Rumour Reel: Man Utd to poach PSG’s Verratti, Liverpool in for midfield duo
Published:
Holly Thackeray | June 13, 2016
Nothing matches a splash of Monday morning transfer gossip with your coffee, as Coral run the rule across all the freshest football rumours.
Euro 2016 may be in full swing, but that doesn’t stop the whispers, and Manchester United dominate the headlines yet again as speculation swirls about an ambitious bid for PSG playmaker Marco Veratti, but that’s not all that will grab your attention…
Red Devils to raid Paris
Word from the tabloids has it that Jose Mourinho has been tipped off about PSG midfielder Marco Verratti’s talent by mooted incoming striker signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who played with the string-puller at last club PSG.
Undoubtedly, Mourinho already knows all about the Italy international, currently sidelined from Euro 2016, anyway and has supposedly sanctioned a move with transfer rivals Real Madrid reportedly ahead in the queue for Paul Pogba.
Verratti, 23, would suit a Red Devils revolution to a tee, with his intriguing blend of pin-point passing and tenacity seeing him branded Andrea Pirlo’s heir for the Azzurri.
Injured Verratti’s Italy teammates take to the Euro stage against Belgium tonight, for which you can read our brilliant betting preview …
Yet, it would surely take more than the £79m being banded about to prise the lauded young playmaker from PSG’s grasp, as the Parisians are not short of cash and appear to be on the verge of ambitiously appointing Sevilla’s successive Europa League-winning manager Unai Emery, with both eyes on advancing in Europe.
While, speaking of Seville, the club took an unprecedented step of tweeting about apparent new coach in-waiting Jorge Sampaoli, as the ex-Chile tactician arrived in the Spanish city for talks.
Jorge Sampaoli acaba de llegar a Sevilla para estudiar la propuesta del #SevillaFC pic.twitter.com/8ARmQPLl7D
— Sevilla Fútbol Club (@SevillaFC) June 13, 2016
Klopp keen on Poland star, joins Kante queue
Sticking in the Northwest area, Liverpool don’t look to be resting on their transfer laurels either, with the Reds said to be lurking behind Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea and PSG in the race for Leicester City’s France international N’Golo Kante.
Along with Dimitri Payet, Kante was one of the best on the pitch for Les Bleus in their Euro opener, making the £22m release clause seem a real steal. But, if the Reds join the battle for the Frenchman, can Klopp convince the energetic engine room enforcer to pick Anfield prestige over PSG’s millions?
A more likely midfield target, long-linked with the Merseyside Reds, is Poland schemer Piotr Zielinski, and Liverpool are believed to be rivalling Serie A giants Napoli with a £9.5m bid for the Udinese-owned 22-year-old. Starring for loan side Empoli hasn’t been enough to warrant a starting berth for the White Eagles, but he’s a passmaster with plenty of promise.
City close in on promising defensive pair?
And, back to Manchester, local outlets are suggesting Manchester City and Pep Guardiola will move for both up-and-coming centre backs Aymeric Laporte and John Stones, in a double defensive swoop that could cost the Citizens around £85m combined.
The Sky Blues would surely cash in on their current centre halves to fund the spree, but who of injury-prone Vincent Kompany, last summer’s signing Nicolas Otamendi or young-gun Eliaquim Mangala would most be at risk?
While, finally, Everton are also expectedly tipped to pinch Southampton and Italy striker Graziano Pelle from Southampton should Saints coach Ronald Koeman eventually officially arrive at Goodison Park. Though, rumours indicating the club, who are in need of a new number one, will try for Leicester and Denmark stopper Kasper Schmeichel seem rather wide of the mark. Stranger things have happened, however…
