Transfer Balls: Man City Stay Fixed On Pogba, Liverpool Fancy Firmino, Swansea Bid For Babel

Alan Duffy

17th, June 2015

1 Comment

By Alan Duffy

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

Citizens Pursue Pogba

The Mirror tell us that Manchester City are now battling it out with Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSG for Paul Pogba’s signature. The Juventus man is the apple of all four European giants eyes, with £60million rumoured to be enough to nab the 22-year-old midfield powerhouse. Barca look to be in the driving seat, even though they are still serving a transfer ban (which says it all, really), leaving the Citizens with a lot of work to do if they are to lure the French superstar to the Etihad.

A perfect replacement for the ageing Yaya Touré, Pogba would fit in nicely at City, Then again, he’d fit in nicely at any other club. My money’s still on Barca, though.

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Reds Fancy Firmino

According to the Star (via Brazilian outlet Globoesporte), Liverpool entered the chase for schemer Roberto Firmino. The £20million-rated Hoffenheim midfielder has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United, but now Brendan Rodgers has apparently thrown his hat into the ring.

The 23-year-old Brazilian has enjoyed a good season in the Bundesliga but now looks headed for the Premier League. But which club shall he join? He’ll probably stay at Hoffenheim, won’t he?!

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Toffees and Magpies Target Elmohamady

Both Everton and Newcastle United are keen on Hull City wing-back Ahmed Elmohamady, according to the Mirror. The Egyptian international has been rather under-rated in recent seasons in my opinion, but his swashbuckling wing play has not gone unnoticed, with both Roberto Martinez and new MAgpies’ boss Steve McClaren eager to sign the 28-year-old.

Available for around £10million, Elmohamady is still wanted by Hull but the lure of top-tier football may prove too much for the dependable African. Expect a return to the Premier League this summer.

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Swans Bid For Babel

The Mail tells us that ex-Liverpool winger Ryan Babel could be set for a return to the Premier League. The 28-year-old is apparently wanted by Swansea City, and with the Dutchman’s proposed move from Kasimpasa to Besitkas hitting the buffers, a return to Blighty could well be on the cards.

The pacy attacker netted 22 goals in 146 appearances for the Reds between 2007 and 2011 and would provide Garry Monk with a bit of experience on the flanks.

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Ba Headed Back To Boleyn Ground

Both West Ham and West Brom are chasing the signature of Senegal striker Demba Ba, according to the Times. The ex-Newcastle and Chelsea hitman is unsettled at Besitkas with a disagreement over money likely to cut short his time in Turkey.

Ba made 13 appearances for the Hammers in 2010/11, bagging seven goals in the process, while he has also worked with new West Ham boss Slaven Bilic at Besitkas. All that makes a move to the Boleyn Ground rather than the Hawthorns look a little more likely. But what do I know* (*very, very little).

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The best/worst of the rest:

Wigan’s Irish winger James McClean looks set for a move to West Brom, Southampton want Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson as a replacement for Nathaniel Clyne and Turkish giants Galatasaray want German Gunners Lukas Podolski.