By Alan Duffy
Transfer Balls: Rounding up the day’s football tittle-tattle so you don’t have to…
Citizens Set On Securing Sterling
Raheem Sterling could well be leaving Liverpool this summer, according to the Mirror, with Manchester City confident of securing the services of the £55million rated attacker.
Having famously turned down the Reds’ offer of a new contract worth £100,000 a week, Sterling is now in the sights of City chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain. With the Citizens looking for an injection of young English talent, this one could well be more than just a rumour.
/5Handanovic Eyed By Red Devils
With David De Gea’s future at Old Trafford still not sorted out, rumours will continue to haunt the Theatre of Dreams. The latest tale of goalkeeping comings and goings come to you courtesy of the Mail, who report that Louis Van Gaal is keeping tabs on Inter Milan glovesman Samir Handanovic.
The 30-year-old Slovenian has just a year left on his current deal with the Nerazzurri but may be tempted by a move to the Premier League, if De Gea does indeed move to the Bernebeu. All a bit speculative, this one. And anyway, surely Victor Valdes deserves a chance if De Gea departs?
Likelihood rating:/5
Barca Back For Herrera And Bellerin
Back to the Mirror again, who this time claim that Barcelona are ready to move for both Man Utd midfielder Ander Herrera and Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin next January.
The Catalan giants will see their transfer embargo lifted at the start of 2016 and they are already deciding on their targets. Herrera has been in impressive form for the Red Devils since moving from Ahtletico Bilbao last summer while ex-Barca youngster Bellerin has been a fleet-footed revelation for the Gunners. One wonders if the right-back has ‘Barcelona DNA’? File these rumours as (who ate all the) pie-in-the-sky.
Likelihood rating:/5
Swans Swoop For ‘New Thierry Henry’
According to the Star, Garry Monk is planning a summer move for Bordeaux attacker Henri Saivet. The Senegalese wideman has been likened to Thierry Henry due to his power and pace. However, he is yet to find the back of the net for Les Girondins this season.
Still, along with Swansea, the likes of Bournemouth, Sunderland and Southampton are thought to be sniffing ’round the forward.
Likelihood rating:/5
Pardew Going For Glen
Staying with the Star, the newspaper is reporting that Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew is keen to bring Liverpool’s Glen Johnson to Selhurst Park. The England full-back is expected to leave Anfield in the summer and Pards is keen to make the most of Johnson’s experience.
West Ham are also thought to be keen on the 30-year-old, but the Eagles are apparently in the driving seat for a player who surely still has a lot to offer in the top-tier.
Likelihood rating:/5
The best/worst of the rest:
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has ruled out selling Jack Wilshere to Man City, Southampton are close to deal for Molde ‘keeper Orjan Nyland while Papiss Cissé is set for a move to the Middle-East.