B/R Gossip Roundup: No Pirlo Party for Galaxy, Interest in Barcelona Star Piqued
We are still three months away from the opening of the January transfer window, but that has not prevented speculation and rumours continuing this week.
Joe Hart, Ross Barkley and Andy Carroll are among the Premier League players to have been linked with moves to rival clubs in the English top flight.
Andrea Pirlo is also interesting a high-profile Major League Soccer club, while Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has been linked with a return to Manchester United.
But which moves are plausible? Let's take a closer look at the transfer gossip from this week.
Manchester City Will Need to Dig Deep to Sign Ross Barkley
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Ross Barkley might have signed a new four-year deal with Everton in July, but that has not stopped the transfer speculation swirling around him once more this week.
Jamie Jackson of The Guardian was among a number of reporters to claim that Manchester City are preparing a summer transfer move for the England international.
According to Jackson, the Etihad Stadium club view Barkley as a possible way around Financial Fair Play rules laid down by UEFA as a home-grown player who could enter the first team immediately after signing.
The 20-year-old is valued at around £30 million by City, although it is unlikely Everton would be willing to sell in any case.
Barkley rose to prominence last season after being handed a run in the first team by manager Roberto Martinez.
His performances for the Toffees also saw him earn a call-up to the England World Cup squad, and he featured in all three of the Three Lions' matches at the tournament.
Jackson claims that City made enquiries for the midfielder in the summer but were put off by the Merseysiders' £50 million valuation.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini will be aware his current squad is at a peak age. With Yaya Toure now aged 31, the need to look to the future in midfield is becoming more important.
But his chances of landing Barkley will depend on Everton's willingness to sell and the player's own wishes.
Believability Meter: Low
The number of newspapers reporting this transfer link on Tuesday suggests something is in the air, and there may well have been a briefing somewhere along the line.
However, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has also been linked with a move for Barkley, as Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express reported, and a bidding war may be on the horizon in the unlikely event that the player will be allowed to leave Everton.
Manchester United Have Greater Needs Than Kevin Strootman
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The link between Manchester United and Kevin Strootman never seems to have gone away, and Simon Mullock of the Sunday Mirror reported another one this week.
According to the article, the Old Trafford club have been quoted £60 million by Roma for the Netherlands international.
Subsequently, Nadia Carminati of Sky Sports noted that the Italian club's general manager, Mauro Baldissoni, will not be allowing Strootman, who is currently out with a long-term knee injury, to leave.
Baldissoni is quoted as saying:
"We can’t wait until Kevin is back on the pitch. We miss him a lot, but he is getting closer to his return.
We are proud that Kevin is part of our squad and he is not for sale.
"
However, you do not need to be a keen student of the game to realise that a midfielder such as Strootman should be a secondary consideration behind defensive reinforcements for Manchester United in January.
After Mullock's article was published, United let a 3-1 lead slip and crashed to a 5-3 defeat at Leicester City, underlining the issues Louis van Gaal is facing with his back line.
Van Gaal, of course, is well aware of the abilities Strootman possesses after working with him during his time in charge of the Dutch national squad.
However, the Old Trafford boss will be the first to stand up to any over-inflated valuation set by Roma on their player.
Van Gaal will be looking at defensive options in January, the need for which has been highlighted by recent defeats for United. Forcing the price up too far for Strootman is likely to cost the player and Roma.
Believability Meter: High
This is a seemingly never-ending transfer story, one that will provide gossip columns with endless articles until the January transfer window closes.
There is clearly something in it, as it refuses to go away, but Van Gaal will need cash for defensive quality in January rather than paying over the odds to strengthen his midfield.
Andy Carroll and Newcastle United Are a Perfect Fit for January Move
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To say that things have not gone smoothly for Andy Carroll since leaving Newcastle United in January 2011 would be an understatement.
The striker joined Liverpool at the same time as Luis Suarez as Kenny Dalglish spent the £50 million gained from the transfer of Fernando Torres to Chelsea.
But it was the Uruguay international who would go on to become a major Premier League star as Carroll failed to make his mark and live up to his £35 million price tag.
After 18 months at Anfield, Dalglish's successor, Brendan Rodgers, allowed Carroll to join West Ham United on loan.
The England international went on to sign a permanent deal with the Upton Park club, but his time in east London has been hampered by injuries.
Despite his problems, Alan Oliver of the Sunday People has reported that Newcastle are monitoring Carroll's recovery from surgery on an ankle injury.
According to the article, the forward was the subject of preliminary Newcastle talks in the summer before picking up an injury in pre-season.
However, even if Carroll returns to full fitness soon, he will be facing a fight to return to the West Ham starting XI, with Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho enjoying fruitful starts to the campaign for Sam Allardyce's team.
With the Magpies struggling at the foot of the Premier League and manager Alan Pardew under increasing pressure, the possibility of Carroll returning to the club where he scored 31 times in 80 league appearances is a hugely appealing one.
Believability Meter: High
It is arguable that Carroll and Newcastle are made for each other.
The striker has failed to find the form or fitness that saw Liverpool break the transfer record for a move between British clubs in 2011.
Newcastle are in need of a threat up front and Carroll fits the bill. Expect a loan move in January ahead of a permanent switch.
Surely Manchester City Will Not Be Allowing Joe Hart to Leave for Liverpool?
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To the external eye, the thought of Manchester City and Joe Hart parting company would seem bizarre.
