Schalke offer Neuer €7 million per season to stay; City lead the race for Alexis Sanchez

Schalke offer Neuer €7 million per season to stay

Schalke chiefs have offered Manuel Neuer a new three-year deal worth €7 million per season to try and persuade the Germany international to remain at the club.

Neuer’s current contract expires in June 2012, which had led to speculations that he will be sold next summer.

Manchester United and Bayern have both expressed interest in the Germany international, who was said to seriously ponder leaving the club in the summer.

However, after Schalke eliminated Inter to reach the Champions League semi-finals, the club chiefs are doing everything they can to keep hold of their most prized assed, as witnessed by the board chief Clemens Tonies’ statements.

“Manuel Neuer is the face of Schalke. We will do everything we can to keep him,” Tonies told Bild.

Schalke have reportedly offered Neuer a three-year deal worth €7 million per season, which would promise the player a huge pay rise seeing that he currently earns €2 million per season.

The club chiefs believe a hefty deal and the club’s recent uptrend in fortunes will be enough to persuade Neuer that his future lies at Veltins Arena, but we are yet to see if the player will accept the offer.

City lead the race for Alexis Sanchez

Manchester City have reportedly gained the upper hand in the race for Udinese striker Alexis Sanchez.

The Chilean forward is widely expected to leave Udine at the end of the season, with top European clubs set to enter a real bidding war for his services.

However, Manchester City are confident of landing the Serie A sensation after holding talks with Udinese officials over the weekend.

The Citizens are prepared to offer €34 million for the 22-year-old and they hope it will be enough to clinch the deal, even though Chelsea, Arsenal, and few other top European clubs are also keen on the diminutive forward.

Udinese have realized that they won’t be able to keep their most prized asset in the squad and they are reportedly ready to sell him to the highest bidder.

Roberto Mancini is not happy with his attacking options, especially as Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko have failed to justify the hefty price tags, while the injury to Carlos Tevez is creating additional problems.

Roberto Mancini knows Alexis Sanchez from his time at Serie A and he believes the Chilean would be the perfect solution to City’s problems in attack.

[Source: The Times]

Sunderland and Villa hoping to sign Kirkland on free transfer

Sunderland and Aston Villa are keeping tabs on Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland, who will be allowed to leave the club on free transfer at the end of the season.

The former England international has fallen behind Ali Al-Habsi and veteran Mike Pollitt down the pecking order and he is expected to leave the DW Stadium at the end of the season.

Kirkland’s contract at Wigan expires in June 2012, but he will be allowed to leave on free next summer as the club chiefs are eager to get rid of his £30,000 per week wage.

Aston Villa and Sunderland are reportedly ready to offer the 29-year-old an escape route from Wigan after finding out that the player will be available on free transfer.

Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier signed Kirkland during his stint at Liverpool and is hoping to bring him to Villa Park.

Sunderland’s Steve Bruce is also tracking Kirkland, which comes as a bit of surprise considering that he already has Scotland and Belgium internationals, Craig Gordon and Simon Mignolet in the squad.

[Source: The Mirror]

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