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 Angel Di Maria.
Di Maria could leave United
The Telegraph report that Angel Di Maria could leave Manchester United for PSG this summer.
Di Maria will not participate in the four-game trip to the US due to his exertions with Argentina at the Copa America, but it is understood that the 27-year-old and his wife, Jorgelina Cardoso, have become increasingly unhappy in Manchester and are keen to return to Spain, just a year after his arrival from Real Madrid.
Paris Saint Germain have confirmed their interest in Di Maria, who was a long-term target of the French champions last summer, but the player has identified a return to Real as his favoured option.
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With Real so far showing little interest in taking Di Maria back, however, the player is likely to be left with a choice of staying at United or accepting the challenge offered by PSG.
De Bruyne could join Sterling at City
Manchester City will attempt to push their summer spending towards the £100m mark this week by intensifying efforts to secure Wolfsburg midfielder Kevin De Bruyne on completion of the £49m signing of Raheem Sterling, report the Telegraph.
Liverpool forward Sterling is expected to undergo a medical in Manchester on Tuesday following the Anfield club’s decision to accept City’s third bid for the player – an initial £44m which could rise to £49m due to performance-related clauses.
De Bruyne has emerged as one of the most prized players in Germany after helping Wolfsburg qualify for the Champions League last season, but rumoured interest from Bayern Munich has failed to materialise, leaving City in direct competition with Paris Saint-Germain to sign the 24-year-old.
Meanwhile, the Manchester Evening News report that Edin Dzeko could now leave City as Sterling has arrived at the club. Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini arrived in Manchester on Sunday, hoping to secure a deal for Bosnian hitman Dzeko.
Sabatini was pictured flying into Manchester, but he may have some hard talking to do, as the Blues will not accept Roma’s £9m offer. City initially wanted £21million-plus for Dzeko, but Italian sources claim that they would settle for around £14.4million in order to get his £160,000-a-week salary off their wage bill.
Michu set for return to La Liga
Swansea are ready to part company with the 29-year-old after his nightmare loan spell at Serie A side Napoli last season, report the Daily Star. Just two summers ago, the forward had been valued at £30million after scoring 22 goals in his debut season at the Liberty Stadium.
But a recurring ankle problem has seen his asking price diminish, with Swansea ready to sell for barely any more than the £2.2million they paid to bring Michu to south Wales. Leon Britton’s Swansea exit has also moved a step closer after the midfielder requested not to be included in Garry Monk’s squad for the pre-season tour of Germany.
Wolves are interested in Britton as are a host of MLS clubs.
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Sanogo could go to Ajax on loan
Ajax are discussing a season-long loan deal with Arsenal for striker Yaya Sanogo, report the Daily Mail. The 22-year-old has yet to cement a place in the Arsenal squad since his move from Auxerre in 2013 and spent part of last season on loan at Crystal Palace.
He could link up with ex-Arsenal striker Dennis Bergkamp, who is assistant manager at Ajax. Sanogo is not in the Arsenal squad that travelled to Singapore for the pre-season Barclays Asia Trophy on Monday.
Bergkamp enjoyed 11 years at Arsenal but turned down an offer to become a scout for the club after retiring, before taking up a role as assistant at Ajax in August 2011. He and manager Frank de Boer will be tasked with turning Sanogo’s fortunes around with the forward stuck on just 11 appearances in the Barclays Premier League since 2013.