Gossip: Isco, Fred, Lemar, Fabinho, Doucoure
PLENTY OF CLUBS ON ISCO’S RADAR
We start with Spanish newspaper AS. They claim that Zinedine Zidane has decided to sell midfielder Isco this summer. Can’t help but think that it might not be Zidane’s problem by then.
Their friends Diario Gol (no idea if they are friends) then say that Sergio Ramos believes that Isco – God we love Spanish whispers – has offers from Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United. Well he would say that.
Then we have the Daily Express saying that AS reckon Liverpool and Arsenal are also in for the Spaniard, although we can’t find that story anywhere. What a mess.
FRED HAS CHOSEN MAN CITY
Simple one this, but former Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu says that midfielder Fred has chosen to join Manchester City. Lucescu was the guy who signed Fred.
“Shakhtar Donetsk’s best player is Fred in the centre of midfield,” Lucescu said.
“He was a bit anarchic on the left. I moved him in front of the defence. He will go to City like Fernandinho before him.”
So there you go.
LIVERPOOL GOING BACK IN ON LEMAR
To the Independent now, and their claim that Liverpool will go back in for Thomas Lemar this summer.
It’s sensible stuff, given that Liverpool bid £78m for Lemar last summer and will have been reassured by the news that the 22-year-old has turned down a new contract at Monaco.
They say that Lemar still prefers a move to Liverpool over Arsenal, a position that hasn’t changed since last summer. Fair enough, looking at the Premier League table.
MAN UNITED CLOSER THAN EVER TO FABINHO
Sticking with Monaco, Fabinho has been linked with Manchester United for at least two transfer windows now, but the Brazilian has not yet managed to push through with his move.
The first update is that Fabinho has said that his time at Monaco is coming to an end.
“My time with Monaco was good, but I feel my time here is coming to an end,’ Fabinho said. “I know that that the club’s vision is to try to finish second and qualify for the Champions League, without counting on big-name players, but on young players.
“I believe I have gone through this process. I arrived as an unknown, I made my name at the club, won things — but maybe I need a new challenge.”
The second update is that Sky Sport Italia say that United will make a summer move for Fabinho, which seems a perfectly reasonable thing to do. They reckon he will cost £45m, but that discussions between the two clubs have already started.
AND THE REST
Pep Guardiola will not go back in for Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez in the summer… Tottenham are interested in signing Watford Abdoulaye Doucoure… Arsenal are in talks with midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles over a new deal.
