Gossip: We can’t take Neymar of this
OH YES, THE NEYMAR STUFF IS BACK AGAIN
Just when you thought the ludicrous notion that Manchester United might sign Barcelona forward Neymar had gone away, back it comes like a zit on the face of an unkempt 15-year-old boy.
It’s the Daily Express and Manchester Evening News that go big on the news, claiming that Neymar’s contract has a clause in it that will allow clubs to speak to him if they offer £157m. Neymar’s agent claims that three big clubs are prepared to offer that money.
“There are three big clubs in the world that want to sign Neymar and pay a clause of €200m to Barcelona,” Wagner Ribeiro said, and the papers put two and two together to make about 106. A reminder that United weren’t even mentioned specifically.
What’s more important is what Ribeiro went on to say: “I can only guarantee that Neymar is happy at Barcelona.”
Also, the Daily Mirror report that Neymar is set to sign his new six-year deal at Barcelona. Forget it people, there’s not a hope in hell of the deal happening.
Elsewhere at Manchester United, the Daily Star claim that Jose Mourinho hopes to bring midfielder Julian Draxler to the club from Wolfsburg. Interesting.
CHELSEA INTERESTED IN BENTEKE
Another interesting one now, with The Times claiming that Antonio Conte sees Christian Benteke as a potential striker option for Chelsea.
Conte is in the market for a striker even if Diego Costa remains at the club, and would reportedly be interested in Benteke at a knockdown price. The Belgian has dropped down the striker queue at Anfield, but would Liverpool let him join a top-four rival?
Perhaps the bigger question is whether Liverpool would accept less than £20m for a striker they paid £32.5m for a year ago?
SPURS WIN WANYAMA RACE
It looks like Tottenham’s first signing of the summer could soon be completed, with reports growing that Southampton will agree to let Victor Wanyama leave for £11m.
Wanyama only has one year left on his deal at St Mary’s, and has made it clear that he fancies a move up the Premier League. Arsenal were mentioned as holding an interest, but the signing of Granit Xhaka has quietened those rumours. Instead it’s Spurs who will get their man, while Southampton recoup almost all the fee they paid Celtic for the Kenyan in 2013.
Wanyama is 24 and has three years of Premier League experience. This is an excellent signing, for the money.
AND THE REST
Arsenal have joined the race to sign £15m-rated Fulham striker Moussa Dembele… Chelsea have made an enquiry for Inter Milan defender Juan Jesus… Southampton will interview Claude Puel, Vitor Pereira and former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini over their managerial vacancy this weekend… Chelsea have made full-back Cesar Azpilicueta available for a cut-price £11.8m, with Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain both keeping tabs on the Spain international… Liverpool are keen on River Plate defender Gabriel Mercado, according to the club’s president Rodolfo D’Onofriohas… New Leeds boss Garry Monk is keen on signing Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson… Leicester, Everton and West Ham are all interested in signing Milan striker M’Baye Niang, with the Foxes also keeping an eye on Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina