By Alan Duffy
Transfer Balls: Rounding up the day’s football tittle-tattle so you don’t have to…
Harry Headed For Old Trafford
The Times brings us a nice juicy rumour concerning Spurs goal-machine Harry Kane. According to the newspapers’ people ‘in the know’, Manchester United are preparing a whopping £40million move for the England man.
The PFA Young Player of the Year has had an incredible goal-filled season and Louis van Gaal wants the striker to beef up his attack after the 2015/16 campaign. This one does look plausible.
Likelihood rating:
/5
RVP And ADM Headed For Man Utd Exit
Staying with the Red Devils, the Mirror claims that the club want to sell both Angel Di Maria and Robin van Persie ahead of their big money move for Gareth Bale. £60million Argentine attacker Angel Di Maria hasn’t quite had the impact Louis van Gaal would’ve wanted and is linked with a move to Parisian moneybags PSG. As for Van Persie, the 31-year-old Dutchman has just 12 months left on his current deal and after enduring a season hampered by injuries, United are now ready to cash in on the former Gunner.
Bale and Kane at Old Trafford next season? Sounds tasty, if maybe not very likely.
Likelihood rating:/5
Gunners Cech Up On Blues ‘Keeper
The Telegraph, via Czech radio station Radio Praha, tell us that Petr Cech is edging closer to move to Arsenal. The Chelsea ‘keeper is looking for a move away from Stamford Bridge, with Thibaut Courtois now very much Jose Mourinho’s no.1. The Blues’ boss would rather not sell Cech to a Premier League rival but with the Gunners willing to stump up £10million for the 32-year-old, a deal may now happen.
While David Ospina has impressed for the Gunners this season, questions remain over whether the Colombian has the presence needed for a title-chasing side, something the experienced Cech definitely possesses.
Likelihood rating:/5
Wenger Lines Up Leno
However, while the Telegraph talk up Petr Cech’s move to the Emirates, the Metro (via the Mail) have linked the Gunners with a move for Bayer Leverkusen glovesman Bernd Leno. The 23-year-old has caught the eye of a number of European clubs with his displays in the Bundesliga this season and with a £13million release clause in the contract, he’d be available for a very reasonable price.
Maybe Wenger will bring in Cech and Leno in a total overhaul of the Gunners goalkeeping staff? Probably not!
Likelihood rating:/5
Foxes Chase
With their Premier League survival all but rubber-stamped, Leicester City are already looking ahead to next season’s top-tier campaign. According to the Telegraph, Nigel Pearson is keen to pick up Mainz attacker Shinji Okazaki in an £8million deal. The Foxes tried to buy the Japanese international in January but failed to prize the 29-year-old away from the Bundesliga. However, now the Premier League side are confident of getting their man.
The forward has bagged 14 goals in 31 games for Mainz this season and would give the Foxes an extra goal-threat in 2015/16. Expect this one to finally happen.
Likelihood rating:/5
The best/worst of the rest:
Nathaniel Clyne may now be staying at Southampton, rather than moving to Man Utd, Liverpool want Koln ‘keeper Timo Horn and Leicester want to sign Robert Huth on a permanent deal.