I’ll be honest, this one caught me on the hop.
He isn’t the first name on the teamsheet every week, but John Obi Mikel has been an important part of the last 9 or 10 years at Stamford Bridge.
The midfielder is often confined to substitute appearances, doing a pretty unglamorous, but effective job in front of the Blues’ back four.
Well if the Star are believed, he could be on his way to Real Madrid, with the paper quoting his agent as saying a move to the Spanish capital is a possibility.
“I can’t talk about anything regarding reports linking John with Real Madrid because he’s still a Chelsea player.”
Oldest trick in the book, that one.
One player who doesn’t seem to be heading to Madrid, for another year at least, is David De Gea. The Independent say that the Spanish stopper is set to stay at United for at least another season.
And they say that despite no breakthrough on a contract for the keeper, they’re planning to entice him to stay with a new £200,000 a week deal.
And with news of a potential transfer embargo on the way for Real in the near future, the chances of De Gea playing at Old Trafford next season have just risen considerably.
Having said that, knowing transfer rumours we’ll be seeing the opposite story in 24 hours.
One player Real will have to make a deal on soon is Javier Hernandez, according to The Daily Mail.
They say that Real’s first option to sign the striker for around £10m expires on Friday, at which point the market will open and they may face competition from other clubs.
United boss Louis Van Gaal dismissed notions that he’d be returning to United after scoring three in his last two for Real, leaving Hernandez’s future outside Old Trafford.
And with only one more day for Real to claim dibs on the Mexican striker, his future could be secure sooner rather than later.
One player who could be heading in the door at United is Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan.
The Roma star is a target for both Manchester United and Liverpool, but the pair will have to fight it out to sign the £29m rated star.
The 26-year-old has made it clear he’ll be leaving Roma at the end of the season, and Corriere Dello Sport say United are currently leading the race for his signature.
We’re praying that wherever he goes, it’s in the Premier League, purely so we can watch Paul Merson attempt to pronounce his name.
Liverpool may attempt to lure Theo Walcott to Anfield, should Arsenal sign winger Pedro from Barcelona.
The Spanish winger is believed to be a major target for the Gunners, and it could leave Walcott as surplus to requirements.
The England International has a year left on his contract at The Emirates, but with a history of injuries, Arsenal may be prepared to cut ties and sell him on the cheap.
And the Telegraph say Liverpool will be waiting in the wings, and are prepared to take a chance on the 26-year-old flier.
The Telegraph also say that the Gunners will be forking out €15m to bring Torino full-back Matteo Darmian to the club.
The Italian is thought to also be a target for Manchester United and Barcelona, but Arsenal are in pole position to sign him.
Elsewhere PSG are attempting to muscle in on Man City’s bid to sign Kevin De Bruyne from Wolfsburg.
The former Chelsea attacker has rediscovered himself since joining the Bundesliga last winter, and is now being spoken about as a £4qm sining for a big European club this summer.
Man City were thought to be in the lead to snap him up, but the Mirror say that PSG are throwing their names into the hat, and want to bring him to the French capital.
The player’s agent says a move to the French champions is a real possibility.
“PSG are a club with a lot of ambition and they are one of the teams Kevin would certainly like.
And finally, Crystal Palace’s impressive winger Yannick Bolasie will be fought over by as many as five clubs this summer, according to the Mirror.
He may have joined for around £300,000 just two years ago, but the club could recoup as much as £15m, should a bidding war erupt between interested parties.
Liverpool, Spurs, Everton, Newcastle and Stoke are all vying for his signing.
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