UNITED TARGET MATT RITCHIEThe Daily Mail have gone big on the claim that Manchester United are targeting a move for Bournemouth’s Matt Ritchie as a means to solving their issues with a lack of pace.
After you get over the shock that they would be interested, it’s actually all very logical. The story claims that United have scouted Ritchie, which seems wholly appropriate given the extensive nature of their scouting network.
‘Ritchie may not be the name at the top of United’s list but he is one they have looked at and continue to monitor,’ is the Mail’s line. Again, which they absolutely should.
The Scotland international has scored twice and registered one assist in the Premier League this season.
LIVERPOOL HAVE SANE BID REJECTED
News from Germany now, and the claim in Bild newspaper that Liverpool have had a £10.5m bid for Schalke’s Leroy Sane rejected.
Sane is very much the new kid on the transfer rumour block, with both Arsenal and Manchester United also mentioned in hushed whispers. Sane is still only 19, with reports saying Louis van Gaal had made him his No. 1 target.
Sane was also included in the Daily Express’ ‘Top 20 Liverpool January transfer targets’ list, which is quite the honour. Only 20 players in 30 days?
ARSENAL AND UNITED IN FOR RUGANI
From Germany to Italy now. Don’t say we don’t treat you.
The Independent – via Tuttomercato newspaper, it must be confessed – claim that both Arsenal and Manchester United are interested in signing central defender Daniele Rugani from Juventus.
Juventus took up their option to buy out Empoli’s half of the co-ownership deal on Rugani in the summer, but have not given him a minute of league action since. He has remained on the bench for every Serie A match, perhaps not surprising with Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci ahead of him in the pecking order.
It must be said that there is no indication that Juventus wish to sell Rugani, nor much evidence that Arsenal or United want to buy. Can see why they’d like to, though.
AND THE REST
Juventus are considering making moves for Southampton’s Graziano Pelle and Chelsea’s Oscar… Jesse Lingard, 22, is poised to earn a £50,000 bonus following his England call-up… Chelsea are monitoring Edinson Cavani (yawn)… Aston Villa are interested in Charlie Austin… Barcelona could make a move for Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco.
ESSI HEADED TO ENGLAND. OR NOT.
Do you want the good news or the bad news first, Arsenal fans?
Well, Lionel Messi wants to join you. But he wants a weekly wage of £600,000 before tax, and has a buy-out clause in excess of £175million.
So says the Daily Star, whose EXCLUSIVE reveals that the Barcelona forward is open to a move to England due to his current ordeal with the tax authorities in Spain. Arsenal are thought to be his favoured club if he lands on these shores, but, you know, money. A lot of money. Too much money. No chance.
OZIL SET FOR NEW DEAL
Some better news for Arsenal fans without the kicker is that Mesut Ozil looks set to continue nicking a living at the club.
The Sunday Mirror’s Steve Stammers reports that Arsenal are ready to offer the lazy German a new deal in reward for his terrible performances this season, with his current contract set to expire in 2018. Plenty of time left then, but the Gunners are seemingly keen to extend the deal at least another year to 2019.
Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla have already extended their deals at the Emirates Stadium this season, and Stammers claims the club are keen to repeat that feat with both Ozil and Alexis Sanchez (who needs to stop losing the ball so much).
RONALDO COULD LEAVE REAL
Manchester United’s continued pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo is seen by some as rather ’embarrassing’, but it could well conclude with the Portuguese forward returning to Old Trafford.
That’s the conclusion from Pete Jenson of the Daily Mail, with the Spain-based journalist reporting that Ronaldo ‘will play his last home league Clasico next Saturday with his slow divorce from Real Madrid coming to an inevitable conclusion next May’.
Jenson claims that sources close to the club have claimed the relationship between Ronaldo and Real is near breaking point, with the club ‘snubbing’ the London premiere of his film last Monday. Ouch.
Other misdeeds on the Ronaldo charge sheet include publicly backing Carlo Ancelotti before his sacking earlier this summer, his relationship with new manager Rafael Benitez, and Real’s desire to ‘rebuild’ their squad with the windfall generated from a Ronaldo sale. While they have shown public displeasure at Ronaldo’s non-committal stance regarding his future, they are secretly hopeful of selling Ronaldo for close to the £80million they signed him for from United back in 2009.
The Sun adds that United and Chelsea are the favourites to sign the 30-year-old. Of course.
FALCAO ON HIS WAY OUT
More good news for Chelsea now: Radamel Falcao could be leaving.
John Cross of the Daily Mirror claims Chelsea are keen to terminate Falcao’s loan deal in order to allow the Colombian to take his hefty wages over to La Liga side Valencia. Reports claimed on Sunday that in January, with Costa the other on his way out.
Falcao has scored just one goal in 11 appearances for Jose Mourinho’s side so far this season, meaning his record in England stands at five goals in 40 appearances over two seasons. It hasn’t worked.
AND THE REST
Manchester United scouts have been keeping tabs on Leeds United starlet Lewis Cook…West Brom’s Saido Berahino and QPR’s Charlie Austin are among the players interesting Newcastle boss Steve McClaren…New Blackburn manager Paul Lambert will not be forced to sell star striker Jordan Rhodes.
