John Terry to pick Qatar over MLS, China?
The winter window might have shut, but the rumour mill rolls on. As always, Transfer Talk has its finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest rumours and gossip. See the latest deals here.
TOP STORY: Terry set to turn down China move
Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson had backed him to join the growing ranks of players moving to China — but now it looks as though John Terry could be on his way to Qatar instead, according to the Mirror.
The paper reports that Terry, who announced after Chelsea’s FA Cup win at MK Dons last month that he was not being offered a new Stamford Bridge contract, had been “earmarked as a top summer target for a number of Chinese clubs.”
But it says the 35-year-old Blues skipper would rather play in either MLS or Qatar, having said he would not stay in the Premier League but would instead go “elsewhere” when his long association with the Londoners comes to a close.
And his willingness to “snub a huge China deal” could be good news for Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola, who is now in charge of Qatari club Al-Arabi. It reports that the Italian “has already sounded out Terry about the prospect of joining him.”
As far as a potential switch to MLS — where ex-Stamford Bridge colleague Frank Lampard is playing for New York City FC — is concerned, the paper says that “only LA Galaxy or New York City have budgets big enough to try to lure a big-name player such as Terry.”
Tuesday’s Daily Mirror back page:
Unleash Spell!#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/WjsjoO4uRv– Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) February 22, 2016
Arteta on road to becoming Man City coach?
Mikel Arteta, who is out of contract with Arsenal at the end of this season, could be offered a coaching role at Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City next season if he opts to call time on his playing career, according to The Times.
It reports that Arteta, a close friend of Guardiola, had visited the current Bayern Munich manager at the German champions’ training ground while he “considers his options.”
Guardiola, it says, “is ready to consider creating a role for Arteta, a fellow graduate of Barcelona’s La Masia academy, who also has a wealth of experience derived from more than 11 years of playing in the Premier League.”
Baggies’ Brunt ‘takes stock’ after coin incident
West Bromwich Albion’s Chris Brunt has indicated that he will be considering his future at The Hawthorns after being hit by a coin thrown from his own club’s travelling support after the 3-1 FA Cup defeat at Reading on Saturday.
Brunt, who has a year left on his contract with the Baggies, told the Express and Star that he would “take stock and have a think about it and see what comes of it.”
Although it is believed West Brom are confident that he will opt to stay, he said: “My wife and kids were going to come to the game but I am glad they didn’t — if my kids had witnessed that, I would have been gutted.”
Brunt has made more than 300 appearances for the club, and his manager Tony Pulis said: “For someone to throw a coin at a player of a football club that he’s supporting — you know, the game’s gone mad.”
Meanwhile, the Star reckons Pulis is “on his way out” at West Brom amid increasing supporter discontent with his team. The paper claims it “looks only to be a question of whether he walks or is pushed towards the exit door.”
Howard’s Rapids move slows down
Tim Howard to Colorado Rapids has been a mooted deal for a while — but it may be about to become more complicated than first thought, according to The Sun.
The paper claims that’s because the U.S. goalkeeper “wants a four-year deal worth more than £14 million” ($19.8m) if he is to make the move.
That, it says, has “shocked Rapids officials,” who are keen to tempt Howard from Goodison Park as “a marquee signing.”
Howard has two years left on his deal at Everton, where The Sun reports that he is on £70,000 ($99,000) a week. It says he “is looking for the same level of wages” at Colorado and wants a contract that lasts for the next four seasons.
Taking all that into consideration it’s not surprising that negotiations are, as the report puts it, “dragging on.”
Tap-ins
– Gianluigi Buffon has told BT Sport he could have moved to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Manchester United interested in signing him. He even got to have a meal with Arsene Wenger!
The Italian goalkeeper, who won a succession of trophies with Juventus since joining them in 2001, said: “I remember when I was 20 years old in 1998, I had dinner once with Arsene Wenger. And Manchester United definitely had their eyes on me for a long time with Alex Ferguson.”
– Manchester City midfielder Bruno Zuculini has seen his loan spell with AEK Athens ended early after he suffered a fracture to his left foot in training, the Greek Super League outfit have said.
Zuculini, 22, has also been loaned to Valencia, Cordoba and Middlesbrough since joining City from Racing Club in 2014.
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