Jupiler Pro League giants R.S.C. Anderlecht have revealed that Lucas Biglia and Dieumerci Mbokani will be allowed to leave the club in the summer, Sky Sports understands.
Both Biglia, 26, and Mbokani, 27, have been linked with a number of English Premier League clubs during the winter transfer window, with the likes of Liverpool, Norwich City, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur keen on Mbokani, while midfield maestro Biglia is attracting interest from Arsenal and Southampton respectively.
However, Anderlecht — who are currently eight points clear of second-place S.V. Zulte Waregem in the Jupiler Pro League table — are not willing to part ways with Biglia and Mbokani, unless the price is right.
According to club chairman Roger Vanden Stock, Mbokani has agreed to remain at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium until the summer, while no club has met Anderlecht’s asking-price for Biglia.
“Mbokani says he will remain until the summer. We have agreed that he can leave in June,” insisted Vanden Stock.
“I can only see things changing if he has the chance to go and play in the Champions League. He would knock back the likes of Southampton and Norwich.”
In addition, Vanden Stock revealed that the transfer fee for Mbokani would be in the region of €20 million, not €10 million, arguing that the DR Congo international is even better than Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke.
Mbokani was quite impressive during the group stage of the UEFA Champions League this season, tallying two goals and one assist in five UCL starts.
Meanwhile, Vanden Stock hopes that no-one meets the asking-price for Biglia, an Argentina international, until the transfer window reopens in the summer, with Anderlecht keen to retain the league title.
Hamburg want Bruma
Bundesliga side Hamburger SV want to sign Holland international centre-back Jeffrey Bruma, who is currently on loan at the Imtech Arena from Chelsea, to a permanent deal, according to Sky Sports.
Bruma, 21, has spent the last year-and-a-half on loan at Hamburg, with the likes of Branislav Ivanovic, David Luiz, Gary Cahill, John Terry and Nathan Ake keeping the Dutchman out of the first-team picture at Stamford Bridge.
The 21-year-old defender has started just four league matches for Hamburg this season, but is considered to be an important player for the Bundesliga outfit.
As a result, Hamburg are keen to sign Bruma to a permanent deal.
“The manager and the general manager have signalled that they would like to see me staying on at Hamburg long-term,” Bruma told Hamburger Morgenpost.
“They want me to sign permanently on a long-term contract.
“I feel that I have to play first team football to progress. I am, however, pleased that a club like Hamburg want to sign a permanent deal with me.”
With John Terry surely in the twilight of his career, the Blues may not want to sell a young, highly-rated centre-back like Bruma.
With that said, 17-year-old Nathan Ake and 18-year-old Nathaniel Chalobah, currently on loan at Watford, are reportedly more highly thought of at Stamford Bridge than Bruma.
Don’t be surprised when Chelsea part ways with the 21-year-old Holland international in the coming weeks.
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