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As we move in to the off-season, an unprecedented amount of managerial movement around Europe will surely see an already frantic transfer market go in to overdrive. This will give plenty of opportunities for transfer rumour and gossip. So how much of it is realistic?
Chelsea will have to spend £80m to land Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney. The package would include £28m committed to a transfer fee, with his five-year contract on £200,000-a-week wages costing £52m.
Full story: the SunWhat’s the story? I have a feeling we’re going to be seeing Rooney every day for a while now. Is it interesting? I’m not sure it is, but I’ll do my best to make it so!Does it make sense? Man United don’t sell star players to other English teams. Ronaldo, Stam, Beckham and van Nistelrooy were all sold overseas. Do Chelsea feel they need Rooney? They’ve already got four strikers as it is, and I don’t see where 27-year-old Rooney fits in to their youth movement. Sign him and see the end of Lukaku’s charge to the first team.Is the price right? It’s about right, although the transfer fee seems quite cheap compared to other players who have moved this summer. It’s only £3m more than what Villa want for Benteke.Will it happen? 3/10 – It does feel like United would let him go for the right offer, but would they really let him go to Chelsea? What happens if he scores 30 goals at Stamford Bridge and wins Chelsea the league while van Persie suffers a serious injury after the transfer window?
Barcelona are prepared to sell midfielder Cesc Fabregas, 26, to Manchester United but the Red Devils must break their club record transfer fee and pay £31m to make it happen.
Full story: Daily Mirror
What’s the story? This is just fantasy. Barcelona have said Fabregas doesn’t want to leave and they certainly don’t need to sell.Does it make sense? No, of course not. Barcelona paid more to get him for a start. Plus, they’ve already lost Thiago Alcantara so if they sell Fabregas too, the two players they want to succeed Xavi will have gone in one summer. Xavi is almost 34, and so he wont be playing too much longer at the elite level. Maybe a candidate to retire by hoisting another World Cup in the summer?Is the price right? No. This is Barcelona we are talking about here; they don’t really do haggling. It’s less than what they paid for him and not enough to buy a quality replacement.Will it happen? 3/10 – Barcelona can make the odd bizarre decision, but even if they did for some reason want to sell Fabregas, Arsenal have first rights to negotiate with him and their fans would riot if they didn’t take that up.
Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini, 25, will choose Manchester United over Arsenal should both clubs make a bid for him this summer.
Full story: London Evening StandardWhat’s the story? The Fellaini to United link took flight as soon as Moyes got the job, but if they wanted him they could have already bought him, so I’m not convinced they really do.Does it make sense? He’d be better suited to United than Arsenal and he knows Moyes, so it makes sense for Fellaini. But will David Moyes want to make his first signing an Everton player? It shouldn’t be a concern, and Moyes is strong enough for it not to bother him, but it’s still a consideration.Is the price right? His £23m release clause is well known and is still unactivated.Will it happen? 4/10 – If someone wanted Fellaini, they could have already done so and had him on a pre-season tour. Does that mean they won’t sign him? Not necessarily, but he’s not an incredible fit at either club.
Tottenham are chasing highly rated Real Betis winger Alvaro Vadillo, 18, who has been dubbed the ‘new Cristiano Ronaldo’.
Alvaro Vadillo (L)
Full story: Metro
What’s the story? Everyone is the new Ronaldo apparently.Does it make sense? It’s a bit much to think you are buying a new Cristiano Ronaldo. He hasn’t scored a senior goal yet and has only made 4 assists in 26 games, so those aren’t numbers that jump off the page.Is the price right? Betis aren’t in great shape financially so they can be bought from. Somewhere above £3-4m would probably do it.Will it happen? 5/10 – Maybe, but Spurs only have so much money and signing Christian Benteke seems to be the priority.
Chelsea have targeted Bayern Munich’s Luiz Gustavo, 25, as a midfield replacement for John Mikel Obi, 26, who is expected to depart Stamford Bridge this summer.
Full story: talkSPORT What’s the story? No they haven’t.Does it make sense? Not really. This is a case of ‘Chelsea seem to want a midfielder, Bayern have too many, therefore…’ Gustavo is a decent destroying midfielder and possibly will be lost in the flood of talent at Bayern. But Chelsea already have a heavily stocked midfield to which Gustavo would not be an upgrade addition.Is the price right? Bayern would probably want £10-15m. It’s too much considering Chelsea haven’t yet done anything about the much bigger issue of signing a central defender.Will it happen? 0/10 – Nope.
