B/R Gossip Roundup: De Bruyne in Demand, Walcott, Smalling and Barkley to Move?
International weekend means the attention of many of the newspapers' back pages has been turned over to European Championship qualifiers and the like, but there is always some space for the latest transfer rumours.
The transfer window will open in just three months, and clubs appear to be accelerating their plans to reinforce in the summer. In the Premier League, finding top homegrown players seems to be a particular concern—with the futures of Theo Walcott, Chris Smalling and Ross Barkley all being hotly debated.
Click on for those stories and many more, as we analyse the week's most significant gossip.
£12M Won't Be Enough for Arsenal to Get Hold of Chris Smalling
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We’re heading toward the business end of the season, but there is already focus on the summer transfer window.
Arsenal and Manchester United are battling for places in the top four—some may argue that they are still battling for the Premier League title—and John Cross of the Mirror claims that they could also be doing battle over the negotiating table this summer.
Cross says that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is ready to sanction a £12 million bid for United defender Chris Smalling if the player stalls on signing a new deal at Old Trafford.
It is highly likely that Wenger will seek fresh defensive options in the summer, as injuries have left him extremely short at the back on several occasions this season.
Wenger did attempt to sign Smalling before the player joined United from Fulham in 2010, so it would be sensible to suggest the Frenchman retains an interest.
However, it is unlikely £12 million would be enough to prise Smalling away from United, given they paid £10 million for the defender five years ago.
Believability Meter: Medium
Wenger could well have an interest in signing the player, and £12 million would be a good deal for an England international, but United are highly unlikely to sell to a rival for such a figure.
A Firing Theo Walcott Will End All Talk of Arsene Wenger Rift
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Theo Walcott’s future is a topic of debate at the moment, with the player taking to Twitter to deny talk of a bust up with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, per the Mail’s Joe Ridge.
The England international also moved to state that contract talks had not yet begun, which appeared to contradict comments from Wenger.
So there's been no bust up, but the pair are seemingly at odds over contract chatter.
Walcott is feeling his way back to full fitness, which should mean his focus is on achieving peak form rather than his next pay packet.
That would appear to be the forward’s stance, as he wrote on Twitter: “I don't normally comment on false stories about myself but reports about contract demands [and] bust-ups with the boss are complete nonsense.
"There have been no contract talks as yet and my current focus is not on contracts but on doing my best for Arsenal FC.”
Walcott’s stance is a sensible one, as he knows full well that returning to peak form and showing his class will result in a new contract being put on the table.
There is no real rush for either party to work out a new deal, given Walcott’s present commitment ties him to Arsenal until the summer of 2016.
At 26 years of age, Walcott should be entering his peak, but he has been plagued by injury problems.
If he can get back to top form and show it on a consistent basis, all talk of rifts will swiftly disappear.
Believability Meter: Low
With international football in focus, it always tend to be a slow week on the sports pages, so talk of a rift between Walcott and Wenger looks wide of the mark.
Bayern Munich Will Have to Pay Big to Take Kevin De Bruyne from Wolfsburg
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Kevin De Bruyne has said he will not stay with Wolfsburg "forever," according to Die Welt (h/t ESPN FC's Stephan Uersfeld).
De Bruyne, 23, joined Wolfsburg from Chelsea in 2014 and has impressed with the Bundesliga side. The Belgian played a starring role as the Wolves defeated champions elect Bayern Munich in January, and recent reports have linked the two parties with a transfer.
"Should an even bigger club make a move suddenly and Wolfsburg were to agree, it is like it is," De Bruyne told Die Welt. "I am not saying that I'll be leaving soon, but I am also not saying that I will stay here forever. That would be stupid."
Uersfeld's report also notes that De Bruyne's agent, Patrick De Koster, has received enquiries about the player's availability. He mentions unspecified reports that have linked Bayern with a move for De Bruyne in 2016 to replace either Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben.
