Yahoo News Hot Football Transfer Gossip: Aubameyang 'asks to leave Dortmund', Liverpool 'want £50m Keita', Arsenal 'offer Alexis £270k a week'
For four blissful seasons, Borussia Dortmund fans have enjoyed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goals, marvelled at his haircuts, mastered the pronunciation of his name and laughed off a zillion pieces of transfer gossip linking him with a move away from the Westfalenstadion. But the dream is over. The Gabonese goal machine has decided to take his 119 goals, numerous haircuts and the 24 letters in his name (including hyphens) somewhere else.
The Star reports that the striker has requested a move away from the German side this summer, sparking a battle for his signature that will have Manchester United in the thick of it.
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The Red Devils have allegedly “informed intermediaries” of their interest in Aubameyang, because that is presumably how football transfers work these days – you send Ed Woodward out to tell a bloke in the pub that you like a player, then a few weeks later the news reaches the Rhine-Ruhr.
United are tipped to compete with Paris Saint-Germain for the 27-year-old, although Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have previously been linked with him too. The Star adds that a move to China is also “a real possibility”. It could take them more than four years to pronounce his name properly over there though.
Liverpool are also interested in importing another piece of prime Bundesliga beef to the Premier League in the shape (the EXACT shape) of RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita. The Times says the 22-year-old Guinean is Jurgen Klopp’s joint-No1 transfer target this summer, although the Reds will have to shell out £50m to bring him to Anfield.
Liverpool’s other joint-No1 transfer target is Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk, who would also cost about £50m. It’s expensive qualifying for the Champions League, isn’t it?
The Times also reports that Chelsea will only consider selling unsettled Spanish Brazilian striker Diego Costa if someone offers “more than £60m” for him. And by “someone”, they mean “someone Chinese”.
Another potentially pricey striker is Troy Deeney, who Watford will reportedly demand £35m for amid interest from Everton, West Brom and Leicester (Mail).
Meanwhile, Arsenal have made one last desperate attempt to keep Alexis Sanchez at the Emirates by offering him a new contract worth £270,000 a week amid interest from Bayern Munich, reports the Mail. That’s just £30k short of the £300,000 a week the Chilean has been demanding all along. Don’t be surprised if the Gunners make another last desperate attempt to keep him next week at £300k.
Elsewhere, Man United will refuse to sell key midfielder Ander Herrera to Barcelona (Independent), Stoke forward Marko Arnautovic is a £15m target for AC Milan and PSG (Sun), Newcastle and Brighton are competing to sign Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham (Telegraph) and Tammy’s brother Timmy has moved from Charlton to Fulham (Bristol Post). This could get confusing.
