Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015 — 53
Transfer market.... Transfer market.... Pogba: Barca, Juve agree $100m fee B
ARCELONA have reportedly agreed a $100million (about N19.9b) deal with Juventus to sign Paul Pogba - with the deal scheduled to go through in the summer of 2016. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, a lunch held between officials from the two clubs ended with an consensus over the transfer which, due to Barcelona’s transfer embargo, will go through next summer and enable Pogba to spend one more season in Turin. Barca will reportedly pay just shy of $90m for the France international, with a further $11m in add-ons. It is thought Manchester City were prepared to hand over $112m for Pogba, but the former Manchester
United player reportedly has his heart set on a move to Catalonia. Barca presidential candidate Joan Laporta told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope that he is the man to
bring Pogba to Camp Nou. Laporta is hoping to return to Barca’s top post on July 18 and is one of five candidates in the running to replace Josep Maria Bartomeu,
•Workhorse... Paul Pogba going to Barca
Let me go to Man. United, Ramos tells Real
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•Old Trafford Calling... Sergio Ramos
Mikel falls into Inter focus I NTER Milan have expressed an interest in Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel as backup in case they fail to sign Felipe Melo from Galatasaray. The Nigerian struggled to make an impact in Jose Mourinho’s first team last season following the brilliant form of fellow holding midfielder Nemanja Matic. Blues boss Mourinho is keen to try and keep Mikel, but knows it will be hard to try and persuade the 28-yearold to settle for a place on the bench at Stamford Bridge. Mikel missed a large
who is standing for reelection. “The key to his signing is (Pogba’s agent) Mino Raiola,” Laporta said. “It’s true that I have a very good relationship with him and I believe that if I become president, Pogba will play at Barcelona.” Laporta insists, however, that the deal is not finalized.
chunk of Chelsea’s Premier League title winning season between February and April after undergoing knee surgery, but remains one of the west London club’s most experienced players
having signed from Lyn Oslo in 2006. He was reported to have agreed terms with Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. A move that has already been welcomed by Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan.
ERGIO Ramos has told Real Madrid that he wants to join Manchester United this summer. United made an opening bid of £28.3million (about 8.9b) for the Spain international last week which was rejected by Madrid. However, after being informed of the offer, Ramos has made it clear to Madrid that he wants them to negotiate with United and reach a suitable agreement for his transfer to Old Trafford. The development has shocked Madrid who expected the Ramos affair to end with a revised contract offer
but they now realise they have underestimated his frustration. United’s opening offer of £28.3million for the 29-year-old was firmly rejected by Madrid Ramos has a buy-out clause of £142million but believes United’s offer represents good value
Wolfsburg warn de Bruyne’s suitors
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OLFSBURG have issued a ‘hands off ’ message to the clubs chasing Kevin de Bruyne by insisting their Belgium midfielder is not for sale.
Dzeko denies Roma link E
DIN Dzeko’s agent has denied reports that he has held transfer talks with Roma and said the striker does not want to leave Manchester City. Giallorossi midfielder Miralem Pjanic said earlier this week that
his Bosnia and Herzegovina compatriot would go “running” to Roma, with the Italian press fuelling speculation that Dzeko would join the club as part of a deal that would see playmaker Adem Ljajic move to City.
However, Dzeko’s agent Irfan Redzepagic brushed aside those claims and said he has had no contact with last season’s Serie A runners up. “I was frankly surprised by Pjanic’s comments, unless he knows something that I don’t,” Redzepagic told Italian radio station Rete Sport. “I have had no contact with Roma, nor am I aware of any talks
for a player of his age and considering he has two years left on contract. Madrid will attempt to appease Ramos over his contract but his brother and agent Rene is understood to have intimated to the club hierarchy that the opportunity for that has
•Dzeko between the two clubs. “It’s not a financial issue, he simply doesn’t want to leave the Citizens.”
Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint- Germain have all been linked to the former Chelsea midfielder who helped Wolfsburg to finish as runners-up last season and scored in their German Cup final win over Borussia Dortmund. De Bruyne has a contract with Wolfsburg until 2019 and the club’s director of sport Klaus Allofs says they want to sit down and offer him an improved deal to keep him in Lower Saxony.
Cabaye links up with Pardew at Palace
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•Fed up with the Blues... Mikel C M Y K
OHAN Cabaye is close to agreeing to join Crystal Palace as he wants to work with boss Alan Pardew again. The former Newcastle midfielder is ready to return to the Premier League this summer after his spell at PSG in his native France. But Cabaye, 29, was unable to command a regular starting role at the French champs following a £19million
switch from Newcastle under Pardew in January 2014. Now he is available for a cut-price fee and keen to link up with Pardew at Selhurst Park. M i r r o r S p o r t understands a deal is set to be done in the next week in time for the Eagles’ pre-season. But Pardew is having a tougher time in his bid for No.1 striking target Charlie Austin who has several clubs after him including West Brom.
•Cabaye