We start our transfer roundup today with some sad news. The great servant of Everton FC, and a figure utterly beloved by fans of the club, Tony Hibbert, has been released from the club after twenty-five years and 328 appearances -and in fairly disgraceful circumstances. Hibbert told the Daily Mail that he and fellow club hero Leon Osman, also let go, only found out the news because friends told them it was on the club website. Hibbert, an old-fashioned defender whose first goal for the Toffees came in his own testimonial- causing a pitch invasion- will be missed by the Goodison faithful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnV3Uhsnh-U
On to news of slightly more concern to the international footballing community than the future of Tony Hibbert, and James Rodriguez, top scorer in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, could be on his way to the Premier League, according to Spanish daily 'Marca'. Manchester United, Chelsea...and West Ham are the three clubs touted to be interested, with one of them reportedly (what a useful word) tabling a bid. Andy Carroll will be praying that his nine goals in 32 games last year mean it's not West Ham, especially as news breaks this morning that they have agreed a £20 million fee with Swansea for Andre Ayew.
Our last couple of round-ups have featured the news that Germany winger Julian Draxler is trying to negotiate a move away from VfL Wolfsburg, with Arsenal and Everton potential suitors. And the German club have, according to ever-reliable German tabloid (no irony intended) 'Bild', slapped Draxler on the wrist with a hefty fine amounting to around £85,000-perhaps indicating that they have no intention of parting ways with the 22-year-old.
West Bromwich Albion legend and the cause of Irish heartache, Romelu Lukaku, must be enjoying Chelsea's determined pursuit of him, a couple of years after the Blues let him move to Everton. ESPN today has the news that Lukaku is being offered an eye-watering £135,000 per week by the Merseyside club, who value the Belgian at £75 million. If the treatment of Hibbert is anything to go by, Lukaku should not mistake the offer for loyalty-his goals were the only thing that stopped Everon languishing at the bottom of the table last year.
But news in The Sun seems to hint that Everton may be preparing for the departure of Lukaku by signing Manchester City's Wilfried Bony in a swap deal for highly-rated defender John Stones. Bony joined City from Swansea for £28 million last year but has struggled for game time. Stones is valued around £50 million.
Christian Benteke has had a largely disappointing spell at Liverpool so far, failing to live up to the massive expectations that surrounded his move to Anfield initially. Jurgen Klopp seems happy to let him go to another club, and Crystal Palace have had a £25 million bid rejected so far this summer. The Guardian reports that Benteke has told Klopp he desires a move, but Klopp has told reporters that the former Aston Villa man will not be "a present" for any other club.
WATCH: Jurgen Klopp expects Christian Benteke to leave @LFC but only at right price: https://t.co/fhUDs5wWw7 #SSNHQ https://t.co/ttMGMPyTH3
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 5, 2016
Manchester City have gotten their hands on one of the most promising young attacking players to emerge from South America in recent years. Marlos Moreno will immediately head to Deportivo la Coruña for a year's loan spell after signing a five-year contract. The 19-year-old was a relative snip at £4.7 million.
And so, the daily update on the tiresome Paul Pogba saga, which is already gallons over saturation point. The most recent update from Pogbaland, aside from a 'good luck' message to the French Olympic team, is that Pogba is collaborating with Drake on a 'diss' on Manchester City that is to be released as soon as he signs the dotted line at Manchester United.
Very nice meeting you bro @Drake pic.twitter.com/nLzri3ilFp
— Paul Pogba (@paulpogba) August 5, 2016
And today Jose Mourinho has given an oh-so-tantalising hint that Pogba will once again call Old Trafford home.
We have 22 and we are going to have 23...Paul Pogba is a Juventus player until he isn’t, officially, so we stay like this. The market closes on Aug 31 but I think my club is trying to do everything to close our market before the 14th...we are going to get a very good midfielder.
Pogba's move, as well as enabling us all to get on with our lives again, would enable Moussa Sissoko to fulfil his supposed (and understandable) desire to get the hell away from Newcastle United. The Mirror say that Pogba's move will cause Juventus to sign PSG's Blaise Matuidi, which in turn would prompt the French champions to make a bid for Sissoko. And while nothing makes sense any more in terms of price tags or transfer fees in football, apparently £35 million still amounts to a large amount of money that (shock, horror) could put PSG off signing Sissoko and freeing him from the enviable task of trying to understand English spoken with a Geordie accent.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough fans have always dreamed of seeing big names in the Riverside Stadium, and had resigned themselves to repeatedly watching YouTube clips of Juninho. But their wait might be over. 'Zidane to Boro' may prompt images of the great man himself nutmegging hapless Premier League defenders; unfortunately it is instead his son, Enzo, who the Daily Mail say is to be released on loan from the Bernabeu this season, and 'Boro are sniffing around him.
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See Also: Jack Grealish Opens Up On His Reasons For Choosing England Over Ireland
