Is Manuel Lanzini going to take his creative juices up to Merseyside? Photograph: Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images
Not content with dashing Atlético Madrid’s Champions League hopes every season, just because it’s funny to make them cry, now Real Madrid want to nab their most prized asset. They’re casting haughty glances towards Antoine Griezmann and couldn’t care less about what the neighbours think of them, because this is what entitlement does to the soul, although any move for the French striker depends on whether Tottenham reject Gareth Bale leaves Real.
It’s all set up for another busy summer of comings and goings at the Bernabéu, although not everyone’s enamoured with the idea of spending pre-season unsettling rival clubs. Isco, for instance, has found that he rather likes playing every week and is therefore urging Real not to make a move for Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. The Spanish midfielder doesn’t want to go the way of James Rodríguez, who will be allowed to join Manchester United if Ed Woodward stumps up at least £63m.
A mystery club has made a £68m bid for Monaco’s Kylian Mbappé. It could be United, it could be City, it could be Real. It could even be Sunderland. Or Forest Green Rovers. It’s probably not Arsenal, though. Speaking of hot young talents, Huddersfield Town want to sign Chelsea’s Izzy Brown on a permanent basis. Oh, and Manchester City like the look of Milan’s goalkeeping ace Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Everton have decided that Manuel Lanzini is the man to add crucial creative
flair to their midfield. That move to the London Stadium continues to go to plan for West Ham, then. Not to worry, though, Gokhan Tore will be fit soon. Elsewhere on Merseyside, Liverpool have slapped a £30m price tag on defensive misfit Mamadou Sakho. Crystal Palace are wondering whether they can afford that fee for the centre-back, who’s excelled on loan at Selhurst Park, and if they do conclude that Sakho’s worth the money, Liverpool will use the cash to sign either Burnley’s Michael Keane or Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk.
And last but in no way least, Alan Pardew could be heading back into management after a devilishly handsome spell on the Sky Sports sofa. It looks like Carlos Carvahal’s time at Sheffield Wednesday is up, even if he leads his team to victory in the Championship play-offs, and who can blame the people in charge at Hillsborough for ditching their current manager when Pardiola is available?
- The Guardian