B/R Gossip Roundup: What Next for Marco Reus, John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne?
Marco Reus has been linked with a move away from Borussia Dortmund, speculation suggests VfL Wolfsburg's Kevin De Bruyne is on his way to Manchester City and Everton's John Stones continues to be pursued by Chelsea.
Over the following pages, we bring you the details of these three rumours and give you our view on their believability.
You will also find our thoughts on the latest gossip surrounding Bayern Munich pair Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze, not to mention Fernando Llorente and the in-demand Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
What are you waiting for? Read on for this week's B/R Gossip Roundup.
Pep Guardiola: 'Mario Gotze Not Leaving This Summer'
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Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola has insisted that Mario Gotze will not be leaving the Allianz Arena this summer despite rumours suggesting otherwise.
As reported by Joe Short in the Express, Gotze has been attracting interest from the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool.
The 23-year-old has also been linked with Juventus, who are on the verge of selling Arturo Vidal to Bayern.
However, as quoted by Short, Guardiola has denied that the World Cup winner will be departing: "Mario's got a contract here, he's my player and he's a great player too. In my mind, he is going to be a Bayern Munich player all season. He's a top player, but I know that it's not only the coach who decides here. It depends on the club."
Gotze has failed to make a significant impact at Bayern, whom he signed for from Borussia Dortmund in summer 2013. The 2014/15 campaign was patchy for the Germany international, who found himself in the lower reaches Guardiola's pecking order at several stages last season.
He has two years remaining on his existing contract.
Believability Meter: Medium
We are not completely convinced by Guardiola's assertion that Gotze will remain a Bayern player this season, and like the Spanish manager said, it's the club that decides who stays or goes.
For Gotze—used only as a substitute in big games in the Champions League and DFB-Pokal last term—if he is worried about slipping further down his manager's priority list, a move may prove attractive. Especially to the likes of Juve.
Gotze may go on to have an outstanding season with Bayern, but if news suddenly broke that the attacking midfielder was departing, we wouldn't be overly shocked.
Everton’s John Stones to Cost a Record £30M?
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John Stones looks set to become the priciest English defender of all time—if Chelsea pay a record £30 million fee for his services.
The Toffees have already turned down a £20 million bid for the 21-year-old, as seen on BBC Sport, with manager Roberto Martinez said to be angry at Chelsea's advances for the player and Jose Mourinho's open interest.
However, as the Guardian's Steve Brenner reported this week, "Chelsea are refusing to relent in the battle to sign Everton's John Stones and will make an improved bid of around £26m despite Roberto Martinez's anger over the situation."
Stones is said to be keen on a move to Stamford Bridge, and Brenner goes on to write, "With Everton sure to demand more than £30m, Stones is set to become the most expensive English defender, eclipsing the £29.1m spent by Manchester United to sign Rio Ferdinand in 2002."
The former Barnsley player came to Goodison Park in January 2013. He has since made 44 Premier League appearances for Everton.
Stones has four years remaining on his current contract.
Believability Meter: High
Chelsea obviously rate Stones very highly and £30 million will be seen as a snip in SW6 should it secure them the young, English, John Terry of the future.
Everton may have resisted a reported £20 million approach for the centre-back, but they may find a £30 million bid hard to turn down. It's highly likely that Stones will soon command this record-breaking transfer fee.
Fernando Llorente: Manchester United’s ‘Mystery’ Target?
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According to David McDonnell of the Mirror, Juventus striker Fernando Llorente is Manchester United's mystery summer transfer target.
United manager Louis van Gaal recently revealed he is tracking a forward but refused to name a specific player when speaking during the club's pre-season tour, as reported by McDonnell. However, as the Mirror journalist later wrote:
"The Old Trafford giants have been offered giant Spain international Llorente and have asked to be 'kept informed' of his situation.
The link to 30-year-old Llorente emerged as Angel Di Maria’s proposed £45m move to Paris Saint-Germain edged nearer as officials from the French club held talks with United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward on Monday in London.
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As the week progressed, Van Gaal hinted that the mystery man may not be a striker at all, with the Mirror’s Hamish Mackay quoting the Dutch manager as saying, "I don't know if I want to buy a striker. I have read in the media the striker is the surprise. No, that's not what I said. But you are saying that. No, I mean something else."
