B/R Gossip Roundup: Man City Target Kevin De Bruyne, Man United Eye Harry Kane
The 2014/15 season is over, the summer transfer window is approaching and, with that, transfer speculation is gathering steam by the day.
This edition of the B/R Gossip Roundup lifts the lid on the rumour mill and takes a look at seven of the biggest transfer stories of the week.
From Kevin De Bruyne's reported return to the Premier League with Manchester City, to Harry Kane's mooted £40 million move to Manchester United, read on for more!
Kevin De Bruyne Linked to Manchester City
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Kevin De Bruyne is reportedly "open to the idea" of returning to English football, with Manchester City said to be keen on the former Chelsea attacking midfielder.
According to Neil McLeman of the Mirror, Manuel Pellegrini's side are joined in their admiration of the 23-year-old by Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, with De Bruyne said to be worth over £40 million.
The Belgium international is currently at Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg, whom he joined in January 2014 following two years at Stamford Bridge. Frozen out of the Blues starting XI under Jose Mourinho, he featured in just three top-flight games for the club. As McLeman reported, De Bruyne recently said:
"I still don't understand why Jose Mourinho let me leave. I never discussed it with him. I started to play and then it was finished.
After four months, I asked him to leave. I didn't want to stay at a club where I wasn't even playing for 10 minutes. He said it was my attitude in training? It is an excuse he can use.
We will discuss my future, the club and me, once the season is finished. I have not caused any problems. I am going to take my time.
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Over the course of the 2014/15 season, the Belgian was one of Europe's finest midfield talents. His 20 Bundesliga assists and 10 goals played a pivotal role in Die Wolfe's second-place finish and consequent Champions League qualification. De Bruyne also added five goals and five assists in the Europa League.
Believability Meter: Low
Voted Bundesliga Player of the Season, it's clear that De Bruyne will be an in-demand player this summer. However, a return to the English top flight—and potentially the substitutes' bench—may not present as attractive an opportunity as continuing his outstanding form for Dieter Hecking's side.
Following recent reports of "informal contact" between Wolfsburg and City, told to Sky Sports News HQ (h/t Sky Sports), De Bruyne said: "It's been for me a wonderful season. I think the thing I'm most excited about is that I played almost everything, missed just one game, started everything and played everything."
We don't think he's about to give that up.
Manchester United Pursuing Felipe Anderson
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Felipe Anderson swapped Santos for Lazio in the summer of 2013—the Serie A side keen to tie the young Brazilian down to a five-year contract.
Just 57 appearances and 12 goals later, the Italian club decided they wanted to extend the 22-year-old's deal, and now the winger has a contract that runs until 2020.
However, this has done nothing to slow down rumours linking Anderson with a move to Manchester United.
As the Daily Star's Paul Hetherington recently reported: "The Daily Star Sunday understands that United's scouts have been hugely impressed with Anderson, 22, and that could lead to a £30 million bid. United boss Louis van Gaal believes Anderson would fit perfectly into his squad."
Believability Meter: Low
Transfer rumours credited as exclusives in the Daily Star should be accompanied by a pinch of salt. In this case, make it a handful.
Manchester United are going to be linked with a multitude of names this summer, and only a small percentage of those rumours are plausible—fewer still will actually come to fruition.
Lacking in quotes, and considering the player's new contract, the Anderson gossip seems highly dubious.
The following comments from Anderson, courtesy of Football Italia, render it even more so. "Next year? All I know is I’ll be playing for Lazio. I only recently renewed my contract for another five years. I'm thinking about that shirt, and nothing else. I don't know of any offers, my future is at Lazio."
Chelsea's Loic Remy Topping West Ham's Transfer Wishlist
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Expect to see lots of new faces in the claret and blue of West Ham United this summer, as the Premier League side gears up for life at the Olympic Stadium in 2016 under new boss Slaven Bilic.
Reports of a "spending spree" are already in the offing, with the Guardian's Dominic Fifield reporting: "West Ham will follow the appointment of Bilic as manager by launching a series of ambitious moves in the transfer market and will explore the possibility of prising the Chelsea forward, Loic Remy, from Stamford Bridge."
The striker signed for Jose Mourinho's side from Queens Park Rangers last summer, following a loan spell at Newcastle United, during which he bagged 14 top-flight goals in 26 games.
In the Blues starting XI on just eight occasions in the league and with just two 90-minute performances under his belt in all competitions last season, Remy managed seven Premier League goals for Mourinho's side in 2014/15.
Believability Meter: High
A squad player at Stamford Bridge, a move across London would make sense for Remy, who should be playing regularly every week.
With the Olympic Stadium beckoning, the Hammers should have no problems bringing in new talent over the coming months, and the 28-year-old is just what they need up front.
Karim Benzema an Unlikely Makeweight in David De Gea-to-Real Madrid Deal
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It promises to be a very eventful summer at Old Trafford, where a hatful of names have already been linked with incoming and outgoing moves.
The biggest story of all concerns David De Gea, the Spanish goalkeeper who looks increasingly likely to swap Manchester United for Real Madrid. The 24-year-old has one year remaining on his current United contract and is yet to ink a new deal.
But will there be someone heading the other way to sweeten the deal for Louis van Gaal's side? The Telegraph's Mark Ogden reported that Karim Benzema could be one such man.