ZIDANE MAKING EYES AT HAZARD
It’s starting to feel inevitable that Eden Hazard will end up at Real Madrid (unless, perhaps Jose Mourinho ends up there first), with -Real legend and reserve team coach Zinedine Zidane declaring his love for the Belgian once again.
“After Messi and Ronaldo, Hazard is my favourite player,” said Zidane.
“I love watching him because he is a player who creates things and it is often spectacular to see him play. Do I see him going to Real Madrid ? Ask someone else. I love the player and that’s all.”
MAN UNITED MOVE FOR FEGHOULI
Obviously Ronaldo is still on his way, but Valencia winger Sofiane Feghouli could sign a January pre-contract agreement with Manchester United, according to Corriere dello Sport. What an Italian newspaper would know about an Algerian player at a Spanish club moving to England is a mystery, but let’s suspend disbelief for a second.
Feghouli is a 25-year-old winger who has scored one goal and registered no assists so far this season, so excuse us if we don’t see the massive rush for his signature – even if he is available on a free. Tottenham and Inter Milan are said to also be interested.
AND THE REST
Bournemouth have been alerted to the possibility of a loan move for former Manchester City and Southampton forward Bradley Wright-Phillips…West Ham and Watford are tracking Roma’s Ivory Coast striker Seydou Doumba…Blackburn are aiming to name Paul Lambert as their new manager by the end of the weekend…Charlton and Wolves are among the Championship clubs showing interest in Newcastle forward Yoan Gouffran.
Date published: Friday 13th November 2015 9:35
‘Chelsea have been made the surprising favourites to complete the transfer of Manchester United star Wayne Rooney,’ report the Metro. It’s based on odds from Sky Bet, which put the Blues at 7/1 favourites to sign Rooney before September ahead of PSG, Everton, Arsenal and Spurs. That selection of teams alone says enough.
In the final paragraph of the story, the Metro add: ‘While Chelsea’s odds are impressive, it’s worth noting that the most likely outcome is for Rooney to stay at United at 1/5.’
That’s surely worth a little more than an aside to an absolutely terrible story based on ridiculous odds with no semblance of credibility whatsoever.
REAL BACK IN FOR DE GEA
Is it that time already?
The Sun are reporting that Real Madrid are ready to renew their interest in Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea next summer. Of course they bloody do. The Sun also report that De Gea has a £30million release clause in the new Old Trafford contract he signed in September. Of course he bloody does.
Just last month, De Gea discussed the circumstances which saw his move to Los Blancos break down on the final day of the Spanish transfer window, saying: “Nobody let me down or disappointed me – these are things that happen. You must look forward, and I am very happy now.”
With Keylor Navas also in fine form for Rafael Benitez’s side – he has conceded three goals in 13 games in all competitions so far this season and is reportedly in line for a new contract himself – the deal looks less of a certainty than it did earlier this summer.
RONALDO IN LINE FOR UNITED RETURN
It’s a very Manchester Unitedy gossip on Friday (many apologies), and next up is the annual Cristiano Ronaldo to return to Old Trafford line. Is it one of the most boring transfer sagas of all time?
It’s The Sun again, and they claim that the Red Devils are confident they can land Ronaldo ahead of Chelsea (another ridiculous rumour) due to the Portuguese’s ’emotional attachment’ to the club. Yawn.
Basically, Ronaldo is the girl a couple of years above United at school, and the two used to date many years ago. They broke up fairly amicably, even despite the fact that Ronaldo was clearly cheating on United with an older boy, Real Madrid. But she knows that she can flutter his eyelashes at United and they will come running. It’s an ego boost for Ronaldo to know she’s wanted, and an ego boost for United to think she wants them back. The likelihood of the relationship actually being rekindled is slim.
AND THE REST
West Ham are tracking Sporting Lisbon’s Algerian striker Islam Slimani – but may have to fight off Tottenham, who are keen on the star…Steve McClaren has told midfielder Siem de Jong to forget about a return to the Netherlands…Jose Mourinho is weighing up a deal for Paris Saint-Germain full-back Gregory van der Wiel…Tottenham, Stoke City and Charlton are battling for the signature of highly-prized Ebbsfleet winger Shilow Tracey…Bournemouth have been alerted to the possibility of a loan move for free-scoring New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips…Branislav Ivanovic will ‘probably’ sign a new contract at Chelsea, according to his agent…Manchester United have made Southampton attacker Sadio Mane their primary transfer target in January…Samir Nasri, who has struggled for appearances this season due to competition for places and injury problems, could leave Manchester City…Derby are planning to sign Blackburn left-back Marcus Olsson on loan, with a view to a £1million deal in January.
Date published: Tuesday 17th November 2015 12:58
It’s oh so quiet. Ssssh. Ssssh.“Although the midfielder has always refused to speak about a possible transfer, it did not prevent his coach Alex McLeish from criticising him publicly” – French newspaper L’Equipe on Moussa Sissoko.
