Coral sizing Europe: Continental gossip on Dzeko, Falcao and more
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Reports in Italy claim Serie A runners-up Roma are targeting Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, who has been out of favour at the Etihad since the winter window capture of Wilfried Bony.
Prevously linked with Scudetto holders Juventus, Inter Milan and former club Wolfsburg, Bosnia frontman Dzeko appears surplus to requirements under Manuel Pellegrini. Man City are 5/2 second-favourites with Coral to regain the Premier Legaue title next term.
In Spain, rumours have surfaced that Manchester United loan flop Radamel Falcao could be given the chance to revive his career by resurgent Valencia.
Los Che will be in next season’s Champions League play-offs and, with parent club Monaco keen to offload the Colombian hitman from their wage bill, Falcao may be able to provide competition for Alvaro Negredo to partner Bats prodigy Paco Alcacer in the Mestalla attack.
Staying in Spain, Barcelona winger Pedro Rodriguez is attracting interest from across the continent. The most appealing offers are understood to come from La Liga and Serie A, however, which will come as a disappointment to Premier League clubs that were reporedtly chasing him for a bargain price of just £7m.
Porto have been getting their business done early in this summer’s transfer market. Having agreed to sign soon-to-be free agent and former Derby County loanee Alberto Bueno once his contract with Rayo Vallecano expires, the Dragons are now to exercise their clause to make Real Madrid-owned Brazil anchorman Casemiro a permanent capture.
While we’re on the subject of Porto, something of a transfer merry-go-round could be on the cards. If Falcao moves to Valencia and Monaco, who are also set to lose Dimitar Berbatov, firm up their interest in Atletico Madrid and Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic, then Diego Simeone will move for Dragons dangerman Jackson Martinez.
Falcao’s compatriot has been a big fish in a small pond in the Portuguese Primeira Liga for some years, and directly replaced his fellow Colombian in leading the Porto line. Atleti are also bracing themselves for a bid from Chelsea to take Antoine Griezmann to Stamford Bridge, so securing Martinez may become even more paramount.
Arsenal outcast Lukas Podolski may be coming to the end of an underwhelming temporary stint with Inter, but could be unveiled as Galatasaray’s new marquee signing next week. And finally, the Gunners will have to pay €40m (almost £28.5m) if they want to sign 11/5 Champions League chances Juventus‘ Chile midfield all-rounder Arturo Vidal.
