Klopp wants Markovic back, Barca scout RVP
The transfer window might be closed, but the rumours keep ticking. As always, Transfer Talk has the latest and greatest. See all the summer deals here.
Klopp may recall Markovic
The Liverpool Echo are reporting that new manager Jurgen Klopp may want to recall Reds bust Lazar Markovic from his season-long loan at Fenerbahce.
When Markovic was shipped off to the Turkish club — after scoring just three goals in 23 starts under Brendan Rodgers — it was always under the presumption he’d make a return after a year of getting more minutes and experience away from the Premier League. With an option in the deal to cut the loan short, that chance may come sooner than expected for the 21-year-old.
Fenerbahce do not have the option to buy Markovic and Klopp is rumoured to be a long-time admirer of the Serbia international. Could Markovic be in Liverpool’s rotation in 2016? We’ll know in the January window (shockingly just over two months away!).
Barca scouting RVP
More rumours out of Turkey here — and perhaps more bad news for Fenerbahce. Transfer Talk heard last week that Barcelona might pull a shock move to bring Robin van Persie to the Camp Nou in January and that rumour is gaining steam. The Netherlands international is likely still reeling from his country’s epic fail in Euro 2016 qualifying, but he could getting good news in the form of a chance to play alongside some of the best attackers in the world under Luis Enrique.
The Daily Star cites Mundo Deportivo, who say the rumours are gaining credibility as Barcelona scouts are expected to be in Turkey to monitor RVP as Fenerbahcne face Ajax in the Europa League.
Van Persie famously fell out with countryman Louis van Gaal at Manchester United, as he struggled with injuries and to find goalscoring form during the manager’s first year in charge at Old Trafford. While Van Persie would clearly play a short-term backup role to Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi at Barcelona, the club are also said to be scouting five Ajax prospects for the long-term in Riechedly Bazoer, Davy Klaassen, Jairo Riedewald, Anwar El Ghazi and Arkadiusz Milik. So no pressure or anything there, guys.
Bellerin not seeking Barca return
Former Barcelona player Hector Bellerin says he has no interest in returning to the club he joined Arsenal from in 2011. Bellerin’s turn of pace helped him unseat Mathieu Debuchy from Arsenal’s regular XI last season and is one of the things that’s kept him firmly entrenched there so far during the 2015-16 campaign.
The 20-year-old Barcelona-born player was key for Arsenal in their 2-0 Champions League win against Bayern Munich on Tuesday. With the Gunners clinging to a 1-0 lead in the closing minutes of the must-win affair, Bellerin intercepted a ball at midfield, drove past the Bayern defence to the end line and fired a perfect ball across to Mesut Ozil for the team’s second.
Moments like that will surely have Luis Enrique & Co. pondering how the club’s former charge might fit into their plans for the future. But for his part, Bellerin is content right where he is, telling Marca: “I came to Arsenal to stay here. I’m not thinking about going back.”
Good move for ‘Chicharito’
Javier Hernandez has been getting on the scoresheet regularly for Bayer Leverkusen, following his summer move from Manchester United to the Bundesliga. The Mexico striker scored twice — and had two chances for a hat trick — in Tuesday’s 4-4 Champions League draw with Roma.
Ronaldo move actually ‘possible’
The rumours persist surrounding a move for Cristiano Ronaldo away from Real Madrid. For many the talk is just that: rumour. But former Real president Ramon Calderon sees substance in the chatter and says that while he hopes the club’s leading goalscorer won’t leave the team, it’s definitely possible.
As chance would have it, one of the likeliest destinations for a Ronaldo transfer would be Paris Saint-Germain, the team’s Champions League opponent on Wednesday. The capital club have the resources and have shown serious interest in the not-so-distant past.
If Laurent Blanc’s club were able to lure Ronaldo away from Madrid, Calderon says the surely astronomical asking price will be irrelevant: “If Real sell him for €100 million, they will no doubt be richer but they will never to be able to buy [another] player like him.”
Tap-ins
– Bournemouth gave signing Jermain Defoe a go during the summer window, but were unable to pry the former England striker away from Sunderland. Now, though, a winter loan move to the Cherries could be in the works, according to the Mirror. The outlet reports that new boss Sam Allardyce is looking for funds to strengthen his strike force in January and offloading Defoe’s £80,000-a-week contract could help loosen up the purse strings a bit.
– Despite Yaya Toure’s comments to the contrary, his Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini insists that the Ivorian is happy at the Etihad and will continue to be a key contributor for the club. “He says he is not happy about the criticism,” Pellegrini said. “He is happy. That is different. They are different words and you can interpret how you want but he is happy here.”
– Paris Saint-Germain’s Thiago Silva says he rejected advances from both Real Madrid and Barcelona earlier in his career. The Brazilian revealed that he was approached by Madrid before joining AC Milan. During his time with Milan, Silva says Barca tried to woo him to the Camp Nou, but the proposed deal quickly fell through.
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