By Friday, the Spaniard was being linked with Arsenal, as reported in the Express by Adam Skinner.
Believability Meter: Low
While it's true United may be on the lookout for a new marksman to replace the departed Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie, we don't think Llorente will be turning up at Old Trafford.
Quotes from Van Gaal do little to shed any light on the situation, and we'd wager he is having a little fun with reporters and sending them after false leads.
It's worth mentioning that Llorente has hardly set the world alight since signing for Juve in 2013. He notched 18 goals in his first season at the club, but he played a bit-part role last term, scoring nine goals and completing 90 minutes on just 10 occasions in all competitions. In the Champions League, he received just 44 minutes of action beyond the group stage.
A decent target man? Yes. But we'd be shocked if the 30-year-old turns out to be the striker the Manchester side are reportedly seeking.
Liverpool 'Working Intensely' on Marco Reus Deal
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As reported by Alex Harris in the Daily Star, Liverpool are trying to beat Real Madrid to the signing of Marco Reus.
The story, based on a tweet by Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri, suggests the Reds are weighing up a £46 million bid for the Borussia Dortmund player.
As Harris writes:
"Liverpool are 'working intensely' to land German star Marco Reus, according to football expert Tancredi Palmeri. ...
Reus is believed to favour a move to the Bernabeu and Real are said to have also entered talks to seal a deal.
The Dortmund ace has been linked with a host of Europe's biggest clubs despite being hampered by injuries last season.
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Elsewhere, the Express' Adam Skinner claims Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are also keen.
Born in Dortmund, Reus came through the club's youth system before moving to Rot Weiss Ahlen in 2006. After a three-year spell with Borussia Monchengladbach, he rejoined BVB in summer 2012.
He has since made 122 appearances for Dortmund and, in February, inked an extension to his existing deal, which will now run until 2019. The €25 million release clause included his previous contract was removed, as seen on ESPN FC.
In 2014/15, Reus was forced to watch from the sidelines because of several injuries. He started just 18 Bundesliga games last term.
Believability Meter: Low to Medium
Liverpool may well be interested in Reus as a replacement for Raheem Sterling, who recently moved to Manchester City, but it feels unlikely the Germany international will become a Red.
Reus' name always crops up in transfer talk, but we'd hazard a guess he probably won't be leaving Signal Iduna Park this summer. Give it at least one campaign under new Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel and then we shall see.
Thomas Muller to Leave Bayern Munich?
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Thomas Muller has been linked with a switch from Bayern Munich to Manchester United, who have already reportedly had a bid turned down by the Bundesliga club.
As the week began, the Guardian’s Jamie Jackson wrote:
"Thomas Muller is open to a move to Manchester United although Bayern Munich are insistent the forward is not for sale. United are aware of Bayern’s resistance though they have not given up hope of prising him away for a fee in the region of €80m (£55.7m).
Muller is flattered by Louis van Gaal’s interest but the World Cup winner knows Bayern's position.
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This speculation intensified when Bayern captain Philipp Lahm told reporters (h/t the Daily Mail) he could not rule out a potential Muller departure.
By midweek, it seemed United had lodged a formal bid for the 25-year-old and, as reported in German daily Bild (h/t the Guardian), Van Gaal's side submitted a €100 million (£70 million) offer for the World Cup winner, with Bayern described as "reluctant to sell."
The Bild report went on to claim, "Muller is interested in leaving the Allianz Arena having completed 90 minutes in just 29 matches over the last two years since the arrival of Guardiola, despite the denial of his agent Ludwig Kogl: 'I do not want to participate. Thomas plays for Bayern and has a contract with Bayern.'"
Bayern have already sold one player to United during the current transfer window in Bastian Schweinsteiger who, like Muller, played under Van Gaal when the Dutchman was in charge of the club between 2009 and 2011.
By Thursday, Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was quoted by Jackson in the Guardian as saying, "There are some players who just don’t have any price tag. We would be out of our minds to sell Muller."
The Germany international has four years remaining on his current deal at Allianz Arena.
Believability Meter: Low
If this all sounds a bit familiar, it's because exactly the same story was being trotted out in the press last year. As Bild (h/t Jackson in the Guardian) reported in August 2014, Muller claimed he rejected an "astronomical" offer to head to Old Trafford.
