Who is popular today?

Today’s tell-all is only just limbering upDay four of the new year, day two of the new Rumour Mill, and already the new Newcastle thing feels long in the tooth. Zenit St Petersburg striker Sardar Azmoun is the latest name on a shopping list that already features Lille defender Sven Botman, Atlético Madrid full-back Kieran Trippier, Everton’s Lucas Digne, Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, River Plate attacker Julián Álvarez, and south Devon utility man Thomas Cobley. We’re all going to have to get used to this quick-smart. It’s going to be a long month.Meanwhile the fuss and furore over Romelu Lukaku’s love letter to Internazionale is giving cover to a couple of Chelsea defenders making a bolt for the door marked Do One. Andreas Christensen, out of contract in the summer, may leave for Barcelona in a cut-price deal, while Antonio Rüdiger is eyeing a move to Real Madrid but will consider Bayern Munich, PSG or Juventus should talks turn sour. Continue reading...