REAL READY TO SELL BENZEMA
It's an oldie, but a goodie. Just as we we have heard several times before, Real Madrid apparently want to sell Karim Benzema this summer in order to fund a move for a younger, more prolific forward. Or so says the Daily Star.
The Star's story is based on 'sensational Spanish reports' which this column cannot find, but we're going to take a wild guess it was in fact the British newspaper that decided to first mention Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are 'vying' for the Frenchman's services, who is said to be available for £40million.
Bizarrely, the Star uses the following quotes from Carlo Ancelotti to fill out the story about Real wanting rid: "Benzema is enjoying a good run of form, I don't know if it is the best of his career, but it is his best form since I have been here.
"I really like how he works for the team, he is a really important player for us."
They obviously can't get rid of him quickly enough...
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CITY TO OUTBID POGBA RIVALS
We know you're as bored of the latest transfer 'saga' as we are but, forgive us, it's Monday and new rumours are at a premium. Is there not something that can be done about this damn football getting in the way of all the gossip?
The Daily Star ludicrously claims they 'exclusively revealed' last week that Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour would sanction a British record £70million bid for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba - we're pretty sure we've read this one elsewhere as well - and now we're expected to believe they already know the finer details of the contract that will be put on the table for the 22-year-old too.
The Star reckons City hope to beat Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Chelsea and neighbours Manchester United to Pogba by offering to make him the highest paid player in the world on a deal worth £250,000 a week - after tax. It is, of course, a complete stab in the dark, albeit probably a realistic one, but you can't have a transfer saga without lots and lots of meaningless updates. Stay tuned...
WEST HAM PLAN NEXT FRENCH TRIP
No doubt buoyed by the success of Diafra Sakho this season, the Daily Mirror reports West Ham are ready to look to France again to bolster their strikeforce.
Claudio Beauvue has scored 25 goals for Guingamp this season but looks certain to eave the club this summer and, according to the French club's president, wants to move to the Premier League.
The 27-year-old, said to be available for £6million, is confident Guingamp will not stand in his way if he is indeed offered the chance to cross the channel: "The deal I had with the club president was that I would leave in the event of a beautiful season."
Beauvue can play on the right wing as well as through the middle, but whether Sam Allardyce will get to use him remains very much up in the air...
