World Football Gossip Roundup: Drogba, Van Persie, Hazard, Aguero, Nilmar

Nice work, Didier. Now, where are you going to play next season?

Same for you, RvP. And you, Eden Hazard. It's time you guys made up your minds.

The season is all but over, but the transfer market is about to hit high gear. As the rumor mill logs overtime running in overdrive, we're bringing you all the latest rumors.

Today that means news on Didier Drogba, Robin van Persie and Eden Hazard, among others.

Keep reading for all the details.

What Now, Didier?

Didier Drogba turned in another big-game performance to remember on Saturday, scoring the late equalizer and converting the decisive penalty in Chelsea's Champions League final win over Bayern Munich.

The 34-year-old Ivorian is out of contract this summer, but after the match, he remained quiet about his future.

From Goal.com:

"

“I don't think we can take decisions at emotional moments like this. The most important thing is not my future, but the way we were fighting to win this cup – and the way the fans were supporting us, even when we conceded a goal.

I've been here eight years and always so close, and so far at the same time. But now the cup is going back to Stamford Bridge and it's the best feeling ever."

"

Drogba might not want to talk about his future, but fellow Ivorian Emmanuel Eboue reportedly has spoken to Drogba about joining Turkish club Galatasaray.

RvP Latest

The latest gossip in the Robin van Persie contract saga is that mega-money Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala are interested.

And they're not merely interested. They reportedly want to pay him £300,000 per week.

From the Sunday Mirror:

"

Guus Hiddink has been given a blank cheque to go and sign three world class stars for Anzhi.

And Hiddink has put Arsenal’s Robin van Persie on his shopping list.

Anzhi owner Suleyman Kerimov, one of the richest men in the world, has told Hiddink the best players can earn over £300,000 a-week net at his club. That’s over £15m a-year and it’s tax free.

"

Yes, but it's also Dagestan.

Hazard Latest (A Surprise!)

Well, apparently we have to forget what Eden Hazard said before about heading to Manchester and wearing blue.

OK, well, don't forget the part about wearing blue. See, the wishy-washy Belgian winger apparently wants to play for Chelsea now.

From The Daily Telegraph:

"

It is understood that they made a breakthrough in negotiations on Friday that could lead to Chelsea signing the highly-rated Belgian forward in a 35 million euro (£28.3 million) deal from Lille.

Both Manchester City and Manchester United are interested in signing the player but have been put off by the exorbitant demands being made by Hazard’s representatives.

"

"

Well-placed sources have revealed that he is asking for wages of £4.6million net, which means an annual outlay of about £9 million for a club. That is a weekly salary of roughly £170,000.

"

Well, then.

Real Madrid Targets

Real Madrid's annual summer spending spree is upon us, if the papers are correct.

First, there's a report linking Real to a £50-million move for Manchester City's Sergio Agüero.

Then, there are also reports of Los Blancos chasing Chelsea's Ramires and Tottenham's Luka Modric.

Falcao Staying Put?

Elsewhere in the Spanish capital, Colombian striker Radamel Falcao has not considered leaving Atletico Madrid.

So says Radamel Falcao, according to Goal.com:

"

"I know that [Atletico CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin] has said that it was important to enter the Champions League to keep the same group of players, but I am aware that I have four years left on my contract," Falcao told reporters in Colombia.

"These are decisions that the club officials have to make. I know that there are clubs interested in me, but I try to distance myself from that.

I am not thinking about changing clubs."

"

There you go. I'm sure we won't hear any more speculation about Falcao all summer.

Liverpool Cutting Costs?

After their disappointing season, Liverpool's owners are reportedly ready to cut costs this summer.

According to the Daily Mirror, part of that effort might include offloading Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez and Slovakian defender Martin Skrtel.

"

Liverpool face the prospect of losing Luis Suarez and Martin Skrtel as the club’s American owners look to introduce a new economic reality to Anfield.

Fenway Sports Group believe that an ­extended period of austerity is the only way to balance the books following Liverpool’s failure to qualify for the Champions League for a third successive season.

It means the transfer budget will be slashed – a move that won’t impress Suarez and Skrtel when they open talks about new contracts this summer.

Suarez has been targeted by Italian champions Juventus and their rivals AC Milan– and has admitted that he would like to experience life in Italy or Spain – while player-of-the-season Skrtel is wanted by Fiorentina.

Liverpool are planning to offer the pair – and defender Daniel Agger – new deals in a bid to block any foreign interest.

"

Barca After Nilmar?

Fresh off a second-place finish in Spain's La Liga, Barcelona are reportedly after Brazilian attacker Nilmar.

Nilmar, 27, recently suffered relegation with Villarreal.

From Goal.com:

"

The Brazil international arrived at the Yellow Submarine in 2009 for the sum of €16.5 million and has since scored only 26 goals in 85 matches in Primera Division.

Nilmar is reportedly among the top earners at El Madrigal at €95,000 per week, and following Villarreal's relegation to the Segunda it is believed that the club would like to cut their wage bill.

The Catalan giants are rumoured to be interested in acquiring the Brazilian, and it is speculated that the sum of €8m would be enough to persuade the Yellow Submarine to sell.

"

Sounds like good news for everyone.

United Seal Deal

Manchester United have signed 18-year-old forward Nick Powell from Crewe for £4 million.

The Daily Mail has the details:

"

Sir Alex Ferguson has sealed a £4million deal for England Under-18 international Nick Powell as he turns to young talent to secure Manchester United's future.

The manager struck a deal with League Two Crewe for the forward, who has scored 15 goals this season and will feature in next week's League Two play-off at Wembley.

"

PSG After Eto'o

Cameroon international forward Samuel Eto'o makes big bucks to play for a newly rich club.

Now, he's being linked with a big-money move to another newly rich club.

Goal.com explains:

"

Paris Saint-Germain are looking to acquire the services of 31-year-old Anzhi Makhachkala striker Samuel Eto'o, according to a report in L'Equipe.

The Cameroon international opted for a move to Russia last year, with former side Inter receiving the sum of €27 million from the Eastern European outfit as compensation for his services.

…

It is believed that the French capital outfit have added the name of Eto'o to the list and are prepared to sacrifice strengthening other areas of the team in order to come up with a tempting financial offer.

"

Coaching Carousel

As the season winds down, managers across the world are limbering up for their annual game of musical chairs.

Jupp Heynckes (currently in his third stint with Bayern Munich) thinks Roberto Di Matteo (formerly the manager of West Bromwich Albion) has done enough to earn the full-time Chelsea job.

"

“I congratulate Chelsea on their victory," said Heynckes. "If you wish me to say something about Roberto Di Matteo it is that Chelsea should give him a three-year contract."

"

Unfortunately for Di Matteo, Chelsea reportedly want Harry Redknapp (currently the manager of Tottenham Hotspur) instead. Or, on the other hand, they might want Fabio Capello (who is currently unemployed but most recently managed England, the job to which Redknapp was linked for most of the spring).

Next, the word is that Liverpool want Andre Villas-Boas (formerly the manager of Chelsea) to be their next manager.

Elsewhere, former Manchester United forward Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reportedly wants to manage Aston Villa, and West Bromwich Albion reportedly want to hire Birmingham (archrival of Aston Villa) boss Chris Hughton.

So, in another year, it'll be Solskjaer for England, Villas-Boas for West Brom, Capello for Aston Villa and Di Matteo for Bayern Munich—right?

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