Messi learning English for Prem Lge move?
The winter window gets closer with each passing day and the transfer rumour mill is starting to pick up steam. As always, Transfer Talk has the latest and greatest. See all the summer deals here.
TOP STORY: Messi brushing up on his English
Here’s a good one to keep the Lionel Messi to the Premier League rumour mill ticking over. TalkSport quotes Sky Sports’ pundit Guillem Balague as saying the Argentine is learning English in preparation for a possible move to England one day.
Balague goes on to say Messi has heard from former teammate Cesc Fabregas, now with Chelsea, and countryman Sergio Aguero at Manchester City, that England is a great place to live and play.
Speculation abounds regarding Messi’s future, as the Barcelona talisman continues to rehab a knee injury he suffered at the end of September. ESPN FC contributor Graham Hunter believes Messi will stay at Barca, but he writes that is far from guaranteed.
“He’s never been closer to leaving Barcelona, he is thinking about it,” Balague said.
Juve meeting Cuadrado’s agent
Colombian international Juan Cuadrado may soon be taking up permanent residence in Turin, according to multiple outlets in Italy.
The midfielder’s agent, Alessandro Lucci, will reportedly meet with Juventus’ brass this weekend as the club play in the Turin derby Saturday. Cuadrado’s loan move from Chelsea to Juve has been a miniature success story so far this year for Max Allegri.
The 27-year-old’s loan does not have a clause for a permanent move, but Chelsea are said to be open to letting Cuadrado go — and perhaps at a decent discount to the £23.3 million the Blues paid Fiorentina for the player in January.
Jermaine Jones’ ominous Instagram post
The New England Revolution’s season is over after losing 2-1 to D.C. United in the MLS Cup playoffs knockout round. Midfielder Jermaine Jones’ contract is also up with the team and this Instagram post from the U.S. international certainly makes one wonder if his time with the Revs may be over as well.
A photo posted by Jermaine Jones (@jermainejunior) on
What next for Aubameyang?
Though he just signed a new contract with Borussia Dortmund in July, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s hot start to the season has attracted interest from some of Europe’s top clubs, including Barcelona. The Gabonese striker recently said he’d favour a move to La Liga over the Premier League if and when the time comes to leave Dortmund.
Can the Gabonese striker reach 50 goals this season? FC TV’s Shaka Hislop weighs in here:
Tap-Ins
– Former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko thinks he made the right decision in moving to Roma over the summer. The Bosnia-Herzegovina forward revealed he was approached by Juventus, but snubbed the Serie A title holders in favour of a move to the capital. Roma are in first place in the table, 11 points ahead of 12th-placed Juve.
– Wolverhampton will be welcoming Grant Holt to the club after completing a loan signing for the 34-year-old striker from Wigan. Sky Sports are reporting that the former Norwich and Nottingham Forest player will be available for Wolves’ match with rivals Birmingham on Saturday.
– The LA Galaxy’s shocking exit from the MLS playoffs have some wondering if either Robbie Keane or Steven Gerrard might be loaned out over the winter until the MLS season resumes next spring. Galaxy boss Bruce Arena had a one word answer for media when pressed on the matter: “No,” Arena said on the team’s website.
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