Football Transfer Bulletin: Today's rumours, gossip & odds as the Virgil van Dijk saga takes another twist

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1930: With Liverpool abandoning their interest in Virgil van Dijk, let's take a look at the revised odds on the Southampton defender's future.

Van Dijk is likely to cost potential suitors in excess of £50million -  a world-record fee for a defender - so it's little surprise to see Manchester City and Chelsea heading the betting for his signature.

A move to the Etihad Stadium is rated an 11/10 chance with Sky Bet while it's 7/2 he makes a summer switch to the Premier League champions.

Those who think he'll stay put can get 2/1. The club have previously claimed they are in a position to turn down a £60million bid.

1640: Some interesting views from Nolito there and Sky Bet clearly aren’t falling for his little coffee shop story, opening a market on his future with a move to Sevilla just 4/9.

Meanwhile, contradicting reports seem to the be theme of the day, with Hector Bellerin the latest player be caught up in a stay or go tussle.

Sky sources understand that Arsenal are confident of keeping hold of the 22-year-old right-back, but Catalan radio station RAC-1 claim an agreement has been reached with Barcelona.

Sky Bet’s are leaning in favour of the British sources, going 4/6 that he stays and 11/10 that he heads to the Nou Camp this summer.

It comes shortly after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who proved himself as an accomplished right wing-back last season, was backed in to stay at the Emirates, having initially been odds-on to join Liverpool.

On the manager front, Hull are expected to announce their new manger in the next 48 hours, with Leonid Slutsky just 1/8 for the job.

The former Russia boss has been in England learning the language and studying the game with the support of Roman Abrahmovic since leaving CSKA Moscow last season.

Expect are raft of Chelsea loanees to follow Slutsky’s path…

1430: Looks like Nolito wants to leave Manchester City.

"I am under the contract, so the club will decide, but I want to leave," he told Spanish radio station El Transistor.

"I haven't played in six months. I will do everything possible to make Spain's World Cup squad.

"I have learnt very, very little English – it's very hard. Just 'tomorrow', 'good morning', 'good afternoon' and a little more.

"My daughter's face has changed colour — it looks like she's been living in a cave." 

1415: There's a couple of bits of news to bring you up to date with.

Brighton midfielder Steve Sidwell has signed a new one-year contract and Cardiff have completed a move for Hearts defender Callum Paterson.

1335: Kyle Walker has been linked with a summer move away from Tottenham but the right-back is only focused on England's clash against Scotland for now.

"Not at all," Walker said when asked if the transfer speculation was a distraction.

"I mean, you know coming away from club football kind of gives you a little bit of head space.

"I am an England player now and I am fully focused on a massive game on Saturday. We need to go and get the three points."

Asked whether he could give an indication on where he would be next season, the right-back told Sky Sports with a laugh: "No, no indication at all." 

1315: It’s all change in the next Leeds manager market, with Alan Pardew the new 10/11 favourite after owner Andrea Radrizzani revealed they will be interviewing candidates next week.

The Italian’s tweet prompted the odds on assistant boss Pep Clotet to drift from favourite to 11/1 for the position, with three more established managers now shorter odds in the betting.

Pardew has attracted the majority of the backing since, while Claudio Ranieri remains second favourite at 7/2 followed by Reading boss Jaap Stam at 8/1.

Early favourite Aitor Karanka remains unfancied at 14/1, while all others are 20/1 or bigger.

The picture looks at lot clearer in the betting for the Hull and Middlesbrough jobs, with Leonid Slutsky and Garry Monk 1/6 and 1/4 respectively.

However, there seems to be no rush for Crystal Palace or Sunderland, as Roy Hodgson and Derek McInnes head wide open markets, with both marginally odds-against chances.

1240: Press Association Sport also understand  Liverpool are in talks with Sporting Lisbon regarding a deal for winger Gelson Martins.

This story has all the details.

