Analysing the transfer gossip – 15th May: Rooney, Cavani, Isco and more

There’s always plenty of transfer talk throughout the season. So how much of it makes sense, and how much of it is just rumour?

Manuel Pellegrini will take Malaga midfielder Isco, 21, with him to Manchester City if he gets the job vacated by Roberto Mancini.

Full story: Metro

What’s the story? Isco is one of the top young players in Europe and could well be the next Silva, Mata, Cazrola type to come over from Spain and flourish in England. City have lacked cutting edge this season, either because of abject finishing or a lack of guile and he would bring invention and goals.

Does it make sense? Absolutely. Pellegrini is the manager that has moulded him so far, so a reunion would be good for Isco whilst he finds his feet in England and he offers a multidimensional threat.

Is the price right? Cazorla cost £15m or so and the financial situation at Malaga is barely any better, so they’d find it hard to turn down anything approaching £20m.

Will it happen? 6/10 – This might depend on what Real Madrid have got in mind but if he does come to England City would the most logical destination.

Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer insist the Bundesliga champions have no interest in signing Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, 27.

Full story: the Guardian

What’s the story? Obviously. Bayern don’t need Rooney.

Does it make sense? No. Bayern would essentially be signing him for his name. What’s the point in that?

Is the price right? He’s worth about £30m but that’s way too much for Bayern to be adding a squad player at.

Will it happen? 0/10 – He’s not going to Bayern barring some extraordinary collection of circumstances.

Chelsea are ready to fight Manchester City for Napoli striker Edinson Cavani, who has a £52m buyout clause in his contract with the Italian club.

Full story: the Sun

What’s the story? It was thought that Falcao was Chelsea’s first choice but talk of an unlikely move to Monaco for the Colombian has heated up so Cavani is the next name on the list.

Does it make sense? Falcao or Lewandowski would make more sense but Cavani isn’t a bad third choice. The only thing with Cavani is that he likes wandering back to get involved in the play which Chelsea wouldn’t need him to do. The other two are more comfortable as penalty box dwellers.

Is the price right? Napoli have no reason to sell for less than the release and other than a cheaper deal for Lewandowski, it’s either Cavani or Falcao. Or Lukaku.

Will it happen? 6/10 – It’s hard to commit much more than just above 50:50, but he might be their only option of the major strikers.

Inter Milan sporting director Marco Branca has hinted that he wants to beat Tottenham to the signing of Spain forward Alvaro Negredo, 27, from Sevilla.

Full story: talkSPORT

What’s the story? Negredo is a bit of a gossip column institution and yet has never left Sevilla. He’s a good solid striker which both teams chronically lack.

Does it make sense? Spurs have been linked with Damiao and Higuain who are better, but he’s a good finisher and would enjoy the supply from Bale.

Is the price right? £16-18m is the range. It’s an awkward price really. If they went about £4m higher, they are in Higuain range. If you’re going to spend that much, you may as well go to the top of the tree.

Will it happen? 5/10 – Spurs: He’s not a bargain, which is how Spurs have shopped lately. Higuain would be on sale like a Dempsey, van der Vaart, Lloris. 5/10 – Inter: Do Inter really have this much? They’re supposedly looking more to their highly regarded youth squad.

Liverpool want Spain Under-21 international striker Cristian Tello, 21, from Barcelona as part of any exchange deal involving keeper Pepe Reina, 30.

Full story: Daily Mirror

What’s the story? To me, it’s odd that part-exchange doesn’t occur more in football. This would make sense though. Tello is well thought of but with the stars in front of him in the Barcelona first team and the soon to be ready Deloufeu in the youth team, he might be odd man out. He’s still managed 7 goals and 4 assists in limited league game time this year.

Does it make sense? Yes. Rodgers doesn’t seem committed to Reina and it would be hard to turn down a move from Barcelona, his childhood club. Tello could add his pace and dynamism to Liverpool’s bubbling young attack.

Is the price right? This would mean Liverpool getting a small cash payment or even a straight up swap.

Will it happen? 7/10 – It makes sense for both sides but it’s an unusual deal, so hard to pin down too firmly.

West Bromwich Albion are chasing Anderlecht striker Dieumerci Mbokani, 27, as a replacement for on-loan Chelsea frontman Romelu Lukaku next season.

Full story: Daily Mail

What’s the story? Well, they’ve had success with one big quick ex-Anderlecht striker, so why not try another?

Does it make sense? Yes. Mbokani is big, quick and strong as well as being a tidy finisher. Ideal for the Premier League.

Is the price right? West Brom could afford a £6-7m type move. Not bad for a striker who has scored a goal a game in Belgium. More than a certain Cristian Benteke did.

Will it happen? 7/10 – West Brom have done well shopping in Holland and Belgium before and are capable of off the radar type moves such as Yacob, Mulumbu and Olsson, so this could be up their street.

Aston Villa are ready to make a £4m move to sign former Essex League striker Dwight Gayle, 22, from Peterborough, who are understood to want a bigger offer.

Full story: Peterborough Telegraph

What’s the story? Aston Villa spent last summer sifting through the lower leagues to see what they could find. It’s been hit and miss but they haven’t spent much on the policy. Gayle took to the Championship with ease and is very quick. He’s red raw though, so spending £4m on him is a big risk.

Does it make sense? It’s one thing getting midfielders and keepers from the lower leagues, but strikers have it much harder. Gayle is a little like Jermaine Beckford who scorched the Championship straight from non-league before not really doing much at Everton.

Is the price right? No. They didn’t pay much more for Benteke.

Will it happen? 5/10 – It will depend almost entirely on what happens with Benteke and Weimann.

Tottenham and Fulham are on standby to battle it out for Udinese-owned striker Matej Vydra, 21, if Watford fail to win promotion from the Championship.

Full story: London Evening Standard

What’s the story? This has nothing to do with if Watford are promoted or not. Udinese don’t sell players below their value and might even feel like Vydra could do a job for their first team next season. This is Vydra’s first full season, so Udinese were loaning him as much to see what he could do as to help sister club Watfrod.

Does it make sense? Vydra is too raw to be of any use to Spurs right now. Unless Watford go up, it’s hard to see him in the Premier League next year.

Is the price right? Udinese don’t really do one season and sell, so they’d have to get an offer that blows them away. Bear in mind, he cost £2m when he was only 17 and they don’t do tiny profit.

Will it happen? 1/10 – There’s a remote but basically minute chance.

Stories collected by the BBC Gossip Column.