Transfer Gossip – De Gea Edges Towards Man United Exit
By Kevin Kelly
In another edition of the Playing for 90 transfer gossip column co-editor Kevin Kelly brings you all the latest news of ins and outs from the world of the Premier League and abroad, including news on Paul Pogba and Karim Benzema.
Don’t Fall Spurs – Pochettino targets Trippier
Despite already having Andre Yedlin and Kyle Walker on their books it seems Spurs want ANOTHER right-back, this time targeting Kieran Trippier from Burnley, report the Daily Mirror. Trippier, 24, has a £3.5m release clause in his contract and it is understood that Spurs have made contact to try and push the deal through.
Trippier featured in every Premier League game for Burnley in the 2014/15 season (3416 minutes), registering four assists along the way. Tripper is reportedly also being targeted by Liverpool and Southampton.
De Gea Exit Nears Completion While Benzema Interest Arises
David De Gea’s long awaited departure from Manchester United has edged closer, report the Daily Telegraph. Real Madrid are preparing to formalise attempts to sign David de Gea next week with club president Florentino Pérez ready to move for the Manchester United goalkeeper following his international commitments with Spain.
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With long-serving Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas considering a lucrative offer to leave the Bernabéu and play for Turkish club Fenerbahce, Madrid are confident that a deal can be struck with United for De Gea. De Gea signed from Ateltico Madrid for a fee of £18.3m in the summer of 2011.
Meanwhile Karim Benzema, the France forward, is a player United are interested in signing and the 27-year-old could be used as leverage to unlock any deal for De Gea.
Benzema’s agent, Karim Djaziri, claimed earlier this week that a move to Manchester held little appeal for the player and United would face a further obstacle in the form of Real president Pérez, who regards the striker as one of the club’s prized assets.
Wenger Considers Goalkeeper Situation
The London Daily Standard that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is monitoring Iker Cassilas’s turbulent situation at Real Madrid, while he also is considering a more for Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.
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Should De Gea arrive at Real, Casillas is likely to be available with Arsenal among the interested clubs. The Gunners would prefer to sign Petr Cech from Chelsea but they are awaiting the outcome of a meeting between the player’s representatives and the Blues next week before making a formal move.
Chelsea are reluctant to sell to Arsenal and although they have told Cech they will not stand in his way, any English club are likely to pay a premium given the Blues’ preference to sell to an overseas team.
To complicate the picture further, United have also expressed an interest in Cech should De Gea depart, especially given Chelsea would demand around £10m while Tottenham are expected to want around twice the £11.8m they paid Lyon for Lloris in 2012.
De Bruyne Confirms City Talk
Former Chelsea player Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed ‘informal talks’ with Manchester City. The Wolfsburg star has been in sensational form for the German outfit this season, scoring 15 goals and 25 assists this season in all competitions.
The 23-year-old told Sky Sports News HQ that there had been “informal contact” with City but that the decision would ultimately rest with Wolfsburg since the former Chelsea man is only one season into his five-year contract.
“If they want to do something, they have to go to Wolfsburg, not to me” – De Bruyne
“We say to everybody – if they want to do something, they have to go to Wolfsburg, not to me,” he said.
Glen Johnson Set For Turkish Venture
The Liverpool Echo report that Glen Johnson is set to sign for Turkish side Besiktas, with his Liverpool contract up at the end of the month. He will leave the Reds having made exactly 200 appearances since joining in 2009.
He featured 28 times in all competitions last season, scoring once, but found himself largely out of favour under Brendan Rodgers as the campaign wore on.
Besiktas are understood to have offered Johnson a two-year contract, and are confident they can persuade him to complete a move to Istanbul as talks progress. Italian giants Roma have also been linked with the 30-year-old, while a host of Premier League clubs are also monitoring his situation.