Gossip: Dick to pull out; Perez, Neves…

Matt Stead

Dick Advocaat is set to quit Sunderland regardless of their result this weekend, Ayoze Perez reveals that Spurs tried to sign him, and Chelsea want Porto’s Ruben Neves for £29million…

 

DICK TO PULL OUT AT SUNDERLAND
‘DICK OUT AT CATS’ is the headline from the Sun, sat beneath an unfortunate advert for the Sun GOALS pullout.

Pretty much everyone has this as an ‘EXCLUSIVE’, thereby completely diluting the meaning of the word. Basically, Dick Advocaat is set to walk out on Sunderland regardless of their result against West Ham on Saturday afternoon. That’s the line from the Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror and the Sun.

George Caulkin of the Times is slightly more reserved, reporting that Advocaat is simply closer to leaving, not that he definitely will.

The Guardian join the former three in claiming Advocaat is likely to leave whether or not Sunderland record their first Premier League win of the season at the weekend, but they also report that sporting director Lee Congerton will exit alongside the Dutchman. Internal politics and a lack of investment are cited as the reasons for both.

It’s a predictable list of potential replacements headlined by summer target and Burnley boss Sean Dyche and unattached pair Sam Allardyce and Nigel Pearson.

 

PEREZ REVEALS SPURS INTEREST
Remember Spurs’ transfer deadline day this summer? It was bloody hilarious, and that’s even forgetting the whole Saido Berahino thing.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side reportedly submitted late bids for Victor Wanyama, Axel Witsel and Cheikhou Kouyate as the window drew to an end, but they also were rumoured to have offered Newcastle £15million for Ayoze Perez. For what it’s worth, the striker has confirmed as such.

“There was interest from Tottenham, especially from Pochettino,” Perez told Marca. “It is a compliment to me. In the end it did not work because Newcastle considered me too important and would not let me leave.”

It’s worked out for Spurs in the end, in all fairness.

 

CHELSEA TO LOAN OUT RUBEN NEVES
They’ll have to sign him first, mind.

The London Evening Standard report that Ruben Neves will be the subject of a £29million bid from Chelsea next summer after he impressed for Porto against the Blues in the Champions League. Neves is a supremely talented 18-year-old defensive midfielder and already a regular for the Portuguese side.

Neves is also attracting interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid, and although he is obviously a huge prospect, his £29million release clause has left clubs understandably wary. Chelsea’s main target remains Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, but Neves represents a cheaper – albeit far more risky – option.

 

AND THE REST
Arsene Wenger did not pursue a move for Anthony Martial because he did not think Monaco would sell him.