Gossip: Simeone, Real exodus, Sane to City
UNITED PLAYERS EXPECT SIMEONE
Jose Mourinho is the odds-on favourite with most bookies – helped by the various stories emanating from ‘sources close to Mourinho’ that Real Madrid and PSG are both interested in the Portugeezer – but according to The Sun, the Manchester United players are expecting Diego Simeone to be their next manager.
The claim that ‘several squad sources have independently told SunSport they think Atletico Madrid chief Simeone is front-runner to take over from LVG’ and quote one player as saying: “All the betting may be on Mourinho coming in but the talk among the players is all about Simeone.”
Simeone has made no secret of his desire to manage in England. But wouldn’t he be better suited to the style at Chelsea?
REAL MADRID WANT CLEAR-OUT
There’s a spring clean and then there’s a spring clean. According to Sport – it’s important to remember here that Sport are based in Barcelona and not the capital – there will be ten people axed from Real Madrid. First out of the door will be manager Rafa Benitez, who will not make it past Madrid’s next defeat, apparently.
‘Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, Jese, Isco, Alvaro Arbeloa, Keylor Navas and Denis Cheryshev are all potential departures,’ it says here, while ‘the door would be open for Sergio Ramos to leave too’. So that’s pretty much everybody. Except Gareth Bale.
The last line of the report is telling: ‘As well as (David) De Gea, Robert Lewandowski and Eden Hazard are targets as Perez tries to topple the powerful FC Barcelona.’
MAN CITY WANT LEROY SANE
‘Manchester City have made Leroy Sané, the highly rated 19-year-old Schalke forward, a prime transfer target but would hope to pay less than the €40m (£32m) the German club are holding out for,’ writes Jamie Jackson in The Guardian
“He is a player with a special gift and finesse, speed paired with technique and strong running – at just 19,” said German boss Joachim Loew recently. Real Madrid are also said to be interested in the youngster so City may have to pay that £32m whether they like it or not.
AND THE REST
Marko Grujic is will be confirmed as a Liverpool player on Monday…Alan Pardew wants QPR striker Charlie Austin at Crystal Palace…Odion Ighalo wants to stay at Watford despite interest from Atletico Madrid…Mohamed Elneny has passed his Arsenal medical, but a work permit issue could delay his £7m switch…Former Netherlands international Frank de Boer has told Swansea he would welcome the chance to manage in the Premier League…Manager Tony Pulis says West Brom do not want to sell striker Saido Berahino – and that the 22-year-old could start against Stoke on Saturday.