The weekend is usually slower as far as transfer rumors go, but this Sunday has seen some slight movement on some significant potential moves.
The most concrete of them comes from a transfer nearly complete. Aston Villa target man Christian Benteke is set for a medical at Liverpool on Monday, according to the BBC’s Ben Smith. He will look to complete a $50 million transfer as Liverpool will turn around most of the Raheem Sterling money almost instantly.
Benteke’s medical only needs to wait for Liverpool’s team doctor to fly home from the team’s tour of Australia in order to officially complete the process. Smith’s report states Benteke will not join the team in Australia or Malaysia, but instead will likely meet up with Brendan Rodgers and company when they return home in early August. The big Belgian was blanked last year during Aston Villa’s shocking six-match scoreless streak, but turned things on in March, scoring 11 goals in 11 matches to end the season and help the Claret & Blue avoid relegation.
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There have been multiple reports over the possible transfer of Manchester United winger Angel Di Maria to Paris Saint-Germain. The most notable comes from PSG manager Laurent Blanc himself, who said there will be loads of competition to deal with. “We are talking about a rather complicated deal,” Blanc told L’Equipe on Saturday. “If United really have the intention of selling Di Maria, Paris Saint-Germain will not be the only interested team. Other big teams will also try to bring him in to strengthen their squad, so there is always the risk of a bidding war.”
However, that’s not the only reported road block. The Daily Mail reported today that Louis van Gaal is requiring Di Maria to hand in a transfer request if he wants to leave. Players usually don’t like to make such a move, because there are often clauses in contracts absolving teams of certain financial responsibilities should a player formally request a move.
The Daily Mail report states Di Maria’s wife is unhappy in England, and the player could still be skeptical of van Gaal’s plans considering how sparingly he was used down the stretch of last season. Sky Italia’s Tancredi Palmeri tweeted that he believes the transfer is close to completion - should United bring another player in first - but it would seem he might be using a loose interpretation of the word “close.”
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Finally, as reported in yesterday’s Roundup, Newcastle have inched closer to completing the transfer of Aleksander Mitrovic from Anderlecht. Sky Sports tweeted a picture of Mitrovic at the Newcastle airport, on his way to St. James Park to complete his medical.
Anderlecht striker Aleksandar Mitrovic arriving at Newcastle airport - due for a medical tomorrow. #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/jEDdf8MrQ2
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 19, 2015
Newcastle will pay a reported $20 million for the 20-year-old’s services, joining Georgino Wijnaldum as Newcastle’s two signings of the summer so far. They reportedly beat Roma and Porto for his signature, a major signing for the club.