Gossip: Anderson, Allegri, Isco, Messi
This morning’s gossip has been crippled by the BBC website being down. We are the real victims here.
AN ARM AND ALLEGRI
We start with some manager news, as all gossip columns should. According to the Daily Mirror, Massimiliano Allegri is taking English lessons.
There is a reason for the Italian manager of Juventus to do as such, of course. In an exclusive from John Cross, Allegri is learning English in order to boost his chances of landing either the Chelsea or Manchester United jobs in the summer.
Cross writes that Allegri is ‘on the shortlist of potential candidates’ to take over at Stamford Bridge next summer. Allegri, who has 18 months left on his contract in Turin, is also a target for United. The latter claim was reported by Italian outlet La Repubblica earlier this month.
While Allegri led Juventus to a Serie A and Coppa Italia double, as well as the finals of the Champions League and Supercoppa Italiana in his first season in charge last year, the Old Lady are not faring quite as well this campaign. Juve are fourth after a stuttering start to their title defence, and they face Bayern Munich in Europe. Is he really the best either team can attract?
ON THE FELIPE SIDE
The Sun have the latest hot take on Manchester United’s transfer moves ahead of the January transfer window. The Red Devils are interested in Felipe Anderson, apparently. We’re as bemused as the squad have reportedly been all season.
Anderson, an attacking midfielder at Lazio, has been linked with United pretty much every window over the past two seasons. He was even linked with them two days ago. Alan Nixon believes he has the exclusive track, claiming that United are ‘closing in on a huge £35million deal’ for the Brazilian.
Club insiders say the deal is ‘well down the road’, and that it could be completed as early as next week. United chiefs have been in Rome to push through the deal, and Nixon adds that it could put Wayne Rooney’s place ‘in even greater doubt’. Not a chance.
ISCO, ISCO, ISCO, ISCO
With United looking to spend when the transfer window re-opens, Manchester City are also keen to strengthen their squad to challenge on all fronts. They are preparing a £32million bid for Real Madrid midfielder Isco, according to The Sun.
The 23-year-old, is said to be unhappy with his bit-part role at the Bernabeu. He has started nine of their 17 La Liga games so far this season. City chief executive Ferran Soriano is reported to have met Madrid counterpart Jose Angel Sanchez in the last few days to discuss the details of a possible deal. Isco played for Manuel Pellegrini at Malaga.
The tabloid adds that, while Barcelona star Lionel Messi remains a target for the summer, City also have Real’s Karim Benzema and Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on their shopping list and could let Wilfried Bony move on if they land either player.
AND THE REST
Mathieu Debuchy is set to leave Arsenal after talks with Arsene Wenger, with Roma and Lyon interested…Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink does not want to loan Loic Remy to Aston Villa…Liverpool are pushing to sign Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell, but a deal is unlikely in January…Leicester City are finally set to offer Jamie Vardy a new contract in an effort to kill off interest from Chelsea and Manchester City…Leicester have targeted Dynamo Kiev defender Aleksandar Dragovic after the Ukraine club intimated they would sell him in January for £16million…Everton have opened talks with Grasshopper Zurich over a £3million deal for young striker Shani Tarashaj, who will be loaned back to the Swiss club for the rest of the season…Sunderland are weighing up a bid for Stoke utility player Marc Wilson…Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is ready to cut short the season-long loan of QPR defender Steven Caulker…Watford strikers Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney will be handed bumper pay-rises to keep them at the club…Juan Iturbe has begun training with Bournemouth after a £1.1million season-long loan fee was agreed…Crystal Palace are eyeing a move for the latest non-league hidden gem, Hitchin Town right-back Kane Smith, 19…Norwich City have made enquiries for Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia and are willing to pay £7million.