are few and far between.

“We are open and we are in the transfer market,” Wenger said after the win over Newcastle. “If we find an exceptional player in any sector, we will do it. At the moment I don’t know if something will happen or not.

Arsenal missed out on long-time target Karim Benzema when the France striker stated that he was staying at Real Madrid last week. And since then two more familiar targets have come back into focus.Reports are continuing that a last-gasp bid to bring Edinson Cavani from Paris Saint-Germain will be launched, despite the deal continuing to look a nonstarter.

While his future appeared in question in January, PSG have been adamant all summer that he not available. And, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic 33 years old and set to leave when his contract ends next summer, Cavani is seen as an integral figure in the French capital. Indeed, on Sunday he scored twice in PSG’s 2-0 win over Monaco.

Arsenal are likely to get the same reply should they, as Metro suggests, make an offer for Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuaín. The Gunners were close to signing the Argentina international when he left Real Madrid two years ago. But after 35 Serie A goals in two seasons, Napoli have been insistent that he will not be going anywhere unless his prohibitive 100 million euros (£72.3 million) release clauses is met. Given that the transfer window in Italy closes on Monday, any approach from Arsenal at this stage would leave Napoli with little or no time to replace arguably their most important player.

With that in mind, Wenger may be looking elsewhere to bolster his attacking options. An exclusive in the Daily Star on Sunday claimed that attention had turned to Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez. Signed from Le Havre in January 2014, the Algeria international has followed up an encouraging first season in the Premier League with a sensational start to the current campaign, scoring four goals in his first three appearances. The 24-year-old would perhaps add some width to an Arsenal attack that can occasionally fall foul of becoming too narrow, however he would still face huge competition for a regular starting role. And Leicester have also stated that he is not for sale, having only extended his contract earlier this month.

In addition to potential arrivals, Monday has also seen rumors of a surprise departure from the Emirates. Spanish outlet Cadena Ser reported earlier in the day that Athletic Bilbao were interested in left-back Nacho Monreal and speculation has since been building, particularly after the player started following the Spanish club on Twitter.

Still, there is yet to be any concrete news with just hours of the window remaining, and while presenting new signing Raul Garcia, Athletic president Josu Urrutia brushed off speculation over Monreal’s arrival. It would be a significant surprise were Arsenal to agree to sell the Spain international. Not only has Monreal started each of Arsenal’s four matches so far this season, but his exit would leave Wenger with just Kieran Gibbs, whose career has regularly been disrupted by injury, as the only established option for the left-back slot.