2014 Summer Transfer Rumours Mk. I

Chelsea striker Demba Ba says he would be open to the possibility of playing in Serie A in the near future.

The Senegalese international has struggled to secure first team football during his spell at Stamford Bridge and has been linked with a move away from London.

“I miss the continuity,” Ba told RMC Sport. “I’m a footballer and I want to play. That is what I’m aspiring to next season.

“I would prefer to stay in England but other leagues also interest me. I would like to try the Italian Serie A.

“Nothing is yet decided but there are some teams in Italy who play great football.”

Diego Contento’s Bayern Munich career could end in the summer, with Napoli ready to table a bid to sign the defender.

The 23-year-old has played just eight times for this season’s Bundesliga winners, playing back-up to Rafinha and Philipp Lahm.

As such, according to Bild, the Bavarian giants are ready to let the full-back leave during the off-season, with the Partenopei preparing to make a move.

Juan Zuniga has been plagued with injury problems this term, and reports earlier in the week suggested that Christian Maggio could be on his way to Inter.

With those rumours emerging, it seems Rafa Benitez’s side are in need of a defender, and have highlighted Contento as the man they want.

It is not yet clear however, how much Bayern would be willing to let him leave for.

Inter Milan president Erick Thohir has stated that Bacary Sagna is set to remain in England this summer.

Thohir revealed earlier this week that Inter had held talks about signing the Arsenal full-back, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

However, he believes that the 31-year-old France international will be remaining in the Premier League after rejecting Inter's attempts to lure him to the San Siro.

"I think (Bacary) Sagna won't arrive because he has decided to stay in the Premier League," Thohir told reporters at Milan airport.

"Right now we only have (Yuto) Nagatomo and Jonathan. If one of them gets injured you need somebody else to come in.

"But we have to accept the fact he (Sagna) wants to stay in England. We understand and in that case we might bring in a young player from our academy."

It now remains to be seen whether Sagna will remain in England, and if does, whether that will be with Arsenal after Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City were linked with offers.

Thohir, who has already raided England's Bosman market to tie up Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic, revealed that he had not had any contact with the Serbian's Old Trafford team-mate Patrice Evra.

"(Patrice) Evra? We have had no contact for him," he added.

“I had a great time in Rome,” Menez explained to La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I already speak the language. I know Serie A, I know everything about it. The adaptation would be easy. I am looking for a team that would make me rediscover the pleasure of playing football.

“Juve is a team that I really like – one of the best in Europe. It has a quality workforce, consisting solely of champions – including in my position. But competition does not scare me.”

Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has promised supporters that the club will not sell anymore of their star assets.

Striker Robert Lewandowski will join Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on a free transfer at the end of the season, while the likes of Marco Reus and Ilkay Gundogan have been linked with moves away from Signal Iduna Park.

Manchester United are reportedly keen to take Reus to Old Trafford and have also been linked with a move for Gundogan, along with Real Madrid.

The midfielder's contract expires next year, but he has been offered a new deal and Watzke has denied suggestions Dortmund will look to cash in on the 23-year-old.

"We would like to prolong with Ilkay. He has an offer on the table," Watzke told Sport Bild. "The decision will certainly not wait until the summer.

"We absolutely do not see the need to sell players who have an existing contract."

Sevilla president Jose Castro has revealed that the Spanish club rejected an offer from a Premier League club for Alberto Moreno last December.

The 21-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best young talents in Spanish football, with his recent form earning him a call into the Spain set-up.

Although primarily a left-back, Moreno has been deployed in an attacking position on a number of occasions this season.

"In December we rejected an offer from a Premier League club for Alberto Moreno," Castro told Onda Cero.

Yohan Modric wrote:

Sevilla president Jose Castro has revealed that the Spanish club rejected an offer from a Premier League club for Alberto Moreno last December.

The 21-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best young talents in Spanish football, with his recent form earning him a call into the Spain set-up.

Although primarily a left-back, Moreno has been deployed in an attacking position on a number of occasions this season.

"In December we rejected an offer from a Premier League club for Alberto Moreno," Castro told Onda Cero.

LeVersacci wrote:lol'd hard at the Hart rumour. Thanks.

“This is a family club, where I want to repay the confidence they have shown me,” the forward explained to Montpellier based newspaper Midi Libre.

Yohan Modric wrote:Juventus like Oscar, however it would be a difficult deal, according to Sky Italia. They are also interested in Udinese's Pereyra and Lazio's Lulic.

Yohan Modric wrote:Juventus like Oscar, however it would be a difficult deal, according to Sky Italia. They are also interested in Udinese's Pereyra and Lazio's Lulic.

BarcaLearning wrote:Why would Garay or anyone these days choose Man U over Man C?   

Yohan Modric wrote:Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers wants to sign M'Vila, according to Maxifoot.