Believability Meter: High
Wolfsburg are a fine team that play entertaining football, but a player of De Bruyne's calibre will want to play for one of Europe's top clubs. Bayern certainly fit that bill.
In a separate report, Uersfeld quotes De Bruyne's agent as saying the player will cost at least €50 million. Few clubs can pay that much, even for a player such as De Bruyne, but Bayern are one of them.
Angel Di Maria Reportedly Falls out with Louis van Gaal at Manchester United
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Angel Di Maria and Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal experienced a falling out following the Red Devils' win over Liverpool at Anfield, according to Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News.
Di Maria, who joined United from Real Madrid last summer, entered the match as a second-half substitute but reportedly failed to impress. His performance, according to Luckhurst, prompted a "dressing down" from Van Gaal.
The report suggests that the incident has cast doubt over Di Maria's future in Manchester. The Argentinian joined United as the club's record signing but has yet to fully live up to his huge transfer fee.
Believability Meter: Medium to High
The Manchester Evening News is a reputable source, so it stands to reason that the report has some authenticity, but that doesn't necessarily mean Di Maria is headed for the exit this summer.
United might well choose to cut their losses with Di Maria after only one season and sell him for whatever price they can get. On the other hand, after spending so much money, the club might not be ready to move on so quickly.
Iker Casillas Could Be Heading for Real Madrid Exit
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Real Madrid have begun the process that will see veteran goalkeeper Iker Casillas leave the club this summer, according to sources cited by Miguel Delaney at ESPN FC.
Casillas, 33, made his first-team debut with Real Madrid in 1999 and has won a host of trophies with the club, including three UEFA Champions League titles. But Delaney's sources say that Casillas could leave the Spanish capital this summer, clearing the way for the potential signing of David De Gea from Manchester United.
Believability Meter: Medium to High
At 33, Casillas is clearly not the goalkeeper he once was, yet he remains an icon at the club. As Delaney's report notes, Real Madrid must tread carefully if they want to avoid giving off the impression that they're forcing out a club legend.
Rumours have linked Real with De Gea for some time now, and if the Spanish giants are truly interested in signing him as their long-term No. 1, Casillas will probably have to make way.
£50M Would Be Hefty Price for Man City to Pay for Everton's Ross Barkley
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Looking to enhance their squad with some blue-chip homegrown players in the summer, Manchester City's wandering gaze appears to have returned to Ross Barkley, the apple of Everton's eye.
City have long been linked with Barkley, who made his latest England appearance from the substitutes' bench against Lithuania on Friday, but the attacking midfielder has endured a difficult season at club level this term. Perhaps Manuel Pellegrini thought that might mean his side could snare the youngster on the cheap—but apparently Everton have other ideas.
According to Steve Millar in the Daily Star:
"Etihad chiefs have been told they won’t get Barkley on the cheap after targeting him almost 12 months ago as an essential English signing.
City bosses were thinking closer to £30m but have been told to think again—and add another whopping £20m if, and when, they return in the summer.
Everton boss Roberto Martinez refuses to lower his asking price for the England international despite desperately needing to rebuild himself, with Man United winger Adnan Januzaj one of the players he would love to bring to Goodison.
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With a premium placed on homegrown players in the current Premier League climate, Everton can pretty much quote whatever they want for one of the finest talents out there. If you remember that they received almost £30 million for Wayne Rooney more than a decade ago, inflation alone would suggest they could command double that for someone such as Barkley—who has perhaps not made quite the same impact but has the potential for a similarly outstanding career.
Believability Meter: High
The £50 million price tag is unlikely to scare Manchester City off entirely, but after such an underwhelming campaign, it would surely be a huge gamble to spend that much on Barkley at this point in his career. Waiting another season might make sense—unless they can actually get him a little cheaper.
After all, Everton may eventually become open to lowering their asking price—£50 million has the smell of a deliberately inflated opening gambit. Considering the upgrades they need to make to their own squad, pragmatism might dictate that the loss of one talent would be worthwhile if it facilitates the arrival of three or four new players.
