Playing for 90’s transfer gossip column brings you all the latest news and rumours of ins and outs from the Premier League and abroad, including news on the future of Stewart Downing.
Downing could return to Middlesbrough
Sunderland and Middlesbrough will continue their pursuit of West Ham’s Stewart Downing this week, report the Mail Online. West Ham have been surprised at the bidding particularly with Middlesbrough’s efforts to take the 30-year-old England international back to the Riverside.
Downing turns 31 later this month but Boro are willing to offer a four-year deal worth in excess of £55,000 a week and offer £6million plus add ons to West Ham. Meanwhile, Boro have agreed terms with Bolton defender Alex Baptiste and want a top striker to join Downing.
Sunderland have had a £5m offer rejected for Downing but are monitoring developments with Everton winger Aiden McGeady. The Republic of Ireland international is keen to gain more playing time. Sunderland are hoping to wrap up the deal for Belgian international defender Nicolas Lombaerts from Zenit this week.
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Some better news for West comes is that they have agreed a deal in principle to sign Argentine midfielder Manuel Lanzini on loan from UAE-based club Al Jazira, according to the Mail Online.
The 22-year-old, who has an Italian passport, was considered by West Ham while at River Plate last summer but he moved to the Middle East instead for £5.25million. Known as ‘La Joya’ or ‘The Jewel’, Lanzini also has interest from Sharjah. He scored eight goals in 24 appearances to help Jazira to a second-place finish in the Arabian Gulf League last season.
Sterling to join Man City tour while Benteke will say he wants transfer
The Daily Start report that Raheem Sterling will join up with Manchester City’s pre-season tour, as his £50m transfer edges toward completion. Etihad bosses are confident of striking a deal with Liverpool for the England winger before the end of next week.
It is doubtful an agreement will be reached before Manuel Pellegrini’s squad leave on Thursday, but the Chilean remains hopeful Sterling will link-up with his men midway through the tour. City have seen two bids of up to £40m rejected, with the Reds holding out for £50m.
In better news for Liverpool Christian Benteke will report back to Aston Villa on Wednesday and tell Tim Sherwood he wants to leave, according to Guardian Football. Villa are insistent the striker will not be sold unless the £32.5m exit clause in his contract is met but he has no desire to remain and it threatens to turn into a difficult situation for the manager if the Belgium international ends up staying on for another season.
Sherwood has reiterated he wants to keep Benteke, who scored 12 goals under his watch during the final three months of the season, and within the club there is a feeling that the prospect of playing for Belgium in the European Championship next summer will provide the striker with the motivation to perform at his best if he remains a Villa player.
Sanchez to miss start of the season
Alexis Sanchez will miss the start of Arsenal’s new season after helping Chile to win the Copa America for the first time in 99 years, according to Guardian Football.
The core of the Arsenal squad returns for pre-season training later this week, including their new £10 million goalkeeper Petr Cech, but Sanchez will now be given three weeks off after playing in all six of Chile’s matches in their victorious Copa America campaign.
He is now due to return back to club training on July 27, less than a week before the Community Shield match against Premier League champions Chelsea and less than a fortnight before the Premier League itself starts. There is still a small possibility of Sanchez being named a substitute for the Community Shield against Chelsea but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has proved repeatedly that he will not rush players back from their holidays.
Meanwhile Arsenal captain Arteta, 33, has agreed a new one-year deal months ago but had not put pen to paper, which raised question marks about whether he would leave the Emirates this summer, according to Mirror Football.
But Arteta, who had received lucrative offers from Spain, has committed himself and will be on the club’s pre-season trip to Singapore after returning to training.
Casillas nears Real Madrid exit
Iker Casillas’s 25-year association with Real Madrid drew nearer to a close on Monday night when his agent admitted the goalkeeper is interested in a move to Porto after a formal bid was submitted by the Portuguese club, manage by the Spaniard Julen Lopetegui.
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“Iker is interested in Porto and Porto are interested in Iker. We hope Madrid facilitate his departure,” Casillas’s agent Carlo Cutropia told Portuguese media.
Madrid have not yet accepted the bid but they are determined to move Casillas on this summer. The pursuit of David de Gea was designed not only to bring in a goalkeeper destined to be the future of the Spanish national team but also to encourage the captain to finally depart.