By Alan Duffy
Transfer Balls: Rounding up the day’s football tittle-tattle so you don’t have to…
Sterling Going South
The Mail, cleverly combining its property and sports sections, reports that Raheem Sterling has put his Liverpool house on the market, and is now looking for a new abode in that London. That (possibly) implies that the fleet-youngster is heading for Chelsea or Arsenal (maybe Leyton Orient?) with Sterling already turning down a £90,000 new deal for the Reds.
Manchester City are also keeping an eye on the winger but it may well come to pass that the 20-year-old will be living it up in the capital come the start of the 2015/16 season. But for which club, the mystery remains. It’ll be Chelsea, won’t it?
City Slickers Open Pogba Talks
The Independent add more fuel to the Paul Pogba to Man City chatter by claiming that the Etihad big-wigs have already opened talks with Juventus for the £70million-rated all-action midfielder. The paper then goes on to quote Pogba’s team-mate Andrea Pirlo, who says that the Frenchman will never return to Manchester United, whatever happens. City are apparently willing to thrown in any one from Yaya Touré, Edin Dzeko, Samir Nasri, Stevan Jovetic and Aleksandar Kolarov to a deal for Pogba. Maybe all of them together would do the trick?
Expect this mega-rumour to rumble on for forseeable future.
Wenger Vies For Virgil
Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk is eager for a move away from the Scottish Premiership, with the Daily Star linking the Dutchman with a move to Arsenal. The centre-half has impressed with the Bhoys since his move from Groningen in 2013. However, the £10million-rated star now wants to test himself at a higher level.
Still, with Arsene Wenger recently claiming he is happy with his quarter of centre-halves (Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gabriel and Chambers) this one looks unlikely. A move to the likes of Southampton or Tottenham looks a more realistic outcome here.
Red Devils Robin Not So Reliant
The Guardian reports that Manchester United are pondering selling Robin Van Persie this summer, with a number of top clubs sure to be interested in the Dutch striker. The former Arsenal man has struggled with injuries this season and has only scored twice since the turn of the year. With Memphis Depay adding to Louis van Gaal’s attacking options, Van Persie, who will be 32 in August, may well find himself surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.
Despite his advancing years, expect a long line of clubs to be queuing up for his services, with a lucrative move to MLS surely a possibility.
Berahino Headed For Baggies Exit
Saido Berahino has enjoyed a superb campaign with West Bromwich Albion and according to the Express & Star, the striker could be rewarded for his form with a big-money move to Manchester City. The forward has netted 18 goals this season for the Baggies and the club are eager to extend his current deal, which runs until 2017. However, if City throw down a big wad of cash for the England U21 man, there is little Tony Pulis & co. can do.
A number of other Premier League side are also sniffing ’round Berahino, but with the Citizens eager to add some youth to their ranks, the 21-year-old would be a decent signing.
The best/worst of the rest:
Aston Villa are eyeing a move for Brentford ‘keeper David Button, Chelsea want Brazilian wunderkind Robert Kenedy (yes, really) and West Brom are preparing a bid for Nottingham Forest winger Michail Antonio.