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 Raheem Sterling missing Liverpool training.
Sterling calls in sick for training
According to the Guardian Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling missed training today, complaining he was ill. The forward is intent on leaving the club and informed Brendan Rodgers, the manager, this week that he does not wish to go on the club’s pre-season tour, which starts on Sunday.
Liverpool did not offer any comment on Sterling’s absence on Wednesday though the club will undertake its standard procedure regarding the 20-year-old’s health by asking their doctor to verify his claim.
Sterling’s hard-line stance regarding the tour further demonstrates the breakdown in relations since the 20-year-old rejected a £100,000-a-week contract extension last season. It also opens the way for Manchester City to make a third offer for the winger, who is under contract at Liverpool until 2017 on a £35,000-a-week deal.
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Everton move in for Dann
Everton have made an £8milion bid for Crystal Palace defender Scott Dann, according to Mirror Football.
Toffees boss Roberto Martinez has been tracking Dann since the end of the season and now the Goodison club have submitted a formal offer. Palace are likely to demand almost double what Everton are offering, and do not want to sell the Liverpool-born centre-half anyway.
Dann had an impressive season at Selhurst Park but is believed to be interested in a move back north.
Everton have made Dann their top target to strengthen their defence this summer after Sylvain Distin’s departure.
United to Schneiderlin before tour
Manchester United are hopeful of landing Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin before flying to the United States on Monday to start their summer tour as the Saints manager, Ronald Koeman, is keen to replace the midfielder as soon as possible, according to Guardian Football.
Louis van Gaal, the United manager, has had one bid of around £20m rejected by the St Mary’s club, with Koeman valuing Schneiderlin at £27m. However, United believe the player could be acquired for closer to £25m.
West Ham agree Ogbonna fee
West Ham United are confident of concluding a deal to secure the Juventus centre-half Angelo Ogbonna, with the Italy international due to take a medical and sign a four-year contract at Upton Park this week, according to the Guardian.
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Ogbonna, who has 10 caps, had attracted interest from Everton but the prospect of moving to London appears to have swayed his decision. A fee of around £10m has been agreed with Juve, for whom the defender was an unused substitute in the recent Champions League final defeat by Barcelona, as Slaven Bilic seeks to bolster his backline.
The 27-year-old made his name at Torino before controversially moving across the city to Juve two years ago and going on to make 41 Serie A appearances with the club. He claimed two league titles and an Italian Supercup and an Italian Cup in that time, but was deemed surplus to requirements this summer and permitted to depart.