Real Madrid general manager Jose Angel Sanchez has revealed the club will sell Argentina international striker Gonzalo Higuain this summer, Sky Sports understands.
Higuain, who joined the Los Blancos from Argentine giants River Plate for a reported transfer fee of €13 million in 2007, has bagged 13 goals and five assists in 23 league appearances this season.
The imminent departure of Higuain will — in all likelihood — lead to at least two high-profile summer signings at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, as Real Madrid continue to be linked with Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero and Tottenham Hotspur ace Gareth Bale.
“In a great club like Real, we believe we need two No. nines of a high level,” Sanchez was quoted as saying in L’Equipe.
“We have Benzema and Higuain, Higuain will leave, Benzema will stay and two others will come.”
The Argentina international has been linked with moves to Chelsea, Juventus and Paris-Saint Germain in recent times.
Bony reaffirms BPL dream
Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony has reaffirmed his interest in sealing a summer move to the English Premier League, according to Sky Sports.
The Cote d’Ivoire international, who is currently the top goal scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie with 31 goals, is reportedly attracting interest from a number of English clubs, including the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle United and West Ham United.
“For me the Premier League is the top league [in Europe], but the Bundesliga is also good – France, Italy and Spain they’re all good too,” said Bony.
“England I think would be perfect. I’m very interested in the Premier League and the atmosphere in England, it’s a wonderful league and we will see what happens.
“It would be great for me [to move to a club in the Champions League]. It’s the only competition I haven’t played in yet.”
The bulky Ivorian has powered Vitesse (19-7-6) to fourth-place in the Eredivisie this season, with 64 points from 32 league matches.
Vitas have all but secured a place in the UEFA Europa League next season, but still maintain an outside chance of reaching the UEFA Champions League, albeit they would have to pass both PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord Rotterdam — who are both on 66 points at the moment — in the league table with just two league matches remaining.
Fernandinho will cost Man City €50m
Shakhtar Donetsk manager Mircea Lucescu has revealed Manchester City transfer target Ferdandinho will only move to the Etihad Stadium in the summer should the Premier League moneybags meet the €50 million release clause in his current contract, ESPN FC reports.
Fernandinho, who joined the Ukrainian giants from Brasileiro side Atletico Paranaense for a fee of £7 million in 2005, was also linked with a move to Manchester United earlier this season.
In December, the Brazil international — who has been capped five times since making his international debut in 2011 — revealed he would be moving to Manchester in January, but no such deal materialised.
“If our players receive offers from teams higher than Shakhtar, we do everything possible to help them,” Lucescu told PRO TV.
“Currently, I think Manchester City are not at our level. If City want to [sign Fernandinho], the clause is €50 million.”
Shakhtar advanced to the Round of 16 in the Champions League this season, but Manchester City did not after finishing in last-place and without a win in Group D.
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