Transfer Gossip
Markovic back to Benfica, Bogdan deal close, United to broker Benzema deal, Podolski 'ROCKS' Arsenal's world...Mandzukic to United, Tevez wants to leave Juventus, Spurs want Imbula, Marquinhos for Di Maria, Martial not leaving...
Di Maria swap for Marquinhos, Spurs bid for German teenager, Atletico break Jose's heart, Man United want Higuain, Arsenal chase Krychowiak...
Liverpool have already sewn up free transfer (ish) deals for James Milner and Danny Ings. It seems these things come in threes.
The Guardian are reporting that a deal for Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan is close to be completed. Is he really any better than Brad Jones, who is being released?
The following paragraph amused us: 'Rodgers had wanted a new goalkeeper to rival Mignolet as first choice in January but appears to have settled for experienced support instead after the Belgium international improved significantly.'
1) Yeah, why get a better goalkeeper if Mignolet got better. Forget the fact he wasn't good enough to start with.
2) 'Experienced support' - Rough translation: No. 2 that isn't close to being good enough but is free.
ARSENAL ROCKED
Hahahaha. You have to had it to the Daily Express. When they go clickbait, they really go clickbait.
'Striker ROCKS Arsenal by admitting he would LEAVE for the right offer,' reads their headline.
The actual story is that Lukas Podolski would leave Arsenal if the right offer came in. Given that Arsenal loaned him out to Internazionale last season and Arsene Wenger said the forward lacked respect, we're not sure how much ROCKING has been done.
Anyway, here's what Podolski has said: "If an offer comes from Turkey, I will sit down and talk about it with my family and girlfriend. If I find the right club, the right coach, the right environment, I will evaluate it. If these conditions are met, I think everything is possible. The next transfer could be my last, so I have to take a well-thought step."
Serene reporting in the Express. As rare as ROCKING horse s**t.
JOSE WANTS CHARLIE AUSTIN
While Jose Mourinho has been talking about Radamel Falcao, 'Chelsea sources' have apparently been telling ESPN that they are interested in Charlie Austin.
Mind you, if Loic Remy is as close to joining West Ham as some have suggested, then maybe Chelsea will start next season with the three striking options of Diego Costa, Falcao and Austin. Now that's tasty.
OSCAR LINKED TO JUVE...AGAIN
This has been mooted a few times over the last few days but it has now reached the front page of Tuttosport. In other reports he has been dubbed a 'replacement for Pirlo', which would be fine if he did not a) play in a different position and b) have about 27% of Pirlo's class.
OTAMENDI WANTS MAN UNITED MOVE
Nicolas Otamendi doesn't just want a Manchester United move, he is 'desperate', according to the Daily Star. They claim that United will make a £25m bid but that Valencia want closer to £35m for the centre-half.
The Daily Mail's top transfer man Simon Jones also says that United 'maintain an interest' in Otamendi while 'while AC Milan have asked about Mats Hummels of Borussia Dortmund and Joao Miranda of Atletico Madrid, two of United's other options'.
In other Milan news, it seems they have agreed to match Jackson Martinez's release clause of £25m.
MANCINI DENIES KOVACIC MOVE
One of the themes of this nascent summer transfer window is Mateo Kovacic to Liverpool. There have been various claims that the Reds are edging towards Inter's asking price - named at £18m or £22m depending on which report you read.
But Mancini said on Sky Sport Italia: "Kovacic will become a champion. He is young, but has already improved a lot. I think he will stay at Inter. I don't think there is anything going on with him regarding a transfer."
HIGUAIN TO ARSENAL?
''He's signing for Arsenal!' Club hero confirms superstar is making Gunners transfer' is the headline on the Metro website. On closer inspection, 'confirmed' might be a tad strong - this is what former Naples star Jose Albert had to say...
"I'm 90% sure he will go to Arsenal," said Alberti. A quick Google search reveals that he confidently predicted back in 2009 that Luca Toni would join West Ham. It doesn't appear to have happened yet.
MARKOVIC BACK TO BENFICA?
Well this one has come out of nowhere. Two of Portugal's newspapers (A Bola and Record) are reporting that Benfica are aiming to bring Lazar Markovic back to Portugal.