1210: New signing to report at Rangers as Portuguese defender Fabio Cardoso joins on a three–year deal. 

1130: Liverpool are in talks with Sporting Lisbon over the signing of winger Gelson Martins, Sky Sports News HQ understands.

Another one to watch.

1005: There’s a fairly simple rule in the betting industry; you will always get better value on backing something not to happen.

For understandable reasons of wanting to actually enjoy a sporting event, punters naturally want to back action, skewing the markets with their money.

That rule is especially applicable to the transfer betting markets, when the guessing games for who is going where swinging in various directions as the rumour mill churns away.

The one suggestion the rumour mill rarely produces is the ‘not moving club’ one, mainly because that’s not very interesting.

When you have to wait until September 1 for your bet to pay out it is even less appealing but, I’m afraid to report, that is where the value lies.

Alvaro Morata’s future is a classic case. The Spaniard is currently being backed into 4/5 money to join Manchester United amid reports from Sky Italia of a bid, only for Sky sources to understand that no such offer has been made.

AC Milan were previously odds-on to secure his services, despite the Spaniard insisting he had no intention of leaving and that his former club, Milan’s rivals, Juventus were very much his second side after the Champions League final.

He may not have started that final but he still got on, score and lift the trophy, while managing to net 15 times from 26 appearances in their LaLiga title triumph and establishing himself as Spain first-choice striker. 

He’s also likely to get even more playing time next season as an ageing Cristiano Ronaldo will need even more rest, while Karim Benzema is heading into his 30s.

Times are not so tough for Morata right now and make no mistake, he is a crucial cog in Madrid’s trophy winning machine so will not go cheap.

That makes the 6/1 on him to stay with the Spanish and European champions very appealing. Sorry to bore you, but that price is simply too long.

0950: Derby fans should be smiling this morning as the Rams have signed experienced defender Curtis Davies from Sky Bet Championship rivals Hull.

"I'm very excited," Davies told RamsTV. 

"I spent four years with Hull; four years that I really enjoyed through the highs and the lows. I felt, though, that it was time for a new challenge for myself.

"It was all very quick but, the opportunity to play for this manager in a team which is very strong, I believe it's a good opportunity for us as a team to get back into the Premier League.

"We've seen what Derby can do and I believe, under this manager for a full season, the squad that we've got is more than capable of promotion or at least the play-offs." 

0805: Reports in the Daily Star suggest Manchester United are interested in signing Borussia Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. 

However, Sky Bet make the Red Devils 20/1 to land the Dortmund striker with PSG the hot 1/5 favourites and any Chinese club next in the running at 4/1.

The same paper also claim AC Milan have launched a move for Chelsea striker Diego Costa - he is now 10/1 to end up at the San Siro with the Rossoneri but a move to China is regarded more likely by Sky Bet at 5/4.   

0730: Welcome to Wednesday's edition of the Transfer Bulletin and we start with last night's reports from Sky in Italy that Real Madrid have rejected a £52.4m offer for striker Alvaro Morata from Manchester United.

It is believed United goalkeeper David de Gea was not included in the offer, while Real Madrid are thought to want around £78m for the forward, who netted 20 goals in all competitions last season as his team won La Liga and the Champions League.

Sky Bet make Morata even-money to make the move to Old Trafford during the summer transfer window while it's 4/1 he stays with the club he rejoined from Juventus in June last year for £26.2m having won two Serie A titles and two Coppa Italias during his two-season spell in Turin. 

AC Milan are 13/8 to sign him, with Chelsea next in the running at 6/1.

Sky in Italy also reported that United will try to sign Torino's Andrea Belotti, who has a £87.3m release clause in his contract, if they fail to agree a deal for Morata.

Sky Bet make United 3/1 to bring Belotti to Old Trafford while AC Milan are 100/30.

This week's previous bulletins

Click here for Tuesday's Transfer Bulletin

Click here for Monday's Transfer Bulletin