We’ll ignore the McLeish-McClaren gaffe and instead focus on the claim that Sissoko refuses to speak about transfers, for that is where the real guff lies.
The following must therefore come from a different Moussa Sissoko:
“There are always a lot of rumours. I don’t pay much attention to them. I have an agent who looks after that. If something is to happen, it’ll happen. I’m ambitious. My aim is to play in the best clubs, play the Champions League, win trophies. There haven’t been any offers, so I’ll be at Newcastle until the end of the season. After that, we’ll see” – December 2014.
“The transfer market is open, so things can happen any day, but I am focused on Newcastle. If anything should happen, it will. I hope I’ll leave for a bigger club one day, but I don’t know when. England is my priority. If [Arsène] Wenger calls, I’ll have a man-to-man discussion with him and then we’ll see. Arsenal has always been the club of my heart” – January 2015.
“Look at those who play in my position: Blaise Matudi who did extraordinary things for PSG, Paul Pogba who is wonderful for Juventus, Yohan Cabaye who has just signed for Crystal Palace … Compared to me, they all play in big clubs. It could have been a good time to leave. There were discussions with Newcastle, but they were against me leaving.” – September 2015.
He mentioned it once, but he thinks he got away with it.
Loggerheads
‘Man United boss Louis van Gaal and Roy Hodgson at loggerheads over Jesse Lingard’s England call-up,’ reads the headline on the Mirror Football website.
Quotes from Hodgson on Van Gaal’s comments regarding Jesse Lingard’s call-up: “I don’t think he was wrong to say that. Under normal circumstances, we wouldn’t have been considering Lingard, even though he’s a very interesting player. He gave his blessing without any problem. It would be unfair pushing that back on him.”
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Sliding scale
Mediawatch isn’t saying the Daily Mail don’t believe that Manchester United will sign Matt Ritchie, but they do rather run of out steam as their story progresses:
‘Manchester United eyeing up shock move for Bournemouth star Matt Ritchie as Louis van Gaal looks to add pace to his attack.’Wow, big news.
‘Matt Ritchie is being watched by Manchester United but no formal approach has yet been made.’Ok, but still, it’s coming.
‘Bournemouth winger Matt Ritchie is among Manchester United’s list of January transfer targets.’But they’re still ‘eyeing a move’, right?
‘Ritchie may not be the name at the top of United’s list but he is one they have looked at.’Are they buying them all, then?
Summary: Nobody has a clue
Mediawatch enjoyed a little chuckle on Monday at four different papers attempting to predict how England will line up against France on Tuesday. Some predicted Dele Alli to start in attacking midfield behind Wayne Rooney, others thought Rooney would reprise his role behind the central striker Harry Kane, and the rest felt Rooney and Kane would start together up front. Tuesday is no different.
The Daily Mail, Daily Express, Guardian and Independent all believe England will start with a 4-3-3 formation, with Rooney the central striker, Kane on the left-hand side and Alli on the right-side of a midfield three.
The Sun also believe England will field a 4-3-3 formation, but with Kane on the right-hand side and Alli on the left of the midfield.
The rest go rogue. The Times predict a 4-3-2-1 formation, the Daily Star feel it will be a 4-2-3-1 with Alli in attacking midfield and Rooney the central striker, and the Daily Telegraph claim it will be a 4-1-2-1-2 formation. Funky.
Basically, it’s anyone’s guess.
“Like a young Burt Reynolds”
‘Gareth Bale ‘closer than ever’ to completing stunning Man United transfer’ – Daily Star website, November 17.
‘Man United boss Louis van Gaal to make stunning raid for Germany striker in January’ – Daily Star website, November 17.
‘Chelsea News: Stunning January exit, Blues to beat Man Utd to Ancelotti, defender signs’ – Daily Star website, November 17.
‘Transfer News: Liverpool thump Arsenal, Man United eye Argentine enforcer, Chelsea stunned’ – Daily Star website, November 17.
‘Liverpool News: Stunning Man United raid, Napoli contract talks, Spurs plot Brazilian deal’ – Daily Star website, November 17.
‘Stunned’ five times on the same morning? Mediawatch assumed one would get desensitised to the surprise element of such bulls**t after a while.
Through the filter
“Footballers go through stages when things don’t go well, it might be a few months, look at Iniesta last season,” said former Barcelona midfielder Xavi. “People were critical him; they said he wasn’t the same player. What happened in the Champions League final, the biggest game? He was fantastic.”
Put that through the Metro’s filter of hyperbole and what do you get? ‘Global icon compares Man United star with sensational World Cup winner,’ that’s what.
The glorious return of ace-watch
‘In-demand ace told by father and agent to snub club’s new deal as Arsenal eye January bid’ – Daily Star.
It’s Josh Windass of Accrington Stanley.
Shameless
‘Matt Ritchie is being watched by Manchester United but no formal approach has yet been made,’ reads the first line of the aforementioned story on MailOnline.
Look three inches above to see the following URL: Manchester-United-make-formal-approach-Bournemouth-star-Matt-Ritchie
Naughty.
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