There is plenty of speculation floating around the papers today, some of it involving Irish internationals.
The Daily Mail believe that Noel Hunt will sign for Leeds today from Reading and we just hope his agent gives the contract a good look over as Noel may still be feeling the effects of his stag in Galway at the weekend. A few nights in the west can have lasting effects.
Shay Given has said he will be leaving Villa and Celtic are the early favourites to sign the Donegal man on a season-long loan. He has been told by Paul Lambert that Brad Guzan will remain between the posts and a return to his former club could suit both parties.
The Star suggest that Robbie Keane is plotting a move into management. No indications are given why, or where, and considering that he said only last week he would like to pay for another six years, this could be a little premature.
Jose Mourinho has arrived back in England a more subdued manager – so far anyway – and one player who seems to be linked to the Bridge is Wayne Rooney.
A number of today’s papers are going with the story that The Happy One has told the United striker “to do what makes him happy”. Whether that is to dabble in older working women or look to join one of United’s biggest rivals for the title next season remains to be seen.
Various papers have said that Real Madrid will “not baulk” at the £85 million asking price for Gareth Bale. If that is the case, start packing your bags Gareth and get your emotional goodbyes ready. AVB will be a like a kid in a sweet shop if he gets his hands on some of that wedge.
The Gunners will have to stump up for Higuain
And speaking of Madrid, they want Arsenal to get Real – had to be done – over their valuation of Gonzalo Higuain. The Sun say that the Gunners are not realistic in their offer for the striker believed to be in the £20 million bracket. Nicklas Bendtner has also been reportedly told he has no future at the club, with Paddy Power possibly interested in making him a full-time employee.
The Star says Manuel Pellegrini will be placed in charge at Man City in the next 24 hours with his first job to keep a hold of Carlos Tevez. He has been strongly linked to a move to Serie A, with firstly Juventus and now AC Milan courting the Argentinian. The Express expresses the view that vice-president Adriano Galliani says the club have renewed interest in the striker and a re-union with former team-mate Mario Balotelli would add to the entertainment factor no end at the San Siro.
The Times think that Robert Lewandowski is looking increasingly likely to move to Old Trafford with the news that Dortmund are unwilling to let him go to Bayern, with The Sun quoting a figure of £25.5 million. Not a bad price at all by our reckoning.
David Moyes is considering teenage sensation Luke Shaw should he fail to bring Leighton Baines to the champions. The link to Cesc Fabregas remains strong, with the club supposedly willing “to move heaven and earth” to bring the former Arsenal man back to England. So they are keen then.
Nani looks like he is on the way out – United fans have been singing this tune for a while – with The Sun reporting that the club rejected a £6.5 million bid from Galatasaray. Quite a fall in transfer value over a relatively short period of time.
