Indeed we cannot. Most, if not all, of these transfer round-up snippets are simply copied from other papers. Basically, no-one knows anything except what agents tell them, and it's pretty obvious to most people what those agents' reasons for talking to journalists are - to initiate or increase...
I'd love us to sign him. Wants to play in the PL to try to get in the France World Cup squad so would be highly motivated and knows he would get game time here that he wouldn't at certain other clubs.