You know when someone wants to tell you something bad so they tell a long story and then quickly drop in the bad news at the end and try and gloss over it? Well, the Daily Star have done the opposite, they’ve dropped a huge transfer rumour and not clarified at all.
They say we’ve been interested in Bayern Munich’s Mario Gotze and that he could be available. Really? Well, judge for yourself.
Long-term United target Mario Gotze could be available this summer after his agent criticised Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola for not giving the World Cup winner enough opportunities last term.
Agent Volker Struth told Bild am Sonntag: “Of course I would have liked if Mario had felt more support in one or two situations.
“I am fully convinced that when Mario feels this support, it is easier for him to show his incredible potential.
“Then he is one of the best players in the world.”
Nah, not having that. You can’t just casually associate a name with a club for no reason at all. Still, the Star are respected enough to make the link one that we have to include in our players linked list. Having entertained the Metro at first, there’s a reason why we’re not sharing their ‘United cleared to sign Ronaldo’ story past the headline.
Having had his trip to Madrid rendered into nothing more than a quick getaway, David De Gea conceded he must return to pre-season training with Manchester United and confirmed as much to Spanish media outlet Cuatro.
There has been some suggestion in the press that with the Real Madrid’s slowness dealing with Iker Casillas’ future, De Gea does not exactly feel assured that he will be first choice for definite. It’s a logical train of thought but let us remember a crucial point – the deal on his end is essentially done. There will no cold feet and these stories always come out in protracted sagas. De Gea will be moving to Real Madrid but, if they do not put in a strong enough bid this window, then Louis van Gaal should be able to get into the head of the Spanish goalkeeper and tell him they obviously don’t value him as much as United do. It will do little in the long term but if De Gea is forced to remain at Old Trafford, then it might not be as petulantly as it seems it could have been.
Have you noticed how there has been a lack of stories linking goalkeepers with a move to United? Well, a lack in the domestic press – international press are having something of a field day. French reports have been linking Hugo Lloris with a move, seemingly oblivious to Daniel Levy’s history with Man Utd. L’equipe have previously said that there’s an agreement which exists between Lloris and Levy which enables the stopper to leave for a price around 20m Euros. We bet that agreement was much like that Simpsons episode where the aliens have the book which reads ‘How to cook for forty humans’. Levy got Lloris to sign the contract then blew off ‘We will never sell you to Man Utd’ after.
Anyway, Turkish outlet Vatan tell us – and who are we to disbelieve them – that we have put in an offer of £25m for the 29 year old Fernando Muslera of Galatasaray.
The Mirror follow up from weekend reports that we might be in for Asmir Begovic.
Excuse us, we’re still reeling from the Gotze news-not-news.
Players linked to United : Dani Alves, Hugo Lloris, Mats Hummels, Nathaniel Clyne, Gareth Bale, Morgan Schneiderlin, Nicolas Otamendi, Felipe Anderson, Petr Cech, Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Gaitan, Ilkay Gundogan, Lorenzo Gonzalez, Bastian Schweinstiger, Harry Kane, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Muslera, Asmir Begovic, David Alaba, Carlos Bacca, Arturo Vidal, Joseph Colley, Gonzalo Higuain, Radja Nainggolan, Gregory van der Wiel, Mario Mandzukic, Christian Eriksen ’89, Roberto Dourado, Roberto Firmino, Memphis Depay, Jasper Cillessen, John Stones, Paul Pogba, Thomas Muller, Axel Witsel, Freddy Guarin, Seamus Coleman, Fabinho, Romelu Lukaku, Raphael Varane, Stefan De Vrij, Jerome Boateng, Dayot Upamecano, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Dani Carvajal, Arda Turan, Jordi Alba, Seamus Coleman, Edinson Cavani, Asmir Begovic, Matteo Darmian, Fernando Muslera, Mario Gotze.
I’m surprised everyone overlooked the fact that DDG’s trip to Madrid was for the exact 4 days of Madrid Gay Pride, just saying.