Gossip: Manchester United make £30m Draxler bid
MAN UNITED MAKE DRAXLER BID
Well, well. This is a big one. The Star on Sunday are claiming that Manchester United are not just interested in Julian Draxler but have made a £30m bid for the Germany international.
Firstly, it should be said that Draxler would be an exciting signing in attacking midfield, although it might make Juan Mata and Ander Herrera feel uneasy about their chances of starting league games next season.
Secondly, there is no way that Wolfsburg will sell at that price. They only signed Draxler from Schalke last year, and paid £25.5m for a player who is still only 22. Making a profit of £4.5m when selling to one of the richest clubs in the world? Nuh uh.
WENGER TO MEET LACAZETTE
Arsene Wenger is set to meet with a representative of Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette this week, according to the Sunday Mirror.
The Arsenal boss has turned his attention to Lacazette after missing out on Jamie Vardy, but Lyon are said to have already rejected an offer of £42million from West Ham for the France international and are under no financial pressure to sell.
Both Arsenal and Atletico Madrid have the cash to meet the 25-year-old’s valuation, however, and so could test Lyon’s resolve further, with Wenger determined to add a proven goalscorer to his squad this summer. For that sort of money he might be better just going all out for a proper star, no?
BENTEKE WANTED BY CRYSTAL PALACE
We assumed that Christian Benteke would be better off going to somewhere on the continent, where his standing might not be quite as tarnished as in England. Borussia Dortmund, maybe?
However, every rumour so far has the Liverpool striker linked with other Premier League clubs. West Ham were mentioned in more than passing, but now it’s Crystal Palace’s turn.
The Daily Star have an exclusive, naming Alan Pardew’s transfer targets. They are Benteke, Saido Berahino and Andros Townsend.
As ever, the issue is the transfer fee. We can’t see Liverpool accepting less than £20m for Benteke; are Palace prepared to spend that sort of money?
AND THE REST
Ronald Koeman wants to launch his Everton revolution by signing Morgan Schneiderlin from Manchester United… Chelsea boss Antonio Conte will consider offers for Thibaut Courtois and could sign Zamalek and Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawy as No.2 to Asmir Begovic… Pep Guardiola is confident John Stones will join Manchester City rather than Chelsea or Manchester United this summer… Tottenham midfielder Eric Dier has attracted the attention of Bayern Munich with his impressive performances for England at Euro 2016… Leicester City’s owners have set aside £50million just to spend on new contracts and signing-on fees for their star players…
Stoke City will this week sign West Brom striker Saido Berahino for £16million on a £70,000-a-week deal… Swansea are close to finalising a £2million deal for Ajax defender Mike van der Hoorn… Inter full-back Davide Santon is set to be given an opportunity to return to the Premier League by Crystal Palace… Newcastle United are ready to make a £10million bid for Bournemouth’s Matt Ritchie as they fear losing Andros Townsend to Crystal Palace.