FRIDAYS TRANSFER GOSSIP COLUMN Barcelona playmaker Lionel Messi, 27, is ready to listen to Chelsea or Manchester City if the Premier League clubs offer a staggering £500m package for him to quit the La Liga giants this summer. Manchester United are looking at a £35m bid for defender Mats Hummels, 26, as boss Louis van Gaal looks to take advantage of Borussia Dortmunds perilous league position in the German Bundesliga. However, Van Gaal may have to wait until the summer to sign both Hummels and long-time defensive midfield target Kevin Strootman, 24, from Roma with both players reported to be happy at their current clubs. Liverpool are considering a move for Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 22, as boss Brendan Rodgers considers replacements for Simon Mignolet. Newcastle are expected to speak to former Lyon coach Remi Garde about becoming the clubs new head coach next week. Manchester United is readying a fee of around 150 million euros to lure Gareth Bale from Madrid. Real Madird is open to offers in order to sign Marco Reus. Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette, 23, has given both Arsenal and Liverpool a boost in their pursuit of the striker as he reveals he wants to play in Spain or England. Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic, 21, is poised to wrap up his move to German side Schalke over the coming days. Toronto FC has emerged as the most likely destination should U.S. international Jozy Altidore leave Sunderland for MLS. Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli, 24, has no interest in joining Olympiakos on loan after the Greek side offered to pay his wages in full until the end of the season. Manchester United could delay a decision on a new contract for goalkeeper David De Gea, 24, until the summer with the club facing the distraction of prioritising a decision on 28-year-old striker Radamel Falcaos long-term future at Old Trafford. De Gea has been offered a double your money, £140,000-a-week deal to extend his Manchester United contract. Tottenham are struggling to offload midfielder Paulinho, 26, because neither Inter Milan nor Schalke will match the £17m Spurs paid for the Brazilian in 2013. But, the club look set to complete a loan deal for Paris St-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabot, 19. (The Times - subscription required) Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert must find around £3m if he is to secure a deal for out-of-favour Manchester City winger Scott Sinclair, 25. Milan is interested in buying the Belgian midfielder, who would like to play in Italy. Zenits price is expected to be around 20 million euros. Celtic are lining up a £1.5m bid for Chesterfield striker Eoin Doyle, 24, who has also interested Rotherham and Sheffield United. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told players any of them caught smoking on club duty will be sent to train with the youth team for the rest of the season following goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesnys misdemeanour in the changing room shower after defeat against Southampton. Frank Lampards agent Steve Kutner says the 36-year-old midfielder will not extend his stay at Manchester City beyond the end of the Premier League season and will join New York City in July. Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, 25, will return to training at the clubs Melwood complex on Friday after working for nearly a month in the Unites States on his rehabilitation from a torn thigh muscle. New Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew believes managing Newcastle will be difficult for his successor at St James Park because of the clubs financial and transfer policies. Former Barcelona coach Henk ten Cate says that playmaker Lionel Messi, 27, is still at the Catalan side because of a deathbed promise to former coach Tito Vilanova. Everton boss Roberto Martinez says he will rectify problems that have led to a number of players picking up hamstring injuries with the club already replacing some of its medics. Manchester City striker Stevan Jovetic, 25, will have to be dropped from the clubs Champions League squad of 21 players should City complete the £27m signing of Swansea striker Wilfried Bony, 26. Former Portugal star Luis Figo admits it is a tough choice for this years Ballon dOr, describing Barcelonas Lionel Messi and Real Madrids Cristiano Ronaldo, 29, both forwards, as the truffles and caviar of the football world. Manchester City fan and former two-weight world boxing champion Ricky Hatton was among those to wish the clubs Spanish playmaker David Silva a happy 29th birthday. All the best amigo, he signed off on Twitter. AND FINALLY... Dennis Wises son Henry has signed a one-year deal to play for Arsenal where the 15-year-old midfielder will team up with all three of David Beckhams sons - Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz - as well as Frank Lampards nephew. West Ham striker Andy Carrolls career to date has been dogged by injury, but the 26-year-old ended up inadvertently injuring himself again off the pitch - while making lunch
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 15:48:55 +0000
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