The rumours are gaining momentum and, in many instances, credibility. Transfer Talk has the latest news as the summer window nears.
Pogba to Barcelona, it's complicated
With just about every team on the planet expressing some kind of interest in Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, why shouldn't Barcelona join the fray? Well, a pesky transfer ban that prohibits them from any activity until 2016 for one.
Transfer ban be damned, there are ways, according to quotes from Barcelona sporting director Ariedo Braida in the Daily Mail. Braida is friends with Juve's general director Giuseppe Marotta and confirms the two have been in touch about the £60 million-rated Frenchman.
As to a workaround for the ban, Braida said, "It could be an option to agree terms for a transfer in 2016. That's one of the potential options." It's a long shot at this point, but it's hard not to imagine what a player of Pogba's talent could do playing alongside the MSN trio.
Toure a fiscal casualty at City
Despite insistence to the contrary from Manchester City and Manuel Pellegrini, the latest reports continue to indicate that a deal to move Yaya Toure to Inter Milan is inching closer to reality.
Toure has history with Inter boss Roberto Mancini from his time as manager at City, and it now seems the player's agent, Dmitri Seluk, is becoming more optimistic about the possible move to Serie A.
Inter will have to officially tender an offer to Man City to spur the process on, and reports suggest that a four-year deal is in the works, albeit not at Toure's current wage level of €13 million. That number is the primary catalyst for City to move the Ivorian, who's had an on-and-off season at the Etihad after playing a critical role in the Blues' late-season run to the Premier League title during last year's campaign.
Surely more to come here.
Klopp or Rodgers for Liverpool?
Clyne done with Saints?
With a 10-day ultimatum issued from Southampton and official interest expressed by Manchester United, it sounds like the Nathaniel Clyne situation is finally coming to a head. The right-back delayed contract talks earlier this year, but Ronald Koeman and Saints are now saying sign up or move on.
According to the Mirror, there's a simple reason for Clyne's heel dragging: He's ready to move on and prefers a move to Old Trafford to reunite with former teammate Luke Shaw.
Chelsea are also rumoured suitors for the England international.
Tap-Ins
- Transfer Talk had more on Gareth Bale to Manchester United yesterday. According to the Daily Mail, he could be joined by Mats Hummels and Hugo Lloris at Old Trafford next season.
- Now from the Mirror, if Yaya Toure does end up at Inter, he may be joined by another electric partner in the midfield in the form of Alex Song. The Barcelona-owned player impressed early-on in his loan to West Ham, but with his performances flagging as the season progressed, it now seems like a permanent deal is not in the cards.
- Since requesting NOT to play for AC Milan in March, Sulley Muntari has been in limbo and looking to the summer for an exit strategy. Enter Everton, with Italian outlets reporting that the Ghanain could be set for a move to Goodison Park. With the season's acrimony in mind, it's suggested that Milan would let Muntari leave on a free. All the better for Roberto Martinez, if he remains the Toffees manager next year (but we digress).
- Having had a front row seat and a starring role in the mass exodus from Southampton last season, it seems Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is hell-bent not to let the same thing happen this summer at White Hart Lane. The Argentine has vowed to keep top players like Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen, Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane on board with Spurs.
- Thiago Motta's agent confirms that he'll enter contract talks with the capital club after the Coupe de France final. Early signs point to a new deal for the Italian, who's been one of many bright spots for Laurent Blanc and the Ligue 1 leaders this season.