As the chase to land Cesc Fabregas has finished, now Manchester United are turning their attention to another midfielder playing for a Spanish giant. Real Madrid’s Luka Modric could be heading back to the Premier League, as the diminutive Croatian international is set to be part of a $37.5 million deal. Last year for Real he was used in a rotation system with several of Madrid’s star central players. The former Tottenham man, 27, is seeking regular games ahead of the 2014 World Cup and Modric would certainly fit the bill. It was his stunning goal at Old Trafford last year that helped knock United out of the Champions League, and David Moyes will be hoping Modric produces more of that if he joins the Red Devils.
Tottenham have beaten off competition from several other Premier League clubs to sign Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue. Spurs have take their summer spending beyond $75 million with the capture of Capoue, who can play as a holding midfielder and in central defense. They certainly need cover in this area after selling Steven Caulker to Cardiff and Tom Huddlestone and others rumored to be on their way. Capoue, 25, is a French international and will fight with Sandro and Paulinho in the midfield destroyer role. Spurs certainly have a whole host of options here now.
With Stewart Downing surplus to requirements at Liverpool, plenty of Premier League sides have been mulling over offers for the England international. Downing, 29, took over 45 games to score his first goal for Liverpool, after enduring a torrid time since joining the Reds from Aston Villa. West Ham are the latest club said to be closing in on Downing, with a fee of $10 million reportedly agreed. Newcastle are also said to be interested. The left footed out-and-out winger can cut inside to devastating effect and has been effective off the bench for England in the past. But with his career petering away in recent years, Downing needs regular soccer.
We mentioned Tom Huddlestone earlier, and speculation has been rife this week that the bruising midfielder will leave White Hart Lane. After Cardiff cooled their interest, Hull City and Sunderland are now thought to be interested in buying the holding midfielder for $7.5 million. Huddlestone, 26, has suffered with injuries but a chance to establish himself as a regular at one of these two teams would be crucial for both him and the club involved.
Meanwhile over at Everton, Roberto Martinez may pop back to Wigan to buy another one of his former stars. Chilean international Jean Beausejour, 29, could be heading to Goodison Park. The former Birmingham winger operated as a left-wing back last season for the Latics and any move for him could spark more speculation about Leighton Baines’ future. Watch this space, if Beausejour arrives then Baines could go. However, Martinez will face a fight to land the Chilean winger, with French side Bordeaux also interested
More: Monday’s Transfer Rumor Roundup, Abdulrahman to Arsenal, Defoe to West Brom
More: Tuesday’s Transfer Rumor Roundup, Kiyotake to Aston Villa, Bent to Newcastle
More: Friday’s Transfer Rumor Roundup, Gustavo to Chelsea, Siqueira to Liverpool
