B/R Gossip Roundup: Man United Closing on Depay, Zidane Praises Hazard
As one season winds down, another gears up.
With the 2014-15 season coming to a close, champions are being crowned and relegation battles are heating up across Europe. But once the action is over, there will be plenty more intrigue of another kind.
Once the summer is upon us, it will be time for the silly season, in which clubs from around the world sign new players, jettison old ones and try their best to strengthen ahead of the next campaign.
Who's signing whom? Who's going where? Keep reading for the latest news and rumours and this week's edition of the B/R Gossip Roundup.
Hugo Lloris Desire for Champions League Football Understandable
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There might be bright spots for the future at Tottenham with the emergence of Harry Kane and Ryan Mason from the youth ranks this season, but the lack of Champions League football next term looks set to cost another big name.
According to David Hytner of The Guardian, Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris wants out of White Hart Lane if, as expected, the North London club miss out on the top four in the Premier League.
Hytner wrote:
"Lloris is frustrated and finds his career approaching a crossroads. He joined from Lyon in 2012 for an initial £8m and he hoped to play with Spurs in the Champions League.
It has not happened and Lloris knows there is the strong possibility that it will not do so next season either.
Tottenham trail fourth-placed Manchester City by seven points and have a hugely inferior goal difference, with five matches to play.
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"It is not lost on Lloris that virtually all of his France team-mates play at Champions League clubs and he is the captain of his country. Lloris played Champions League football in each of his four seasons at Lyon."
But few Spurs supporters can argue if their No. 1 is interested in plying his trade elsewhere. This season has offered a glimpse of the future rather than an assertion that the club are on the very verge of big things.
Mauricio Pochettino has Michel Vorm wait in reserve as part of a contingency plan, but the Tottenham head coach can expect a major transfer fee for Lloris, who has consistently proved his quality since joining in January 2013.
Believability meter: High
Transfer rumours linking Lloris with a move away from Tottenham have regular entries in the gossip columns this season, which hints at this being a deal likely to happen.
There will be no shortage of potential suitors for the 28-year-old, which means Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and Pochettino will have money to spend on a replacement in the summer.
Keeping Mikel Arteta Could Be Key Move for Arsenal
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It would be an under-statement to suggest this hasn't been a season to remember for Mikel Arteta.
The Arsenal midfielder has been sidelined by injury since the Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund on Nov. 26, and has subsequently missed the Gunners' resurgence in recent weeks.
Ahead of the visit of Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Arsene Wenger's side were on a run of eight successive league wins with a relatively settled side.
According to The Sun, though, Wenger has assured Arteta he still has a future at Arsenal, and is hoping the Spaniard will sign a new contract at the club.
After such a long period on the sidelines and at the age of 33, there might be some who feel an exit from the Emirates Stadium was inevitable.
But Wenger is making a shrewd move by attempting to keep Arteta.
Francis Coquelin has emerged as a major plus point for the Gunners this term, and being 10 years younger than the former Everton midfielder, he seems the logical choice for the future.
Arsenal and Wenger, however, will recognise that depth in midfield is a necessity rather than a luxury for future success.
Arteta is proven in the English top flight and would provide vital experience and support for Coquelin and the Gunners in what could be a crucial season next year.
Believability meter: High
A new deal for Arteta is a sensible move by Wenger. He gains experience while the Spaniard continues his career at the highest level.
Don't expect the former Everton man to feature regularly, but his presence as a back-up option will be crucial and could save a small fortune in the transfer market for the moment.
Manchester United Move Would Make Sense for Memphis Depay
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PSV Eindhoven winger Memphis Depay has held a "secret meeting" with Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, according to the Mail Online.
According to the article, the meeting took place Wednesday, with Depay flying to England to meet a team of representatives from United led by manager Louis van Gaal. The report rates Depay at around £25 million.
Depay, a 21-year-old Dutch international, has also drawn interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool, er the report.
Van Gaal worked with Depay as manager of the Netherlands during the 2014 World Cup, but the report quotes him as saying: "I have a lot of relationships with players. I cannot buy all the players I've coached already."
Believability meter: High
The notion of a "secret meeting" sounds a bit like sensationalism, but several other outlets have also reported on United's supposed interest.
Citing unnamed sources, ESPN FC recently reported that United and Liverpool are both interested in the player, who has been a key contributor for the Eredivisie champions this season.
In addition, PSV technical director Marcel Brands told Dutch television (h/t BBC Sport): "We have had a telephone call from (United) about him. But no talks have been held. Several top clubs have expressed interest."
