EPL Gossip Friday April 9th
Manchester City have denied making a £40m bid to Sporting Lisbon for midfielder Miguel Veloso and defender Daniel Carrico. Manchester Evening News
Sporting could only wish this to be true. Both Veloso and Carrico have a lot of talent but 40 million pays off a lot of debt.
Barcelona could turn to Aston Villa winger Ashley Young if their attempts to land Bayern Munich attacker Franck Ribery fail. imscouting.com
Not going to happen. Ok, to be fair the only way this happens is if Ashley Young makes it to the World Cup and does what Ribery did four years open.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger sent his scouts to Valencia’s Europa League quarter-final to monitor playmaker David Silva’s form. Footylatest
Only a pipe dream for Arsenal fans. Besides with the likes of Narsi and Arshavin area Arsenal has plenty of depth in that area.
Manchester United turned down the chance to sign Valencia striker David Villa. With United burdened by debts in excess of £700m, the £40m fee quoted by the Spanish side will have to be lowered if a deal is to be done. The Guardian
Won’t be lowered, nor will a deal be done. Real Madrid paid Lyon 42 million for Karim Benzema. People should remember that David Villa was Real Madrid first choice. It stands to reason if Valencia turned down 40 million from Real Madrid they will also turn down 40 million from Manchester United.
Manchester City are planning a surprise move for Bayern Munich striker, and Manchester United conqueror, Ivica Olic after the Croatia star impressed boss Roberto Mancini. Daily Mail
Ivica Olic is Craig Bellamy without the off field drama. Don’t see this happening.
Mancini made the trip to Anfield on Thursday night to take a look at Benfica left winger Angel di Maria as he considers whether to bid for the Argentina international. Daily Mirror
Picked a wrong day.
Aston Villa midfielder James Milner is a summer target for Manchester United with Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema also in Sir Alex Ferguson’s sights. Daily Mirror
Maybe in 2007, things are different now. Speaking of Lloris you can easily make the claim that he is one of the three best goalies in the world right now.
Bordeaux striker Maroaune Chamakh’s move to Arsenal is all but done, with the Morocco international expected to sign a four-year deal at the Emirates. Daily Mail
I want this to happen for the sole reason that I like being right about these things.
Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has said that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson failed to accept defeat like a gentleman after his side’s Champions league quarter-final defeat to the German side. The Sun
Sir Alex Ferguson can learn a thing or two about class from Franz Beckenbauer. Still remember how him and Sir Bobby Robson were genuinely wishing the other luck prior to penalties at the 1990 World Cup.
Defeat against Hull at the weekend could spell the end of Brian Laws’ tenure as Burnley manager.
Full story: Daily Mail
They should of never hired him to start with.
Striker James Beattie has suffered another snub at Stoke, with teenage rookie Louis Moult ahead of him in the pecking order for this weekend’s clash with Wolves. Daily Mail
Beattie is good as gone come the summer. All this because of a christmas party.
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie could make his return from a serious ankle injury in Wednesday’s derby against Tottenham. Daily Mirror
This would be good news to Arsenal and Dutch fans everywhere.