Most Popular Sports
All Sports
Show All

Paper Round: Stand-off between Van Gaal and Benitez over Sergio Ramos and David De Gea

Eurosport
ByEurosport

Updated 01/07/2015 at 10:39 GMT

Manchester United want Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid want David de Gea, but with both parties being stubborn will a deal ever get done? Paper Round investigates.

David De Gea

Image credit: Reuters

Man United want Real to up De Gea bid - Real Madrid want Manchester United to increase their bid for Sergio Ramos, but The Mirror understand that the Red Devils will only do so if the Merengues up their bid for David De Gea. United bid £30 million for Ramos, but Real Madrid said no. Real Madrid bid £20 million for De Gea, but United said no too. Now they're in a standoff and trying to see who bites.
Paper Round's view - While Ramos and De Gea are separate deals, the importance of the two players to both clubs and the considerable cost both will come at will keep the two linked all summer. Realistically, United were always going to need more than £30 million to land Ramos and Real Madrid were never going to get De Gea for £20 million - despite his contract being up next summer - so both sides will have to up their offers.
- - -
Man City's business on hold as they wait out Barca elections - Manchester City can't make a move on Paul Pogba or Kevin De Bruyne until after the Barcelona presidential election, according to The Telegraph. Both players would love to move to the Camp Nou, but whether the Catalan giants will be interested and how they'll handle this summer's transfer ban is dependent on who the club's president is so Man City are left to wait while the players put their business on hold.
Paper Round's view - It's no secret that Pogba would like a move to Barcelona and it's not a surprise that De Bruyne would also be interested in the club. But even if they don't move to the Camp Nou, they'll want Barca to be involved because that type of competition will push their wages higher wherever they land. It's an unfortunate situation for Man City to find themselves in, but they'll still get a crack at both players this summer. They may just have to wait.
- - -
Benteke won't go to Spurs - Tottenham and Liverpool are battling for Christian Benteke, but The Standard believe that the striker won't go to Spurs even if they agree to a deal with Aston Villa. Benteke handed in a transfer request two years ago with the expectation that Spurs were going to bid £25 million for him, but Tottenham never did and Benteke is still upset about it. Now he has no interest in playing for the club.
Paper Round's view - The Benteke transfer saga from 2013 was ugly and Benteke was left in as much of a bad spot as Spurs and Villa. It wouldn't be unreasonable for the striker to hold a grudge against the club. But if Tottenham do make a bid that Villa accept and are willing to offer him big wages then Benteke will probably get over it and cash that big check.
- - -
Man City want Hamsik - Manchester City are planning to buy Marek Hamsik from Napoli per The Sun. The Citizens will bid £20 million for the playmaker and offer to double his wages to £100,000-per-week. Hamsik has been a brilliant player for Napoli, but made it clear to the club that he believes it is time to move on.
Paper Round's view - Hamsik had a rough year last season, clashing with Rafa Benitez. The manager has since left for Real Madrid, but Hamsik thinks it's time to move on to a bigger club anyway. Man City would certainly be that and players don't often balk at a chance to double wages. Still, £20 million probably won't get it done and Napoli will hold out for more. If City really want Hamsik, they should be able to land him, but if it is a "take it or leave it" £20 million bid then they shouldn't get their hopes up.
picture

Marek Hamsik of Napoli

Image credit: LaPresse

- - -
Palace talking to PSG about Cabaye - Yohan Cabaye could be on his way back to the Premier League. The Guardian claim that Crystal Palace and PSG are negotiating a transfer that would see Cabaye move to Selhurst Park for £10 million. Cabaye is second choice at PSG so he's looking for an exit and thinks being reunited with Alan Pardew would be ideal.
Paper Round's view - Cabaye played so well under Pardew at Newcastle that it is no wonder he wants to join forces again. He would be a brilliant addition for Palace and £10 million is an entirely reasonable price. The sticking point will be the Frenchman's wages as Palace don't pay anything close to what he's earning at the rich Parisian club. 
- - -
Newcastle must spend big for Dost - Newcastle will have a tough time landing Bas Dost. The Wolfsburg striker is one of the Magpies' top targets, but The Chronicle say that they will have to pay more than £9 million to land the Wolfsburg man. Wolfsburg have said that they don't have any interest in selling the striker and that Dost told them he has no interest in leaving so he won't be going anywhere cheap.
Paper Round's view - There was no way that anyone was going to sign Dost for £9 million. He is coming off of a phenomenal campaign and he is under contract until 2017, while Wolfsburg are Champions League-bound next season. If Dost left the club this summer, it would have had to be for a huge sum. That £9 million came up at all is ridiculous.
Love Manchester United? Connect with fans at Manchester United Forum on Facebook and manutdforum.org.
Join 3M+ users on app
Stay up to date with the latest news, results and live sports
Download
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement