Football transfer rumours: Neymar to Bayern Munich for £86m?
Today's tell-all is paying the price for that super-hot chilli
Speculation continues to abound over the future of underwhelming Santos superstar Neymar, who despite boasting an impressive YouTube showreel, recently failed to deliver while jetlagged in a friendly against England and therefore can't be very good. Currently happy playing in his domestic league while trousering £11m per year for the privilege, the Brazilian seems in no rush to make what many perceive to be the obvious step-up to the big leagues until after the next World Cup, but may have his superbly coiffured head turned by his big share of the £86m Bayern Munich are reported to be willing to spend on what can only be described as an audacious "summer swoop".
Meanwhile in the north-west of England, under-performing free-kick dodging Manchester City winger Samir Nasri is wanted by Paris Saint-Germain and will move to the French club in June, having become sick of being singled out for well deserved public criticism by his current boss, Roberto Mancini.
With Cristiano Ronaldo's "people" busy negotiating a new and improved contract for their client at Real Madrid, it should come as no surprise that stories about him being wanted by other clubs continue to drip-drip into the public domain. Sir Alex Ferguson has refused to play the game, however, choosing instead to fill a metaphorical bucket with cold water and pour it all over speculation linking the pouting Portuguese diva with a return to Manchester United. "I don't think there's anything, as far as I'm aware, that would encourage me to think he would come back here," said the Manchester United manager, who may of course be playing a different game, the nuances and rules of which are unfamiliar to the Rumour Mill.
Juventus manager Antonio Conte has let it be known that he will be happy to take over as manager at Chelsea if he's offered the job this summer, prompting swathes of banner-painting Stamford Bridge regulars to scuttle off and research the 43-year-old's every previous public utterance, to see if any of them were even mildly disparaging, about them and free plastic flags. In a story substantiated by no quotes whatsoever from the Italian or anyone else, the Star reveals that Conte would not be adverse to becoming Roman Abramovich's latest yes-man by taking a job which, at worst, rewards failure with a multi-million pound "eff-off" payment for just a few months' work. The Rumour Mill would like it to be known that it would also be happy to take over as manager at Chelsea if it is offered the job ahead of Conte this summer.
Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski is going to Manchester United.Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski isn't going to Manchester United. Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski is going to Bayern Munich. Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski isn't going to Bayern Munich. Take your pick - the Rumour Mill doesn't know what he's doing yet and is sick and tired of tapping its nose, winking and pretending to be in the know when nothing could be further from the truth.
Unsettled CSKA Moscow midfielder and dead ball specialist Keisuke Honda is wanted by both Liverpool and Juventus and will be available to whoever offers him the most money when his contract expires in the summer, while Bolton manager Dougie Freedman likes the cut of Kerim Frei's jib and will attempt to bring Fulham's 19-year-old Turkish midfielder to the Reebok Stadium to cover for the luckless Mark Davies, who knackered his knee in a match against Peterborough last week and has been ruled out for up to a year with ligament damage.
And finally, today's Corriere dello Sport reports that both Napoli and Juventus are hopeful of ending the Nou Camp nightmare being endured by Barcelona flopAlexis Sánchez, but will have to fight off interest from Premier League clubs Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool.
www.guardian.co.uk