MAN CITY IN FOR ANOTHER GUNNERS STAR
Sources told ESPN FC on Wednesday that City made an increased offer of £40 million to £35 million up front with £5 million add-ons, for Raheem Sterling but will not go any higher, while the Telegraph now reports that Liverpool have rejected that bid and are unwilling to sell for anything less than £50 million.

The paper suggests that City will press on with a third bid for the England forward later this month, but the Mirror reports that Manuel Pellegrini’s side will instead switch their attentions towards Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere.

City need to boost their homegrown quota for Champions League football next season, and 23-year-old England midfielder Wilshere fits the bill — especially given his two stunning strikes for the Three Lions away to Slovenia last weekend.

Next on City’s list is Kevin De Bruyne, with the Telegraph reporting that the club will step up their pursuit of the Bundesliga’s star player after contract talks with Wolfsburg stalled.

The former Premier League champions might be wary of the latest report from AS though, which suggests that Real Madrid are keeping tabs on Sergio Aguero at the Copa America.



RICHARD TO VILLA
It’s been a poorly-kept secret for a while now, but it seems like this one is a done deal. Most outlets are reporting that Micah Richards has passed a medical at Aston Villa ahead of signing a four-year deal from Manchester City. Decent first signing from Mr. Sherwood, in all fairness.

Daniel Taylor from the Guardian reports that Richards has been persuaded to sign on the old dotted line with the promise of a central defensive role. After his sojourn at Fiorentina, it’ll be nice to see him back. The 26-year-old seems likely to replace outgoing Ron Vlaar. Still only 26, crikey.



NO SWAP DEAL FOR BALOTELLI
Inter Milan have rejected the chance to take Mario Balotelli back to Italy as part of a deal for Mateo Kovacic, according to reports in Italy. Corriere dello Sport maintain Brendan Rodgers is keen on the Croatian midfielder and has already seen at least one bid turned down by the Serie A outfit.

And the newspaper claim the latest bid, which includes a swap with Mario Balotelli, has also been rejected by the Italian club.

DROGBA HINTS AT NEXT TURN
Didier Drogba has hinted he would happily join New York Red Bulls if the MLS franchise wanted the former Chelsea striker.

Drogba, 37, left Stamford Bridge at the end of the Premier League season, but hopes to find a new challenge and has been mooted as a potential successor to Thierry Henry with the Red Bulls.

When asked whether he was moving to the New York franchise, the 2011-12 Champions League winner told media at a comedy festival in Marrakech: “OK, just call the owners and then I’m there.”
Drogba will not, however, be returning to former club Marseille, where he came to prominence during a remarkable 2003-04 campaign in which he inspired the Ligue 1 outfit to the UEFA Cup final.

Though he admitted OM still hold a place in his heart, and despite the fact he is adored by the club’s fans for his single season there, Drogba implored the press to end speculation.

He said: “There comes a time when it has to stop. I didn’t ask for any of this. I love the Marseille fans, and I am myself a Marseille supporter, but they have to stop throwing around rumours like that because it’s starting to get too much



POGBA WANTS TO STAY PUT
Paul Pogba is ruddy good. There’s a reason that prices of around £60-80m are regularly bandied about when questions over his future are raised. Manchester City, Barca, Real Madrid and PSG all want him, but the latest quotes coming out of Juve will leave all disappointed.

“The player is not on the market and will only be put in the market if he says he wants to leave,” says Juve general director Giuseppe Marotta. “I reiterate we don’t want to sell Pogba and he has said today that he doesn’t want to leave.”



SAINTS JUMP IN ON STOKE DEAL
Looks like we’ve got some beef growing between Europa League bound Southampton and Mark Hughes’ Stoke. The latter were thought to have pretty much sealed the signing of right-back Cedric Soares from Sporting Lisbon, but it appears that the Saints are interested too. A reported £3.5m bid pretty much indicates as such.

Cedric has just one year remaining on his current contract in Lisbon and will apparently make a decision on his future this week. With Southampton chasing him, what does that say of Nathaniel Clyne’s future? A second bid appears forthcoming from Liverpool after a £10m offer was rebuffed, and this could be a further indication that the England international is on his way out this summer.

ANOTHER MERSEYSIDE BATTLE
How’s this for a leftfield transfer rumour. Liverpool and Everton are set to do battle over the signing of Fenerbahce midfielder Mehmet Topal.

The 29-year-old is currently locked in contract talks with his club but, according to talkSPORT, the wonderfully vague ‘sources in Turkey’ say both Premier League clubs, as well as Manchester City and Spurs have expressed an interest and will keep an eye on proceedings. No bloody chance.



WENGER SET TO GIVE ALL FOR CHELSEA
With the arrival of Thibaut Courtois, the veteran Petr Cech has become a fringe player for the team he served for 11 years. Although age is certainly an issue, the Czech keeper has proven in his cup appearances that he is still one of the top five goalkeepers in the Premier League, and Wenger should go all-out to secure his services.
When Koscielny and Mertesacker are fit, they are one of the best center-back pairings in the league. Bellerin, Monreal, Gibbs, and Debuchy are all solid fullbacks as well, but none of the matters if the man in goal makes rash decisions and fails to dominate his box as Wojciech Szczesny has in the past. Ospina has been decent, but his mistake against Swansea towards the end of the season shows just how easily goalkeepers can affect games and almost single-handedly win or lose points.



MAN UTD CHASE HOT BRAZILIAN
Another defender linked to Manchester United, here. This time the reports come from France, with newspaper L’Equipe claiming the Red Devils are targeting right back Fabinho.

Arsenal fans may remember him, as the 21-year-old featured in the French side’s Champions League victory over Arsene Wenger’s men. A defender by trade, he can also fill in in midfield.

At just £10m, the Brazilian would be a useful addition for Louis van Gaal. He really needs a right back or, more to the point, he really needs to ensure Phil Jones and Chris Smalling don’t have to play there. Barcelona are also credited with an interest.



MOURINHO WANT THE OX



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