Arsenal
Wilshere & Mata On Barca Shortlist To Replace United-Bound Midfielder
Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere and Chelsea’s Juan Mata are on a six-man shortlist to replace Thiago Alcantara if the midfielder completes his move to Manchester United
With the summer transfer window now open, there is plenty of gossip doing the rounds in the newspapers so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest transfer rumours. Today, Barcelona could raid the Premiership for Thiago Alcantara’s replacement.
Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere and Chelsea’s Juan Mata are on a six-man shortlist to replace Thiago Alcantara if the midfielder completes his protracted move to Manchester United, according to El Mundo Deportivo.
The report claims Alcantara’s future will be resolved in the coming days with the Barca squad due to return to pre-season training on July 15th, and United are favourites ahead of Bayern Munich to land the talented midfielder.
The 22-year-old has a £15m buy-out clause in his contract but while the players father, Mazinho, insists no final decision has been made, widespread reports expect him to complete a switch to Old Trafford this week.
Tito Vilanova is likely to promote highly-rated youngster Sergi Roberto to the first team squad this summer but El Mundo claim that Barca chiefs have also put together a six-man shortlist of targets to replace Alcantara, with Arsenal’s Wilshere and Chelsea’s Mata both under consideration.
Any move by the Spanish giants for Wilshere is likely to be given a short shrift by the Gunners with the midfielder only recently signing a new long-term contract, while he’s also eyed as a potential future captain of the club. Likewise, Chelsea are not expected to entertain the idea of selling Mata this summer with the Spanish attacker recently dismissing suggestions he could leave Stamford Bridge any time soon.
Ajax’s Christian Eriksen, Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gündoğan, Athletic Bilbao’s Ander Herrera and Fiorentina’s Borja Valero make up the list of targets according to El Mundo, so if Alcantara does end up signing for United, one of these four are likely to be the replacement as Wilshere and Mata aren’t expected to be available.
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