Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, QPR and Newcastle United are the talk of the papers today.
All the rumour, gossip, and news you need to know from the last 24 hours
Who knows how this season would have turned out if Manchester United gambled on Wesley Sneijder last summer. Now it appears that Manchester City are the ones who want to bring him to England. He had a difficult season at Inter Milan, suffering injuries, mixed form, and being played in a variety of roles by different managers, and the Italians are open to a sale at the right price. The reports stem from Italian newspaper Gazetta dello Sport and are repeated in the Daily Mail.
One player Manchester United are said to be tracking this summer is Newcastle United sensation Papiss Cisse. The Mirror claim that Manchester City want him too, but it would surely take a mega-bid similar to one which prized Andy Carroll from their hands for Newcastle to agree to a sale. United don’t have that sort of money to spend on a striker, and while City do, we can’t see this ‘transfer chase’ being any more than just talk.
German club Schalke were linked with former Chelsea man Salomon Kalou yesterday, and today they are rumoured to be eyeing Rafael van der Vaart. The Dutchman played for Hamburg in Germany previously, and could team up with international teammate Klaas Jan Huntelaar. Tottenham would not want to lose him, especially for as little as the £12 million bid reported by The Sun, and Daniel Levy is expected to once again play hardball with any want-a-way stars.
While Newcastle may be able to price Papiss Cisse out of any move, they will struggle with his teammate Demba Ba. The Mail say Tottenham are ready to activate his release clause, and have already released Louis Saha to make way for the striker. He would cost £7 million at Newcastle who would simply have to hope he sees his future up north, and his mind has not been swayed by the continual speculation.
Another Newcastle player who could be on his way out, is right-back Danny Simpson. London club QPR are reported to be willing to offer him closer to the wages he is demanding, and hope to tie up a deal. QPR also want to sign West Ham goalkeeper Rob Green, who will soon be out of contract.
image: © Patrick de Laive
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