The Elected Gossip

Bayern Munich join the race for Bale, Barcelona want Bellerin and Herrera in January, Inter to give Toure four-year deal...

Last Updated: 03/05/15 at 10:40 Post Comment

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Chelsea to offer Remy plus cash for Lacazette, Manchester City set to dangle £150,000-a-week in front of Wilshere, stand-off costing Sterling...

The Self-Serving Gossip

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United have the money for Bale, City want Sterling, Ings, De Bruyne & Rodriguez, Arsenal and United want Darmian...

BAYERN JOIN BALE RACE
Well you can't say that we didn't need a new angle on the Gareth Bale saga.

Whilst the Sunday Express sticks with the claim that there could be a swap deal between Bale and David de Gea (think that's the 100th time we've read that now), the Mail on Sunday report that there is a 'fourth dimension' to the possible transfer of the Welshman. Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United are the other three 'dimensions' (hold it!). Pay close attention.

Unfortunately, the story is part of Rob Shepherd's Football Grapevine column, which isn't known for its unerring accuracy. Sorry Shep.

'The German club, so powerful again in the Bundesliga this season, are starting to look more at the commercial benefits that also accompany a player of Bale's mercurial talent, which have expanded during his time at Madrid,' the story reads. 'It remains to be seen whether Bayern would be drawn into an auction for Bale or indeed pay a salary in the region of £300,000 a week which Bale would seek if he leaves Madrid this summer, or whether Bale would even consider playing in Germany. Then again, the prospect of playing under manager Pep Guardiola could prove a professional pull for the Welshman.'

Sorry folks, this one just isn't going to happen.


BARCA WANT HERRERA AND BELLERIN
Much more intriguing claims in the Sunday People, who reckon that Barcelona will celebrate the end of their transfer ban in January by signing Ander Herrera from Manchester United and Hector Bellerin from Arsenal.

Herrera has finally come to the fore under Louis van Gaal, after struggling to ingratiate himself to the Dutch manager during his early months at Old Trafford. His return to the side saw United enjoy an upturn in form, although he does look a lot more comfortable when joined in the side by Michael Carrick. United would presumably be unwilling to sell, and would therefore require Barca to make a very chunky offer.

A move for Bellerin perhaps makes a little more sense. The Spaniard is a product of the La Masia academy who moved to London at the age of 16. With Dani Alves coming to the end of his career, re-signing Bellerin would be a savvy move. Again it would take a big offer, but it's a plan that worked well with Gerard Pique.


INTER REALLY WANT TOURE
Inter are a club that needs an overhaul. If they are going to keep faith with Roberto Mancini he needs to be able to rely on young players coming through, supplemented by savvy signings from abroad that can be sold for huge profit further down the line. It sounds unglamorous, but this is a club which must develop sustainably - catching up with Juventus will not be done quickly.

With that in mind, it's great to see Mancini getting on board with this by digging his heels in on his demand to sign 31-year-old Yaya Toure for £15m from Manchester City. That's certainly a sensible, long-term purchase right there.

Toure is 32 this month, and yet Inter are reportedly keen to offer him a deal worth £150,000 per week on a four-year contract. Sheesh.


AND THE REST
Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew is weighing up another offer for Liverpool's Glen Johnson... Chelsea are looking at Italian wonderkid Giuseppe Scalrea... Papiss Cisse may have played his last game for Newcastle as their is interest in him from the Middle East... Southampton, Stoke and Liverpool are all keen on Burnley right-back Kieran Trippier... Bolton are making a bid to sign Leeds midfielder Rodolph Austin... Swansea are poised to move for Bordeaux winger Henri Saivet this summer... Liverpool are offering Martin Skrtel a three-year contract extension... West Ham are after Birmingham keeper Darren Randolph as back-up to Adrian... Newcastle winger Sammy Ameobi is poised to join Real Sociedad in the close season... West Brom, Newcastle and Crystal Palace have all expressed an interest in Bournemouth winger Matt Ritchie... Watford are ready to offer keeper Heurelho Gomes another crack at the Premier League... Liverpool have Bayer Leverkusen's Son Heung-Min on their shopping list this summer... QPR want Lorient's £3m-rated Lamine Kone... Manchester City striker John Guidetti is wanted by Sporting Lisbon... Newcastle have made a move for Marseille midfielder Floria