De Rossi keen to make £18m move to Manchester
United
Daniele De Rossi’s representatives have sounded out Manchester
United to establish whether the Premier League leaders would
consider an £18million move for the Roma midfielder this summer.
The 27 year-old, who has played 63 times for Italy, is considering
leaving the Serie A side he has supported since childhood after a
turbulent three years in which his father-in-law was shot and
killed in a gangland revenge attack and he separated from his wife,
Tamara. United, like Real Madrid, hold a longstanding interest in
the Roma vice-captain but have been consistently informed that he
would not consider leaving the club where he started his career and
his father, Alberto, remains a youth team coach. Both clubs have
now been informed, though, that De Rossi is prepared to leave the
Italian capital in a bid to escape the troubles that have enveloped
his life away from the game. Jose Mourinho, the Real manager, is
thought to be keen to pair the player with Xabi Alonso, while Sir
Alex Ferguson will be given funds this summer to strengthen his
squad, with a replacement for Paul Scholes, along with a goalkeeper
and a central defender, likely to be a priority. Though his age and
price may not appeal to United’s desire to bring in players with
high resale values, De Rossi’s undisputed quality would tempt
Ferguson, who has struggled to settle on a central midfield
partnership in recent years.
Rory Smith, Daily Telegraph
The Telegraph say Sir Alex is also believed to be
looking into the possibility of signing Shakhtar Donetsk's
Douglas Costa and Blackpool's Charlie
Adam.
The Daily Mail discusses a possible United departure
with Galatasaray reportedly keen to sign United
goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak. The paper also claim
the Reds will monitor Desportivo Brasil midfielder Rafael
Leao, 17, who trained with the club last week, and also
say United are outlining a deal for 16-year-old Chilean striker
Angelo Henriquez from Universidad de Chile.