B/R Gossip Roundup: Breaking Down This Week's Biggest Rumours
At this time of year, the transfer rumours come thick and fast. This week proved to be no exception.
In this edition of B/R Gossip Roundup, we take a look at speculation linking Arsenal's Jack Wilshere with a move to Manchester City, give our verdict on Carlos Bacca's mooted move to AS Roma and discuss Paul Pogba, Sergio Aguero and more.
Read on to see what we think about the week's transfer tattle!
Carlos Bacca: Ready to Swap Sevilla for Roma
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Any club with money to spend and a shred of sense should be interested in Carlos Bacca.
When he's not picking up red cards for scuffles with Neymar, the Colombian is an outstanding performer for Sevilla, whom he joined from Club Brugge two seasons ago.
Reports suggest Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are all keen on snapping up Bacca this summer, but it appears that the Stadio Olimpico may be the most likely destination for the 28-year-old.
It may not work out that way, but his agent, Sergio Barila, recently had this to say about Roma in Corriere dello Sport (h/t Anthony Chapman in the Express):
"Carlos is deeply religious and, in Rome, there is the pope—and apart from that we are talking about one of the best clubs [Roma]. If Bacca were to leave Sevilla, it will not be for the money but a chance to play in the Champions League
Bacca is now totally focused on doing well with Colombia at the Copa America and is fine with, and grateful to, Sevilla, who helped him to be recognised at the international level. However, the market is unpredictable. We'll have a meeting with Sevilla after the tournament and look at what's on the table.
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With two Europa League titles under his belt from his two seasons at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, not to mention 49 goals in 108 games in all competitions, Bacca is, quite rightly, in demand.
Believability Meter: Medium to High
Sevilla have parted ways with a number of their biggest players in recent years—think Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas and Geoffrey Kondogbia in 2013 and Alberto Moreno and Ivan Rakitic in 2014. It's no stretch of the imagination to think that they will cash in again this summer.
It would also be a move that makes sense for Roma. Rudi Garcia's side scored the least amount of goals of any team in Serie A's top six in 2014/15 and Bacca would be a welcome addition. Whisper it quietly, but Francesco Totti cannot go on forever, 19-year-old Antonio Sanabria is still a learning and Seydou Doumbia has not set Serie A alight since his move from CSKA Moscow in January.
As seen in Il Messaggero (h/t Inside Spanish Football), rumours linking Bacca with a move to Rome have been swirling since February. If his agent's quotes about a forthcoming "meeting with Sevilla" are true, this is one that really could happen.
Mohamed Salah on His Way to White Hart Lane?
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Mohamed Salah would not be blamed for seeking a move away from Chelsea in the transfer window.
The Egypt international is a target for Tottenham Hotspur, according to Tom Collomosse in the London Evening Standard.
Salah signed for the Blues in January 2014 and, to date, has just 13 Premier League appearances to his name. By February 2015, the Egyptian was off on a short-term loan deal to Fiorentina after being used as a makeweight to bring Juan Cuadrado to SW6.
"At the moment I don't intend to return to Chelsea,” Salah said at the time, relayed by Joe Short in the Express. "I want to do well with Fiorentina. I spoke with Mourinho and told him I wanted to leave Chelsea and he was fine."
Just 23 years old, a permanent move would be a good option for Salah, who is also reportedly attracting the attention of AC Milan, per Alex Wood of the Daily Star.
Believability Meter: Low
The chances of Salah departing Stamford Bridge are high, but the likelihood of Jose Mourinho allowing him to join a Premier League rival is very slim.
The player, who impressed for Basel, should not be short of suitors. His outings for Fiorentina were positive in the second half of the season.
The fact Europa League goals from Salah helped to eliminate Spurs in 2012/13 and 2014/15 is probably the sole foundation for these rumours. It's not going to happen.
Liverpool Preparing an Improved Bid for Nathaniel Clyne
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According to Neil Jones in the Liverpool Echo, Liverpool are preparing a second bid for Southampton's Nathaniel Clyne.
The Reds had a £10 million offer for the 24-year-old right-back turned down in May, as seen on Sky Sports.
However, Jones writes that the Anfield side are now preparing an improved price and adds that, "Liverpool see Clyne as a key signing, with their need for a new right-back amplified by the departure of Glen Johnson on a free transfer."
Last summer, Brendan Rodgers swiped three players from St Mary’s in the shape of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren.
Clyne has racked up over 100 appearances for Saints, the club he signed for from Crystal Palace in July 2012. He has one year remaining on his current deal.
Believability Meter: High
It's not a transfer that sees Liverpool thinking outside of the box, with the trade route between St Mary’s to Anfield already well worn. Yet as he is a young English player who plays in a position that needs bolstering, it's a move that would work for the Reds.
Southampton have already moved to bring in a new right-back this summer, Sporting Lisbon's Cedric Soares, as reported by John Cross in the Mirror. Expect to see Clyne in a Liverpool shirt shortly.
Arsenal's Jack Wilshere Targeted by Manchester City
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There will be plenty of English players linked with Manchester City this summer, as Manuel Pellegrini aims to fill his side's homegrown quota.
Frank Lampard, Scott Sinclair, James Milner, Dedryck Boyata and Micah Richards have all exited the Etihad Stadium and City must have a minimum of eight homegrown players on their books before the season kicks off.
Rumored to be on City’s radar this week is Jack Wilshere, as reported by David Maddock and David McDonnell in the Mirror:
"Jack Wilshere will become Manchester City's next English transfer target. Deposed champions City are expected to make an initial £30million move for Arsenal midfielder Wilshere.
That comes after a £40m bid for Liverpool's Raheem Sterling was rejected late on Wednesday.
