BUYING OR SELLING: FOOTBALL RUMOURS (29th June)
The transfer window is open with clubs splashing out and breaking the bank to get signings over the line. Activity is still fairly light with the UEFA u-21 Championships underway and the market beginning to show itself, but plenty of rumours are still circulating.
We’ve scoured the internet for the most prominent rumours doing the rounds and whether there is any merit or substance to them, or whether they’re complete nonsense. Either way it’s time to buy or sell all of this week’s biggest stories.
Tottenham to ‘reject all advances’ over Harry Kane transfer
The market for Harry Kane has dwindled over the past 18 months, but with one year left on his contract, Daniel Levy has left himself in a sticky situation. Just two years ago Manchester City launched their bid to sign the England captain who publically stated a desire to leave his boyhood club.
Spurs were adamant in not selling their talisman to a rival club, a summer later and City would fill that void by recruiting Erling Haaland. Cross town rivals United are out of the picture despite a long-held interest in the striker, their finances prohibit them.
Bayern Munich and potentially Chelsea are the only two landing spots remaining for Kane with the former opening the bidding this week. Their reported £60 million approach was rebuffed, but the German giants are preparing another offer. Will Levy take the money now? Or run the risk of Kane walking away to a rival next summer? As heart wrenching as it may seem, a move to Germany would suit all parties.
Sell
Leicester to bounce back to Premier League in style
From the highs of a Premier League title in 2016 and an FA Cup triumph in 2021, Leicester City now find themselves in the Championship. Instead of retaining their stars, the East Midlands club are tearing the house down and rebuilding.
James Maddison has completed a £40 million move to Tottenham while Youri Tielemans, Çağlar Söyüncü, Daniel Amartey, Nampalys Mendy and Ayoze Pérez have all been released. Pep Guardiola’s right hand man at Manchester City, Enzo Maresca, has been brought in to guide the club back to the top flight and has a shortlist of targets drawn up.
Spurs midfielder Harry Winks is on the brink of completing a move to the King Power Stadium as is England defender Conor Coady, Man City keeper Zack Steffen and Swansea goal machine Joël Piroe are also admired. With the likes of Jamie Vardy, Harvey Barnes, James Justin and more likely sticking around, Leicester should have more than enough to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Buy
Man Utd want to move on from de Gea
The contract situation between David de Gea and Manchester United seems to be going nowhere with all signs suggesting both parties moving on. de Gea is on the verge of becoming a free agent with hours left on his Old Trafford contract and although the Spanish keeper verbally accepted a new deal on reduced terms, it’s understood that contract has been taken off the table by the club.
It's a sad state of affairs especially considering de Gea’s decade plus service to the club racking up over 500 appearances in the process. The emergence of Dean Henderson, recent criticism, and the appointment of Erik ten Hag has cast serious doubt over two-time Premier League Golden Glove winner extending his stay.
The goalkeeper’s future was uncertain last summer upon ten Hag’s arrival with concerns over de Gea’s capability playing out from the back. The Dutch manager did bat away criticism of the goalkeeper over the season, but a breakup looks inevitable at this point of the marriage.
Buy
Arsenal summer splurge won’t win them Premier League title
Sporting Director Edu and Manager Mikel Arteta have wasted no time in reinforcing a squad that narrowly missed out on the Premier League title last time out. Kai Havertz has already signed from Chelsea for £65 million, while a deal has been agreed with West Ham for Declan Rice for a fee in excess of £100 million.
Advanced talks are being held over the addition of Ajax defender Jurrien Timber which could take Arsenal summer spend beyond £200 million. Departures are expected, but this has been a wildly ambitious transfer window for the North London club who will play in the Champions League next season.
Operating with a paper-thin squad, Arsenal’s title pursuit fell apart the back end of last season. As it stands, the capture of Havertz and potential signings of Rice and Timber would improve their starting XI, but squad depth will be necessary in competing again next season.
Buy
Everton’s stadium stall mirrors team
It had been hoped that Everton’s brand-new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium would have been ready for their new tenants by the beginning of the 2024-25 season, but that no longer appears to be the case.
The Merseyside club will likely move in during the final months of 2024 with Everton playing at Goodison Park for the next two campaigns. As their relocation looks to have stalled, so too has the clubs’ ambitions of improving on the back of consecutive relegation threatening seasons.
A return of just 34 goals in 38 games last season represented an alarmingly low total, a figure that was bested by Erling Haaland single-handedly. Dominic Calvert-Lewin cannot be relied upon to stay injury free, Dwight McNeil, Alex Iwobi and Neal Maupay are far from consistent goalscorers, while Demarai Gray looks set for pastures new.
Sean Dyche desperately needs help in the transfer market, but amid financial woes Everton are unlikely to spend big. Another fight for survival could feasibly be on the cards.
