TRANSFER GOSSIP
Sterling to City, Bayern or Chelsea, Falcao to be offered to Chelsea (and everyone else), Ezequiel Lavezzi to Spurs...Liverpool to buy Jovetic from Man City and sell Lambert to Bournemouth. Also, Yaya Toure offered £8million a year...
You're not going to believe this, but the papers are packed with gossip about the future of Raheem Sterling. Take a deep breath, and here goes...
The Daily Mirror claim that Manchester City are preparing a £40m bid for the winger, but that Liverpool remain determined to keep hold of the player. In fairness, they're unlikely to say anything else in a bid to maximise the price they get.
Next up is the Express, who don't remark on the potential transfer fee but do claim that City will offer Sterling £200,000 a week to join the club. They really do need English players through the door.
Next up is Bild, with the Germans steaming in on proceedings. This feels like the fight between the various news teams at the end of Anchorman. Bild believe that Bayern Munich will make an approach Sterling if he decides to leave Liverpool. We'll let them into a secret: He already has.
Finally we have the Daily Star, staggering in like the unreliable uncle rolling in at 10am on Christmas Day after a long night out on the sauce. They claim that Chelsea are prepared to sell Juan Cuadrado and Oscar in an attempt to fund a bid for Sterling.
FALCAO TO CHELSEA?
Stop what you are doing right now, and search for a picture of Radamel Falcao at Manchester United's award dinner. The Colombian may have slipped over more times that Steven Gerrard in a Chelsea fan account's continually looped Vine, but he scrubs up a bloody treat. Swoon.
Anyway, onto the football news, with Neil Ashton in the Daily Mail claiming that Falcao has been offered to Chelsea on loan next season. Because it worked out so well at Old Trafford.
Basically, the story comes down to the fact that superagent Jorge Mendes represents Jose Mourinho and Falcao. We'd expect Mendes to be touting the Colombian to every Champions League club.
SPURS CLOSE TO LAVEZZI
Now we're not saying this is entirely legit (Metro, Tuttomercatoweb.com), but reports claim that Tottenham are close to the signing of Paris St Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Having fallen out with Laurent Blanc on numerous occasions and never really settling in the French capital, PSG are thought be keen to move the Argentina international on. They would accept a fee of around €15m.
Lavezzi is now 30, but for that sort of price would constitute a gamble worth taking for Spurs. Mauricio Pochettino certainly needs a striker or two this summer.
AND THE REST
David Moyes is the man Sunderland want to lead the club's revival... West Ham want Marseille's Ghana international Andre Ayew and have opened talks to land him as their first signing for next season... Chelsea have been warned they will have to cough up more than £36million to land Lyon star Alexandre Lacazette... Manchester United have lined up a £25million bid for Ajax and Holland goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen... Esteban Cambiasso has left the door open to extending his stay at Leicester after admitting English football is "even better than I thought".
Jonny Evans could leave Manchester United for Everton this summer in a deal worth up to £10million... Aston Villa are lining up a £15million swoop to land QPR striker Charlie Austin... Inter Milan are hoping to close a deal for Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure at around £15million... Uwe Rosler is a leading contender to be appointed Leeds United's head coach, despite Neil Redfearn not yet having left the club... Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is willing to give up £12million in order to secure his dream move to Real Madrid.
United have made an enquiry to Liverpool about contract rebel Sterling who is determined to quit Anfield this summer.
Liverpool told United that Sterling, who has two years left on his current Reds deal, is not for sale.
United boss Louis van Gaal is prepared to disregard the bitter rivalry between the clubs to bid for Sterling.
No player has moved between the clubs since Phil Chisnall joined Liverpool from United in 1964.
But van Gaal is undeterred and is now hoping Sterling puts pressure on Liverpool from his end to make the deal happen.
Van Gaal wants to beat rivals Manchester City for the wantaway England winger and the Blues are preparing a £40million offer.
City believe Liverpool will be forced into selling Sterling this summer because the 20-year-old has made it clear he wants to leave.
In pictures: Raheem Sterling career
They will tell Liverpool that Sterling does not want to accept the club’s offer of a new deal.
United’s move could spark a biding war and Arsenal and Chelsea are monitoring developments.
“We want to keep him but if they decide to pay a certain amount for our keeper, we are facing a big problem. I can see a real danger for my club"
Dean Mouhtaropoulos
As we revealed yesterday, Holland international Cillessen has emerged at the top of Louis van Gaal’s shopping list should he lose David De Gea to Real Madrid.
Any De Gea transfer will spark a move for the 26-year-old.
De Boer said: “We want to keep Cillessen but if Manchester United decide to pay a certain amount for our keeper, then we are facing a big problem.
“Do I get nervous about this situation? I don’t get nervous easily, but in this case I can see a real danger for my club."
Meanwhile, the Old Trafford giants have signed Belgian goalkeeping prospect Ilias Moutha-Sebtaoui from Standard Liege.
The 16-year-old, who was also reportedly scouted by Chelsea, has signed a three-year contract reports the Manchester Evening News.
Chelsea boss Mourinho wants to bring in another striker this summer to bolster his forward line for next season.
The newly-crowned champions have been watching striker Benteke in the second half of the season and he is on their list of potential targets.
It would be a huge blow for Liverpool if Chelsea do decide to bid for the Aston Villa star, as Anfield is currently his most likely destination.
Villa value Benteke in the £30million bracket, but are reluctant to sell the Belgium international.
Chelsea already have Diego Costa and Loic Remy on their books, but 37-year-old club legend Didier Drogba is a free agent this summer and could leave Stamford Bridge for the second time in three years.
That trio have struggled because of injuries and the demands of this season and Mourinho believes they must have at least three top-quality strikers.
It remains to be seen whether Benteke would be willing to go to Chelsea to be part of a squad or would prefer to be more of a central figure at Anfield.
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