Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Gossip Columned – Episode 53
Here is what is on today’s gossip menu:
Manchester United have had a £31m offer for Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes, 24, rejected by Sporting Lisbon. (Gazzetta dello Sport, via Express)
Meanwhile, Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told club chiefs to sign Newcastle United’s English midfielder Sean Longstaff, 21, in a £25m deal this week. (Star)
Paris St-Germain forward Neymar’s representatives are set to meet Barcelona officials on Tuesday to discuss the 27-year-old Brazil international’s potential return to the Spanish champions. (Esporte Interativo, via Mail)
Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann’s release clause has dropped from £179m to £107m and Barcelona are ready to sign the 28-year-old France international. (Star)
Barcelona are willing to pay the £100m release clause for Inter Milan’s Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez, 21. (Corriere dello Sport – in Italian)
Former Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez has agreed to become the new boss of Chinese club Dalian Yifang on a deal worth £12m a year after leaving St James’ Park. (Sky Sports)
Former France international Patrick Vieira appears to have ruled himself out of taking over as Newcastle manager after saying he intends to be Nice boss for the “long term”. (Mail)
Liverpool centre-back Dejan Lovren’s representatives have held talks with with AC Milan officials over a move for the 29-year-old Croatia international. (Mirror)
Derby County manager Frank Lampard’s return to Chelsea was sealed on Monday, with the 41-year-old former Blues midfielder having agreed a £4m-a-year contract which has a Champions League incentive. (Mail)
Derby are set for further talks with former Netherlands midfielder Phillip Cocu this week as they prepare for Lampard’s departure. Cocu was sacked as Fenerbahce boss in October. (Telegraph)
French midfielder Paul Pogba, 26, has been training alone in New York while his Manchester United team-mates reported back for pre-season training. (Sun)
Arsenal are in talks with 29-year-old Algeria attacking midfielder Yacine Brahimi, who is a free agent after leaving Porto. (Sky Sports)
The Gunners have also been offered the chance to sign 25-year-old Lyon and France forward Nabil Fekir – a former target for Liverpool – for just £30m. (Mirror)
Manchester City’s Germany winger Leroy Sane is featured in the club’s kit launch for the 2019-20 season, despite interest from Bayern Munich in the 23-year-old. (Express)
Manchester City are poised to make their first signing of the summer with 18-year-old winger Felix Correia set to complete a £3.1m move to the Premier League champions from Sporting Lisbon. (Times – subscription required)
Manchester United’s potential deal for Sevilla striker Wissam Ben Yedder, 28, has seen the La Liga side make a renewed effort to keep the France international. (Colina de Nervion, via Express)
Crystal Palace want Arsenal’s English defender Carl Jenkinson, 27, as a £5m replacement for right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who left for Manchester United. (Sun)
The Gunners are preparing a £12m move for Hull City’s 22-year-old English striker Jarrod Bowen. (Sun)
Dutch forward Hossein Zamani, 16, has come to the attention of Manchester United, Manchester City and AC Milan because he is considering leaving Ajax. (Mail)
