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Manchester City eye up Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci as Rodri replacement - Paper Round
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Published 29/09/2024 at 09:12 GMT+1
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Manchester City are looking at a transfer for Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci after Rodri’s injury, while Everton owner Farhad Moshiri is set to lose a huge sum by selling the club. Elsewhere, Manchester United are one of many sides to be interested in Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg, and their defender Diogo Dalot could be a target for Real Madrid if Trent Alexander-Arnold stays at Liverpool.
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City linked with Rodri replacement
Manchester City could make a move for Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci, after Rodri was ruled out for the rest of the campaign.
Ricci could be brought in this January when the transfer window re-opens, according to The Mirror.
The paper writes: “City suffered the hammer blow of losing Rodri after he went off injured in the 2-2 draw against rivals Arsenal, in a major blow to their hopes of retaining the Premier League title.
“Pep Guardiola's men dropped two points in their 1-1 draw at Newcastle on Saturday as the Spaniard fielded Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis and Ilkay Gundogan at St James' Park - but the trio struggled without Rodri's quality.
“He is now keeping an eye on Italian midfielder Ricci as someone who could step up in his place.
“Ricci is one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe, with the 23-year-old being key to helping Torino's shock rise to the top of Serie A this season. He has already played 65 times for the club, scoring three goals.”
Moshiri faces huge loss
Farhad Moshiri stands to lose hundreds of millions of pounds after agreeing to sell Everton.
The purchase of the club by the Friedkin Group will earn him £25 million, well under his investment in the club so far.
The Telegraph explains: “Farhad Moshiri will walk away from Everton with an initial payment in the region of £25 million having seen his huge Goodison investment go up in smoke.
“The majority shareholder is waiting for the sale of a 94.1% stake to the Friedkin Group to be ratified by the Premier League having agreed a massive drop in the club’s valuation due to huge debts accrued during the course of his eight-year reign.
“His remuneration may increase in the coming years depending on how successful Everton are under their new American owners, and the potential earnings of the stadium at Bramley-Moore dock. Moshiri agreed a similar incremental deal with 777 Partners last season but they could not get the deal over the line.
“Billionaire Dan Friedkin’s buy-out is not expected to encounter the same issues.
“The full extent of Moshiri’s investment into Everton has never been disclosed, but it was certainly hundreds of millions.”
Utd may land Sunderland teen
Manchester United could sign yet another talented youngster after landing Chido Obi-Martin earlier in the week.
The Manchester Evening News reports that United are on the trail of Sunderland’s midfielder Chris Rigg.
The paper notes: “Academy head Nick Cox and head of academy recruitment Luke Fedorenko have earned a reputation for convincing the hottest properties in the game that their dreams can be achieved at Carrington.
“Cox and Fedorenko are well aware of the young players on the market and United have long kept tabs on another teenager who seems destined for the top. They have been scouting 17-year-old Chris Rigg since he was 14 and the queue of clubs watching the Sunderland midfielder now is significant.
“Rigg was attracting interest from around Europe this summer before signing a professional contract with The Black Cats and that decision has been justified. His exposure to first-team football is fast-tracking his improvement and his impudent backheel goal against Middlesbrough last week went viral.
“United will be far from the only club to show an interest and if they do make a move, this presentation will be about more than an academy pathway. Rigg will want to be in the first-team squad.”
Real consider Dalot swoop
Real Madrid could move for Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot if they fail to land Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The England international is reportedly a target for Real, but the Liverpool Echo writes that, “If Liverpool are truly the player's priority, they should not come close to the opportunity of unrestricted negotiations within the final six months of his current deal. This would force Carlo Ancelotti to search elsewhere for a successor to Dani Carvajal.
“Diogo Dalot of fierce rivals Manchester United will be the full-back looked at under these circumstances. The Portugal international is named as a long-term target for the club, scouted over the past 18 months for his consistency in United's starting XI.
“Also 25, his versatility to play on either flank as a full-back is singled out as the part of his game the La Liga side admire above the rest. He will be a player Erik ten Hag will not wish to lose though, and his contract with four years remaining further hinders Madrid prospects.”
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