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BBC Gossip Column Debunked – Issue 7

Gossip it can be a terrible thing especially when it is about you, thankfully though unless you are a Premier League footballer the likelihood is that this will be about someone else. As per usual I now rip apart the BBC Sport Gossip Column and debunk this morning’s rumours, away we go…

Gossip in standard font, my thoughts are in bold

Manchester City are now front runners for Alexis Sanchez, 28, as Bayern Munich have backed out over the rising fee for the Arsenal forward. (Daily Mirror) Be that as it may but will Arsenal really want to sell to another Premier League club?

City are confident that they will sign Sanchez for a fee in the region of £50m, because of the forward’s desire to play under Pep Guardiola. (Guardian) Ultimately it all depends on whether Sanchez signs a new contract, do Arsenal stick or twist? Cash in and sell to a direct rival or risk him leaving for nothing?

Chelsea face competition from Paris St-Germain for Juventus full-back Alex Sandro, 26, with the Serie A club wanting £61m for the Brazil international. (Daily Mail) Both teams can afford the quoted fee, it may well just come down to a choice between London and Paris, surely from footballing terms though the lure of the Premier League will pull the strongest

Manchester United will lose out in the chase for Fabinho, 23, as Paris St-Germain are close to taking the Brazilian midfielder from Monaco. (Daily Record) It is not shaping up to be a particularly good window for United so far is it, another blow for Mourinho

Arsenal have had a bid in excess of £30m turned down for Monaco’s France winger Thomas Lemar, 21, and are now considering whether to formalise their interest in Leicester City’s Algerian forward Riyad Mahrez, 26. (Telegraph) Lemar supposedly had a release clause of £25m, shows that means absolutely nothing then. That said Riyad Mahrez will arguably cost more than the bid for Lemar, so do they go in with another bid or focus their attention to the East Midlands

Chelsea could hijack Zenit St Petersburg’s £26m offer for Kostas Manolas, 26, as the Roma defender stalls on a move to Russia. (Daily Telegraph) Manolas wants paying in Euro’s not Rubles, that’s like my working in London but asking to be paid in Dollars

Michael Keane is not expected to return to pre-season training with Burnley on Wednesday because Everton will push through a record deal for the 24-year-old defender before the weekend. (Burnley Express) Ronald Koeman is using that transfer ‘war chest’ to great effect, this would be another impressive signing should it come to fruition

Arsenal have been told they must pay £57m to land striker Alexandre Lacazette, 26, from Lyon. (London Evening Standard) Considering Arsenal were planning a bid of £50m, then they should find the extra money and land the signing of Lacazette, now is not the time to be playing hard ball especially if the top rumour rings true

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale, 27, is open to a move to Manchester United. (Daily Star) Considering at the start of the month he said he was happy at the Bernabeu, I can’t see why anything would have changed now. This is a non-starter

West Brom are closing in on a £12m deal for Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez, 27. (Daily Express) Tony Pulis was linked with him in January so it looks as if the Baggies boss will finally get his man, could be a good move for Rodriguez who has struggled to find form after returning from a long term absence

Former Chelsea and England captain John Terry, 36, has been told he could succeed Steve Bruce as manager of Aston Villa – if he joins the club. (Daily Express) Well if that does not convince him to sign…..

Liverpool target Naby Keita says he is aiming to play “for one of the very big clubs” like Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester City. The 22-year-old Red Bull Leipzig midfielder is wanted by the Anfield club. (Manchester Evening News) Not sure you can put Manchester City in that bracket to be honest

Chelsea defender Nathan Ake, 22, is on the verge of joining Bournemouth in a club-record £20m transfer. (Guardian) Bournemouth certainly missed him when he returned to Stamford Bridge in January, should Chelsea sign another centre back then Ake will only drop further down the pecking order so this move makes a lot of sense

Liverpool target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks set to complete a switch to the Chinese Super League. Tianjin Quanjian will bid £70m for the 28-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker. (Daily Star) That is mental, absolutely mental. So much for always wanting to play for Real Madrid after promising his Grandad. Money talks though

Everton winger Gerard Deulofeu has rejected the chance of a return to Barcelona with AC Milan and Juventus both vying for the 23-year-old’s services. (Daily Mail) Probably still a bit sore after being dumped out of the club once before, after a loan spell at A.C. Milan they will want to sign him permanently but when Juventus come calling they do usually get their man

Newcastle United are in talks with Liverpool over a possible loan deal for winger Sheyi Ojo, 20. (Newcastle Chronicle) Looked good in the England Under-20 setup, a loan move and regular football will do him well next season

Tottenham target Carles Alena has penned a new three-year deal at Barcelona, containing a buyout clause worth £66m. The midfielder, 19, captains Spain at under-19 level and has been on Spurs’ radar for some time. (Daily Mirror) If a move on the cheap was going to happen it had to conclude by tomorrow, no real surprise that Barcelona have finally awarded him a new contract

Southampton executive director Les Reed has reiterated that defenders Virgil van Dijk and Cedric Soares, both 25, are not for sale. Liverpool and Tottenham are interested in the pair respectively. Les SLAMMING SHUT those rumours

West Bromwich Albion might not be out of the running to sign Jermain Defoe, 34, as the England striker’s proposed move to Bournemouth has stalled in light of his personal demands. (Birmingham Mail) Someone just needs to pay Defoe what he wants (as long as it is not a Chinese Super League wage) guaranteed top flight goals, what more can you ask for

Defender Jonny Evans is seriously considering his future at West Bromwich Albion after being left frustrated at seeing Darren Fletcher leave the club. Evans, 29, has been the subject of a £10m bid from Leicester City. (Daily Mirror) Jonny Evans is still only 29?

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