DE GEA SET FOR NEW MAN UNITED CONTRACT
Before we start, a gentle reminder that players signing new contracts doesn’t always mean that much. Gareth Bale signed one and left for Real Madrid the following summer. Luis Suarez did the same at Liverpool. It can just be a method of ensuring that a whacking great transfer fee is received if the player does leave, an insurance move if you like.
So it’s with some caution that we report The Sun’s claim that David de Gea will sign a new Manchester United contract. What’s also odd is that the story is splashed over their website but doesn’t make the hard copy of the newspaper. Poor Daniel Cutts has been foiled again.
We’re told how a ‘United insider’ – of course – reports that De Gea will be paid £350,000 a week and will sign his new contract before the World Cup this summer.
CHELSEA COULD LOSE NINE PLAYERS THIS SUMMER
Hoo boy, the fall-out at Chelsea has truly begun in full swing. With it becoming increasingly clear that Antonio Conte is off this summer (and The Sun go big on the claim that Massimo Allegri will take over), the Daily Telegraph pile on with claims that ‘as many as nine first-team players’ could leave this summer.
The phrase ‘as many as’ always worries us, because it makes it sound like someone is desperately trying to upsell a transfer story. ‘As few as’ none might leave.
Anyway, here is the list: Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois, Pedro, Gary Cahill, David Luiz, Cesc Fabregas, Olivier Giroud, Michy Batshuayi and Kurt Zouma. We will build a statue of every reader of this gossip column if all nine of those players leave Stamford Bridge on a permanent deal this summer.
Also, can we really describe Zouma and Batshuayi as first-team players, if they aren’t actually playing for Chelsea at the moment?
PSG LOOK LIKE ALDERWEIRELD FAVOURITES
There is good news and bad news for Tottenham in Tuesday’s newspapers. The Daily Telegraph’s Matt Law writes that Mauricio Pochettino believes that six senior players are close to signing new contracts. Those six (ooh, another list): Dele Alli, Harry Kane, Jan Vertonghen, Hugo Lloris, Son Heung-min Son and Christian Eriksen. Those are some sexy, sexy names.
The bad news comes in the form of Toby Alderweireld’s potential departure, and it really does look on. The Daily Mail say that Alderweireld wants £200,000 a week, and that Spurs are unwilling to break their wage structure so significantly for him.
Unsurprisingly, Paris Saint-Germain are prepared to pay that much to sign one of the world’s best central defenders. The Mail say that PSG are in the driving seat, but surely Manchester United would also pay that sort of cash. Even if Alderweireld is 29.
AND THE REST
Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri is ready to replace Antonio Conte… Everton want Den Haag defender Wilfried Kanon… Leicester are eyeing a move for Porto right-back Ricardo Pereira… Michael Appleton and Brentford manager Dean Smith are the leading contenders to take over at West Brom in the summer… Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma is a target for Atletico Madrid and Sevilla.
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