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Hot Football Transfer Gossip: Sandro, Bellerin, Ighalo, Aarons, Howard
Manchester United and Manchester City continue to compensate for the dwindling importance of their rivalry on the pitch by instead competing for the same transfer targets off it. Either that or newspapers just like linking them with the same players because it makes it sound a bit more interesting – like some kind of “transfer derby”. And the latest focal point of these feisty, possibly ficticious, boardroom clashes is the Juventus defender Alex Sandro.
According to the Express, both Manchester clubs have had £35m bids for the Brazilian left-back rejected. Which kind of makes sense from City’s perspective because neither of their left-backs are great, but less so for United unless Luke Shaw is planning to spend another year on the sidelines. The Express adds that Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri considers Sandro to be to the second best left-back in the world, which means he must think Patrice Evra is the best left-back in the world because he frequently selects the 34-year-old Frenchman ahead of him.
Another in-demand full-back is Hector Bellerin, according to the Star, which repeats claims made yesterday that the young Arsenal right-back was approached by Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique on the pitch following the Gunners’ Champions League defeat to Barcelona. In fact, there is no doubt Bellerin was approached by the pair, because we could see it happen, but what’s more open to conjecture is what they actually said to him.
The Star seems to have bought into the school of thought that the two Spanish internationals were somehow trying to sign Bellerin for Barcelona, the club he left to move to north London three years ago. Because that’s how the world’s top clubs do their transfer business, apparently – players having little chats on the pitch.
It should be some comfort to Gunners fans to know there are plenty of other explanations for why Iniesta, Pique and Bellerin would have a conversation, particularly since they obviously know each other from the youngster’s days at the Nou Camp. Maybe they were just congratulating him on his display, or asking how his mum was, or warning him that Neymar has been trying to get off with his sister. Loads of possibilities.
Man Utd are reportedly keen on a striker who sounds quite good. His name is Johannes Eggestein, he’s 17 years old and he’s scored 69 goals in his last 71 games. Admittedly this is for Werder Bremen’s U-17 and U-19 sides, but it’s still impressive, as is the fact that his name has the word “egg” in it. The Star claims United will try to persuade Eggestein to join them in the summer, although they will apparently face competition from “Bundesliga big boys” Borussia Dortmund.
Elsewhere, Watford fear losing top scorer Odion Ighalo to Arsenal for £20m (Sun), Everton want £10m-rated Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall to replace Tim Howard (Mirror) and Newcastle youngster Rolando Aarons is wanted by Arsenal, Milan and Juventus (Newcastle Chronicle).
Finally, Sky Sports reports that Gianni Infantino’s FIFA presidential victory means that England may bid to host the 2030 World Cup. That’s exciting news. Reckon you’ll still be alive?
