B/R Gossip Roundup: Jurgen Klopp Set to Move On, Man United to Target Danny Ings
With the end of the club season approaching, the silly season is starting to gear up.
All across Europe, title races are hotting up and relegation dogfights are becoming more desperate by the week. But once all that ends, another campaign will begin.
Which players will be signing with new clubs? Which managers will move on to greener pastures? Keep reading for all of this week's hottest rumours in the B/R Gossip Roundup.
Carl Jenkinson Owes West Ham a Permanent Move Ahead of Liverpool Link
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A permanent switch from Arsenal to West Ham United for Carl Jenkinson had seemed like a formality up until recently.
The right-back has been in fine form for the Upton Park club since joining on loan ahead of the current Premier League campaign.
However, Jamie Anderson of the Daily Star claimed on Monday that the Hammers will have to see off the challenge of Liverpool to permanently secure the services of the 23-year-old:
"According to reports, the Hammers are mobilising a sizeable offer to ward off interest from Liverpool.
Reports of Brendan Rodgers' interest in Jenkinson have gathered momentum in recent days, and West Ham are keen to negotiate a deal as soon as possible to crush their hopes.
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Anderson notes that with Glen Johnson set to depart Anfield at the end of the current season, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is eyeing a new right-back and Jenkinson fits the bill.
Believability Meter: High
West Ham might have stepped off the gas in recent weeks, slipping from the standard they set under Sam Allardyce during the first half of the campaign.
However, the Upton Park club who rescued Jenkinson from a season on the sidelines at Arsenal behind Mathieu Debuchy and Hector Bellerin.
Liverpool being interested in Jenkinson makes sense, but the defender owes West Ham a sizeable debt for restoring him as a top-flight regular. Expect him to join the club on a permanent basis in the summer.
Roberto Mancini Swoop on Manchester City Set to Fail at Inter Milan
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The appointment of Roberto Mancini as Inter Milan head coach in November was always likely to result in links with players at his former club, Manchester City.
We have not been left disappointed, either, with a number of names mentioned so far.
However, Rob Shepherd of the Mail On Sunday went a step further than most, claiming Mancini is looking to bring three Etihad Stadium stars to the San Siro.
The report named Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri and James Milner as targets for the Inter boss, who signed all three for City during his tenure.
Shepherd says Nasri is the "prime target" for Inter, while his two aforementioned team-mates are reportedly on the Serie A club's radar.
However, could Inter really deliver on bringing all three to the club in the summer? Probably not.
The 2010 Champions League winners remain well off the pace for a return to the European elite, languishing in 10th place in Serie A before Sunday's derby against AC Milan.
Believability Meter: Low
It would be a dream for Mancini if all three City targets ended up at Inter this summer, but the lack of European football will make any pitch that much harder.
Throw in the fact that City under Sheikh Mansour likely pay the players far more than the wages Inter could possibly offer, and the Nerazzurri's chances of signing the trio disappear altogether.
Mancini will know whom he wants for next season, but his net will have to be cast wider than his former employers if he is to do it within Inter's capability.
Schalke Link with Sami Khedira of Real Madrid a Surprise, but Deal Not Done Yet
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You would have to be particularly heartless not to feel a pang of sympathy for Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira.
The Germany international was ruled out of much of last season with a serious injury before missing out on the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina in Brazil.
This term has been another frustrating one for Khedira at the Bernabeu, with his presence in the first team more fleeting than dynamic.
With his contract at Real set to expire, Khedira could be one of the most coveted players this summer. Football Espana recently reported a Sport1 interview with Schalke president Clemens Toennies, who was quoted as saying:
"I have a high opinion of Sami Khedira because he’s a leader who can improve the team.
He has an incredible reputation with the national team. We’ve spoken [to Khedira] several times.
Now, Horst Heldt [Schalke’s sporting director] and Khedira’s agent must find a satisfactory solution.
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With all due respect to Schalke, who have a fine pedigree and are an excellent team, they are some way behind the Premier League teams that have previously been linked with Khedira.
Ben Jefferson of the Daily Express noted on Monday that the Gelsenkirchen club's closing in the 28-year-old will have come as a major shock to major English sides like Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool.
Indeed it would be with the first of those three English clubs set for the Champions League next season, while Schalke are in sixth place in the Bundesliga, 13 points off fourth-placed Borussia Monchengladbach.
Perhaps the Premier League interest has faded on the back of concerns over the midfielder's fitness, but we suspect the future of Khedira has not been decided just yet.
