Gossip: City to rival Chelsea for Stones
CITY TO RIVAL CHELSEA FOR STONES
It was first reported on Sunday that Chelsea were not the only club interested in signing Everton defender John Stones this summer, with various newspapers claiming Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal were all admirers of the 21-year-old.
Chelsea are widely reported to have seen a second offer of £26million for Stones rejected by Everton on Wednesday, but the Daily Mirror claims the Premier League champions have still not been deterred and are preparing a third bid.
City, however, are said to have long been tracking Stones, and although they would prefer to see him play a full season as first choice for Everton before attempting to sign him, they have apparently become ‘increasingly nervous’ that the Toffees may agree to sell the young England international this summer.
City have now asked to be kept informed of Stones’ situation by the Everton board, allowing them to rival Chelsea should they make an offer deemed acceptable for a player valued at more than £30million by the Merseysiders.
UNITED GIVE UP ON RONALDO
Real boss Rafa Benitez quickly dismissed the speculation, however, and Louis van Gaal later admitted it was “not possible” for United to sign him due to the money it would cost.
Real’s exact valuation of Ronaldo, according to The Sun, is £84.5million – £4.5million more than they paid to sign him from United in 2009, and a figure the Red Devils’ hierarchy simply won’t consider paying for a 30-year-old.
They have, however, asked to be kept informed of Ronaldo’s situation ‘in case Ronaldo decides he has had enough at Real and agitates for a move back to English football’.
AND THE REST
– Emmanuel Adebayor is set to sign for Aston Villa today – and Dimitar Berbatov wants to join him (Daily Mirror)
– Bologna have expressed interest in signing Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli (Daily Mail)
– Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah has arrived in Italy as he closes in on a loan move to Roma (Daily Mail)
– Newcastle have resurrected their interest in Marseille winger Florian Thauvin, but the French club have turned down an improved £12m offer for the highly-rated 22-year-old (Daily Mirror)
– Northampton Town striker Ivan Toney prefers a move to Newcastle United despite interest from Championship clubs (Daily Mirror)
– Swansea put a staggering £25million price tag on Ashley Williams in a bid to scare off Crystal Palace (Daily Mirror)