Wesley Sneijder is one of those players who seems far older than he is. The former Ajax youth player has racked up 105 caps for Holland, having come to the world’s attention at Euro 2004. Since then he has worn Real Madrid’s No10 shirt and led José Mourinho’s Internazionale to Champions League glory in 2010, scoring against Barcelona in the semi-final and assisting for Diego Milito’s opener in the final against Bayern Munich. After repeated links to Manchester United, Sneijder eventually pitched up at the Galatasaray retirement home in January 2013 alongside the likes of Didier Drogba and Emmanuel Eboué. But somehow the 5ft 7in Dutchman is still only 30. What’s more, he only celebrated his 30th birthday last month, and while the rest of the Holland squad were popping balloons and enjoying cheese and isotonic drinks at their pre-World Cup training camp, Louis van Gaal was plotting to lure his midfield maestro to Old Trafford. The Turkish club want £16m, and Van Gaal believes the man they call “The Sniper” for his ability to deliver perfect passes and score from set pieces will get better with age like a fine Gouda.
Paul Pogba’s trip to Knightsbridge on Thursday has got tongues wagging, London’s most salubrious shopping street being as it is the proverbial stone’s throw away from Stamford Bridge. Mourinho apparently phoned his wife and asked her to tuck a £60m bid into the player’s suit pocket as he perused the fine foods section of Harrods.
Big Sam Allardyce was obviously watching the World Cup as West Ham are close to finalising a £12million deal for the Ecuador striker Enner Valencia. Porto, Stoke, Everton and Newcastle have also shown an interest but matters have been complicated by Mexican club Pachuca’s demands for a sell-on clause.
Newcastle’s owner Mike Ashley is so fed up with fans’ accusations that he is happy to see the club stand still he is ready to sanction bids for fresh, new talent in the form of Demba Ba and Loïc Rémy. Both players are still hoping Arsenal will save them from a return to the Toon.
Micah Richards could also be on his way to Newcastle, having been relegated to third-choice right-back at Manchester City by the arrival of Bacary Sagna. Richards is available for a bargain £3m.
Roberto Martínez has made a £4m swoop for Muhamed Besic, the all-action Bosnia-Herzegovina midfielder who left Hamburg as a teenager after his coach grabbed him round the throat. Everton’s manager has grabbed the 21-year-old by the ear and told him to reject Swansea in favour of a £4m move to Goodison from Ferencvaros.
Sunderland have bid £8m to bring Fabio Borini back to Wearside from Liverpool in the hope that he can save them from relegation in the final month again this year. And the Fulham midfielder Kieran Richardson is expected to complete a medical at Aston Villa on Friday, after turning down offers from three other Premier League clubs.
