B/R Gossip Roundup: Big Price for Gonzalo Higuain, Arsenal in for Arturo Vidal
Could Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain fetch £67 million this summer, and are Juventus really ready to sell Arturo Vidal...to Arsenal?
You'll find these stories and our reactions in this week's edition of the B/R Gossip Roundup, which also features Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sergio Ramos' links with Manchester United, Raheem Sterling, Antoine Griezmann and more.
What do you think of this week's transfer gossip? Believable or laughable? Let us know below.
Sergio Ramos and Bastian Schweinsteiger to Manchester United
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According to a variety of media outlets in the United Kingdom, Manchester United have shown strong interest in signing Sergio Ramos and Bastian Schweinsteiger of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively.
As reported by Jason Burt and John Percy in the Telegraph, "The Premier League club have been given strong encouragement that the two world-class players might be available for transfer this summer and are prepared to enter into talks."
United manager Louis van Gaal is said to be in the market for a new right-back, central defender, central midfielder and striker, as seen on BBC Sport, and it’s thought that Ramos and Schweinsteiger are high on his summer wish list.
Schweinsteiger has just one year remaining on his current deal at Allianz Arena and will soon be turning 31. The highly decorated central midfielder has racked up 500 games for Bayern and is available for less than £10 million, according to the Telegraph.
Ramos, at 29, has two years remaining on his existing contract with Los Blancos, where he has played for 10 years. His move to Old Trafford could potentially be engineered as part of a swap deal if goalkeeper David De Gea goes the other way.
Believability Meter: Medium
Considering his age and contract situation, Schweinsteiger's prospective move to Old Trafford could happen. If it did, it would be one of the bargains of the season. Last term, injuries restricted hi, to just 15 Bundesliga appearances, which has sparked rumours that he may find his game time limited under Pep Guardiola in 2015/16. Having played under Van Gaal before, a move to Manchester may look attractive.
In Ramos' case, gossip gathered steam as the week went on. The 29-year-old apparently told Madrid he wanted to leave the club, with the Guardian's Sid Lowe reporting that, "Neither Ramos, 29, nor Madrid have made any public statement but privately their positions are now clear."
Plenty of column inches will be dedicated to the pair over coming weeks.
Raheem Sterling: Liverpool Holding out for £50M
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It seems that Manchester City are preparing a third bid for Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling—this time to the tune of £50 million.
Manuel Pellegrini's side have already made advances for the 20-year-old, as detailed by the Guardian's Daniel Taylor, but they have been turned down by the Reds.
However, reports emerging this week suggest that a new and improved offer is on the table. As the Liverpool Echo's James Peace writes:
"The Reds have had no contact with City since an improved offer of £40million was quickly rejected last week.
However, City haven't been put off their pursuit of the young England international and will make another attempt to land the 20-year-old attacker.
Liverpool's stance remains unchanged. They don't want to sell Sterling, who is under contract at Anfield until 2017.
However, in the knowledge that he wants to quit the club and is keen on a move to the Etihad Stadium, the Reds would reluctantly agree to do business if their £50million valuation is met.
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Sterling has made 129 Liverpool appearances since his 2010 move from Queens Park Rangers into the Anfield youth setup. The England international's future is one of the biggest transfer stories of the summer and looks set to dominate the back pages for some time.
Believability Meter: High
Sterling may be contracted to Liverpool for two more years, but his representatives have made it clear that he will not sign an extension at Anfield at any price, per Hamish Mackay in the Mirror.
It's not the first time that a star player in Brendan Rodgers' side has wanted out, as seen through last year's £75 million sale of Luis Suarez.
A figure of £50 million is huge for a someone as inexperienced as Sterling, and the Reds would be crazy to turn down such a fee. We think that, when this bid happens, City will get their man.
Chelsea Chasing Antoine Griezmann in Mohamed Salah Swap Deal
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If you thought that last year's move from Real Sociedad to Atletico Madrid had put an end to Antoine Griezmann transfer rumours, think again.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Ben Jefferson in the Express), Chelsea are now in hot pursuit of the 24-year-old.
The article describes the France international as being "high on Jose Mourinho's wish list" and suggests that Mohamed Salah could be sent the other way as a makeweight in a prospective £45 million deal.
Salah was sent out on loan to Fiorentina in February after making just 13 Premier League appearances for the Blues since January 2014.
Griezmann, however, has racked up 53 games for Diego Simeone's side in all competitions to date, scoring 25 goals in his first season at Vicente Calderon. This made him La Liga's third-highest goalscorer behind—no prizes for guessing—Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Believability Meter: Low to Medium
Yes, Griezmann would be an excellent addition to the Chelsea lineup, and yes, debt-laden Atleti are forced to sell players on a fairly regular basis, but we don't think this will happen. Not this season.
Griezmann was consistently linked with a move away from Real Sociedad during his time at Anoeta. His transfer to Atleti, who snapped him up on a six-year deal, was a long time coming.
A relatively low £43 million buyout clause, reported by the Telegraph's Matt Law, will see Griezmann's name cropping up in the rumour mill this summer, and we don't expect the versatile attacker to stay at Atleti forever.
But after just one very successful campaign with his new club, we can't see him packing his bags so soon. With the 2016 European Championship on the horizon, an Atleti stay makes sense.