While the England international has suffered dips in form in the past, he has also been one of the key components of the club's two Premier League triumphs in the past three seasons.
But Joe Bernstein of the Mail On Sunday mentioned a transfer to Liverpool is a possibility, with the Etihad Stadium club and Hart yet to speak about a new deal.
City have not been slow to offer new deals to key players such as Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Vincent Kompany in recent weeks, but there is still no word on the future of the goalkeeper, claims Bernstein.
The article quotes Hart as saying:
"Anything about a new contract is news to me. I’ve heard nothing.
I’ve got a year, nearly two years, left on my deal. That is all I am aware of.
"
Whatever the reasoning behind the delay in negotiations with Hart, Bernstein threw a potential suitor into the mix: Liverpool.
The Reds have also been linked with former Barcelona No. 1 Victor Valdes, as Dominic King of the Daily Mail reported earlier this month.
But that deal is likely to hinge on the Spain international proving his fitness following the cruciate ligament injury he sustained with the Liga giants last season.
At 27, Hart is still, arguably, to reach his peak as a goalkeeper, which would make any transfer away from the Etihad Stadium somewhat bizarre.
It is true that Hart is facing greater competition for his first-team spot since Willy Caballero arrived at the club in the summer, but City manager Manuel Pellegrini has kept faith in his regular No. 1 so far this season.
But with Liverpool appearing to be in the market for a new goalkeeper, could Hart's future be 35 miles down the East Lancs road?
Believability Meter: Low
Manchester City surely won't be allowing Hart to run down his contract, which has less than two years remaining. It appears unthinkable, but stranger things have happened.
Hart also represents home-grown talent. which helps City with UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules, and despite the occasional slip, the goalkeeper has rarely let his team and Pellegrini down.
We expect Hart to be signing a new contract with City in the very near future.
MLS and LA Galaxy Unlikely to Be on Radar of Juventus Star Andrea Pirlo
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How do you replace a legend? With an even greater legend. That at least seems to be the theory in the week's biggest Major League Soccer rumour.
Simon Jones of the Daily Mail reports that LA Galaxy are considering a transfer move for evergreen Italy international Andrea Pirlo to replace the retiring Landon Donovan.
The 35-year-old recently signed a new two-year deal at Juventus, but that has not stopped talk of the midfielder making the move across the Atlantic.
MLS has already added the likes of Kaka and Frank Lampard to its ranks, and Pirlo would seem to fit the same template as a high-profile player entering the twilight of his career in the United States.
However, Pirlo differs from those two examples as he remains an integral figure for the Old Lady in Serie A.
The experienced star also has the thought of adding to his 112 Italy caps to his name when he recovers from a thigh injury.
Pirlo is quoted in the Mail article as previous saying:
"Why should I move? Serie A is the top league in Italy and life is good.
Two years with Juventus, then maybe I can go to the MLS in the United States.
"
Seemingly, the Galaxy and head coach Bruce Arena are preparing to test the resolve of the player and Juventus.
But they are likely to have a lengthy wait with Pirlo preparing for another season as the fulcrum for Juventus and Italy.
Believability Meter: Low
Pirlo still has far too much to offer in Italian football for a January move to the States to be completed.
He has a new contract at Juventus to fulfil, and he also performed a U-turn on international retirement after his former Juve coach Antonio Conte succeeded Cesare Prandelli as manager of the national team.
If the Galaxy are seeking a high-profile figure to replace Donovan, their attention should switch elsewhere.
Barcelona Unwise to Allow Gerard Pique to Make Manchester United Return
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A number of Manchester United supporters might point to the likes of Jaap Stam and Paul Pogba as players Sir Alex Ferguson would regret allowing to leave Old Trafford during his reign at the club.
But others would point to the departure of Gerard Pique in 2008 as a significant error by the wily United boss.
Ferguson had snatched Pique from under the noses of Barcelona in 2004, but after only a handful of appearances for United during his four-year spell, he returned to Camp Nou in a £5 million deal.
One year later, Pique helped Barcelona win the 2009 Champions League final against his former employers in Rome.
It was hardly the gratitude United wanted, but according to AS (per Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express), current Old Trafford boss Louis van Gaal is going back to the future with a move for Pique.
It is no surprise United are seeking defensive reinforcements, particularly after the embarrassing loss of a 3-1 lead in the 5-3 defeat at Leicester City, and their former player fits the bill perfectly.
Pique played a significant role in Barcelona's dominance of European football under Pep Guardiola, and he has won numerous La Liga titles, Spanish cups and two Champions Leagues during his time at Camp Nou.
However, new Barca head coach Luis Enrique has thus far favoured a central-defensive axis of Jeremy Mathieu and Javier Mascherano, leaving a possible question mark over Pique's future.
But despite the occasional lapse in concentration, Pique epitomises the modern central defender with his excellent passing and natural ability to read the game.
It is little wonder Van Gaal is eyeing Pique for a possible move—he is certainly a better option than the Old Trafford boss currently has—but Barcelona are not going to be rushing to sell the defender.
Believability Meter: Low
It is entirely understandable that United and Van Gaal should be linked with quality defenders such as Pique after their disappointing start to the Premier League campaign.
However, the Spain international is still only 27 and still offers Barcelona with a strong defensive presence. Don't expect a Camp Nou departure for Old Trafford here.
