Rumour Reel: Bayern Munich eye Ibrahimovic as Chelsea go for Gomes
Robbie Purves | June 15, 2016
Despite the summer window officially opening on July 1st, it seems clubs are already chasing down their transfer targets one by one as they look to complete some of their business while Euro 2016 hots up.
Bayern eye Ibrahimovic
Reports in Germany suggest that Bayern Munich have entered the race for maverick striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Incoming Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti managed the player at PSG and is reportedly concerned that main marksman Robert Lewandowski has had his head turned by Real Madrid.
The Swedish striker looked set to sign for Manchester United, but the allure of the Bavarian giants and possibly winning the Champions League, which has eluded him throughout his career, could be too much to decline.
Ibrahimovic will likely command wages in excess of £200,000 per week, which will not be a problem for either of the European heavyweights.
Chelsea’s Conte goes for Gomes
Chelsea have had a £32m bid rejected by Valencia for their Portugal international Andre Gomes as the player continues to impress at the Euros, according to reports.
Having just signed a contract last summer that runs until 2020, it may be hard for the Londoners to prise the Portuguese away from Spain. Gomes salvaged four goals and seven assists from a disappointing Valencia campaign, but has caught Antonio Conte’s eye with skillful, neat performances.
The Spanish side are reportedly holding out for £42m as Benfica, Gomes’ former club, have a buy-on clause that entitles them to 25 per cent of any transfer fee Valencia received for the player, who only arrived arrived on the east coast of Spain 12 months ago.
This is the second time the Stamford Bridge side have been linked to a midfielder in recent days, with Roma’s Radja Nainggolan understood to be a target.
Both Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic were poor for Chelsea last term, in a season that saw them finish 10th. Conte chasing Gomes and Nainggolan could see the start of a new midfield partnership.
City set sights on Stones after Laporte snub
Manchester City aren’t used to getting knocked back in pursuit of a player, but that is exactly what appears to have happened in their negotiations with Athletic Bilbao and Aymeric Laporte. The ball playing centre back rejected a move to Manchester in favour of staying in Spain, snubbing a purported €8m-a-year deal at City to sign a new deal at Athletic – becoming the Basque side’s highest ever paid player, collecting mooted €5m-a-season with a €65m release clause.
So, now Pep Guardiola has set his sights on John Stones, as he looks to instill a ball-playing, passing style. Stones, whose consistent errors don’t seem to have put off big club interest, will command a fee of around £40m, as Everton look to get the most out of a player that joined the Merseyside club for £3m in January of 2013.
According to reports, City see Stones as better value for money than Laporte and his arrival would see both Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala take smaller roles.
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