Liverpool, Swansea City, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are the talk of the papers today.
All the rumour, gossip, and news you need to know from the last 24 hours
Liverpool‘s next manager Brendan Rodgers is preparing to anger his former club by swooping for their players, report various news outlets today. Yesterday it was claimed Rodgers wanted to hijack a deal for Gylfi Sigurdsson, and today the Mail claim it is Joe Allen who is his top target. Allen was last week linked with Arsenal, and is valued at around £10 million. He is only 22 and had an excellent debut season in the Premier League. The paper claim Joe Allen’s arrival will spell the end for Charlie Adam, who could even go the other way.
The Mirror stick with the same theme, but believe Rodgers has his eye on different Swansea City players. The paper claim he wants to sign Scott Sinclair, Ashley Williams, as well as Sigurdsson. Sinclair was linked with Liverpool in January, and was one of the Swans’ standout players last season scoring eight times. He offers natural width and a threat from the left side, an area Liverpool need to strengthen. We can’t see them all going, most likely two out of the four of Sigurdsson, Allen, Sinclair and Williams, but no more than that.
Aston Villa bound Paul Lambert will make sure Rodgers is not the only one departing and incurring the wrath of his former club. The Mail also report that he would want to take Grant Holt to Villa Park. Holt had an excellent season at Norwich City this year, even being touted for the England squad. He handed in a transfer request which was knocked back last month, which indicates he is certainly up for a move.
Manchester United meanwhile find themselves linked with Valencia left-back Jordi Alba. It won’t be simple though, as Barcelona also have their eye on the Spaniard. Alba would be a more expensive option than Leighton Baines and certainly put a lot of pressure on Patrice Evra for his position. From United’s perspective, fans should not get too excited. There is little in the Mail’s report to indicate progression has been made on a deal, with their source, the Valencia chairman, talking up a Barcelona offer.
And finally, another transfer battle between Arsenal and Tottenham. The duo are already duking it out for the signature of Jan Vertonghen and Junior Hoilett, and the latest player to be linked with both clubs is Sochaux playmaker Marvin Martin. He told France Football that he is ready to make a move abroad and would decide his future after Euro 2012. Borussia Dortmund are also eyeing him as a replacement for Manchester United bound Shinji Kagawa. The Frenchman scored twice and provided eight assists in Ligue One last year.
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
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