B/R Gossip Roundup: Harry Kane, Julian Draxler and Grzegorz Krychowiak
Julian Draxler-to-Juventus gossip returned this week, as did talk of Manchester United’s interest in Harry Kane. Meanwhile, both Grzegorz Krychowiak and Lucas Biglia have been linked with moves to the Premier League.
We chew over these transfer stories over the next seven pages of the B/R Gossip Roundup and, as always, give you our viewpoint on their believability.
Read on for the latest chatter surrounding Draxler, Kane, Krychowiak, Biglia and more.
Lucas Biglia: En Route to Old Trafford?
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Lucas Biglia has been strongly linked with a move from Lazio to Manchester United, with some outlets this week suggesting a deal has already been agreed.
On Monday, reports from French website Le10 Sport (h/t the Independent's James Orr) claimed the Argentina international had, "agreed personal terms with United, who had a £17m bid rejected earlier this summer. It has been reported that the Serie A side are holding out for £25m."
The following day's news told us the Rome club were aiming to receive a figure closer to £35 million, reported Joe Short in the Express, while mentioning that Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain were also keen on Biglia, citing claims from Gazzetta dello Sport.
Over the summer, the 29-year-old defensive midfielder was named as Lazio's new club captain, and he has been at Stadio Olimpico since summer 2013, when he swapped Anderlecht for the Biancocelesti.
His current contract runs until 2018.
Believability Meter: Low
In a pre-Supercoppa press conference, Biglia was ambiguous when responding to a a journalist who asked if being given the captain's armband would make him stay at Lazio, saying (h/t Paolo Bandini on ESPN FC), "I don't know, we'll just have to see. Anything can happen."
As transfer window aficionados will know, any time a player utters the words "anything can happen," there will be a scramble to link that player with as many moves as possible, no matter how far-fetched.
It's a sentence all scribes love to hear. Yet it's also a phrase that ultimately means nothing. Biglia did not say he wanted to leave. Nor did he confirm his desire to stay. Which leaves us where?
United have already strengthened their midfield this summer, signing Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger, and although, Louis van Gaal's side have pressing needs to address before September 1—they're not in the center of the park.
Lazio's cup does not runneth over with experienced defence-minded midfielders, and it's unlikely they will sanction a sale for their highly influential captain.
In short, it's not going to happen. So let's move on to Slide 2.
Harry Kane: Not for Sale
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Harry Kane has been once again linked with a move from Tottenham Hotspur to Manchester United, as reported by the Express' Charles Perrin.
The striker was being tipped as a potential "marquee signing" for Louis van Gaal's side in early June (h/t David McDonnell in the Mirror), with talk of a £40 million bid mooted.
This week, the gossip returned. As Perrin wrote:
"United are in the market for a forward, as Louis van Gaal only has three established strikers at his disposal.
Reports have suggested that the Red Devils are mulling over a £40 million bid for the Spurs striker, who netted 31 goals in all competitions last term.
Despite their strong interest, Van Gaal hasn't lodged a formal offer for the 22-year-old.
"
Elsewhere, the Guardian's David Hytner claimed Spurs are adamant they will not sell the striker to United or any other club:
"Daniel Levy, the Spurs chairman, met Ed Woodward, the Old Trafford executive vice-chairman, in May as stories first emerged of United’s interest in Kane and he made it plain that he would not entertain any bids for his club’s prized asset. That position has not changed.
"
Kane signed a new contract with Spurs in February—a deal designed to keep him at White Hart Lane until 2020, as seen on BBC Sport.
Believability Meter: High
Kane's 31 goals in all competitions last season have made him a very desirable player to a great number of clubs. Young, English and prolific in 2014/15, it's not hard to see why.
Yes, Spurs can be considered a "selling club" when you look back at the names that have been sold on at top prices during the Premier League era—Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov to name a few.
And yes, United did poach the latter pair from north London and do need more striking options this term.
However, with Kane, it seems the club are genuinely only interested in keeping hold of him, and we think he is there to stay, certainly for the next season or two.
Arsenal Eyeing Sevilla’s Grzegorz Krychowiak
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Arsenal could soon make a £22 million bid for Sevilla midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak, according to John Percy in the Telegraph.
