Manchester United are reportedly interested in every Real Madrid forward…except Jese…poor Jese.
While the much-desired reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo looks unlikely and the long-time interest in Gareth Bale appears to be for nought, the deal for Karim Benzema has reportedly gotten underway.
Manchester Evening News report that United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has held talks with the French international’s agent with an eye to a summer move.
Benzema is currently on holiday in New York but Woodward and the player’s agent Karim Djazir were spotted at a London hotel earlier this week with suggestions that the Premier League side are willing to offer €55 million for the 27-year-old striker.
With David de Gea looking ever more likely to be heading in the opposite direction, Benzema could be seen as a bargaining chip for Real.
Benzema could be a straight replacement for the departing Robin van Persie who has agreed to move to Lazio for a fee of €14 million according to The Daily Star.
Juventus and Galatasaray had been also been monitoring the Dutchman’s situation but it’s understood that Stefano Pioli’s side have won out.
RvP has looked a shadow of his former self, with just 10 goals over the past campaign, and his persistent injuries means than Louis van Gaal will not be too devastated to see him leave.
In Liverpool news, Reds fans will feel hard done by after the club’s pursuit of a goalkeeper is set to end with a less-than-glamorous signing.
Liverpool had been linked with Petr Cech, Neto and Asmir Begovic as stoppers who could provide serious competition for Simon Mignolet but they will instead sign Bolton’s Adam Bogdan.
Bogdan’s contract at the Macron Stadium runs up at the end of this month and Brendan Rodgers is keen to nab him on a free transfer.
While the Hungary international has been impressive in the Championship this past season, his ability to put pressure on Mignolet for a starting place is questionable. (Telegraph)
Liverpool’s confidence of signing Villareal’s Luciano Vietto will have taken a blow now that Manchester United and Arsenal have entered the fray.
The Reds were frontrunners for the signature of the Argentina U20 international who has been dubbed “the new Sergio Aguero” but Spanish publication AS claim that other clubs have taken an interest in him.
Vietto scored 20 goals for Villareal this season and has a buy-out clause of €20 million which United are reportedly happy to meet.
Another striker who has been linked to Liverpool is Manchester City’s Stevan Jovetic.
Jovetic has struggled to rekindle the form shown at Fiorentina after scoring just 11 goals in his two seasons at the Etihad and, with yesterday’s report that City had made a bid for Raheem Sterling, Jovetic could be used as a sweetener in the deal.
The Mirror claim that Jovetic is on Brendan Rodgers’ wishlist as he attempts to re-inject goals back into his side.
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