Both papers concede that a permanent deal is unlikely, but that Benfica are confident of landing Markovic on a season-long loan deal. Liverpool would hope that Markovic develops further away from Anfield, returning to the club in summer 2016 a more polished player.
Let's cut the crap: It would be a massive swallowing of pride for Liverpool to let a £20m player go out on loan. We can't see it happening.
ARSENAL WANT CASILLAS
It's going to take one goalkeeper to complete his move and the dominoes will start to fall. When David de Gea inevitably goes to Real Madrid, United will then buy, Iker Casillas may leave Real Madrid and whoever United buy from (Spurs?) will also need to recruit.
Arsenal are another club looking for a goalkeeper, and the Evening Standard claim that De Gea's move to Real will alert Arsene Wenger to Casillas' potential availability.
The paper believe that Arsenal would prefer to sign Petr Cech, but that Chelsea are reluctant to sell to Arsenal and Manchester United also hold an interest. Casillas would be an easier deal to seal, basically.
UNITED TO MAKE BENZEMA MOVE
How many times are we going to hear this Karim Benzema to Manchester United rumour?
In the Daily Telegraph, Mark Ogden claims that Untied will aim to broker a deal for Benzema as part of the deal to sell David de Gea. 'Any opportunity to secure Benzema as part of negotiations over De Gea will be pursued by United,' apparently.
Just the small matter of Real not wanting to sell and the player possibly not wanting to move, then.
A reminder of what Benzema's agent said last week: "We haven't held talks with anyone other than Real Madrid. What is Karim going to do in Manchester? He's happy in Madrid. He doesn't want to leave. Benzema would only leave if Real Madrid told him he was surplus to requirements, because he isn't going to leave of his own accord."
ROMA LINE UP LUKAKU MOVE
With Romelu Lukaku's new agent Mino Raiola pimping out his player's ambitions at every possible moment, the Daily Mail report interest from Roma in the striker.
However, the Mail also point out that the Italian club may struggle to afford Lukaku. Still just 22, Everton are thought to be holding out for a £35m fee. They're not going to sell him for less than they paid.
Lukaku has been doing some strong flirting of his own, telling SportVoetball: "I want to win titles. I want to know how it feels to play in the big games. I'm 22, it's time to win trophies."
One thing's for sure: He's unlikely to win them at Everton.
AND THE REST
City are willing to listen to offers for Edin Dzeko this summer, although they will demand at least £25m for him...Chelsea warned Real Madrid off making a bid for Thibaut Courtois by demanding £73m for the Belgium goalkeeper...Manchester United have stepped up their chase for £25m-plus rated Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi...Steve McClaren will earn a £1m bonus if he leads Newcastle to their first trophy in 47 years...Tottenham have made the first moves to sign Burnley right-back Kieran Trippier, who has a £3.5m release clause in his contract...Yohan Cabaye looks sure to leave PSG and return to the Premier League, but will wait for offers before committing to a move to Crystal Palace.
Wolfsburg have offered Manchester City target Kevin De Bruyne a new contract worth up to £150,000 a week...Besiktas believe they are close to agreeing a deal for Glen Johnson, whose Liverpool contract expires this summer...Southampton have reportedly had a £12m bid for Sevilla's Grzegorz Krychowiak rejected - the defender is also a target for Arsenal and Manchester United...Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk has told the club he wants to quit the club, even if they qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.
Milan wait as Martinez nears move
Jackson Martinez's future is "pretty much decided", with AC Milan among those rivaling Arsenal for the Porto star's signature.
Jackson Martinez: On the move this summe
"Jackson's future is already pretty much decided," Luiz Henrique Pompeo told O Jogo.
"Things should be clarified in the next few days. He'll go to a big European club, which will be announced as soon as the contract is signed.
"From what's been agreed, Porto will receive the 35m euros from the release clause.
"Negotiations have been underway for a few weeks, there are still some details to be sorted out, and then Jackson Martinez's departure from Porto can become a reality."
AC Milan are among the clubs chasing the signature of the 28-year-old, who has scored 92 goals in 132 games for Porto, with Adriano Galliani having been in Portugal this week to discuss a possible transfer.
But the Milan vice-president admits his club have work to do if they are to persuade Martinez to join the Rossoneri.
"It's a difficult negotiation. There are several clubs interested in the player and his will be crucial," Galliani told La Stampa.
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