By Alan Duffy
Transfer Balls: Rounding up the day’s football tittle-tattle so you don’t have to…
Depay the man!
Reports from Dutch outlet Voetbal International claim that Memphis Depay’s seemingly inevitable move to Old Trafford moved a step closer with the much-coveted Dutch attacker and his agent Kees Ploegsma holding “secret talks” with the Red Devils on his day off.
Louis van Gaal is desperate to sign the Dutch international with a fee of £25million touted for the star of PSV’s 2014/15 Eredivisie triumph. Given that it just won’t go away, this one looks increasingly like it’s going to happen!
Likelihood rating:
/5
Chelsea fancy a bit of Falcao
He may not have set the world alight at Old Trafford, but Radamel Falcao is still a man in demand. Metro reports that none other than Chelsea are hoping to beat Liverpool to the Colombian’s signature this summer, with a knock-down fee of £25.1million touted.
The 29-year-old is set to go back to Monaco when his Manchester United loan deal expires, but Jose Mourinho is keen to bring the injury-prone hitman to Stamford Bridge, where he’ll no doubt turn him into a combative box-to-box midfielder (or the new Fernando Torres).
Likelihood rating: /5
Arsenal back in for Carvalho
Despite the surprise success of Francis Coquelin, the Telegraph reports that Arsenal in talks to finally sign Sporting Lisbon destroyer William Carvalho for £21.5million. The Gunners had been linked to the 23-year-old defensive midfielder last summer, but were put off by a £30million price tag.
Likelihood rating: /5
How to Illarramendi broken heart
Liverpool’s much-need summer rebuilding may include the purchase of Real Madrid forgotten man Asier Illarramendi. According to the Metro, the defensive midfielder, who has struggled to secure a regular starting berth at the Bernebeu since his big money move from Real Sociedad, is keen for a move to the Premier League.
While Arsenal were thought to be interested in the 25-year-old, it now seems that Brendan Rodgers is ready to meet the £23million asking price.
Likelihood rating: /5
Tottenham on the Thauvin trail
Another team needing an overhaul in the summer is Tottenham, and according the Express, Mauricio Pochettino is keen on bringing Marseille’s gifted winger Florian Thauvin to White Hart Lane. The wideman has played a key role in the L’OM’s impressive Ligue 1 campaign and would surely be an upgrade on the likes of Eric Lamela and Nacer Chadli.
Likelihood rating:/5
Chicharito going under the hammer(s)
Fresh from his match-winning goal against Atletico Madrid in midweek, Javier Hernandez is now apparently the object of Sam Allardyce’s affection according to the Daily Mail, with the West Ham boss ready to splash out the £7million asking fee for the ‘Little Pea’.
Hernandez has struggled to make an impact at the Bernebeu this season (despite that goal the other night) and is also deemed surplus to requirements by parent club Manchester United.
Likelihood rating:/5
The best/worst of the rest:
Liverpool are in for Inter Milan playmaker Mateo Kovacic with Lucas Leiva to be used as a sweetener.
Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood is readying a move for Hull midfielder Jake Livermore this summer.
Man Utd are supposedly once again eyeing up veteran Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder.