Transfer Balls: Man Utd Gunning For Gundogan, PSG Chew Over Cech Bid, Barkley Told To Forget Everton Exit

Alan Duffy

25th, April 2015

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By Alan Duffy

Transfer Balls: Rounding up the day’s football tittle-tattle so you don’t have to…

Man Utd Gunning For Gundogan

According to those mysterious Sky sources, Manchester United are edging ever closer to securing the signature of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan. This deal has been on the cards for some time, with the German international out of contract at the Westfalenstadion at the end of next season.

With Louis van Gaal eager to bolster his midfield, particularly with Michael Carrick well into the autumn of his career, the passing and tackling skills of the 24-year-old Gundogan would compliment the likes of Ander Herrera in the Red Devils’ engine room. The Daily Star puts the transfer fee at £15million, but the Daily Mail thinks it’ll be a bit higher, at £20.5million.

Whatever the fee, expect this one to actually happen, fo’ real.

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PSG Cech Themselves Before They Wreck Themselves

Parisian giants PSG are ready to usurp both Arsenal and Liverpool in their quest to land Chelsea outcast Petr Cech, according to the Mirror, that is. The Blues’ No.2 ain’t seeing a lot of action, with whippersnapper Thibaut Courtois nailing down the No. 1 spot, and the Czech Republic glovesman is now eager to move on.

While both Arsenal and Liverpool have been eyeing up the 32-year-old, Laurent Blanc’s PSG now seem in pole position to land the ‘keeper. Indeed, Jose Mourinho is reportedly planning a bid for Fulham youngster Marco Bettinelli as a replacement for the experienced Cech.

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Barry Tells Barkley To Stay A Toffee

England youngster Ross Barkley is one of the country’s best prospects with Manchester City, amongst others, sniffing ’round the gifted midfielder. However, despite all the interest in the 21-year-old, Barkley’s team-mate Gareth Barry has implored the youngster to stay put. In the Guardian, Barry suggests Barkley is too raw to move to the likes of City, saying:

“I think Ross is too young to make that move. Everton is better for his development. He’s still learning the game.

“He’s got the right manager here to push him to the next level. As soon as he reaches that next level, then there’s another decision to be made.”

Still despite Barry’s protestations, the Citizens are still likely to launch a big-money bid for Barkley this summer, as the Mancunians look to revitalise an ageing squad.

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De Gea Is The Real Deal

In a bid to see off the advances of Real Madrid, Manchester United have offered goalkeeper David De Gea a bumper deal worth £200,000 a week, according to the Daily Star, amongst others. The 24-year-old has been one of the star’s of Louis Van Gaal’s revitalised Red Devils and, not surprisingly, his form has caught the attention of some of Europe’s other big guns.

De Gea joined United from Atletico Madrid n 2012 for £17.8million in 2012 but it would take an astronomical bid to prize the glovesman away from Old Trafford. Still, the ‘keeper’s future with United is far from certain at this stage.

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The best/worst of the rest:

On a rather slow day for decent transfer rumours, the Hull Daily Mail expects the likes of Abel Hernandez and Jake Livermore to be shipped out by Steve Bruce this summer.

The Independent says that Derby boss Steve McClaren could move to Newcastle United at the end of the current season.

The Daily Mail tells us that Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew is ready to spend big in the summer, with star performer Yannick Bolasie possibly leaving Selhurst Park for big money.