Rooney for Real, Nani for Sporting?

The gossip columns are white-hot, sending soccer fans around the world wild. The latest chatter involves Russian players, the premier League, Spain's La Liga, clubs like Benfica, FC Porto, Chelsea, Manchester United, Juventus, Arsenal and players like Wayne Rooney...and Nani. Read on...

The hot news from the Premiership is that Manchester United star striker Wayne Rooney (28) has said he will not renew his contract with the club after it runs out at the end of the 2015 season. Could this be another ploy to receive a massive hike in his salary, as was the case last time around, or is this the start of a transfer from United to Real Madrid at the end of the current season while United can still get something for the England player?

Chelsea's Spanish midfield player Juan Mata, 25, who has not been a central figure to José Mourinho's starting line-ups, may be a target for United, suffering in the middle of a miserable season. Manchester United is said to have made a bid for 37 million GBP (61 million USD), which falls short of the figure wanted by Chelsea, reported to be 40 million GBP, or 66 million USD.

Another club interested in Mata is Atlético Madrid, currently holding joint first position in La Liga with Barcelona, one point ahead of real Madrid. Los Colchoneros are said to have told Manchester United they can have first options on striker Diego Costa (25) and Brazilian Filipe Luis, full-back (28) if they drop their bid for Mata.

La Liga is active. Rayo Vallecano wants Jeffrén Suárez, the 26-year-old Sporting Clube de Portugal striker, at least until the end of the season. Valladolid have confirmed that the Benfica central defender, Stefan Mitrovic, is to join them on loan until the end of the season.

Galatasaray has confirmed that the Brazilian fullback Telles (21), has signed a contract valid until 2018, coming from Grémio.

No destination as yet for FC Porto pair Marat Izmailov, 31 (Russian attacking midfield player) and Jorge Fucile, the Uruguayan fullback. Benfica's striker, Rodrigo (22) has attracted the attention of Arsenal, Valencia and Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Nani, Manchester United's winger, is attracting the interest of Sporting Clube de Portugal, where he was signed from by Old Trafford but Juventus is also hot on his heels.

Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey

Pravda.Ru