€5.6 million made from that Nani sale so they only have to raise another €134.4m.
Simple as.
Michael Glazer leveraged, was loaned and eeked out about €1bn [£800m] to buy Manchester United back in 2005. A decade on and the club are reportedly willing to shell out a gigantic sum of cash to land one football player.
The Gareth Bale to Manchester United rumours looked to be fading but, according to Spanish radio station Cope, the Premier League outfit remain keen.
The same broadcaster flagged the Sergio Ramos to United story, late last month, so there may be a kernel of truth involved. However, a transfer triangle of Bale, Ramos and David de Gea will, no doubt, end with everyone staying put and it all kicking off again next summer.
A Liverpool player is eager to bring another saga to an end but may end up in the hottest of waters for his antics.
Raheem Sterling ain’t getting on no plane.
Where did it all go wrong?
The attacking midfielder has told Liverpool that he will not be travelling with them to Australia, then Asia, on their pre-season tour. Sterling is trying to force through a £50m move to Manchester City.
Considering that he has two years left on his current contract and Liverpool are digging their heels in, this one has collision course etched all over it. [Daily Mirror]
To raise two-fifths of that fee, City are willing to let Edin Dzeko go (why?!) to Roma. The Bosnian striker has come through for City on numerous occasions but has never had Manuel Pellegrini’s true faith.
If Liverpool were smart, they would take Dzeko and £30m for Sterling. [The Times]
Daily Express reports that Yohan Cabaye is set to join his old Newcastle boss at Crystal Palace next season. The French midfielder is currently with PSG but may be tempted back to the Premier League.
Alan Pardew is, apparently, not going to finish there. The Eagles will see off Newcastle’s feeble efforts to sign QPR forward Charlie Austin, for in the region of £12m.
Chelsea continue to sign up young, South American prospects. 19-year-old Fluminese striker Kenedy is in line to put ink to parchment paper for £6.3m. [Daily Mail]