Gossip: Herrera to City, Isco, Insigne to Arsenal
HERRERA TO CITY
New year, same old bullsh*t. Ander Herrera to Manchester City, anyone?
That is the line peddled by Spanish publication Don Balon, which is predictably picked up by the Daily Mirror and Daily Express, among other journalistic luminaries. The claim is that Pep Guardiola, favourite for the City manager role in the summer, wants to take the Spanish midfielder across the city to the Etihad.
It remains a mystery as to how rumours from Don Balon, a relatively new Spanish website which has only recently emerged, are treated with a sense of reliability. A list of Don Balon transfer rumours in recent weeks:
* Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United.
* Alexis Sanchez to Real Madrid.
* Javier Hernandez to Arsenal.
* Falcao to Barcelona.
* Mesut Ozil to Real Madrid.
* Memphis Depay to Real Madrid.
* Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester United. And Chelsea. And Arsenal.
The whole ‘ooo, a Spanish outlet reporting transfer rumours’ shtick wears off after a while. For what it’s worth, the website is registered in London, not Spain. Weird…
ISCO INFERNO
This is a transfer rumour which is slowly boiling under the radar: Isco to Manchester City.
The Spaniard has fallen out of favour with Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez this season, and Manuel Pellegrini, former manager of the midfielder while at Malaga, is interested.
The Daily Mirror are reporting that Isco will seek ‘showdown talks’ with the Spanish club next Tuesday, and is open to moving to the Etihad if they prove fruitless. His representatives have even ‘sounded out’ City over a potential loan move this January, with a permanent £25million deal to follow in the summer.
City could face competition from neighbours United or Chelsea for the 23-year-old, who has started just nine of Real’s 17 La Liga games so far this season. Isco joined Real in the summer of 2013, amid intense interest from City, for £23million. He may be struggling this season, but has his valuation really only increased by £2million?
SECRET AGENT
“PSG and Arsenal are clubs at the top of the world and their interest is certainly gratifying, but right now Lorenzo is only thinking about Napoli.”
Excellent work from Antonio Ottaiano, agent of Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne. It bears the hallmarks of a perfect agent comment:
* ‘Revealing’ previously unreported interest from other clubs.
* Complimenting said clubs, and admitting the interest is welcome.
* Maintaining loyalty to the current club, but adding a “right now” for effect.
* Making such comments just as the transfer window re-opens.
Ottaiano made similar comments on the Italian winger last summer, saying his client was “honoured” to be linked to the Gunners. The 24-year-old has 23 goals in 138 appearances for Napoli. Thanks, but no thanks, says Arsene.