Angel Di Maria Opting to Stay at Manchester United
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Angel Di Maria has committed his immediate future to Manchester United, according to Argentinian newspaper Ole (h/t Chris Wheeler in the Daily Mail).
The Premier League transfer window does not open until July 1, but there has already been plenty of interest in the 27-year-old, who signed for United from Real Madrid last summer.
As highlighted in Wheeler's article, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Bayern Munich have all been linked with his name.
Di Maria's first season in England was something of a let down. Following a bright start and despite notching 11 assists and three goals across 2014/15, his form was patchy at best and a poor reflection of what Premier League fans expected from the £59.7 million signing.
Rumours of an Old Trafford exit have been swirling. However, as Di Maria told Ole:
"I came with an intention and end up on the bench. It’s hard to say how I feel there. I started well with goals and assists. I was having a good time, until I was out. It’s a little hard to explain why I do not play.
No [I will not leave] because I'm not thinking like that. In Madrid there were times when I was whistled around the stadium but faced it and then it turned around. I like to deal with things.
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Elsewhere, Spanish newspaper Sport (h/t the Independent's Simon Rice) claims that the winger is keen on a move to Camp Nou.
Believability Meter: High
After an attempted break in at his home and an up-and-down season, 2014/15 did not provide a dream start to life in Manchester for Di Maria. It's only natural he has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford.
However, after making such a big investment in the player, United will want to keep hold of the Argentina international, who seems keen to prove his worth in the English top flight.
Alex Song Poised to Join West Ham United on a Free Transfer
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It looks increasingly likely that Barcelona's Alex Song will join West Ham United on a free transfer this summer.
Initial signs suggested that Barcelona wanted £5 million for the Cameroon international but, as the Telegraph's Matt Law recently reported, "the Spanish club are now understood to be open to the idea of allowing the midfielder to leave on a free transfer."
Law added, "West Ham are prepared to match his £70,000-a-week wages, but are haggling over performance related bonuses Barca want included in the deal."
The 27-year-old spent last season on loan with the Upton Park outfit, making 28 appearances in the Premier League.
Song joined Arsenal as a 17-year-old and was on the books at the Emirates Stadium until summer 2012. His homegrown status makes him very attractive for Premier League sides keen to boost their quota of such players.
Believability Meter: High
As seen in the Telegraph article above, rumours suggested that Chelsea, Manchester City, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur were all keen on acquiring Song's services this summer.
However, we'd be surprised to see the defensive midfielder anywhere outside of east London in 2015/16.
The Hammers are gearing up for a huge season. With a new manager in place, a new stadium beckoning and a sense that the club is on the brink of big things, there's a lot to attract Song to the club where he impressed last term and will be guaranteed to get games.
Napoli Hope That £67M Price Tag Will Deter Bids for Gonzalo Higuain
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According to the Guardian, Napoli have put a £67 million price tag on Gonzalo Higuain in an effort to ward off summer interest in the striker.
It seems that "a host of Europe’s leading clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Milan" are interested in the 27-year-old's services.
Elsewhere, the Express' Joe Short reckons Manchester United and Manchester City are also keen on the Argentinian.
The former Real Madrid man signed for the Partenopei in summer 2013, following six years at the Bernabeu. He has since notched 53 goals in 104 games for the Serie A side.
Higuain has three years remaining on his current contract at Stadio San Paolo and, as written in the Guardian, "Napoli have no interest in cashing in on one of their prized assets, releasing a statement informing potential suitors that they must meet a release clause of €94.7m (£67m) to sign the 27-year-old."
Believability Meter: Medium
Higuain is a player whose name always appears in transfer gossip, and the departure of Rafa Benitez—the manager who signed him at Napoli—gives cause for mild speculation. As does the fact that the Naples club do not have Champions League football next season.
The price tag will indeed deter a handful of clubs with limited resources, but if the likes of Manchester City or Manchester United register their interest, the valuation would surely be met.
As for missing out on Champions League football, Higuain could have sealed Napoli's passage if he scored a crucial penalty against Lazio on May 31.
Arsenal Readying Bid for Arturo Vidal
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Speculation coming out of Spain caused a flurry of excited transfer chatter in the United Kingdom this past week, when Fichajes linked Arturo Vidal with Arsenal.
Re-reported in a variety of UK outlets, including the Express, it seems that the Gunners are "desperate to add a marquee signing to their midfield" and would like to sign the Chilean.
Yes, that is the same Chilean who has been tirelessly linked with Manchester United for the last few years.
Elsewhere, Marca (h/t Lewis Rudd in Metro) reckons that Juve have agreed to sell the 28-year-old to a "top European club" whose name will be made public when the 2015 Copa America draws to a close.
Vidal signed for Juventus from Bayer Leverkusen in 2011 and has racked up 171 games and won four consecutive Scudetti for the Old Lady in that time. His current deal runs until 2017.
Believability Meter: Low
The rumours linking the midfielder with a move to the Emirates seem to hinge of the influence of Chile team-mate and Gunners player Alexis Sanchez. As Perrin writes, "Sanchez is hoping his friendship with Vidal could be pivotal in terms of securing a deal."
Just like last summer, when Jack Wilson of the Daily Star described Vidal as being "on the brink of sealing stunning move to Manchester United," we don't think he's going anywhere. Again.
Vidal is successful in Turin, and Juventus don't need the money. We'd wager that this transfer talk is all bluster and the Santiago-born player will soon sign a contract extension.
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