Many of Thursday’s biggest transfer-related stories all seem to revolve around one club: Manchester United. First up is an update on Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, who, according to various reports from all over Europe, will next week sign a new five-year contract with the La Liga side, rather than moving to Man United as has been rumored and reported all summer long.
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United manager Louis van Gaal confirmed that the other major player in the United vs. Real transfer showdown of 2015, goalkeeper David de Gea, will not feature for the Red Devils this Friday when they take on Aston Villa (Watch live, 2:45 pm ET on NBCSN and online via Live Extra). De Gea, who is in the final year of his contract at United, will not play until the end of the transfer window, insists Van Gaal.
As for Van Gaal’s other major transfer target, Pedro Rodriguez, took part in Barcelona’s first-team training session on Thursday. United are said to still be actively pursuing the 28-year-old La Masia product with the Premier League side having put in a bid of more than $34 million in order to activate Pedro’s buyout clause.
On the other side of Manchester, United’s city rivals, Manchester City, are holding out hope that their $73 million bid made last week is enough to land 24-year-old Belgian international Kevin De Bruyne from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg. According to De Bruyne’s agent, De Bruyne is happy at Wolfsburg and will not submit a formal transfer request in order to force a move.
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The Guardian reported on Thursday that Tottenham Hotspur striker and $25 million flop Roberto Soldado (much of the original $40 million fee is said to consist of add-ons and performance bonuses which Soldado did not achieve) flew to Spain for a medical examination ahead of a permanent move to Villarreal. The Birmingham Mail reports that Tottenham’s other want-away striker, Emmanuel Adebayor, who has been a transfer target of ex-Spurs boss Tim Sherwood all summer, favors a move to West Ham United over Sherwood’s Villa.
Sunderland are said to be interested in signing Liverpool’s Fabio Borini and/or Man United’s Adnan Januzaj on loan through the end of the season, according to the Guardian. Van Gaal stated Thursday that Januzaj will not be sold this window but did not comment on a potential loan move.