Gossip: Liverpool eye Spanish international
GUIDOLIN TO BE SACKED THIS WEEK
We’re going to start in Swansea, simply because this feels like the rumour that is a) the most realistic, and b) going to be proven correct or otherwise very quickly.
The Sun claim an exclusive on the story that Francesco Guidolin will be sacked as Swansea City manager this week, but in truth it is already one of the Premier League’s worst-kept secrets. Guidolin has been hanging on for a while, but Swansea are losing games, the Italian looks weary and the Daily Telegraph reported that he missed preseason training sessions to watch the Tour De France. Which is pretty great.
As for a replacement, Ryan Giggs, Bob Bradley and Jurgen Klinsmann have all been named. Give it Giggseh til enda season…
DARMIAN OFF TO INTER, BUT BAKAYOKO IN
Manchester United news now, and one player in and another out.
We’ll start with Matteo Darmian, who has been completely frozen out of the first-team picture by Jose Mourinho. The Gazzetta dello Sport report that Internazionale want Darmian, initially on a temporary basis before making the deal permanent.
It’s all a bit of a shame for Darmian. He started life well under Louis van Gaal, but Jose Mourinho has only picked him once in all competitions this season.
However, that could mean that Manchester United get to sign Jose Fonte, who Mourinho has clearly been fluttering his eyelashes at for a while. Mourinho made no secret of his desire to land Fonte this summer, but Southampton stayed firm.
Reports now say he will need to sell a defender in order to buy Fonte for a fee of around £10m. It’s at this point that Mourinho pushes Darmian forcefully towards the door, nodding at Ed Woodward.
LIVERPOOL WANT INAKI WILLIAMS
We end in Spain, and with Don Balon. Again we must remind you that this is a newspaper and not just one man with a wonderful name.
They claim that Liverpool are weighing up a move for Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams. Williams is still only 22, but has already made his full debut for Spain. He scored eight league goals last season.
If Jurgen Klopp was to sign Williams, he would surely need to lose at least one striker – and probably two – from his squad. Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi, Danny Ings and Williams would be plenty enough for a team that is currently starting games without a recognised centre forward.
AND THE REST
Hugo Lloris and Toby Alderweireld are set to sign new contracts at Tottenham… West Ham are considering trying to replace Slaven Bilic with former Roma boss Rudi Garcia… Derby County manager Nigel Pearson is on the verge of being sacked after an argument with owner Mel Morris, who used a drone to watch training sessions… Manchester United are eyeing up Monaco defensive midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko…Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has been told he must sell before signing Jose Fonte… Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri wants to join New York City… Gareth Southgate is considering calling up Burnley defender Michael Keane