86% of the media are reporting David de Gea as Real Madrid-bound, the rest may be kidding themselves.
It is the weekend and the transfer rumours always seem to go into overdrive. ‘Maybe’ and ‘set to’ is replaced by ‘certainty’ and ‘signed’.
Amongst others, Mirror, Sun and Marca are reporting that Los Blancos have agreed personal terms with de Gea – somehow?! – and a transfer fee agreement is imminent. United could hang onto the Spanish goalkeeper for the final year of his contract but may land as much as £18m to release their grasp.
‘Where you off to Davy, eh?’Sky Sports rage against the dying of the light. They claim that United are not giving up on keeping their prized asset just yet.
Louis van Gaal is reported to be looking at Hugo Lloris but may also find time to raid Roma for two players that are not Kevin Strootman. Miralem Pjanic and Radja Nainggolan for a combined £66m? We’ve heard of better ways to drop a bundle of money. [Daily Express]
Away from Old Trafford, and LVG, Tim Sherwood believes Christian Benteke would actually harm his Euro 2016 chances by leaving Aston Villa and joining a club bigger than Aston Villa. Twisted logic there. [Birmingham Mail]
Jose Mourinho is trying his best to convince Petr Cech to spurn Arsenal’s advances if he does indeed stick to his guns [or drums] and leave Chelsea. PSG are interested so that would be the lesser of two evils – the other evil being Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal. [Daily Mirror]
Finally, as the watching world waves goodbye to Steven Gerrard, as a player, at Anfield, another former Red may be a pivotal figure in an intriguing transfer cascade.
Juventus want Xabi Alonso in the door to replace Andrea Pirlo. If they get Alonso, it will leave the path clear for Pirlo to leave Italy unencumbered. As it happens, Liverpool could do with someone of Pirlo’s effortless quality. Daily Express feel Liverpool are genuine contenders for the bearded wonder’s signature.
