How can you turn down €120k a week?
Ahead of this weekend’s Liverpool-Manchester United clash at Anfield, fans are getting increasingly worried that one of the Reds current bright lights could be set to jump ship. Club chiefs are concerned that Raheem Sterling has yet to sign a new deal, and even though he still has 14 months or more left, he’s reportedly turned down an offer of over €120k a week to stay with Brendan Rodgers side.
And rumours linking the 20-year-old to a host of clubs this morning features on all the back pages. According to the Daily Express if Sterling does not sign a new deal the club will eye up Theo Walcott as his replacement. Talks to tie down Sterling to a new long term deal have been shelved until the summer with the hope that if Liverpool secure their place in the Champions League it will convince the youngster to stay on Merseyside
The Sun also reports that Manchester City will be leading the race to sign Sterling and are already planning an €70million bid for the forward.
If City are to table a a major money bid for the player it looks like they will be using some spare cash from the sale of a number of first teamers to do so. According to The Guardian at least three frontline players, and as many as 13 in total, will be shown the exit this summer, with Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko all likely to leave.
City are hoping to raise in excess of €160million from the clear-out which may also inlcude their current manager Manuel Pelligrini.
On the other side of Manchester it seems that Louis Van Gaal may be snubbed by one of his key defensive targets this summer.
According to the Daily Mirror Dani Alves isn’t going to commit to signing a deal at Old Trafford unless the club can be assured of Champions League football.
The 31-year-old is expected to leave Barcelona and join a Premier League side, with United currently the hot favourites for his signature. Liverpool and Arsenal have also expressed an interest.
Chelsea’s midfield looks pretty solid to us but it seems that it’s about to get a little bit more beef in the shape of Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke.
The 23-year-old has been one of the star performers for Diego Simone’s side over the last few seasons with a string of impressive displays in La Liga and in Europe.
The Spanish side are seeking some defensive cover and may be interested in a partial swap deal for former defender Filipe Luis who has failed to settle at Stamford Bridge according to the London Evening Standard
