Advertisement

Gossip: Manchester City 'want Iniesta', Arsenal 'choose Low as Wenger replacement', Ramsey 'to quit Gunners'

Manchester City reunion? Pep Guardiola wants to bring Andres Iniesta to the Etihad
Manchester City reunion? Pep Guardiola wants to bring Andres Iniesta to the Etihad

When Pep Guardiola declared this week that Manchester City were only planning to sign “one or two players” this summer, you had a feeling they might be good ones. And it seems that feeling was justified, because one of them is Andres Iniesta.

The Sunday Mirror says the former Barcelona manager is planning an “audacious” swoop for one of his former Nou Camp stars, offering the 33-year-old the chance of a Premier League “swansong” at the Etihad.

The midfielder represents the “exact philosophy” of the City boss, while the Mirror also suggests his Barca influence “may be dwindling” since the £142m arrival of Philippe Coutinho, who is being groomed as his successor in central midfield.

READ MORE: The least Arsene Wenger deserves is a royal send-off
READ MORE: Kompany – ‘I can’t remember the last time we played badly’
READ MORE: West Ham co-owner David Gold barraged by social media calls to leave club

To complete this transfer, City would just need to overcome the small matter of Iniesta signing a reported “contract for life” at Barca less than four months ago.

Although to be fair, the Catalans may now be wondering whether it was a good idea to commit to paying him £70,000-odd a week when he’s 83 years old (even if the 83-year-old Iniesta will probably be better than most of West Brom’s current midfielders).

Arsenal want Germany boss Low

Another World Cup winner who could be on his way to the Premier League this summer is Germany boss Joachim Low, who the Mail on Sunday says has “emerged as the favourite” to replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

The beleaguered Frenchman is reportedly “facing the end game” at the Emirates. And whatever that means exactly, it doesn’t sound good.

Low is the “internal favourite” to succeed Wenger although the Gunners board would need to negotiate a “a complex exit strategy with the German FA” to get their man. They may also have to come up with some complex reasons to persuade Low to swap a World Cup defence for a Europa Leauge run.

Wenger could still stay though (of course) because owner Stan Kroenke has the power to grant him a “stay of execution” like he did last season. Winning that Europa League could help.

Alternatively, the Sunday Express says Carlo Ancelotti is the man Arsenal want to replace Wenger, although it says the Gunners would need to get involved in a “summer tug of war” with Chelsea for the Italian coach. Exercise in the sunshine – sounds fun.


Everton target Vardy

Following Wenger out the Emirates exit door could be Aaron Ramsey, who the Mail on Sunday says will be sold by Arsenal this summer to avoid him leaving on a free transfer in 2019. And you can hardly blame the Gunners for throwing in the towel in this manner after the stress they endured trying to keep hold of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.

Meanwhile, Everton have made Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy their “No.1 summer target” as they continue their search for a Romelu Lukaku replacement. The Sunday Mirror says the 31-year-old Fox has a major supporter at Goodison Park in the shape (the exact human shape) of Steve Walsh, former transfer guru at the King Power Stadium.

Vardy would allegedly “jump at the chance” of a move to Merseyside, not least because the Toffees are willing to pay him £150,000 a week.

Elsewhere, Man City have joined Man Utd and Tottenham in the race to sign Fulham’s left-side sensation Ryan Sessegnon (Sunday Mirror), Liverpool are “leading to chase” to sign Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri amid rival interest from Man Utd, Spurs and Arsenal (Sun on Sunday) and West Brom are bracing themselves for a “mass exodus” of players if they get relegated (Sun on Sunday). Because there will be such a mouth-watering array of Baggies talent to choose from for the world’s top sides.

@darlingkevin