Gossip: Arsenal want £50m Morata, Bale to United, Poch off
WHAT’S THE MORATA?
Remember last year when you couldn’t move for fear of being drowned in Alvaro Morata transfer stories? Well The Sun have ramped up the nostalgia levels with a back-page story on Friday.
‘Arsenal are ready to battle Chelsea and Manchester United for Alvaro Morata,’ is their claim, which suggests that Arsenal are ready to battle Chelsea and Manchester United for Alvaro Morata. Well alright.
All three of those clubs were interested in the striker last summer, but he completed his return to Real Madrid instead. Considering he has started just 18 games in all competitions this season, it is no wonder that he would be hankering for a move.
Morata is seen as the ‘ideal replacement’ for Alexis Sanchez, but The Sun claim Antonio Conte ‘is leading the chase’. That claim can be reduced to the simple fact that he managed him at Juventus.
Oh, and Morata will cost £50million. Best of luck.
BALE MONEY
The Independent have been getting plenty of Manchester United transfer exclusives lately, probably owing to the addition of Miguel Delaney as Chief Football Writer. He has had scoops on the club’s interest in Antoine Griezmann, Robert Lewandowski, Kylian Mbappe and Romelu Lukaku over the past few months.
The latest offering is with regards to Gareth Bale’s future. It is ‘now much likelier than ever before’.
The headline suggests it isn’t quite concrete, and any transfer will only go through if Real Madrid are actually open to a sale. Bale will not push for an exit.
But if he does leave, the Welshman ‘is willing’ to return to the Premier League with United. Sources at both clubs state that a deal is “much likelier” than at any point before.
It could come down to a straight choice for Jose Mourinho between Bale and Griezmann. The former would play in more of a wide position than the latter however, and the manager has earmarked Willian as a potential signing for that particular role.
Hotch Poch
Inter Milan have grand plans, and hope that Antonio Conte is in charge to spearhead them. If not, Mauricio Pochettino is their man.
FootballItalia report that Inter are willing to double Pochettino’s current Tottenham wages in a bid to lure him to Serie A.
Inter are currently managerless, and are clearly just making their way down the Premier League table. Who’s looking forward to the ‘Inter Milan want Jurgen Klopp’ exclusives next week?
The Italian outlet does state that if Pochettino is tempted away – which surely won’t be this summer – then Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe will replace him. Lovely.
AND THE REST
Paul Lambert could quit as Wolves manager over plans for agent Jorge Mendes to handle the club’s transfers…Atletico Madrid are interested in Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, 30, and Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez, 28…Newly promoted Brighton want to sign Liverpool’s long-serving Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva, 30, for their first season in the Premier League…Chelsea’s players will receive a £5m bonus to be split among the squad if they clinch the Premier League…Chelsea want 17-year-old German forward Jann-Fiete Arp, who has been tipped for a bright future at Hamburg…Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare believes the club could break their transfer record again this summer as they target a return to the Champions League…West Brom are set to agree a compensation fee of between £3m and £5m for Leeds left-back Charlie Taylor, 23, and avoid going to a tribunal.