In another edition of the newly regular gossip column on Playing for 90 co-editor Kevin Kelly keeps everyone up to date what the back pages say about impending transfer from around the Premier League and abroad.
Klopp Plans Sabbatical:
According to the German publication BILD Jurgen Klopp plans to take at least a six month break from management having left Borussia Dortmund after five years management the famous club. The report would seemingly rule out a host of clubs vying for his services, most notably Liverpool whose owner FSG are said to be big admirers of the charismatic German.
Even so, The Liverpool Echo insists manager Brendan Rodgers’ position is not under immediate threat as the club prepare to launch a review into their “disastrous” end to the season.
£20m Christian Benteke top of list for Reds’ Summer Purge:
The Independent report that not only is Brendan Rodgers position at Liverpool safe, despite the poor season and disastrous 6-1 loss to Stoke City on Sunday, but their owners FSG are willing to invest in the squad with the Belgian striker Christian Benteke at the top of their shopping list.
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Fenway Sports Group is making an enquiry about the Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, who has two years of his deal left to run and could fetch a price in excess of £20m.
The owners still also hope to sign the summer’s two leading free agents, Danny Ings and James Milner, and as yet there are no moves to replace the manager, with whom they have drawn up this list of potential signings.
Ancelotti out and Benitez in:
Guardian Football report the departure of Carlo Ancelotti after two seasons at the Santiago Bernabéu. Florentino Pérez, the Real president, held a press conference on Monday when it was announced that the 55-year-old Italian is to leave with immediate effect despite having a year of his contract remaining. Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is expected to take over from Ancelotti by next week when Napoli’s season ends.
Ancelotti, who joined Real from Paris Saint-Germain in June 2013, won the Champions League and Copa del Rey in his first season. But after being eliminated from the Champions League at the semi-final stage by Juventus and failing to win La Liga, it is understood the former Chelsea manager was informed of his fate in a meeting yesterday.
Carlo is part of our history because he won the Décima for us,” said Pérez. “But here the demands are very high and we need to give Real Madrid a new push that allows us to reach the level that we want to be. It was a very difficult decision to make. The demands at this club are the utmost because Madrid always wants to win silverware.
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Ramadel Falcao Wants Premier League Stay:
Mirror Sport report that revealed in March the Colombian wants to stay in the Premier League and ideally wants a club in London. Falcao’s representatives have already sounded out Chelsea after Manchester United decided not to take up the option to sign him permanently.
They have made it clear they are willing to scale back his huge £265,000-a-week wages from his parent club Monaco if it makes a deal happen. Arsenal were keen last August but have seen him flop at Old Trafford while Tottenham are likely to baulk at the finances involved. Valencia and Liverpool have also shown an interest.