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 Nicolas Otamendi.
Otamendi heads to Man City
Several media outlets, including the Daily Mail, report that Manchester City have agreed terms with Valencia for the transfer of Nicolas Otamendi, in a £28.5m deal which will include a year-long loan deal for Eliaquim Mangala.
Negotiations have been complicated because Valencia still owe City a significant portion of the £24m it cost them to take striker Alvaro Negredo to the Mestalla this summer, and the Spanish club have proposed selling prize asset Otamendi as part of an overall settlement.
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City have maintained throughout the summer that they have four centre-backs in Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala, Martin Demichelis and Jason Denayer, and are in no hurry to sign a fifth. However, it now appears that they are considering a cut-price deal for Otamendi who has an official buyout clause of £35m.
Reports in Spain on Sunday claimed that the deal is done and City will allow Eliaquim Mangala to join Valencia on loan as part of the package. Mangala formed a strong central defensive partnership with Otamendi at Porto before City paid a total of £42m for him last summer.
However, he has helped the early Premier League leaders keep a clean sheet in their opening two games and it would be a major surprise if he was allowed to leave. Teenage midfielder Marcos Lopes would appear to be a more realistic loan option if City’s hierarchy sanction the deal.
Everton considering a move for Dynamo Kiev playmaker
The Liverpool Echo report that Everton are considering a move for Dynamo Kiev’s Andriy Yarmolenko as they step-up their attempt to sign a playmaker.
Roberto Martinez is a known admirer of the 25-year-old Ukraine international, and saw first hand his talents when the 25-year-old helped knock the Blues out of the Europa League with a stunning goal in Kiev’s 5-2 victory at the last 16 stage last season.
The Toffees boss went on record at the time to explain why he felt Yarmolenko could thrive in the Premier League, and is believed to be interested in trying to bring him to Goodison before the current transfer window closes.
“He would be a good signing for the Premier League,” the Catalan said in March.
“Any player who has got good ability in one-to-one situations and brings a goal-scoring threat can find a big role.
“Our league is very physical, very demanding. Yarmolenko controls the moment of the game really well.
“He’s got 10, 15 goals a season. He has good experience and is a good age.”
Real Madrid beat Liverpool in Kovacic race
Italian sport daily Gazetta report that Real Madrid have beaten alleged Liverpool target Mateo Kovavic to the signing, having agreed a €35m fee for the player with Inter.
A bid of €25m from Liverpool was allegedly rebuffed by Inter earlier in the transfer window, though The Telegraph insist that Brendan Rodgers is keen to make another effort to sign the midfielder.
However, it is now believed the Spanish side have come in with a €35m offer, plus €5m bonuses, which has met the demands of Inter, and the player is likely to move to Madrid in the coming days.
Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez demanded a new midfielder and negotiations with Inter have been held in secret, with no indication that Kovacic was a potential target.
Spurs ready to make Berahino bid
The Telegraph report that Tony Pulis is ready for a frenetic fortnight at West Bromwich Albion as Tottenham Hotspur prepare an opening bid for £25million-rated forward Saido Berahino.
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Pulis will step up his search for signings this week with the £5million capture of Cardiff City goalkeeper David Marshall expected to be the first arrival in a busy finale to the transfer window.
Albion want to sign at least three more players before September 1 and this disappointing performance at Vicarage Road only emphasised the need for some stardust.
But Pulis is also facing the possible departure of Berahino, the England under-21 international, with Tottenham Hotspur set to make an opening bid of around £15million this week.