The Gunners have made just one signing over the summer—goalkeeper Petr Cech—and it seems scouts from the north London club went to watch the 25-year-old in action on Tuesday, when Sevilla and Barcelona met for the UEFA Super Cup.
As Percy reported:
"Krychowiak is emerging as a serious target for the Arsenal manager as he considers making further additions before the transfer window closes on Sept 1.
An Arsenal delegation attended Sevilla's Super Cup clash with Barcelona to watch the Poland international, who has a buy-out clause of €30 million (£21.26 million) at the Europa League winners.
"
Krychowiak moved from Stade de Reims to Sevilla last summer and has since made 49 appearances for Unai Emery’s side.
The defensive midfielder scored in last season's Europa League final, in which Los Rojiblancos beat Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 3-2.
He has three years remaining on his current contract at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Believability Meter: Low to Medium
Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini are both creaking at the knees, and with backup needed for Francis Coquelin in defensive midfield, an Arsenal move for Krychowiak does make plenty of sense.
Selling him for a fee in the region of £22 million would certainly be good business for Sevilla, who bought him for just £3.85 million in July 2014. However, would they consider letting him go, considering he was so integral to the team last term?
This story, no doubt heightened by the Gunners' opening day-loss against West Ham United, could go either way, and Krychowiak could realistically follow Carlos Bacca (AC Milan) and Aleix Vidal (Barcelona) out of Sevilla this summer.
Yet we are tempted to believe he will stay with the Spanish club.
Manchester City to Bid for Nicolas Otamendi
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Nicolas Otamendi could be on his way to Manchester City, claimed the Mirror's Darren Lewis this week.
The Argentina international has been linked with City's cross-town rivals, Manchester United, for much of the summer, but as Lewis reported, Manuel Pellegrini is keen to snap him up:
"Manchester City want to beat Manchester United to £35million-rated defender Nicolas Otamendi, once they land Kevin De Bruyne. ...
City have been keen to strengthen in other areas before turning their attentions to central defence, but Otamendi is a player that they have admired and the club are hopeful of being able to complete a deal this summer.
"
Meanwhile, in the Express, Bruce Archer reported that both Manchester clubs are unwilling to meet the player's £35 million buyout clause.
Archer mentioned Spanish newspaper AS, which insisted Otamendi's head is "already in Manchester" after the defender asked to be excused from training.
The 27-year-old, who swapped FC Porto for Valencia last year, has four years remaining on his existing deal at the Mestalla.
Believability Meter: Low
Perhaps we were a little low on juicy transfer gossip this week, as this rumour smacks of being little more than a space-filler in the press.
Last week, we discussed the long-running story linking Otamendi with a move to Old Trafford and considered it to be a fairly unlikely move given United's apparent lack of significant interest. We'd wager that the same is true of City.
It feels like the Argentinian is being linked with Pellegrini's side purely because it makes for a good story. A fight between the Red Devils and the Sky Blues, what could be better—or easier to write?!
Note City are also being linked with reported United target Pedro Rodriguez, as seen on Sky Sports.
As for Otamendi, our money is still on him staying at Valencia.
Arsenal and Juventus Battling to Sign Julian Draxler
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Schalke's Julian Draxler could be the subject of a £21.1 million bid from Arsenal despite being linked with Juventus of late.
This story, which originated on Italian website Tutto Juve (h/t Jamie Sanderson in Metro), claimed Gunners manager Arsene Wenger "will offer £17.6m up front with a further £3.5m to follow in bonus payments."
In July, the 21-year-old was said to have reached an agreement with Juventus, with a transfer fee the only thing to be settled between Schalke and the Serie A side. As reported on Goal, "Juve are understood to want to pay €25m, while the Bundesliga outfit are hoping for closer to €35m."
This week, Schalke's director of sport, Horst Heldt, told Rheinische Post (h/t ESPN FC):
"It's not our plan to sell Julian, but in this business it's damn hard to make definitive statements.
If there was a club willing to offer a utopian sum for a player, then it's always in the club's interests to consider it.
