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Gossip: Mourinho dilemma as Real Madrid 'want Bale for De Gea swap', Man City 'swoop for Bertrand', Everton 'target Benitez'
How do you revive a pair of flagging, tedious media entities to create something new and exciting? Simple – you combine them.
It happened when Peter Andre and Katie Price got married, and it’s happened again in today’s Sunday People.
The tabloid has cunningly melded two mind-numbingly dull transfer sagas – 1) Manchester United want Gareth Bale and 2) Real Madrid want David de Gea – into a single streamlined chunk of juicy gossip: Real Madrid want to swap David de Gea for Gareth Bale. So clever!
It’s a rollercoaster ride of a story for United fans. We learn that Jose Mourinho and Ed Woodward are “excited” at developments over Bale’s future and believe next summer will be their “best chance” of finally landing the Welshman.
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However, there has allegedly been “word from Madrid” that the Spanish champions will insist on De Gea forming part of the deal, leaving Mourinho “in a dilemma”.
While the prospect of signing Bale is “irresistable” (pretty sure that’s not a word but who are we to argue with the Sunday People), he has no desire to lose his goalkeeper.
Below this story is an advert for a reduced butternut squash at Ocado, but I suspect that’s just my own targeted advertising.
Saints face Bertrand and Van Dijk fight
Will Southampton ever again be allowed to enjoy a transfer window without the big clubs relentlessly trying to sign their best players? Certainly not in the next one.
Manchester City are set to swoop for Saints left-back Ryan Bertrand in January as a replacement for the injured Benjamin Mendy, says the Sun on Sunday, although the Premier League leaders could face competition from Bertrand’s former club Chelsea.
Saints will also reportedly have to fend off the advances of Barcelona for their centre-back Virgil van Dijk. The Sunday Mirror says the Catalan giants are set to “annoy Liverpool” by making a £50m move for the Dutchman the Reds spent all summer trying to buy.
Struggling Everton are reportedly planning to make a major signing to boost their season: Rafa Benitez.
The Sun on Sunday says the Toffees will target Newcastle manager Benitez as a replacement for Ronald Koeman, with the club’s players believing it is “only a matter of time” before the strawberry blonde Dutchman is sacked.
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Meanwhile, there is a very confusing story in the Daily Star Sunday which says Mesut Ozil “holds the key” to the future of his Arsenal team-mate Alexis Sanchez. Something to do with the Gunners wanting to sell one of them in January, apparently, and if nobody wants Ozil then will have to sell Sanchez. Righty ho.
Elsewhere, the Gunners and Tottenham are set for a “transfer tug-of-war” for Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez in January (Sunday Mirror), Schlalke have offered midfield sensation Leon Goretzka a new contract to fend off interest from Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City, Barcelona and basically everyone (Bild) and Mauricio Pochettino has declared that he would one day like to manage England (Mail on Sunday). Great! The car’s waiting outside for you Poch. Toddle off now Gareth, thanks for your help these past few months fella bye.
