As we’re heading down the stretch of the January transfer window, the Manchester United transfer rumor mill has been churning overtime. We’re still waiting for that first major piece of transfer business to be done, and if and when it comes, it’ll most likely be in defense.
Out of favor full back Matteo Darmian has been linked with an exit the past couple transfer windows, and almost every time the rumors return, they center around clubs in Italy, the player’s native land.
According to Corriere dello Sport the seldom used Italian international is now destined for Juventus, who had been battling Inter Milan for his signature. This seconds a report in The Guardian from two days ago.
The 29-year-old’s contract is set to expire this summer. He was acquired in the summer of 2015, back when Louis van Gaal was in charge.
Elsewhere, Milan Skriniar, a supposedly €100 million-rated centre-back, shot down any of idea of his moving to United by saying “I’m staying.” Check out Thursday’s back page of Italian newspaper Tuttosport for more. The 23-year-old Slovakia international said he believes Inter are on their way back to relevance and prominence again, and he wants to be a part of that when it happens down the line.
And with that, it appears the seemingly never ending transfer saga to acquire a centre back upgrade will persist.
Finally, hat tip to the Daily Mirror on this, who report that Sporting Lisbon defender Tiago Djalo is set for a move to Milan, instead of either of the two Manchester clubs, who were in pursuit.
The Mirror says that: “Sky Sport Italia reporter Gianluca Di Marzio reckons a final agreement has been reached with AC Milan.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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