Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Sunday the day of rest. Not if you are a purveyor of all things transfer gossip, transfer gossip does not have a day off. It never even sleeps, so with that said here is all the gossip from today’s back pages, my job is now to debunk it.
Gossip in standard font, my thoughts are in bold
Real Madrid are considering selling Wales forward Gareth Bale, 27, in order to raise funds to buy Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe, 18. (Sunday Express) Do they need the money though, surely they have the funds to buy Mbappe also. Maybe it’s more a case of Bale then being surplus requirements. That said though he did say he was prepared to stay in Madrid, so as to where he would end up is up for debate. I’d say this one is a non starter
Chelsea have had an £88m bid for Juventus and Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, 29, turned down.(Tuttosport – in Italian) Another striker to cross off of the shopping list as there is more frustration for Antonio Conte
Liverpool are expected to make a new bid for RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita, 22, next week. The Reds have already had a £57m offer for the Guinea international rejected.(Sunday Mirror) It’s £70m or bust, will Liverpool stump up the cash required. I’m not too sure
Further doubts have emerged over the future of Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez, 28, after he said he wants to play in the Champions League – a competition the Gunners missed out on qualifying for by finishing fifth in the Premier League last season.(ESPN) If that truly is the case then Sanchez will depart Arsenal this summer, not good news for Arsenal fans
Manchester City are stepping up their efforts to sign Monaco left-back Benjamin Mendy, 22, for £50m after Tottenham told them they could not have Danny Rose, 27. (Sunday Express) Manchester City are pushing their luck if they thought they could get Danny Rose
Stoke City are waiting for West Ham to make a third bid for Marko Arnautovic and want £22.5m for the 28-year-old Austrian forward.(Mail on Sunday) After rejecting £20m then this sounds about right, whether the player is worth that much could be argued but then again that’s just the market
Arsene Wenger says midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 23, will definitely stay at Arsenal this summer, despite interest from Liverpool. (Metro) Well that’s that
Leicester City are holding out for more than £40m for Riyad Mahrez, with Roma set to make another move for the 26-year-old forward. Chelsea and Everton have also shown interest in the Algerian. (Mail on Sunday) Mahrez is not at the peak of his powers and a value of nearer £30m is more likely especially with a lack of suitors for the Algerian
Or, Mahrez has already agreed terms with Roma. (Mediaset, via Metro) Maybe, maybe not
Real Madrid’s Brazilian right-back Danilo, 26, is interested in a move to Chelsea. (Diario Gol, via Star) Could this be another addition to Chelsea’s ranks, perhaps but it does not solve their atttacking issues
Manchester City have also joined Chelsea and Juventus in the race to sign Real Madrid right-back Danilo, 26, who would cost at least £21.9m. (Sunday Times – subscription required) Will Danilo want to go from the bench at Real Madrid to Manchester City, I’m not too sure
West Ham will need to reach a compromise with Manchester City to complete the loan signing of England goalkeeper Joe Hart, 30. (Sunday Express) I think a £10m loan fee may grease the palms of Manchester City
Liverpool winger Ryan Kent, 20, is wanted by Hull as part of the deal that will take Scottish left-back Andrew Robertson, 23, in the opposite direction. (Sunday Mirror) The winger will be of better use to Hull as they look to bounce back to the top flight this season
Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera, 27, will sign a new four-year deal with the club worth £200,000-a-week. (Daily Star Sunday) A nice day for Herrera after supposed interest from Barcelona
