Analysing the Transfer Gossip – 4th June: Mourinho’s targets, Rooney, Arsenal, Liverpool and more

As we move in to the off-season, an unprecedented amount of managerial movement around Europe will surely see an already frantic transfer market go in to overdrive. This will give plenty of opportunities for transfer rumour and gossip. So how much of it is realistic?

Returning Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has targeted Galatasaray playmaker Wesley Sneijder as one of his first signings. The Dutch international, 28, played under Mourinho at Inter Milan.

Full story: the Sun

What’s the story? No sooner does Mourinho arrive than the Chelsea gossip wheels spins itself in to gear, and here is the first idiotic rumour of many to come, no doubt. Sneijder has just moved to Galatasaray, Chelsea have an abundance of attacking midfielders and no defence. Mourinho prioritises defensive solidity, so he’s first looking at a non defending number 10?

Does it make sense? Obviously not. For one thing, Galatasaray signed him to give them legitimacy and to help them compete for the Champions League. Also, he’s on a huge wage there, more than any Chelsea player is on. I’m not even going to bother with the abysmal fit and lack of need.

Is the price right? It’s literally just guess work. I can’t see a fee that would work for Chelsea that allows Galatasaray to justify his quick sale to their fans.

Will it happen? 0/10 – No.

Manchester City’s 27-year-old striker Edin Dzeko, Benfica’s ex-Blues midfielder Nemanja Matic, 25, and Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala, 22, are also on Mourinho’s radar.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

What’s the story? They want a Man City cast off who is vastly inferior to Lukaku, never mind Cavani, Benzema or Lewandowski. A player they lobbed in to the David Luiz package as a make-weight, a David Luiz who is now expected to be sold. And a red raw central defender from a club who have pockets full of cash, so could charge an absurd fee?

Does it make sense? Goodness only knows where Dezko has come from. The other two do football wise but both have drawbacks. If Chelsea pay £10m for Matic, they are basically paying £34m for David Luiz. He’s a good tyro in midfield though. Porto are talking anywhere between £22-30m for Mangala. If you want to buy, don’t go to cash rich Porto any more this summer.

Is the price right? Matic and Mangala are too much. No price, even £10m or so, would appease the Chelsea fans if they sign Dzeko to be their main striker.

Will it happen? Dzeko – 0/10 Matic – 6/10 Mangala -7/10: Maybe eventually, but he’d be an awful lot of money this summer.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits it would be impossible to turn down any opportunity to sign unsettled Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

Full story: Daily Express

What’s the story? It’s unusual for Wenger to speak publicly about transfer targets so I’m not sure what this means. I guess probably that they are talking to United and Rooney, but it shifts the blame for any breakdown in the deal on to them, rather than Arsenal.

Does it make sense? Yes. Even during his inconsistent patches he’d still be a big upgrade on anything Arsenal currently have. Also, with this way of phrasing things, Wenger can be seen to have done what he can so that the fans don’t get agitated.

Is the price right? It seems £30m is the figure that has been settled on, in the media at least. The question is; would Arsenal spend that much, and on top of that, the wages that it would take to get him?

Will it happen? 5/10 – It would be very un-Arsenal like but they’ve got a need and got the money this summer.

The Gunners are considering whether to make a move for Swansea attacker Michu. The 27-year-old scored 22 goals in all competitions in his debut campaign with the Welsh side last term.

Full story: Daily Mail

What’s the story? Surprisingly, this is the first Michu sighting in the transfer gossip. Arsenal would be interesting suitors as they do need more goals from midfield.

Does it make sense? As a back up plan but not as first choice. They’d be better off going for Jovetic and/or Rooney to be their number 9 and 10 but Michu would be an able deputy to both. Doesn’t have the refinement for the Champions League but he’s an excellent finisher in the air and on the ground in the Premier League.

Is the price right? Swansea would have every reason to hold out for £15m or so, although if it’s only Arsenal bidding, it might not get that high.

Will it happen? 4/10 – Only 4 at this stage because we’re so early in the Jovetic/Rooney process.

Liverpool are not deterred by the £22m valuation that Shakhtar Donetsk have put on Armenia international midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Mkhitaryan, 24, scored a record 25 goals in the Ukrainian Premier League last season.

Full story: the Guardian

What’s the story? With the seemingly inevitable exit of Luis Suarez, Liverpool need to find ways of replacing his goals and inventiveness. Mkhitarayan would be a strong option. He can play anywhere in the forward positions except as a central striker and positional versatility is important to Rodgers’ system.

Does it make sense? Yes. 25 goals from midfield in a good league and strong performances in the Champions League are evidence of his quality. He has the speed, technique, movement and intelligence which is necessary for Rodgers’ system to operate at maximum threat.

Is the price right? £22m is a lot but Shakhtar are a rich club. Willian got them £35m so they won’t sell cheap.

Will it happen? 6/10 – He suits the Liverpool system and fits in to their recent practice of signing unusual options. Coutinho and Iago Aspas were a little off the radar, so this could well happen.

Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas is stepping up his pursuit of Porto’s highly-rated Colombian forward Jackson Martinez, 26.

Full story: Metro

What’s the story? Spurs must sign a striker this summer. If they sell Gareth Bale, they will need a full attacking face lift. Martinez is a physical specimen and gets goals.

Does it make sense? Again, with £70m in their pockets Porto aren’t the club to try and buy from this summer. They’ve already sold two of their main weapons, so selling another of them just to store up more money seems needless. From Spurs’ point of view, Martinez could flourish in England with his combination of power and pace.

Is the price right? It’s going to be higher than before the Monaco deal. Why should they take less than £20m?

Will it happen? 5/10 – AVB knows Porto, but unless they sell Bale and have cash to spend over Martinez’s genuine value, it’s not going to happen.

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has urged the Gunners to sign Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama. The Kenyan, 21, is valued at £10m by the Scottish Premier League champions.

Full story: Daily Express

What’s the story? Over the last couple of months of the season, Ramsey started to show signs of developing in to an able defensive midfielder. His tackles and interception numbers improved drastically and he helped shield the second best defence in the league. So logically, he is demanding that Wenger sign the same type of player to replace him with?

Does it make sense? It certainly doesn’t make sense that Ramsey of all people would say this. Wanyama is more athletic certainly, but both have limited passing range and Ramsey is more positionally sound. Not a necessary move by any means.

Is the price right? Celtic have quoted some absurd figures for Wanyama, way and above £10m. Rather than spending £10m here, £10m there, Arsenal need to spend it on world class players, not bits and pieces players. Wanyama is at best a marginal upgrade, not worth spending this kind of money for Arsenal.

Will it happen? 7/10 – I don’t get it, but it probably will do.

Sunderland hope to beat Southampton and Norwich to the £7m signing of 25-year-old Celtic striker Gary Hooper

Full Story: Daily Mail

What’s the story? Hooper went to Celtic after a decent spell with Scunthorpe in the Championship and has scored a lot of goals in Scotland. Sunderland and Norwich are desperate in their search for goals, in Norwich’s case, even despite the signing of van Wolfswinkel for £8.5m.

Does it make sense? I don’t get why scoring goals in a division in which maybe two or three teams would even survive in the English second tier is a priority. This isn’t Henrik Larsson we’re talking about.

Is the price right? No. £7m for Hooper is insanity. You could comfortably sign someone from a better European league for less, or even look at another top flight club’s depth chart. Fulham got Berbatov for £4m last year, for example.

Will it happen? 9/10 – He’ll almost certainly end up somewhere in the Premier League.