Believability Meter: Medium
It seems highly unlikely that Khedira will still be at Real Madrid once his contract expires after falling down the pecking order under Carlo Ancelotti this term and recently revealing that he wants to "start a new stage in his career," per the Guardian.
But Schalke reportedly being the next destination for the Germany midfielder has come as a surprise, with the player having previously been linked with bigger clubs.
There may be more to come in the Khedira story just yet.
Jurgen Klopp Exit from Dortmund Set to Start Summer Transfer Scramble
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A golden era will come to an end when the Bundesliga closes its doors on the current season.
On Wednesday, Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp announced his decision to step down from the role he has held since 2008, reported by BBC Sport.
There followed a number of links with potential managerial vacancies across Europe for the man who twice won the German title with Dortmund and took his team to the 2013 Champions League final.
The future of a number of Dortmund players has also come under the spotlight in the wake of Klopp's announcement.
Adam Shergold of the Daily Mail was swift to note further departures are expected on the back of the manager's impending exit, naming Mats Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan, Ciro Immobile and Neven Subotic as players who could follow Klopp out of the Westfalenstadion.
The name of Marco Reus is never far from the transfer gossip columns despite signing a new deal in February, as the Guardian reported.
This looks like it will be a summer transfer window in which Dortmund will be central to the rumours.
Believability Meter: High
When a long-serving and successful manager leaves a club, question marks over the future of players under his command will always follow.
With Klopp exiting the Westfalenstadion, it was only a matter of time before rumours regarding some major Dortmund names emerged.
Hummels and Gundogan are just two names to enter the columns so far, but nothing is likely to be decided until Klopp announces his next destination.
Yannick Bolasie Bidding Could Start at £20M
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Liverpool would have to pay Crystal Palace £20 million to sign winger Yannick Bolasie, according to a report from The Telegraph.
The report notes that Liverpool have "floated" a bid of £10 million for Bolasie, but quotes Palace manager Alan Pardew as saying the Democratic Republic of the Congo international is worth much more. "They need to have a look at that, because he is worth double," the Palace manager said.
Bolasie, 25, scored a hat-trick in Palace's recent 4-1 win at Sunderland. Having joined the south London club from Bristol City in 2012, Bolasie has scored four goals with notched six assists in the Premier League, per WhoScored.com.
Believability Meter: Medium to High
In this case, the meter depends on what we're supposed to believe. If we're to believe that Pardew values Bolasie at around £20 million, then that makes plenty of sense; the winger is in form and Palace will not want to lose one of their most exciting young players.
But it's unclear whether Liverpool are willing to pay that much or if Pardew is merely trying to raise the player's value with tough talk ahead of the summer.
Either way, this could be one to watch as the transfer window approaches.
Manchester United Move Might Not Make Sense for Danny Ings
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Manchester United are interested in signing English striker Danny Ings from Burnley this summer, according to Sam Cunningham at the Daily Mail.
Ings is a target of both United and Liverpool, according to Cunningham's report. At United, the futures of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao are less than clear, and manager Louis van Gaal could target the 22-year-old Ings, who has scored nine Premier League goals and provided four assists this season, per WhoScored.com.
Ings' contract runs out in the summer, but the report indicates that Burnley could still receive a £5 million fee for his transfer because of his age.
Believability Meter: Medium to High
United could be interested in Ings, but such a move might not be best for the player at this point in his career.
As B/R's Allan Jiang notes:
"Without Ings, Burnley would have no hope of surviving relegation. However, if Ings is fit, he can conjure up game-winning moments and help Burnley escape the drop.
Rather than being a squad player at Manchester United, Ings should consider moving to a mid-table Premier League team.
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Even with Van Persie and Falcao potentially leaving the club this summer, Ings might find it difficult to break into United's squad.
James Milner Move Would Offer Arsenal Versatility
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Arsenal must offer James Milner a four-year contract in order to sign the England midfielder this summer, according to James Olley of the London Evening Standard.
Milner, 29, has reportedly turned down a new contract with Manchester City, with his current contract set to expire at the end of the season. Liverpool, Valencia and Inter Milan are also interested in signing Milner, according to Olley, but the midfielder would prefer a move to Arsenal if he does not stay with City.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, sees Milner as a low-price alternative to Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin, who could command a transfer fee in the region of £25 million this summer.
Believability Meter: Medium to High
The report indicates that Milner's preference is to remain with City, but if he does make a move, Arsenal could be a good destination for both. Milner would get Champions League football, while Arsenal would get a versatile, selfless player on a free transfer.
Considering Wenger's spending habits over the years, it seems like an appealing deal for the Gunners. However, Milner, though versatile as a midfielder, wouldn't be a like-for-like alternative to Schneiderlin.
