Gossip: Rodriguez, Rooney, Lukaku, Luan, Gimenez

Ian Watson

JAMES SITS DOWN WITH REAL TO PRESENT UNITED OFFER
James Rodriguez has a verbal agreement in place to join Manchester United this summer, apparently.

The Real Madrid playmaker’s name seems to have been mentioned in this column more times than any other over the last year or two, but it seems increasingly likely the Colombian will move on this summer.

RCN Radio claims Rodriguez and his agent Jorge Mendes met with Real president Florentino Perez earlier this week to express the player’s unhappiness over his role in Zinedine Zidane’s squad. The 25-year-old has started only a third of their 36 La Liga matches so far this term with another eight appearances coming off the bench. He has scored eight league goals while offering six assists.

United are said to be frontrunners for Rodriguez’s signature, but Goal reports Manchester City are ready to match whatever he is offered by their derby rivals.

The RCN Radio reports also cites a clause that supposedly exists in Rodriguez’s sponsorship agreement with Adidas that he must wear the No.10 shirt wherever he plays. Which brings us nicely to Wayne Rooney…

 

ROONEY TO BE OFFERED TO EVERTON IN LUKAKU SWAP
The Manchester United skipper seems almost certain to leave Old Trafford this summer. He has been reduced to the role of a barely used stand-in, with Jose Mourinho seemingly doing all he can to subtly shuffle the 31-year-old towards the exit door.

The Daily Mail‘s back-page lead claims Mourinho wants to use Rooney as a makeweight in a deal for Everton striker Romelu Lukaku. A return to Goodison Park would reportedly suit boyhood Evertonian Rooney, a there is understood to be the appetite at the club to facilitate a deal to bring him back.

Despite all the talk of swap deals this summer, with United seemingly lining up several, they almost never come off. Everton are said to want an amount approaching a world-record fee for Lukaku, while Rooney is supposedly valued at around £17million by United. That would be a pretty accurate reflection of the two players’ statuses.

Rooney would also have to take a £100,000-a-week pay cut to return to Everton, and with two years remaining on his £250,000-a-week contract at United, England’s record goalscorer will be looking for a hefty pay-off from the Red Devils. He is sure to have lucrative offers from China and MLS but reportedly favours a move closer to home.

Lukaku is one of a number of centre-forwards being heavily linked with United as Mourinho looks to solve a shortage of goals that has seen them score fewer than Bournemouth and 10 fewer than Everton this term. Torino’s Andrea Belotti and Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata are also said to be on the shortlist.

 

AND THE REST
Victor Valdes will quit Middlesbrough after Premier League relegation, as Manchester City eye a deal for the former Barcelona goalkeeper… Barcelona spokesman Josep Vives insists it’s just a matter of time before Lionel Messi signs a new contract… Manchester United and Arsenal are considering a summer move for Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez… Ajax wonderkid Kasper Dolberg insists he will stay at the club next season… Liverpool are set to sign Luan, dubbed the ‘new Ronaldinho’, from Gremio for £26m, having been tracking the 24-year-old for a year…Chelsea and Liverpool target Ben Gibson could stay at Middlesbrough and try to help them return to the Premier League… Mauricio Pochettino insists Tottenham can keep their star players, having built a ‘special feeling’ at the club… Ivan Gazidis is being lined up to take over as the head of Major League Soccer if he loses his Arsenal power battle with manager Arsene Wenger.

Barcelona forward Neymar, 25, says he is happy at the Nou Camp. The Brazilian has been linked with Manchester United… Manchester City and Liverpool are considering a move for Southampton left-back Ryan Bertrand… Barcelona will attempt to sign Chelsea’s 26-year-old left-back Marcos Alonso this summer… West Ham and Everton both want Swansea’s 27-year-old playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson… Sunderland’s Fabio Borini has a relegation clause in his contract and can leave for just £6m, with Celtic thought to be keen… Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson has been linked with a summer move to Serie A side Fiorentina… Monaco have completed a deal to sign Anderlecht’s 20-year-old Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans for £21.2m.