European Football Transfer Gossip – Bayern interested in De Bruyne
By Lee Kilby
Playing for 90’s transfer gossip column brings you all the latest news and rumours of ins and outs from the leagues across Europe, including news on the futures of Kevin De Bruyne, Jasper Cillessen and Gareth Bale.
Bayern Munich enter race to sign Kevin de Bruyne
The Telegraph report Bayern Munich have entered the race to sign Manchester City target Kevin De Bruyne by offering Wolfsburg the prospect of keeping the midfielder until next summer.
Having abandoned attempts to sign Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba earlier this summer due to the Italian club’s £71m price-tag, City are prepared to meet Wolfsburg’s £51.5m valuation of De Bruyne.
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But despite City’s readiness to pay a club record fee for the Belgium international, Wolfsburg remain keen to hold onto De Bruyne due to the lack of time available to replace the former Chelsea player before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
De Bruyne is understood be ready to leave Wolfsburg, who qualified for the Champions League as runners-up to Bayern in the Bundesliga last season, but the 24-year-old is not prepared to force the matter by submitting a transfer request.
Paris Saint-Germain have also notified Wolfsburg of their interest in De Bruyne, but Bayern have made it clear to their German rivals that they will not make a formal move for the goalscoring midfielder until the end of this season.
Manchester United target Jasper Cillessen to stay at Ajax this summer
Talksport report Manchester United target Jasper Cillessen has no intention of leaving Ajax this summer.
The goalkeeper has long been earmarked as a replacement for David De Gea, who wants to move to Real Madrid.
However, the Dutchman says he and his agent have had no contact from anyone inside Old Trafford and he only has eyes for another campaign in the Netherlands.
“As far as I know it has never been a thing,” he told NOS. “I, the club, or my agent have never heard anything. As for me, this season begins and ends at Ajax.”
Manchester United target Gareth Bale not for sale at any price
ESPN report Real Madrid will not contemplate selling Gareth Bale even if Manchester United make a world-record bid for the player.
Sky Sports News has reported that United remain interested in Bale and it has been suggested they could make a fresh attempt to sign him before the transfer window closes.
The Wales international has been a target for United for the last two seasons, with the Premier League side missing out to Real Madrid in 2013 when they signed him for a reported world record fee of £85.3m ($100m).
There have been suggestions that the 26-year-old could be tempted away after a disappointing second season and having faced criticism from the club’s fans, and United reportedly would be willing to pay £95m (€130m).
However, Bale has always insisted he is happy to stay at the Bernabeu and Real are adamant the forward is not for sale.
Bale, who has scored 28 goals in 59 La Liga appearances, is set to be given an instrumental role under new coach Rafa Benitez, and played more centrally in their opening La Liga game against Sporting Gijon on Sunday.