About a week remains until the transfer window officially opens up, and plenty of Premier League and Major League Soccer names are at play in today’s rumor mill.
James Milner may have portrayed his Christmas as boring, but the Manchester City man is having an active run through the transfer rumor mill. The former Newcastle and Aston Villa man is apparently wanted by both Liverpool and Arsenal on a free transfer this summer. The problem for his suitors is that he’s also wanted by the club who currently owns his rights. They plan on keeping Milner, but does the player trust that he’ll continue to play a key role at the Etihad?
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The Daily Sun says Virgil van Dijk is drawing interest from Arsenal, and it seems the 23-year-old Celtic defender’s spurning of Newcastle and others this summer could find him a new UEFA Champions League side. Celtic manager Ronny Deila says van Dijk doesn’t want to leave Parkhead.
Sky Sports says you can add Leicester City to the list of suitors for Toronto FC’s Jermain Defoe, while another MLS man, Tim Cahill, is speculated to make a loan move to his old home at Goodison Park.
German site Kicker says Ricardo Rodriguez’s Premier League arrival isn’t coming anytime soon, as Wolfsburg has agreed to a deal to keep the 22-year-old Swiss back around.
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Stoke City is suddenly becoming the hot PL home for Barcelona expats, if the Daily Mirror can be believed. Sergi Roberto, 22, could be joining Bojan Krkic and Marc Muniesa at the Britannia Stadium.
Finally, the continuing saga of whether Frank Lampard will arrive at New York City FC in time for the new Major League Soccer club’s first season. The Daily Mirror says Lampard will be staying with fellow City Football Group side Manchester City until at least mid-February.