Rumour Reel: In-Sane twist for Man City, Man Utd move closer to Mkhitaryan capture?
Published:
Holly Thackeray | June 22, 2016
There are transfer twists and turns aplenty this morning, as Leicester City attract attention with a pair of arguably over-priced bids, while Manchester City could be about to suffer a blow in their pursuit of Schalke prodigy Leroy Sane.
Read on with Coral’s Rumour Reel to find out if your club will secure a summer coup, or be left rummaging through the bargain bin…
Mkhitaryan inches toward Old Trafford
It’s good news for Manchester United fans this morning, but bad for beleaguered Borussia Dortmund support, as the German giants are reportedly on the verge of giving in to the Red Devils’ raid for Armenia international Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
After an apparent offer of around £18m was rebuffed, it looks as though Jose Mourinho could poach the playmaker at the second time of asking for £28m. Yet, Dortmund were rumoured to have demanded closer to £30m for their star, who has just one year left on his contract.
Though, ‘the Special One’ may have to go toe-to-toe with former club Inter Milan for Argentina defender Ezequiel Garay, with the Italians and Mancunians aiming to grab the Zenit St Petersburg centre back for as little as £15m. Could this be the older and more experienced rearguard marshal Mourinho wants to add to Old Trafford ranks?
The South American, 29, seems to fit the bill after excelling in Russia. Yet, Mourinho was Bernabeu boss back when Real Madrid auctioned Garay off in 2011.
Foxes in audacious attempts to acquire English duo
While it is certainly a sign of prosperity in the Premier League, champions Leicester City are attracting a rather large slice of scorn for their dogged and public pursuit of Watford captain Troy Deeney.
Nobody can question that coach Claudio Ranieri can bring the best out of English underdog attackers, but £25m for dangerman Deeney, who hit 15 for the Hornets in all competitions last campaign, is raising collective eyebrows across the country.
According to tabloids, the Foxes are willing to fork out as much as £30m to land the forward, but Watford are still resisting. While, newly promoted Burnley appear to have taken a leaf out of the Hertfordshire side’s book and are set to reject £15m for Old Trafford academy product Michael Keane, who could be brought to the King Power as defensive back up.
In better news for Foxes fans, however, it seems Ranieri has been rebuffing lucrative offers of his own for fledgling Leicester left back Ben Chilwell, who is a target for Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp seeks to shore up his leaky backline.
The Foxes are also believed to be close to tying up the £13m transfer of midfield disruptor Nampalys Mendy from Nice, as the Midlands men reinforce in case of N’Golo Kante’s expected departure.
There is also a much more appealing attacking option being linked with Leicester in the form of Juventus forward Simone Zaza. Currently on Euro 2016 duty with Italy, it is widely expected that the dynamic striker will exit Turin, and the Azzurri attacker would be a much more fluid foil for Jamie Vardy.
Though, Swansea City gaffer Francesco Guidolin could provide Zaza competition and has also admitted he admires his compatriot, stating: “He is a player that I like a lot, a guy who is chomping at the bit because he is not playing much at his club.”
Man City Sane swoop in doubt?
Finally, Manchester City’s mooted move for Schalke starlet Sane could be in jeopardy, though the German team already look to have a replacement for their young talent in the works, as Switzerland forward Breel Embolo is linked to Gelsenkirchen.
The plot twist is instead provided by Bayern Munich, who already scuppered City’s rivals Man Utd in the transfer market with a surprise poaching of Renato Sanches.
Could the Munich men steal in again for Die Mannschaft winger Sane? Negotiations over a £40m move were thought to be well underway, but it is believed a late bid by Bayern has disrupted the deal.
Though, not to fear for the Sky Blues, as Pep Guardiola already appears to have the transfer of Spain winger Nolito wrapped up, with the Roja attacker expected to arrive at the Etihad after the Catalan coach triggered a £13.8m release clause to capture him from Celta Vigo on a three-year deal.
