Gossip: Allen in, Schweini out at United?
MAN UNITED WANT ALLEN
Kim Kardashian may have had designs on breaking the internet, but she has no chance of competing with this: Manchester United reportedly want to sign Liverpool’s Joe Allen.
Allen’s future at Liverpool is far from secure. He faces strong competition for a first-team place from Jordan Henderson, Emre Can, Marko Grujic and Lucas Leiva. Allen played excellently during Euro 2016, but hasn’t started games consistently under Jurgen Klopp. That’s why we picked him in this little thing.
Interest from Manchester United would be a bit weird, given that Swansea and Celtic are the two clubs mentioned most often over the last couple of weeks. Allen has only 12 months left on his contract, and so Klopp is considering getting a fee for him now.
The South Wales Post say that with the futures of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini unclear, Jose Mourinho is interested in bringing in Allen as part of his midfield. We’ll be very, very surprised.
MOURINHO PLANNING CLEAR-OUT
The bad news is that we had to read Duncan Castles’ latest love letter to Jose in the Daily Record. The good news is that you don’t have to, and we’ve brought you the claims.
Amid talk from Castles over Mourinho’s love for Zlatan Ibrahimovic comes a bold statement regarding the identity of the four players the new Manchester United manager is planning to shift out the club.
‘Daley Blind, Juan Mata, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Marcos Rojo have all been made available for sale, with Mourinho anxious that the club accelerates its efforts to find takers for the unwanted foursome,’ Castles writes. It’s a fairly logical list, but we would be surprised if both Schweinsteiger and Blind left this summer.
BARCELONA DON’T WANT MAHREZ
Riyad Mahrez might have stated his intention to leave Premier League champions (won’t get sick of writing that) Leicester, but one of his preferred destinations might already have been ruled out.
In the Daily Mirror, Ed Malyon writes that Barcelona have no interest in Mahrez, and therefore will not challenge Arsenal and Chelsea for his signature.
While Leicester are prepared to grant Mahrez his request, they are unlikely to let the Algerian leave for less than £35m. Given that he was named PFA Player of the Year, can you really blame them?
Malyon continues by saying that Barcelona only want one more signing, and that will be a forward. Mahrez was never high on their list anyway.
AND THE REST
Aston Villa want to sign Sunderland’s Liam Bridcutt, with Carlos Sanchez and Jordan Veretout set to join Marseille… Tottenham have agreed a €13million fee with Marseille for winger Georges-Kevin Nkoudou… Leicester will use the funds generated from the sale of N’Golo Kante to Chelsea to increase bids for Michael Keane and Robbie Brady… Newcastle are battling with Sporting Gijon to sign Fulham defender Fernando Amorebieta… Euro 2016 winner Cedric Soares is in talks with Southampton over extending his contract at St Mary’s… Swansea are competing with Lazio in the race to sign West Ham forward Enner Valencia… Fulham are willing to pay £750,000 to land Ipswich centre-back Tommy Smith… Antonio Conte has confirmed that forgotten man Juan Cuadrado is part of his plans at Chelsea… Burnley will complete deals for Charlton duo Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Nick Pope this week… Norwich are among a number of clubs who want to sign Northern Ireland goalkeeper Michael McGovern on a free transfer… Hal Robson-Kanu will snub offers from clubs in China, plus Watford, Burnley and Swansea, to agree a four-year deal with Hull… Sunderland midfielder Liam Agnew, 21, is set to join League One outfit Bradford on loan with a view to a permanent move.