Transfer Gossip – Pirlo in talks with NYCFC

Tuesday’s transfer gossip column on Playing for 90 brings you al the latest news from the Premier League and abroad, including news that Andrea Pirlo might be heading to the MLS to sign for New York City FC, brought to you by co-editor Kevin Kelly.

NYCFC in talks with Pirlo

NBC Sports report that Andrea Pirlo is in talks to sign for NYCFC. Pirlo has been a long-term target for New York City for months and when the World Cup winner was spotted at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, rumours began to hot up.

reports suggested that Pirlo may stay at Juventus until the end of his current deal in 2016 but the source confirmed to Pro Soccer Talk (NBC) that if things can be ironed out in the coming days, then the Italian national team icon could suit up in MLS as soon as June 13 alongside Lampard and David Villa.

Pirlo, 36, took in a New York Yankees game on Sunday vs. the Detroit Tigers as he has property in NYC and is currently on vacation in the Big Apple with his family. Making a move to leave his beloved Juve, where he reinvented himself as a deep-lying playmaker on the way to Juve’s four-straight Serie A titles and a fine run to the UEFA Champions League final last season, will obviously be a tough decision for the man who won the UCL with AC Milan twice earlier in his career.

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Everton to sign Deulofeu and retain Garbutt

The Liverpool Echo are the bringer of good news for Everton fans as they report that Gerard Deulofeu has flown into Liverpool for talks with the Merseyside club, ahead of a proposed transfer for the player. Deulofeu, 21, has long been keen to return to Everton after a successful loan spell in 2013/14, and has insisted on the move being permanent instead of another temporary arrangement.

He spent last term on a distinctly less rewarding loan at Sevilla, with only 15 starts and his last outing was a 28-minute cameo from the bench on April 26. Deulofeu made 29 appearances for Everton, scoring four times. He will become the club’s second signing of the summer, after the free transfer capture of Tom Cleverley.

Meanwhile full-back Luke Garbutt is expected to sign a new deal with the Blues, likely to be a five year deal. Garbutt will then move to Bournemouth on a season-long loan.

The England Under-21 left-back, who left Leeds United for Goodison Park in 2009, had appeared likely to depart after negotiations stalled. However, with the 22-year-old’s contract due to expire next week, he has agreed terms through to 2020. He will return to Everton to challenge Leighton Baines for the left-back spot in 2016-17.

Swansea to sell Michu for £4m

The Daily Star report that Michu are set to offload Michu for $£4m when he returns to Swansea this week. The forward spent last season on loan at Napoli; recurrence of an ankle injury limited Michu to just five goalless appearances.

The former Rayo Vallecano man has two years remaining on his contract at the Liberty Stadium, and Swans boss Garry Monk had insisted he was open to Michu being part of his plans for next season. But there appears no way back for a player who scored 22 goals in his first season with Swansea, helping the club win the 2013 Capital One Cup.

His request to leave last summer, despite Monk outlining his desire to keep Michu at the club, means Swansea are ready to offload a player once valued at £30m for a knockdown fee. Meanwhile Swansea City are closing in on a deal to sign 19-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo Lara from Barcelona.

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Barcodes interested in Thauvin

The Chronicle report that Newcastle are interested in signing Florian Thauvin. Newcastle United look set to sell Papiss Cisse this summer after enquiries from Premier League clubs for the £10million-rated striker – with Marseille’s Florian Thauvin lined up to replace him.

United are ready to listen to offers for the Senegal striker and Besiktas have made an offer to Newcastle which falls below their valuation. But two Premier League clubs are understood to be interested in Cisse – and prepared to get closer to the eight-figure fee that United want for their number nine.

With two years left on his contract, the Senegal forward’s time at St James’ Park appears to be coming to a conclusion. Cisse nearly left Newcastle last summer and it has been reported that United may offer Charlie Austin the number nine shirt in a bid to entice him from QPR.