As Ogden wrote: "Any opportunity to secure Benzema as part of negotiations over De Gea will be pursued by United, with Van Gaal identifying a proven goalscorer as a key area of the club's summer recruitment plans."
United's apparent interest in the 27-year-old is nothing new—the club were linked with the striker when he was still plying his trade with Lyon in Ligue 1, as reported by David McDonnell in the Mirror during Sir Alex Ferguson's reign.
However, Ogden also stated: "Benzema's agent, Karim Djaziri, claimed earlier this week that a move to Manchester held little appeal for the player and United would face a further obstacle in the form of Real president Perez, who regards the striker as one of the club's prized assets."
Believability Meter: Low
It would come as no surprise to see De Gea head to his home city this summer. As we know, the 24-year-old's girlfriend lives in the Spanish capital, and he certainly wouldn't be the first player to leave Old Trafford for the Bernabeu in a big-money move.
Sources in Spain (h/t David McDonnell and Aaron Flanagan in the Mirror) even suggest De Gea could be unveiled as a Madrid player as early as next week.
As for Benzema, he is currently contracted to Los Blancos until 2019, and it's reasonable to believe that new manager Rafa Benitez will be keen on retaining his services. No swap deal here.
AC Milan Favourites to Sign Geoffrey Kondogbia
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According to talkSPORT (h/t James Cambridge in the Express), AC Milan have become "hot favourites" for Geoffrey Kondogbia's signature.
The Monaco man's name has appeared in rumours linking him with a number of clubs, including Arsenal, Real Madrid and Liverpool, as seen elsewhere on talkSPORT.
However, according to reports coming out of Italy (h/t David Wright in the Express): "Milan have submitted a £22 million offer for Monaco midfielder Kondogbia, another target for Arsene Wenger's side. Milan are believed to have already met up with the Frenchman's agent ahead of the summer transfer window."
Formerly of Lens and Sevilla, the France international signed for Monaco in summer 2013, and he has since made 64 appearances in all competitions.
Believability Meter: Medium
As we've seen with the departures of James Rodriguez (to Real Madrid) and Radamel Falcao (on loan to Manchester United) in recent times, Monaco are not a club averse to selling on their star names, and Kondogbia is likely to be next.
But where will he go? Kondogbia appears to have many admirers, and the San Siro could well be his next home. The Serie A side look like they mean business in the transfer market this summer, especially if rumours that FC Porto's Jackson Martinez is on the brink of signing turn out to be true, per Jonny Singer of the Daily Mail.
Petr Cech Close to Joining Arsenal for £11M
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Petr Cech lost his position as Chelsea's No. 1 goalkeeper ahead of the 2014/15 season, when young stopper Thibaut Courtois returned from three successful seasons on loan with Atletico Madrid.
As such he could soon be on the move. Gossip indicates that London rivals Arsenal may well be his next destination, with the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel reporting:
"Arsenal have already made a formal enquiry to Chelsea about a move for Cech, but talks will accelerate next week. The Gunners have remained sceptical over Chelsea's willingness to sell the four-time Premier League winner to them given their rivalry.
But Arsenal have received encouragement that the Blues will allow, albeit reluctantly, Cech to move across London.
Next week's discussions will centre around finalising a transfer fee. Chelsea are demanding a minimum of £10million for Cech. And, if expected, that issue is resolved then the goalkeeper should complete a move to the Emirates Stadium.
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Too good to warm Chelsea's bench, it is fairly clear that Cech will be leaving Stamford Bridge this summer.
Believability Meter: High
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will let the 33-year-old join Premier League rivals Arsenal or Manchester United, this much we already know. The Telegraph's Matt Law reported that: "Cech enjoys an excellent relationship with Abramovich and will be given special dispensation to effectively choose his next club, despite [Jose] Mourinho's wish to keep him or sell him abroad."
It's true that, should United sell David De Gea to Real Madrid, rumours linking Cech with a move to Old Trafford will intensify. However, we can see Cech remaining in London and becoming a Gunner.
Harry Kane to Be Manchester United's Marquee Signing
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What a season it was for Harry Kane, whose 31 goals in all competitions for Tottenham Hotspur propelled him into the spotlight, into the England senior team and, of course, into the rumour mill.
The player, who was nowhere near being a household name this time last year, is now being linked with a move to Manchester United, with the young striker said to be the subject of a £40 million bid by Louis van Gaal's side.
As the Mirror's David McDonnell put it:
"United have made Spurs and England star Kane their top summer transfer target after Real Madrid declared Gareth Bale is staying at the Bernabeu.
Kane has been on United boss Louis van Gaal's wanted list following his 31-goal heroics last season, but now the Reds are ready to make official their interest in the form of a bid.
United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward knows the club need to land a marquee signing this summer and rising star Kane, 21, has emerged as that player.
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Kane is currently with England's U21 side ahead of the European Under-21 Championship in Czech Republic.
Believability Meter: Low to Medium
With little fuss or fanfare, Kane recently inked an extension to his current deal at White Hart Lane, which is designed to keep him at Spurs until 2020. We know he loves the north London side, and chairman Daniel Levy would probably be loath to part ways with the PFA Young Player of the Year.
However, as we have seen in the past with the likes of Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale, Spurs have history of letting their prized assets leave and Levy always has his price.
Kane to United seems like an unlikely move, but it's not one we are willing to rule out.
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