It's clear that United are interested in Depay, and with Van Gaal's connection to the player, he could well be headed to Old Trafford in the summer.
Permanent Aaron Lennon Switch to Everton a Logical Move
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The beauty of the loan system means journalists sometimes don't have to think too far ahead to make a transfer link.
Such was the case this week as Tom Collomosse of the Evening Standard wrote of Everton's interest in taking winger Aaron Lennon to Merseyside on a permanent basis this summer.
Collomosse also noted the possibility of Kevin Mirallas travelling in the opposite direction, but it is the England international who would benefit most here.
Lennon had fallen well down the pecking order at White Hart Lane and his short-term switch to Goodison Park in the January transfer window was a chance to salvage his career.
The 28-year-old has seized that opportunity and Roberto Martinez has already initiated talks, and was quoted by SkySports.com as saying:
"Aaron is enjoying his football and his contribution to the team has been significant.
He has got four games left and all I want is for him to enjoy every single second of it and make sure he enjoys the experience as much as we have benefited from his talent.
Then, at the end of the season, will be the moment to sit down. A loan is a loan and it means that we are looking for a successful outcome out of that.
When the loan finishes, you have got a three-way conversation to see where that will take us.
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There is little doubt signing Lennon on a permanent basis would be welcomed by Everton supporters after the player's impressive short stint at the club.
The former Leeds United man has scored twice and provided two assists (via WhoScored.com) to help the Toffees overcome the possibility of relegation in recent weeks.
Making a permanent move to Everton could work out for all parties here.
Believability meter: High
Martinez has benefited enormously from the loan system since replacing David Moyes two years ago. Romelu Lukaku and Gareth Barry were two players to make a permanent switch after a season-long stint on Merseyside.
At 28, Lennon still has time to make a significant impact on the Premier League and force his way back into England contention with a regular starting spot at Goodison Park.
Zinedine Zidane Praise for Eden Hazard Will Not Mean Switch to Real Madrid
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When Zinedine Zidane speaks, the world of football rightly listens.
After spearheading the France team which won the 1998 World Cup and the European Championships two years later, the former forward deserves respect from the game.
But do not expect Jose Mourinho and Chelsea to take Zidane's praise for Eden Hazard with any significance.
Zidane was quoted in an interview with FIFA.com this week as saying:
"There are players I keep an eye on and who I like a lot, like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, of course.
They’re fantastic players, but I like Eden Hazard a lot too. I enjoy everything he does on the pitch.
I like the way he carries himself, that decisive streak in him and the fact that he’s improving every year.
He can still get better too, and I think he’s a big reason why Chelsea are on top of the table.
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Nobody can really argue with placing Hazard alongside Messi and Ronaldo after his form at Stamford Bridge this season.
But the plaudits of Zidane were swiftly turned into a transfer rumour, with The Guardian claiming his words of praise appeared to launch a bid for the Chelsea star.
Mourinho, though, is a wily character himself, and while a gold star from Zidane is nothing to be sneezed at, signing a new five-and-a-half year contract at the club in February represents more.
If Zidane's praise is a tactical move by Real Madrid, it is unlikely to tempt Chelsea into negotiations.
Believability meter: Low
Hazard is a player envied across the major forces of European football, but his new deal at the club should be enough to keep any transfer interest at bay for at least another year.
Real Madrid might be keen to sign the Belgium international, but even Zizou will not tempt the West London club into considering the move.
Speaking to Sky Sports during the build-up to Chelsea's match against Arsenal, Hazard insisted he will remain with Chelsea in the long-term: "Why not?" he said. "I'm happy here."
He added: "I play with big players and the most important thing is I want to win trophies and with this club, it is possible."
Borussia Dortmund Decline to Confirm Mats Hummels to Man United Rumour
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Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has declined to confirm reports that indicate Manchester United have offered €30 million for Germany international centre-back Mats Hummels.
"I can't confirm (the supposed bid)," Zorc told Bild, as translated by Stephan Uersfeld at ESPN FC. "I don't want to comment on it all the time. I've done that a few weeks ago, and that has to be enough."
Earlier in April, Hummels was quoted as saying (h/t ESPN FC) he is "reflecting" on his future with Dortmund. Hummels, 26, joined BVB in 2007 from Bayern Munich.
Believability meter: Medium to high
It's hard to know what to make of the rumour. According to Uersfeld, it came from Sport Bild, who cited English sources for its origin. To some, that might seem like a circular, self-sustaining piece of gossip,
Zorc, for what it's worth, only declined to confirm the report. That's different from firmly denying it outright.
The bottom line is that this is a story to watch as summer approaches.
