JOE’s 5-Word Transfers: Laporte, Vermaelen, Higuain, Cech, De Gea

Manchester City to open la porte for Aymeric?

After losing the waning services of Vincent Kompany to injury (and realising that Eliaquim Mangala is the only alternative), City are after defensive recruits... Goal suggest that French youngster Aymeric Laporte tops their list and that the Etihad club have been snooping around him for some time. The 20-year-old has a £30m buyout clause, but City are confident that they can prise him away from Athletic Bilbao for a paltry £25m. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXqN7EieWVs

Everton to add to health migrant problem?

Whilst Nigel Farage warns us that there's a flood of 'health migrants' entering the country, Everton are only adding to the non-issue... They are supposedly 'weighing up' a move for perma-crock Thomas Vermaelen from Barcelona, for whom he has played zero games. No fee is mentioned by the Metro, but you get the sense that Barca would ambulance him all the way to Goodison at the merest hint of interest.

Arsenal and United want to kermit to Gonzo...

Those radioheads at TalkSport report that Manchester United and Arsenal are both extremely keen on Gonzalo Higuain... Napoli look set to miss out on Champions League qualification this year and both English clubs eager to take advantage of that fact. The bad news is that the Serie A side are in no mood to release their striking talent, who has remained prolific despite a poor season for the club.

Bonus crumbs of transfer goodness...

*Spanish television channel La Sexta claim that Manchester United's David de Gea has agreed to join Real Madrid. (Mirror) *Liverpool are hoping that they can secure Chelsea's Petr Cech in a loan deal for next season, and pay £7m for the privilege. (The Sun) *Udinese and Deportivo La Coruna are after Tottenham's highly rated 20-year-old midfielder Grant Ward. (Talksport) *Manchester United are hoping that Burnley striker Danny Ings will plump for them instead of Liverpool this summer. (Telegraph)