As you might expect, the press today is dominated by one 'angry and confused' man...
Like a piece of steak thrown to a hungry pack of wolves, Wayne Rooney’s now infamous ‘angry and confused’ statement has been pounced on by the press pack, leading to fevered speculation in the papers.
Almost all reckon his time at Old Trafford is now up, leading to lots of stories about how he'll leave and where he'll go. The boldest claims are in The Sun, who reckon Chelsea will ride to the rescue and spend £28million on Rooney AND offer him £200,000 a week AND a five-year deal. If Rooney’s agent does pull off that deal, he’s an absolute genius.
The Mirror go with a different angle, claiming that Rooney feels he has been the victim of “five months of negativity” and they also bandy about talk of the phrase “constructive dismissal” which might lead to the most interesting employment tribunal hearing ever.
The Indo and Mail both say that Rooney is on the brink of handing in formal transfer request, which we suspect is what the club really want.
Speaking of things Manchester United really want, there’s yet more on Cesc Fabregas. Yesterday Tito Villanova said that the midfielder wasn’t going anywhere but that hasn’t stopped the Mirror saying that Barca will sell, at the right price. And that price is £31m, with the Telegraph claiming the Spanish giants need the money.
And if United decide they fancy Marouane Fellaini instead of, or beside Fabregas, the big-haired Belgian will chose them over Arsenal according to the London Evening Standard. There’s grim reading for Arsenal fans in those last two paragraphs so here’s some better news.
The Gunners are still the only ones to bid for Luis Suarez, according to the Sun, who also say that the player’s representatives believe it will take £40m to get him from Liverpool.
And Lyon’s Yoann Gourcuff could be Emirates bound as the French club may use him as part of a deal to nick Gervinho from under the noses of Roma, according to the Mail.
The Star bring us the exciting news that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a target or Manchester City and Chelsea, which we really hope is true but really doubt is, as a move to Real Madrid looks far more likely for everyone’s favourite Swede.
In our round up of players who will be available for less than £5m in Fantasy Football next season, Peter Odemwingie could be on his way to Fulham rather than long-time admirers Crystal Palace (Times), West Ham have entered the baffling, and crowded, race for Gary Hooper’s signature (Mirror) while the Mail tell us that Norwich are after Anderlecht defender Cheikhou Kouyate.
Finally, in ‘we haven’t heard that phrase in a while’ news, the Metro inform us that Tottenham are after 18-year-old Real Betis winger Alvaro Vadillo, dubbed ‘the new Cristiano Ronaldo’.