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A player beset by injury, Wilshere only made 14 Premier League appearances for the Gunners in 2014/15. In all competitions, the midfielder clocked up 24 games, notching two goals and four assists, recorded by Transfermarkt.
Believability Meter: Low
It's hardly surprising to see the 23-year-old's name crop up in transfer speculation following the two outstanding goals he scored recently for England against Slovenia.
Wilshere is an Arsenal fan and came up through the ranks at Arsene Wenger's club. It is very unlikely he will follow in the steps of players such as Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair, who went to City from Everton and Swansea City respectively, simply to make up the numbers.
In fact, quoted by Metro's Sean Kearns, just last week Wilshere had this to say: "I definitely wouldn't go somewhere just because I'm a homegrown player. I'd want to be wanted by a club. I want to be wanted by Arsenal. I've grown up at Arsenal, I'm a homegrown player and, as long as Arsenal want me, I'm happy."
It's also no secret that Arsenal need strength in midfield, and a fit Wilshere could be huge for the Gunners in 2015/16.
Southampton Resigned to Losing Morgan Schneiderlin
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A £24 million price tag has been placed on Morgan Schneiderlin by Southampton, who are resigned to losing the defensive midfielder this summer, writes the Mirror’s Alex Crook.
With Arsenal and Manchester United both said to be keen, plus further interest from Juventus and Atletico Madrid also mooted, Crook reports that:
"Old Trafford is Schneiderlin's preferred destination although that could depend on the outcome of United's pursuit of Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been tracking Schneiderlin since moving to the south coast from Strasbourg as a teenager but fears being outbid by United.
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Last summer, with three years still remaining on his contract at St Mary's, the Frenchman did not respond well to the news that he would not be able to follow Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren, Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers out of the club, telling France Football (h/t ESPN FC), "You don't respect me and you don't respect your words, you treat me like cattle."
However, the 25-year-old went on to have an excellent season for Ronald Koeman's side, playing an integral role in midfield as the Saints confounded all expectations and finished the season in seventh place.
Believability Meter: High
A player so outspoken about leaving the Saints last summer, it wouldn't be surprising to see Schneiderlin depart the south coast any time soon.
Koeman and his Southampton team did well in the transfer market following last year's exodus of talent, and they are probably on the search for Schneiderlin 2.0 as we speak.
Real Madrid Reignite Interest in Sergio Aguero
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Sergio Aguero is a player who has been long linked with a move to Real Madrid, and it seems that this summer will be no different.
The Manchester City man is currently the subject of "reignited interest" from Los Blancos, according to Pete Jenson of the Daily Mail, who writes:
"Sergio Aguero's form in the Copa America has reignited Real Madrid’s desire to sign the player but they will only do so if they can sell Karim Benzema this summer.
The Argentine striker has a contract with Manchester City until 2019 and recently confirmed his commitment to stay at the club so Real know they would have to pay well over £50m for his services.
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Elsewhere, in Spanish newspaper AS (h/t the Express' Joe Short), there are claims that, "Bosses at the Bernabeu are working on a bid for Manchester City's Aguero, who was top scorer in the Premier League last season."
Believability Meter: Low
Any club in the world would like to sign Sergio Aguero, a player who has notched over 100 goals in his time at Manchester City and did the same with previous employers Atletico Madrid.
The Argentina international has been linked with a move to the Bernabeu time and again. linking a striker of the highest order to a club that loves its superstars is an easy story to write.
However, the 27-year-old inked a new five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium in 2014, has been very successful at City and has shown no signs of wanting to depart the Manchester club. In fact, Aguero recently had this to say, relayed by Oliver Todd of the Daily Mail:
"The only reason a player should leave a club is to achieve things, and I can achieve all I want to at City. I can't stop rumours. I can't stop people writing things, but what I do is repeat what I have already said, and that is that I'm very happy at Manchester City."
We may see Aguero departing the Premier League in the future. Will it happen this summer? No.
Paris Saint-Germain Preparing 'Final Bid' for Paul Pogba
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Paul Pogba's future promises to be the subject of the most overblown transfer stories of the summer.
This is nothing new, as we have become accustomed to seeing the France international's name linked with all manner of big-money moves across Europe in recent years.
Currently, in Marca (h/t Ben Jefferson of the Express), there are reports that Paris Saint-Germain are preparing to launch a £65 million bid in order to secure the Juventus midfielder ahead of Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City. Real Madrid and Barcelona are also credited with interest:
"PSG are struggling with Financial Fair Play restrictions and were thought to have made United's Angel Di Maria their top target.
But with only funds to make one big money transfer this summer, they will make a final push for Pogba.
It is claimed that PSG will offer £65million, £7m more than Barcelona have been quoted to take the player to Catalonia.
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Pogba, winner of the Young Player Award at the 2014 World Cup—and previously of Manchester United— has won three consecutive Serie A titles and this season's Coppa Italia since signing for Juventus in August 2012. His current deal with the club, which he only signed in October 2014, expires in 2019.
Believability Meter: Low
The transfer window has months to go yet PSG are already preparing a "final bid" for Pogba? We don't think so.
Pogba was always going to be linked with Laurent Blanc's side. He's a world-class midfielder from the eastern suburbs of Paris and every inch the marquee signing that Qatar Sports Investments—PSG's owners—would like, and arguably need, to make in summer 2015. On the face of it, the idea of a move to the Parc des Princes holds water.
However, Juve don't really need to sell. Flush with money following their run to the Champions League final, they could easily keep hold of their star player for at least one more year. From the player's perspective, a stay in Turin could also be a wise choice with the 2016 European Championship bearing down fast.
PSG and many others will be linked to Pogba's name over the coming months. However, when the 2015/16 season kicks off, we think he will still be wearing the black-and-white stripes of Juve.
As for "final bids"let's talk in August.
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