Barcelona suits have been strolling around the Northern Quarter and living it up in Deansgate and have decided that they like Manchester so much that they want to take a few souvenirs home with them. But whether they can stuff Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata and Manchester City’s David Silva into their suitcases remains to be seen. We’ll just ignore that transfer ban that prevents Barça from registering any players until next January.
Yet if it sounds like a long shot, it might just come off, what with United preparing a £100m bid for Gareth Bale and moves for Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan, Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne, Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris and Sevilla’s Carlos Bacca in the pipeline. United might need the cash.
Tim Sherwood has said that he will not stand in Christian Benteke’s way if he wants to leave Aston Villa this summer. Probably wise. Liverpool are thinking about a £30m bid and signing Benteke will soothe the pain of losing Raheem Sterling to City.
Rabona rascal Erik Lamela has no plans to leave Tottenham, despite reports linking him with Internazionale, while Swansea City are making eyes at FC Twente’s Luc Castaignos.
Finally, prospective Newcastle manager Steve McClaren, whose Derby County side are in danger of slipping and sliding out of the Championship play-off places, has had a chat with current Newcastle manager John Carver. “We had a good talk,” Carver said. “But we didn’t discuss anything other than my situation and what my players are doing on the pitch. It was all about me and how I had to cope with it. “He said: ‘It’s been a difficult thing for you, John, I understand that. But you’ve handled it quite well. You’ve had to cope with it.’ He didn’t mention this job, absolutely 100% not, he just asked how I was dealing with it.” Bless.