We want to keep him, but it's an issue that we can only draw a line under on Aug. 31. Anything else just wouldn't be honest.
What would the point be of me saying today that he's not going anywhere, and then a few days later a mega offer arrives for him?
"
Draxler came through the youth system at Veltins-Arena and has made 167 appearances for the senior team. The World Cup winner's current deal runs until 2018.
Believability Meter: Low
Draxler has been linked with Arsenal for such a long time we have started to develop an immunity to headlines featuring connections between the two.
It's highly unlikely we'll see the Germany international at the Emirates Stadium in Arsenal colours, and it's worth noting that these rumours are coming from the likes of Metro and the Daily Star, with the broadsheets, so far, steering clear.
Draxler's release clause did expire in late June, per Ed Aarons of the Guardian, which is a good reason for interested suitors to make their bids.
However, if an offer upward of £21 million is not made—specifically by Juve—a Schalke stay remains the most likely option of them all.
Southampton's Jose Fonte to Aston Villa?
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Aston Villa would like to sign Jose Fonte from Southampton, with Everton also said to be interested in the centre-back, claimed Sky Sports this week.
However, in response to rumours linking Fonte with an exit, Saints manager Ronald Koeman told the Mirror's Alex Smith:
"I don't know if he is a target for another club. He is our captain, he's a very strong defender. He’s a club man like [goalkeeper] Kelvin Davis and not for one second would I sell that player.
He’s part of the team, he's the captain. There is no way we will sell the player.
"
Fonte joined the Premier League side when they were in League One in January 2010, following a two-and-a-half year spell with Crystal Palace.
The Portuguese defender has racked up 226 appearances in his time on the south coast.
Believability Meter: Low
Inspired, perhaps, by talk of a Southampton move for 24-year-old Celtic centre-back Virgil van Dijk, as seen on BBC Sport, and Ron Vlaar's Villa departure, the idea of Fonte leaving Southampton to join Tim Sherwood's side seems doubtful to us.
He played almost every minute of Premier League football for the Saints last term—missing just one game through suspension—and is captain at a club where exciting strides have been made in recent seasons, including qualification for the Europa League.
Villa will struggle this season, and Koeman says he does not want to sell. All things considered, we think Fonte is going nowhere this summer, even if his new agent does turn out to be Jorge Mendes, as indicated by the Mirror's Neil Moxley.
Lucas Leiva: From Liverpool to Serie A?
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Lucas Leiva could leave Liverpool this summer if rumours linking him with a Serie A switch are to be believed.
As reported by Simon Jones for the MailOnline, the Reds are willing to listen to offers for the 28-year-old, who appears to have fallen out with manager Brendan Rodgers and is being linked with AC Milan:
"Lucas was left out of the squad to face Stoke City on Sunday and has been considering his options as the transfer window draws to a close.
Liverpool value Lucas, who was made aware that he would effectively become their fifth choice central midfielder, at about £8m.
He has two years remaining on his contract at Anfield but AC could sign the midfielder. It comes following interest from their Italian rivals Inter Milan in January.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers did not want to sell him at the time when Inter showed an interest but is now open to offers after a breakdown in his relationship with the player.
"
Per David Maddock of the Mirror, Inter Milan are credited with continued interest in Lucas, with Napoli also said to be keen.
Elsewhere, West Ham have also been linked with the former Gremio midfielder, according to "sources" on ESPN FC.
Lucas arrived at Anfield in 2007 and has since made 275 appearances for Liverpool. He has a contract that is set to expire in summer 2017.
Believability Meter: High
It's easy to imagine that Lucas has already played his last game for Liverpool—a slip down the pecking order, tales of a relationship breakdown with his manager and the fact he did not even travel to the opening game of the season all point toward a likely exit.
With just 16 starts in the English top flight last term and as a player often beset by injury, Lucas will next year move into the final 12 months of his contract. From the Reds' perspective, why not sell for £8 million?
Linked with Inter Milan in January and close to leaving Anfield in each of the last three transfer windows, per Chis Bascombe of the Telegraph, expect Lucas to have left Merseyside by September 1.
All appearance and contract information comes from Transfermarkt, unless indicated otherwise.
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