EPL Gossip Thursday April 15th
Barcelona deny they have promised Arsenal that they won’t try to sign Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas this summer. Daily Mail
Real Madrid said the same thing about Ronaldo last year around this time. That being said I do believe Fabregas will still be playing for Arsenal next season.
AC Milan are looking to sell Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato this summer, with Chelsea and Real Madrid expected to fight it out for his signature. Corriere dello Sport (In Italian)
I understand Pato is young and sometimes it just takes longer but I’ve been expecting more since he did cost 30 million. If I were AC Milan I’d pick up the phone and call Massimo Moratti about swapping Pato for Mario Balotelli.
Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery has told a German television channel he hopes to decide where his future lies “in the next 10 days”. The Frenchman claims Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea are all interested in signing him. The Guardian
Bayern Munich are determined to keep hold of Franck Ribery and will snub any £40m bids for Franck Ribery from Chelsea and Real Madrid even if it means the France international leaves on a free transfer in 2011.
Full story: Daily Star
It doesn’t make sense to talk about moving Ribery right before the Champions League semi finals.
Manchester City are closing in on a £11m deal to sign Hamburg’s 6ft 3in Germany international defender Jerome Boateng, the younger brother of Portsmouth’s Kevin Prince. The Guardian
Manchester City should of made this signing inside of paying double for Lescott.
Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack could be heading for a reunion with former Blues boss Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan after admitting there have been no talks over renewing his Stamford Bridge contract, which ends this summer. Daily Mail
Between Ballack and Guti leaving as a free transfer in the summer I’d lean towards Guti making the jump.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has stepped up his bid to sign Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris as his long-term replacement for Edwin van der Sar. Daily Mail
No wonder Ferguson is rumoured to be asking for a 60 million pound transfer budget. He’ll be a good bit of that if he wishes to convince Lyon to sell one of the best young goalies to come through in along time.
Sunderland midfielder Steed Malbranque, wanted by Bordeaux and Marseille, has ruled out a return to France, with the former Lyon man intent on staying on Wearside. Daily Mirror
I wouldn’t be turning down Bordeaux or Marseille if I was Malbranque. If I was Bordeaux or Marseille I’d be turning down Steed Malbranque however.
Benfica are willing to sell highly-rated central defender David Luiz – a reported target for Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City – this summer and are hoping to secure a 30m euro fee. IMScouting
Benfica can and should use Pepe €30 million fee from Porto to Real Madrid as a starting point. It’s not like Benfica want to sell Luiz or Angel Di Maria but a combined 50-60 million pays a lot of bills.
The Premier League will deny FA Cup finalists Portsmouth their dream of playing in the Europa League next season, unless the south-coast club can come out of administration and pay off all their debts by the end of the season. Daily Mirror
I love the Portsmouth story but David Moyes is right. You can’t change your mind after not applying to play in Europe to then want to play after making it to the FA Cup final.
Manchester City winger Adam Johnson has played his way into England boss Fabio Capello’s World Cup plans and will be named in the Italian’s provisional 30-man squad next month. Daily Mirror
Liked the Johnson transfer when it wrapped up and still love it how. Players on the rise from non elite clubs are the type of players Manchester City should go after. Mix them in with 1-2 older players with titles on their resumes and you have a legit title contender.
Real Madrid claim they have already recovered the £80m it cost them to buy Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United through sales of replica shirts bearing the Portuguese star’s name. Daily Mirror
Another thing I’ve been saying all along. The money Real Madrid paid to sign Ronaldo is going to end up being a bargain. Ronaldo has six plus years of prime football ahead of him. That is at least two jersey changes. Plus all the another stuff Ronaldo brings off the field to go along with his talents and the 90 million paid to Ronaldo is going to a steal. The 60 million for Kaka…..not so much.
Former England star John Barnes will reprise his legendary rap from New Order’s 1990 World Cup song ‘World in Motion’ for a TV advert. The Guardian
Great song