Gossip: Liverpool willing to pay €200m for Real Madrid star

Daniel Storey

IS FELLAINI JUST BEING A BIT OF A D*CK?
The majority reaction to Antoine Griezmann keeping Atletico Madrid fans guessing was “Oh, that sounds like dick move”. Griezmann was under contract, and yet was positioning himself so obviously as the power broker. It stank.

Marouane Fellaini isn’t quite going that far. He is out of contract, and so really is the one in control. Manchester United have offered him numerous contracts, but so far none have been signed. Now Fellaini has announced that he will make his decision public on July 1.

This is all a very weird trend. Surely leaving supporters hanging on just emphasises how little regard you have for them, all the time trying to whip up some media frenzy. Even if Fellaini now stays – which Belgian media are reporting – plenty of fans will think it wasn’t worth this fanfare. Most of all, it all feels deeply manufactured and therefore unpleasant.

 

LIVERPOOL COULD MOVE FOR REAL MADRID STAR
Hoo boy, now we’re talking. The story comes from Spanish newspaper Sport, but they actually quote ‘Telemadrid’ as the source. Us neither.

The first bold claim is that Real Madrid are happy to sell Marco Asensio this summer so that they can fund a bid for Neymar and bring him back to Spain. They’re going to have to find the money somehow.

The second bold claim is that Liverpool are one of the named interested parties, with Sport saying that Jurgen Klopp would pay €200m to sign the Spanish wonderkid.

Liverpool do want another attacking player after the move for Nabil Fekir broke down, but Asensio for that amount of money? It would be ballsy.

 

CHELSEA MAKE RUGANI MOVE, WITH LUIZ LEAVING
Chelsea still don’t have a new manager, but that doesn’t stop them being linked with numerous players in the media. As we wrote last week, this is a club playing catch-up at precisely the time that they are normally leading the way.

A report in the Evening Standard claims that Chelsea are working on a £35m deal for Juventus defender Daniele Rugani. Given his age (23) and the high-profile nature of the selling club, that seems an excellent price for Chelsea.

Rugani only started 22 Serie A matches last season even after the departure of Leonardo Bonucci, but he is clearly one for the future. Play well in England, and Chelsea could easily double their money.

Another line out of Stamford Bridge is that former manager Carlo Ancelotti is interested in signing David Luiz for his new club Napoli, and would pay £26m for the privilege. One of those deals that makes sense to everybody.

 

AND THE REST
Stoke City are edging closer to signing West Brom winger James McClean… Sunderland midfielder Jack Rodwell is in talks Greek side Aris… Manchester City are considering activating Aaron Mooy’s £20m buy-back clause.