Real Madrid want David de Gea, David de Gea wants Real Madrid and Manchester United are desperate to bring in a marquee signing before the transfer window slams shut.
In an effort to bring some happiness to all parties, Manchester United are set to offer Gareth Bale one last chance to join them this summer.
Bale has been one of Louis van Gaal’s top targets and the Dutchman has reportedly requested that the club dig their heels in to get the Welsh winger.
The Daily Star report that United are preparing an offer of £65m (€89m) plus David de Gea to Real Madrid in an attempt to shore up their options up front.
Bale has expressed his contentment to stay at the Bernabeu but the Red Devils are set to test his resolve by offering him £300,000 (€413,000) a week to make him United’s top earner alongside club captain Wayne Rooney.
Van Gaal is set to have two defenders leave his squad over the weekend as centre-backs Jonny Evans and Tyler Blackett pack their bags at Old Trafford.
Evans is expected to complete a medical at West Brom as he searches for a starting place in the Premier League while Blackett is on his way to Glasgow to sew up a loan move to Celtic with a view to a permanent deal next summer.
Celtic will sign Tyler Blackett on loan from Manchester United with a view to a £3million move http://t.co/DM0aouDkiE pic.twitter.com/kU5iKgy3x8
— Scottish Sun Sport (@scotsunsport) August 29, 2015
In other outgoing news, Liverpool’s Lazar Markovic may be moving closer to home than first expected.
By all accounts, the Serbian winger was on his way to Fenerbahce for a season-long loan but Premier League new boys Watford are attempting to hijack that deal.
The Turkish side remain favourites to get the player but Quique Flores is looking to capitalise on Brendan Rodgers’ desire for Markovic, who he signed for £20m (€27m) last season, to get some Premier League experience. (talkSPORT)
One move that’s certainly not going ahead is John Stones’ proposed switch to Chelsea.
Roberto Martinez could not have been more defiant in his Friday press conference that his top centre-half is not for sale and it seems that Jose Mourinho has finally gotten the message as he sets his sights elsewhere.
The Daily Mail report that the Premier League champions are now looking at Monaco’s Aymen Abdennour in a deal worth £15m (€20m).
If Chelsea do swoop for the Tunisian defender it will come as a blow for Liverpool who had also been monitoring the 26-year-old’s position.
In Ireland news, Stoke have rejected a fresh Norwich bid for Jonathan Walters.
The Potters turned down a £1.5m (€2m) bid for the forward last week but Norwich came back last night with a £2m (€2.75m) offer.
Walters’ deal at the Britannia runs up next summer but the Canaries are determined to bring him to Norwich before this transfer window closes.
Mark Hughes is hopeful that Walters will sign a new contract with Stoke but don’t be surprised to see him in the yellow of Norwich come next weekend. (Sky Sports)
Having given up on their pursuit of Karim Benzema, Arsenal have turned their gaze to Dynamo Kiev forward Andriy Yarmolenko.
Spanish website Fichajes claim that Arsene Wenger has been in contact with the Ukrainian international but will face stiff competition from Barcelona.
You may remember Yarmolenko from this stunner he scored against Everton in last year’s Europa League and he’s come up trumps again at the start of this Ukrainian Premier League season with six goals and five assists in just seven games.
Manchester City are set to announce the signing of Kevin de Bruyne this weekend after the Belgian sat out Wolfsburg’s 3-0 victory over Schalke last night.
The midfielder is expected to join Manuel Pellegrini’s side for a fee of £55m (€75m) with Jesus Navas the likely fall guy in City’s starting XI.
De Bruyne was named the Bundesliga’s player of the year after a season which saw him score 10 goals and set up 20 more as Wolfsburg finished runners-up behind Bayern Munich.
