Hot Football Transfer Gossip: Man Utd 'step up Dier and Perisic chase', West Brom 'want Smalling and Jones', Everton 'target Benteke'
The mood should be buoyant on Manchester United’s pre-season tour of the USA. The sun is out, batteries are recharged, the club has just pulled off a major coup to get Romelu Lukaku, and Paul Pogba is hosting pool parties with semi-naked women every night of the week. But something is missing.
Something at first indefinable. It’s a feeling of emptiness, a lull in the mood, a sense that things aren’t as fun or as special as they should be. But why? It’s only when we read today’s Daily Mirror that the problem becomes clear. It’s because Ed Woodward isn’t there.
The tabloid reports that the Red Devils’ much-loved transfer guru has “stayed at home” while the squad travels to the States in order to push through deals for Tottenham’s Eric Dier and Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic.
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Important business, sure, but who’s going to DJ at the pool party now? Who’s going to be cracking jokes, giving back rubs and providing that daily inspiration the players need?
Oh well, guess Chris Smalling will have to do it. Woodward has bigger fish to fry. He’s reportedly busy driving a hard bargain with Inter, who have demanded £50m for Perisic but Ed is refusing point-blank to pay more than £45m. He’s such a tough negotiator.
Meanwhile, Woodward is trying to persuade Spurs chairman Daniel Levy that he really does want to sell Dier really, and is offering £60m to make it happen.
Ambitious double swoop
But what’s this? Terrible news! Chris Smalling may be called back from the USA tour too, because he is wanted by West Brom.
The Mirror reports that Baggies boss Tony Pulis is planning to “revamp his defence” and has targeted Smalling as a potential replacement for former Red Jonny Evans, who is wanted by Leicester.
And it gets worse. Pulis is also keen on United’s Phil Jones as part of an “ambitious double swoop”. Worst. Pre-Season Tour. Ever.
There is some good news though. Because the Sun says United are poised to re-sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic as soon as this October after he “astounded medical staff” with his quick recovery from knee surgery. Be afraid, Lukaku.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid are “desperate” to sign Diego Costa from Chelsea after missing out on a string of top targets already this summer, says the Independent. Unfortunately not desperate enough to pay the £76m the Blues would have got by selling Costa to Tianjin Quanjian though.
Ross Barkley’s absence from Everton’s pre-season tour of Tanzania has fuelled speculation that his Goodison Park days over as Tottenham and Arsenal “watch his position”, says the Mail. The official reason for Barkley’s withdrawal is a groin injury, however. And also, why are Everton doing their pre-season tour in Tanzania??
Elsewhere, the Toffees want to replace £75m man Lukaku with Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke, but the Eagles insist he is not for sale (Mirror), Man Utd have opened talks with Barcelona target Ander Herrera over a new £175,000-a-week contract (Star) and Paris Saint-Germain are considering a move for Manchester City’s defensive outcast Eliaquim Mangala (ESPN). They’re clearly feeling guilty about snatching away Dani Alves from City in such ruthless fashion.
