Gossip: Lukaku, Schweini, Valencia, Berahino
What would my Romelu?
As the football season is finally upon us, spare a thought for poor Daniel Storey. His beloved Nottingham Forest may have secured victory on the opening day of their Championship campaign, but uncertainty still surrounds his true love.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Everton are yet to receive an actual bid from Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku. Some silly sods claimed earlier this month that the Blues had made an offer for their former striker, but nope.
Sam Wallace does concede that Lukaku remains Chelsea’s primary target this summer, they just haven’t made an offer yet. And even when they do, Everton are expected to REBUFF it.
What would my Romelu part two
The Sun disagrees with Wallace as they provide their own update – they continue to claim Chelsea have made an offer – but they bring us more tasty news.
Mike McGrath and Justin Allen report that the Blues ‘are ready to offer’ both Asmir Begovic and Loic Remy in order to sign Lukaku. A first-choice keeper and some sort of replacement for the young Belgian, as well as a cash offer? That does not sound too bad at all.
Everton are also keen on Wilfried Bony of Manchester City.
Red Schwein
Weird one – really, really weird one – from Turkey now, which the Daily Star are predictably too happy to peddle: Manchester United could lose Bastian Schweinsteiger and Antonio Valencia for under £5m combined.
Turkish newspaper AMK claim that Galatasaray are interested in the pair, with both potentially struggling for first-team opportunities at Old Trafford this season. Schweinsteiger will not feature; Valencia might have a chance.
The reported fees are £2.5m for Schweinsteiger and just under £1m for Valencia. Put that through the Daily Star’s currency converter, and it becomes a combined £4.25m.
POOR SAIDO
A final word on Saido Berahino now, who is still being kept hostage by West Brom. Tottenham failed to rescue his last year, and Stoke have failed with bids this summer.
The Stoke Sentinel claim that Mark Hughes’ side remain confident of signing the striker. Despite the ‘several setbacks’ they have suffered, the Potters believe a club-record deal can still be struck.
Martin Spinks reports the following: ‘Stoke are having to play a waiting game that could now drag on even longer after the complication of West Bromwich Albion being sold to a Chinese consortium.’
So that’s that.
AND THE REST
Pep Guardiola has deemed Joe Hart not good enough to be his first choice goalkeeper at Manchester City, and will reportedly swoop for Barcelona stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen…Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has flown into Manchester for a secret medical as his £100m world-record move to United nears completion…Paul Pogba’s world-record move to Manchester United is being held up by Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri as he ponders how to restructure his midfield…Leicester City are lining up a £17m bid for Burnley defender Michael Keane…Yaya Toure has patched things up with manager Guardiola and is expected to stay at City, while the club has slashed the asking price for striker Wilfried Bony by half to usher him through the Etihad exit door…Ryan Giggs is the man Wales would turn to if successful Euro 2016 boss Chris Coleman says yes to Premier League new boys Hull City…Manchester United believe signing Paul Pogba is worth the investment and will deliver £40m worth of commercial income in the first year…Hull City caretaker manager Mike Phelan looks set to be handed the role on a permanent basis after the club’s failed attempts to appoint their preferred targets…Newcastle are ready to sell hot-headed striker Aleksandar Mitrovic…West Ham are interested in signing Real Madrid starlet Martin Odegaard…Sunderland have been told they must pay £10m for Dynamo Kiev defender Domagoj Vida after their £6m bid was rejected.
