Bale rejects new Madrid deal, alerts Manchester
The summer window will be opening before you know it, and rumours around the world are picking up steam. As always, Transfer Talk has its finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest gossip. See the latest deals here.
TOP STORY: Bale rejects new Real Madrid deal, alerts Manchesters United and City
Gareth Bale is set to snub a contract extension at Real Madrid, which has alerted both Manchester United and Man City, paving the way for a transfer tug-of-war this summer, according to Tuttomercatoweb (via The Sun).
Bale has enjoyed a bounceback season in La Liga, and Los Merengues hope the Welshman will pen a new deal until 2021, but the former Spurs star is tempted by a return to the Premier League. The 26-year-old could now be the prime target for both Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, should the latter replace Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford this summer.
Miami to tempt Riquelme out of retirement
Juan Roman Riquelme could make a sensational return to football by joining American side Miami United, reports ESPN Deportes. The Argentine could team up with Brazilian Adriano to play in the National Premier Soccer League — the fourth tier of U.S. soccer.
The former Boca Juniors maestro has been without a team since a brief spell in 2014, when he joined his boyhood club Argentinos Juniors, and might now come out of retirement to take his talents to South Beach.
Saints make Ox return priority
Southampton have made Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain a summer priority and are prepared to make the England international their highest-paid player in order to entice him to return to the South Coast, according to the Mirror.
Chamberlain graduated from Saints’ esteemed academy, but has found his development slow at Arsenal, due to a lack of regular games and several injuries. The 22-year-old may look to move this summer in order to kick-start his career, with Saints confident of beating out West Ham, Manchester City and Chelsea for his signature.
Tap-ins
– Callum Wilson has barely returned from a serious knee injury, which scuppered his debut campaign in the Premier League for Bournemouth, but that has not stopped West Ham and Tottenham from readying summer bids for his services, according to The Sun. The 24-year-old returned last weekend for the Cherries after eight months on the sidelines, but the Hammers and Spurs evidently saw enough at the beginning of the season to pursue the former Coventry striker this summer.
– Juventus and Roma will battle it out for Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic this summer, according to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. The Serbian has struggled at times this season for the Blues and now the Old Lady, and the Giallorossi will hope to tempt the 32-year-old with a move to Serie A.
– Leicester will look to shop in Serie A this summer as they prepare for Champions League football by targeting Fiorentina’s Josip Ilicic for £11 million, according to The Sun. The Foxes hope the mercurial 28-year-old can bring some guile and craft to their team, and the Viola may be tempted to make a profit on the player they signed for £7m in 2013 from Palermo.
– Liverpool have joined Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto and Santos for Colombian sensation Marlos Moreno, according to Portuguese newspaper A Bola. The Atletico Nacional starlet shot to prominence in this season’s Copa Libertadores with three goals in four games, which has led the Reds to register an interest in the 19-year-old.
