Transfer Talk: Bastian Schweinsteiger and Rafa Benitez to the Premier League?

Fewer facts than a Van Gaal dossier

After all the Premier League clubs hit the jackpot yesterday we expected today's transfer rumours to be stuffed with tales of Cristiano Ronaldo to Swansea and Lionel Messi finally making that long-awaited move to Stoke. Sadly, it seems that the rumours that are circling the drain of news today are of the more mundane variety. The sexiest, by quite a distance, is the suggestion in the Express that Batstian Schweinsteiger may leave Bayern. An extract from an upcoming autobiography has been published saying he may leave and that has, of course, put Chelsea and Manchester United 'on alert'. The German, who has been at Bayern since he was 14, has been linked with a move to the Premier League, and especially Manchester United, for years now. At 30, would he be prepared to move to Louis van Gaal's long-ball merchants though? (we joke Manchester United fans, we joke). Aside from Schweini, the juiciest rumour concerns Rafa 'Facts' Benitez. Perhaps inspired by the challenge laid down to him by Van Gaal yesterday, the Italian press reckon Rafa could be on his way back to the Premier League to reclaim his crown as the king of the dossier. Corriere dello Sport, via Football-Italia, say that Benitez' contract with Napoli is up this summer and a whole host of Premier League teams fancy his services. Manchester City, and Newcastle, are both, understandably, mentioned but so too is former club Liverpool, which might be news to Brendan Rodgers. Benitez does maintain a home in Liverpool but we think this must be the Italian press putting two and two together and getting cinque. We have a few more rumoured moves for you, but be advised, these ain't pretty:  

• The Express also say that Manchester United are in for PSG centre half Marquinhos
• The Star reckon Liverpool and Spurs are in a transfer tug of war for Venezuelan striker Salomon Rondon
• The Mirror say that Ronald Koeman is after Feyenoord duo Jordy Clasie and Tonny Vilhena
• The Evening Standard reckon that Mauro Icardi could be on his way from Inter to Chelsea
• While the Dutch press say that PSV Eindhoven's Colombian defender Santiago Arias has issued a 'come and get me plea', which may be more of a 'stick my name in YouTube please' plea

Right, that's your lot, those long-ball dossiers don't write themselves you know.