It didn't happen during last year's window, and it won't happen this summer, either.
Van Gaal may be keen on Muller—who wouldn't be?!) but we agree with Rummenigge—Bayern would be out of their minds to let him go.
Kevin De Bruyne to Manchester City for £60M?
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Kevin De Bruyne is being targeted by Manchester City, with talk of a record-breaking £60 million bid in the offing.
As the Mirror’s David Anderson reported:
"De Bruyne has given City the green light to begin the bidding by telling Wolfsburg he wants to leave.
City have set aside a substantial war-chest to land De Bruyne, despite making the £49million Raheem Sterling their costliest signing last week.
Their opening offer is expected to be around £40million, but it is understood they are willing to go as high as £60million to land the former Chelsea midfielder.
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De Bruyne, previously of Chelsea, signed for Wolfsburg in January 2014. During his two years at Stamford Bridge, the 24-year-old was sent out on loan twice—once to former club Genk and subsequently to Werder Bremen. He made a total of just nine appearances in all competitions for the Blues.
As reported by the German press (h/t Uche Amako in the Express), Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs has denied the speculation linking De Bruyne with a move away from Volkswagen Arena: "Nothing has arrived here. And neither Kevin nor his agent have told me they want to leave."
Should a fee of £60 million be paid for the Belgium international, it would make De Bruyne the most expensive player in Premier League history—a position currently held by Manchester United's Angel Di Maria, who arrived at Old Trafford from Real Madrid for £59.7 million last summer.
Believability Meter: Low
Voted as the Bundesliga's best outfield player in 2014/15, De Bruyne's 20 league assists and 10 goals make him a very attractive target for any club with upward of £40 million to spare.
However, it's worth remembering things didn't quite work out for the young Belgian during his last stint in the Premier League. Having played such a pivotal role in Wolfsburg's second-place finish and consequent Champions League qualification last term, it’s hard to imagine him leaving after just 18 months with Dieter Hecking’s side.
Die Wolfe's finances are sound, and they are not a side pushed into selling their top talents so should be able to withstand City’s advances.
Yes, De Bruyne will probably move to a bigger club in time, but with his place guaranteed in Hecking’s starting XI and the 2016 European Championship edging closer, it won't be this summer.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Poised for Premier League Move?
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Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, according to France Football (h/t Aaron Flanagan in the Mirror).
As Flanagan writes:
"The forward impressed in the second half of the Bundesliga season last campaign and has attracted interest from Premier League suitors.
The Gabon international is now thought to be one of the primary transfer targets for both the Gunners and Spurs this summer.
Dortmund are expected to resist most bids for the player, unless a remarkable bid is made.
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Elsewhere, the Independent's Jack de Menezes reported on the interest from the north London clubs, including rumours of an apparent £28.5 million offer by Arsenal, which Dortmund were said to have rejected.
The 26-year-old forward signed for Dortmund in July 2013—a snip at just £9.1 million. This was following a successful season in which he netted 19 goals and 14 assists for Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1.
A product of the AC Milan youth system, Aubameyang has since made 94 appearances for BVB, scoring 41 goals and assisting a further 16 in all competitions.
He has three years remaining on his current deal.
Believability Meter: Low
In recent seasons, we have seen big-name players such as Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze depart Dortmund, and many of those who remain with the club—such as Marco Reus, Mats Hummels and Aubameyang—are constantly linked with a move.
Despite the chatter, the club's fans need not worry about their No. 1 striker. He will remain in black and yellow this term.
As club director Michael Zorc recently told Kicker (h/t De Menezes in the Independent), "We rely heavily on Aubameyang—that is no secret. I've heard a lot about [a transfer to Arsenal] but I can say very clearly that it is blocked for him. He is simply not for sale."
Impending transfer or not, club officials often makes these noises, but in Zorc's case, we're inclined to believe him. Ciro Immobile has gone to Sevilla, the oft-injured Reus has an uncertain future and Aubameyang is likely to have the BVB XI built around him in 2015/16 under Thomas Tuchel.
A highly valuable member of the squad, we wouldn't be surprised if the only contract Aubameyang signs in coming weeks is a Dortmund extension.
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