World Football Gossip Roundup: Van Persie Latest, Ibrahimovic, Llorente, Cardozo

The Robin van Persie contract saga slogs on, and here at the B/R World Football Gossip Roundup, we're just along for the ride.

But RvP isn't the only big-name player in the news today. Manchester "Stupid Money" City are after Fernando Llorente and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, if the papers are right.

And Yaya Toure, meanwhile, is playing coy with regard to his future.

Meanwhile, there's plenty of news on Liverpool's search for a new boss. All that and more inside.

RvP Latest

Another day brings more news on the Robin van Persie contract saga.

Reports out of North London suggest the Dutch striker's first round of negotiations with Arsenal have stalled. In related news, Gooners are hastily throwing together candlelight vigils across the world.

From ESPN Soccernet:

"

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger failed to come to a resolution with striker Robin van Persie about his future after face-to-face talks on Wednesday, according to widespread reports in the English media.

…

Wenger reportedly told his striker that the recent signing of Lukas Podolski - along with further summer acquisitions - should put the club in a far better position to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League next season, but this seemingly could not convince the former Feyenoord man to commit his future to the club.

Money could ultimately be crucial to keeping Van Persie. The Arsenal captain has reportedly been offered around £130,000-a-week to stay at the club, but it remains to be seen if that is enough to persuade him not to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri and head for pastures new in search of trophies.

"

Meanwhile, Manchester United are reportedly ready to swoop for RvP's signature, according to the Daily Mirror.

Mad-Money Man City

More news to report on Manchester City's "stupid money."

The Blues reportedly want Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente and are willing to pay his club €36 million.

Elsewhere, The Sun reports that City want to bring AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the Etihad Stadium and pay him £300,000 per week.

Meanwhile, Nigel De Jong and Aleksandar Kolarov could be on their way out of the club, according to Goal.com.

Gotta pay the bills somehow, I reckon.

Cardozo to England?

In other Iberian transfer gossip, Benfica's Oscar Cardozo has reportedly been told he can leave Benfica this summer.

The details are at talkSPORT:

"

The striker has scored more than 100 goals for Benfica since joining the club five years ago, but the Paraguayan has allegedly been told he is free to leave as they look to cut their wage bill.

With Chelsea and Everton both credited with an interest in Cardozo, competition is likely to be fierce, although a price tag of £12m may be too much for David Moyes' side.

And there is also interest from Russia, with CSKA Moscow and Rubin Kazan also readying bids for the 28-year-old.

"

When did Everton start competing with Chelsea for players?

Yaya Coy

Yaya Toure is playing coy over widespread rumors that are linking him with Spanish mega-club Real Madrid.

From Goal.com:

"

Though the Ivorian has publicly stated that he is happy at the Etihad Stadium, his agent has claimed that his client wants “new challenges” after City wrapped up the Premier League title and the player himself has mentioned a desire to one day return to former side Barcelona.

When asked about interest from Madrid by Catalan radio station RAC1, Toure remained tight-lipped.

“I cannot say anything about that," he said. "We have to wait and see what happens. [Coach Jose] Mourinho has not called me.

“I have hunger to continue and be better."

"

Sure you do, Yaya. But where?

Nani and Owen Out?

In the red half of Manchester, it appears two big-name players could be leaving United.

According to The Sun, United will listen to offers for Nani if the Portuguese winger declines a new contract. Nani's current deal runs for 18 more months.

And according to Goal.com, which cites the player's Twitter account, Michael Owen will leave United this summer.

If you're interested, you can read Owen's four-part tweet here, here, here and here.

Liverpool Candidates

Liverpool sacked their iconic manager Kenny Dalglish on Wednesday. Before the day was over, the rumor mill started churning out names to replace him.

According to The Guardian, the candidates to replace Dalglish are former Chelsea manger Andre Villas-Boas, Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp and Marseille's Didier Deschamps.

At The Independent, Ian Herbert writes that Liverpool's owners made contact with Villas-Boas in the last two weeks—before Dalglish was fired—and that AVB is interested.

And according to The Sun, Swansea's Brendan Rodgers is Liverpool's man.

Done Deals

A few done deals to report today.

AC Milan have signed Riccardo Montolivo (pictured) from Fiorentina and Bakaye Traore from Nancy. Both players moved on free transfers.

Bayern Munich, meanwhile, have signed goalkeeper Tom Starke from Hoffenheim to replace the retiring Hans-Jorg Butt as Manuel Neuer's backup.

Relegation Appeal

Hertha Berlin were relegated from the Bundesliga this season after losing a playoff with Fortuna Dusseldorf.

But after a pitch invasion marred the final moments of the second leg, Hertha decided to appeal.

From ESPN Soccernet:

"

"After analysing the situation, we have reached a clear decision that a regular procedure of the game was no longer possible in these conditions," Hertha's director of sport Michael Preetz said. "We have therefore appointed our solicitor Christoph Schickhardt to officially appeal the result within the necessary deadline."

Following the resumption of play, referee Wolfgang Stark blew the final whistle slightly earlier than scheduled, and Schickhardt feels Hertha have a good chance of having the game replayed.

"In the DFB regulations, it clearly states that a game which takes place in such circumstances must not be given an official result," he said on the club's website. "That necessarily leads to this result being annulled."

Fortuna have cancelled their planned promotion celebrations this weekend.

"

Ruddy's Getting Married

Today's gossip roundup concludes with a bit of heartwarming news.

Norwich and England keeper John Ruddy is getting married, and despite the fact that the national team's schedule presents a conflict, he'll be allowed to leave the squad for the ceremony.

From The Daily Telegraph:

"

Ruddy was one of the surprise inclusions in Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad for this summer's European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

The 25 year-old will link up with the England squad for their preparation matches away against Norway on May 26 and Belgium on June 2 at Wembley.

But the FA have given Ruddy special dispensation to miss the Belgium game so he can marry his partner, Laura.

"I'm absolutely delighted and so grateful to the Football Association for agreeing to let me go ahead and get married," Ruddy said.

"It would have been a nightmare after one and a half years of planning to have to postpone the wedding so it's a major relief that we can still go ahead."

"

Best wishes to the happy couple.

 

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