Rumour Reel: Laporte next in line as Guardiola plans Man City spree?
Holly Thackeray | June 3, 2016
Manchester City have already stolen a march on rivals by snapping up Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, but new Sky Blues boss Pep Guardiola’s Etihad revolution is showing no signs of slowing there, as City are being linked to everyone left, right and centre. So, pause for your Friday morning coffee break and read on for all the latest rumours with Coral…
Laporte links becoming stronger for City
Athletic Bilbao’s Basque centre back Aymeric Laporte is the main name in the Man City frame this morning, as though the France Under-21 international is currently sidelined following a leg fracture in March, the Citizens have shown with their Gundogan grab that injuries will not put paid to their transfer plans.
Gaffer Guardiola is tipped to go on an enormous spending spree this summer, with as much as £250m mooted to be splashed, and £39m of that cash stash could be used to trigger 22-year-old, ball-playing defender Laporte’s release clause.
As many as six new faces could join the Citizens ranks according to reports, with Real Madrid midfield schemer Toni Kroos and sought after Juventus dynamo Paul Pogba on the hitlist, as the centre of the park looks set for an extensive overhaul. Could this be a record summer of spending?
Although as far as pouncing for Pogba goes, the tabloids reckon a transfer tug-of-war between City and cross-town rivals Manchester United will commence, with new Red Devils dugout star Jose Mourinho said to have made a British record transfer bid of £60m to bring the former Utd star back to Old Trafford.
Ins and outs make for a summer of Merseyside madness
It’s not all about the Manchester giants in the Northwest, however, as significant column inches have also been awarded to Merseyside competitors Liverpool and Everton.
At Anfield, Jurgen Klopp could lose a key player in Philippe Coutinho, but also significantly boost Liverpool’s bank balance, as Ligue 1 rich kids PSG are supposedly circling for the talented playmaker, who is currently on duty at the Copa America with Brazil.
The Samba Boys’ pass-master could fetch as much as £46m to bolster Klopp’s coffers, while out-of-favour striker Christian Benteke features in another intriguing outgoing story.
Potentially set to follow in the footsteps of former Anfield Kop hero Fernando Torres, the Belgian bruiser is rumoured to be a target of incoming Chelsea coach Antonio Conte – but only if the Stamford Bridge Blues fail to snare ex-marksman and another Belgium international in Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku gossip then, brings us nicely on to Everton’s leading role in transfer rumours this morning, with the Toffees apparently preparing a move for Dutch tactician and current Southampton coach Ronald Koeman, with a deal in the works that could make him one of the top paid managers in the Premier League.
While, the ambitious Goodsion Park contingent could also partner any potential new coach with Sevilla sporting director Monchi, also tipped as a target for Man Utd.
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