Manchester United target Dutch Lazio centre back De Vrij as Ramos backup
De Vrij targeted as Ramos back-up, Shaqiri to Stoke for £12m, Liverpool to announce Benteke deal, Arda Turan prefers Chelsea over Man United, Man City want Hamsik...
UNITED OPEN DOOR TO DE VRIJ
Most have picked up on this by now, but reports from the Netherlands claim that Manchester United will move for central defender Stefan de Vrij if a move for Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos fails.
De Telegraaf claim Louis van Gaal has targeted the Lazio defender as a back-up in case the move for Ramos cools, but there's no talk of a potential fee just yet. Still, van Gaal will know him well from his time at Dutch head coach, so maybe...
STOKE SWOOP IN FOR SHAQ
Well, this one's completely out of the blue.
Rumours emerged yesterday and ran into this morning that Everton were keen on Inter Milan winger Xherdan Shaqiri, but it appears as though Stoke have stolen a march on their Premier League rivals.
According to Sky Italia, Mark Hughes' men have stumped up a £12m offer for the Swiss international in the hope of pushing a deal through. It's the 23-year-old's decision, now.
WHERE IS LAMBERT GOING NEXT?
Brendan Rodgers insisted that Rickie Lambert wasn't signed by Liverpool for romantic reasons, and we can only assume that he will be sold in a similar manner. It really hasn't gone well.
The Liverpool Echo reports that West Brom are leading the chase for the unwanted striker, but they also claim that Bournemouth and Championship QPR are also interested in the 33-year-old.
Lambert scored three times in 36 games for Liverpool last season. We reckon he's behind Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings, Mario Balotelli and Divock Origi in the Anfield queue, and that's without including a potential new arrival and Roberto Firmino, who can play as a striker.
Those England caps seem a long, long time ago.
WATFORD KEEPING IT CONTINENTAL
New Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores has already signed Sebastian Prodl and Giedrius Arlauskis, and striker Matej Vydra is also close to arriving. The Spaniard seems set on continuing his league of nations crusade.
Flores has admitted that he is eyeing moves for Spanish pair Alvaro Vazquez and Pablo Sarabia. Both players are at Getafe, where Watford's manager used to coach.
"I love both of them," Flores said. "And of course when I met Mr Pozzo, he recommended players, the sporting director recommended and I recommended. We try to mix recommendations and get the best for the team."
So there you go...
ASSOU-EKOTTO SIGNS FOR ST ETIENNE
Looks like Benoit Assou-Ekotto was on the phone to St Etienne on Tuesday night, because the French club have confirmed a deal to sign the former Tottenham left-back.
Assou-Ekotto became a fans' favourite at White Hart Lane, but was released by the club in February after failing to make a league appearance under Mauricio Pochettino.
The Cameroon international has now signed a one-year deal with the Ligue Un side.
BENTEKE AGREES LIVERPOOL MOVE
That's the ballsier than ballsy claim from Talksport, whose man on Merseyside Graham Beecroft believes that Liverpool are on the verge of completing a deal for Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke.
"My understanding is Christian Benteke, who has been on their radar for some time, is very close indeed to signing for Liverpool," Beecroft says.
"I expect him to sign if not today [Wednesday] then certainly in the not too distant future. Liverpool have done their work and have sealed a deal."
Cynical translation: He's probably signing but I don't know when.
TURAN EYES CHELSEA MOVE
The future of Arda Turan is coming dangerously close to being a saga, despite the fact that we don't know the identity of any club who actually holds a concrete interest in signing him.
Both Chelsea and Manchester United are assumed to be up for making things Arda for themselves (ouch), but the Daily Mail believe that Stamford Bridge is Turan's preferred destination.
Turan recently admitted that his agent was in talks with "three or four" clubs, promising to keep us updated when he knew any more. The Daily Mail claims "sources close to Turan have indicated the midfielder prefers a switch to west London and having the chance to work with Jose Mourinho is a big attraction for him".
PALACE IN TALKS WITH CABAYE
We are crossing fingers, toes and more besides that Yohan Cabaye will come back to the Premier League. We miss his face, we miss his free kicks and we miss his musk.
Southampton seemed the sexiest fit, but it does look as if Chunky Pardew will tempt Cabaye back with promises of regular football, undying love and the unpleasant lingering smell of pineapple. Apparently that might be enough to persuade him to sign.
Let's say this right now: If Palace get Cabaye from PSG, it represents the deal of the summer so far.
CITY WANT HAMSIK
With Wolfsburg refusing to let Kevin de Bruyne go and Barcelona seemingly winning the race for Paul Pogba despite being under a transfer ban, things aren't particularly rosy at Manchester City. At the moment it looks like Raheem Sterling for £40m is the most likely business.
The Sun report that City are moving on from the De Bruyne disappointment by turning their attention to Napoli's Marek Hamsik. They claim that City will bid £20m for the midfielder, and offer him a deal worth £100,000 a week. He's 27.
City paying a high fee and giving big wages to a midfielder with little to no sell-on value at the end of his contract? We just don't know what to believe.
AND THE REST
Chelsea expect to confirm the loan signing of Rademel Falcao in the next week... Arsenal have withdrawn their interest in Arturo Vidal and Morgan Schnedierlin. Arsene Wenger was tracking the duo but now may decide against signing another midfielder... Rickie Lambert has accepted his Liverpool future is out of his hands as West Brom step up their pursuit of the striker... QPR's Leroy Fer is a target for Sevilla... Stoke will move for Udinese's Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu if Steven Nzonzi leaves... Everton are keen on signing Xherdan Shaqiri from Inter... Crystal Palace and West Ham are battling with Marseille to sign Lille midfielder Idrissa Gueye... Aston Villa have launched a shock bid to sign out-of-contract Leicester midfielder Esteban Cambiasso... Ashley Young has agreed a new three-year Manchester United contract worth £120,000 a week... Sebastian Coates is set to make his loan move from Sunderland to Liverpool a permanent deal... Ronald Koeman believes Southampton can beat Tottenham to the signature of Toby Alderweireld.
Source: Football365
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