Gossip: Emre can leave, Isco to City, Gibson to Arsenal
LIVERPOOL TO SELL CAN?
It looks very much like Emre Can’s sometimes promising but too-often underwhelming three-year spell at Liverpool is coming to an end with the club ready to ‘get tough’ (according to the Daily Mirror) and sell the German this summer rather than double his wages to £70,000 a week.
According to the report: ‘The Reds boss is an admirer of Can and believes he can develop into a top class star, but the club believe his salary should reflect his position as a promising player, not the finished article.’
It is thought that Juventus and various German clubs would pay Can more than his current £35,000 a week.
MAN CITY DON ISCO PANTS AGAIN
Remember when Isco was absolutely definitely going to join Manchester City because of his relationship with Manuel Pellegrini? Well, it seems Pep Guardiola is a ‘long term admirer of the Spain midfielder’ (because the Daily Mirror’s John Cross is a close personal friend of the Manchester City manager, of course) so the move could not happen this summer.
The fly in the ointment could be persistent rumours that Isco will just run down his contract – which expires next summer – and join Barcelona from Real Madrid on a free transfer. Which will not be a popular move in Madrid.
Alternatively, the Daily Telegraph claims Guardiola wants to focus on signing English players, with Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere – on loan at Bournemouth this season – among his targets. Dele Alli, Danny Rose and Jordan Pickford have also been mentioned as potential targets.
WHO WANTS BEN GIBSON TODAY?
This boy must have a fine agent. After being linked with Chelsea and Manchester City already this week, the Evening Standard now claim that ‘Arsenal have also shown an interest in the left-footed Gibson, though the uncertainty surrounding the future of manager Arsene Wenger means transfer plans for the summer are not yet set in stone’, while West Ham are said to be interested too.
The price being quoted for Gibson – after less than a season in the Premier League and no England caps – is consistently over £30m.
AND THE REST
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku has agreed a new contract with the club worth £110,000 a week – but the deal, which runs until 2022, includes an exit clause if one of Europe’s top clubs wants to buy the Belgium international…Barcelona are set to bid £25m for Southampton’s Portugal right-back Cedric Soares…Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has rubbished reports that the club are in talks with Spurs about selling Wilfried Zaha…Bournemouth defender Steve Cook is a £7m target for West Brom.