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Transfer Talk: Joe Hart will take a pay cut and could James McCarthy join Celtic?

With just days left to go before the transfer window slams shut (it always slams, it never just c...



Transfer Talk: Joe Hart will t...
Soccer

Transfer Talk: Joe Hart will take a pay cut and could James McCarthy join Celtic?

With just days left to go before the transfer window slams shut (it always slams, it never just closes) a number of clubs are still in the hunt for that last piece of the puzzle that will complete their season. 

With the goalkeeper merry-go-round in full flow between Barcelona and Manchester City, Joe Hart is in no doubt that he's not wanted under Guardiola's project.

Despite completing 100% of his passes the other night in the Champions League, Hart still needs to find a new club, and he refuses to stop being linked with Liverpool. According to The Sun, he's willing to take a pay cut to join the Merseyside club, which seems to ignore the fact that Klopp also wouldn't mind his keeper being decent with the ball at his feet. Or that Liverpool could use a keeper who is not prone to high profile mistakes. Just saying...

Elsewhere, James McCarthy could be in line for a shock move to Celtic, at least according to The Daily Mail. They claim that ,with his pockets now full of sweet, sweet Champions League cash, Brendan Rodgers will be shopping at Everton this summer. McCarthy was a firm favourite of  Roberto Martinez, but may not be as big a part of the plan for Ronald Koeman's side, which could tempt him away from Goodison, as they claim he is "unsettled." 

In other Irish transfer news, Brighton and Hove Albion are still working on a deal to sign Shane Duffy, who wants out of Blackburn Rovers before the end of the transfer window. 

Crystal Palace have been hit with another blow as Wilfried Zaha has told the club that he wants out amid interest from Tottenham. Having already lost Yannick Bolasie, their attacking talent is fading fast, and given that their strikers couldn't score goals last season, there's a lot of pressure on the shoulders of Christian Benteke now. The bookies have slashed the odds on Zaha joining Maruicio Pochettino at White Hart Lane, while Palace have apparently already started looking for reinforcements in the form of Lucas Lima from Brazilian club Santos. 

The long-running saga over Arsenal's transfer problems and the giant hole in the middle of their defence looks to be coming to an end. The Guardian report that a £35 million deal to sign Shkodran Mustafi is done and dusted, while they have also gotten the deal for Deportivo La Coruna's Lucas Perez over the line to provide options up front.

With all that cover, they're happy for Callum Chambers go out on loan, according to The Daily Mail, as Wenger assumes that there will be no injuries back there for the rest of the season. Defenders, who needs 'em.

And the rest: West Ham are close to a £25 million deal for Simone Zaza of Juventus; Manchester United have been told to up their offer if they want Monaco's Fabinho; The Daily Express reports that Mark Hughes has warned other clubs off making a "cheeky" bid for Peter Crouch; Napoli are hoping that a deal with Everton for Manolo Gabbiadini gets done soon so they can acquire their own targets; Leicester are still considering a £25 million bid for Steven N'Zonzi from Stoke; Joleon Lescott could be on his way to Greece as Olympiakos and AEK Athens are considering bids; Newcastle are in talks to sign Palermo left-back Achraf Lazaar of Morocco; Burnley have asked Chelsea about Patrick Bamford; Jose Fonte looks set to stay at Southampton; and Valencia are considering putting in a bid for Marcos Rojo. 

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