Rumour Reel: Wanyama a wanted man, Man City seeking Spain star
Holly Thackeray | June 18, 2016
There’s a fine day of Euro 2016 fixtures too look forward to, and why not first enhance your Saturday morning cereal with all the freshest football transfer gossip? Coral present the latest rumour reel, featuring a surprise move for Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama and a Spain international in Manchester City’s sights…
Wanyama wanted by Spurs
First up is a move which actually seems sensible, with Saints shield Wanyama set to take his crunching tackles, boundless energy and general harrying to White Hart Lane for a mooted modest fee of around £11m.
It will certainly be a summer of change yet again for Southampton, as the club have already lost innovative coach Ronald Koeman to Everton, and now aggressive engine room operator Wanyama could follow suit with a medical tipped to go ahead next week.
The 24-year-old Kenya captain’s contract expires next June, leaving the south coast club vulnerable, while the move more than makes sense for Tottenham, as manager Mauricio Pochettino prepares for life in the Champions League.
Wanyama would bring quality depth and added bite to the usual deep midfield duo of Mousa Dembele and Eric Dier, in support of Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and co, as Spurs seek to solidify their Premier League top four status with more savvy purchases this summer.
Green light given for Nolito
La Liga side Celta Vigo are open to offloading Spain winger Nolito, and Man City are said to be the club chasing the 29-year-old’s signature to add to their first summer capture of Germany schemer Ilkay Gundogan.
After nifty Nolito’s excellent goal and role last night as La Roja crushed Turkey, it would be understandable to think a few more million is to be added to his price tag.
Yet, Celta president Carlos Mourino told press nimble Nolito has a release clause of around £14m and that he expects to lose the star, who could add serious threat to City’s sometimes lacklustre wide positions.
“I believe Nolito will leave this year. He is playing well, one of the players we have got a lot out of,” he said.
“Nolito’s contract has a clause of €18m. Whoever pays that can take him. There is no negotiations – we will not sell for less than €18m.”
Man City are supposedly eyeing the Spanish late bloomer as a cheaper alternative to Schalke starlet Leroy Sane, who could command around £40m, with Pep Guardiola also tipped to be targeting expensive additions elsewhere such as Everton centre half John Stones.
Sunderland, West Ham eyeing frontmen
Elsewhere in the Premier League, strikers seem to be en vogue in the transfer supermarket, with many a budding side seeking a potent frontman.
Perhaps the most intriguing, and ambitious, rumour, is Sunderland’s interest in Dutch dangerman Bas Dost. The Wolfsburg forward’s stock has fallen somewhat after he scored just 10 goals in all competitions – half the haul of his previous sensational season.
Could he be the marksman for Big Sam? The Black Cats need goals to stay away from another successive relegation scrap, and the gangly Clockwork Orange capped attacker could prove a coup.
While, Premier League champions Leicester City, Everton and West Hamn United are all said to be pondering a raid on AC Milan for French forward M’Baye Niang, as the Rossoneri could be in for another rebuild this off-season.
After eight goals in 17 games last campaign in all competitions, 21-year-old Niang has shown real dynamism and the potential to be an explosive attacker, and would present a much more realistic option than clubmate Carlos Bacca, who was previously linked to the Hammers.
Finally, as for the ongoing transfer saga that is Sadio Berahino’s attempts to escape West Bromwich Albion ranks, the Spurs rumours may have stalled but FA Cup finalists Crystal Palace have now apparently thrown their hat into the ring for his services, with Stoke City believed to be their main rival for the Burundi-born goal-getter.
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