Chicharito, Herrera out of Gold Cup
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and Hector Herrera will not be part of Tata Martino's Gold Cup squad, according to Fox Deportes.
Chicharito's wife is expecting the couple's first child while Herrera is looking to be in peak physical condition ahead of a move to Atletico Madrid. El Tri manager Tata Martino is open to leaving those players off his list for the regional championship in order to take care of those matters.
Chivas planning summer overhaul
Chivas is planning a total overhaul this summer with relegation becoming a looming threat in 2019-20, according to Record.
Among the targets for the Guadalajara side, which signs only Mexican players, are Cruz Azul goalkeeper Jesus Corona and Leon right back Fernando Navarro. Tigres right back Luis "Chaka" Rodriguez and Pumas fullback also are on the radar.
That is only one portion of what the club hopes to do, though. Leon is ready to negotiate with Chivas to make sure young forward Jose Juan Macias stays with the club long-term, according to MedioTiempo . Chivas have put a price of $15 million on the 19-year-old to join Leon full-time after the loan expires in December.
However, Leon wants to move the process along with negotiations potentially involving Chivas summer target and current Pachuca defender/midfielder Erick Aguirre. Leon midfielder Luis Montes also is on Chivas' wish list, but doesn't want to leave the club where he's been since 2011.
Napoli and Lozano reach agreement
Napoli is offering Hirving Lozano a five-year contract after reaching an agreement to buy the El Tri winger, according to Corriere dello Sport.
Lozano's agent, Mina Riaola, met with Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti and Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis earlier this month, with the club agreeing to pay 40 million euros to PSV.
In the winter, Il Mattino reported Riaola and the Serie A side had an agreement but Napoli wasn't yet willing to meet PSV's $40 million asking price. Gazzetta dello Sport reported Manchester United stepped up its interest and was working with Rialoa, spurring Napoli to attempt to lock things down before another club swoops in to sign him.
The 23- year-old PSV player has stood out since moving abroad from Pachuca and garnered attention from a number of top clubs.
Gonzalez could return to MLS
Toronto FC is working to sign Atlas center back Omar Gonzalez, according to The Athletic .
Before heading to Mexico to join Pachuca, Gonzalez won MLS Cup with the LA Galaxy. TFC sits atop MLS' allocation rankings, so it would be able to bring in the Texan without making a move to get to the top of the heap.
Standard planning to keep Ochoa
Standard Liege is set to activate a clause in goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa's contract to keep the Mexico goalkeeper in Belgium, according to ESPN Mexico .
The player's agent, however, says the club didn't meet the deadline to inform his camp that the clause would be triggered, perhaps opening the door for a summer exit.
The 33-year-old was linked with a move to Napoli last season, but a deal couldn't get done.
Atlas looking at Farinez
Atlas is preparing a move to sign Venezuela national team goalkeeper Wuilker FarÃnez, according to Caracol .
Currently, with Millonarios in Colombia, the 21-year-old shot-stopper is set to play in the Copa America but then would move to Atlas for $3 million.
Ownership changes afoot in Liga MX
TV Azteca's desire to sell one or both the clubs in its portfolio has several bidders interested.
The owner of automotive lubricant company Akron has a bid on the table to purchase Atlas, according to TVC Deportes. Akron's name currently adorns Guadalajara rival Chivas' stadium.
Monarcas de Morelia also have drawn attention with Record reporting current Santos Laguna owner Grupo Orlegi is interested in purchasing Monarcas. However, the intention would be to move the first-division club to Tamaulipas. Currently, Grupo Orlegi operates a second-division side there, which announced this week it will pay a fine that allows it to continue to play in the Ascenso after being relegated after this tournament. The report indicates the group, led by Alejandro Irarragorri, tried previously to buy Lobos BUAP and Veracruz with the idea of bringing first-division football to Tamaulipas.
Earlier this month a report emerged that Veracruz owner Fidel Kuri wants $50 million for the club, according to Medio Tiempo . The Tiburones Rojos are set to be relegated but could pay a 120 million peso (around $6.25 million) fee to keep their spot in the first division.
The Mexican federation and other club owners don't want that to happen if Kuri still owns the club, but he's willing to sell. A group of businessmen from Monterrey are interested in buying but have been put off not only by the asking price but by the debt the club currently has on the books.
Grandes in for Jurado
Veracruz owner Fidel Kuri said this week that two of Mexico's four grandes have inquired about signing young goalkeeper Sebastian Jurado. The owner said Cruz Azul and Pumas have Jurado on the radar with the idea to bring in the rising star to push their veteran goalkeepers.
When asked about tracking the 21-year-old, however, Cruz Azul manager Pedro Caixinha said the club could continue to rely on Jesus Corona, calling the 38-year-old one of the two best goalkeepers in Liga MX.
Pumas set price for Gonzalez
Pumas are willing to sell forward Carlos Gonzalez this summer, according to Record .
The Paraguayan forward has been one of the Mexico City club's top players, but he's set to go the way of Ismael Sosa and Nicolas Castillo as forwards sold by the team. Pumas are set to ask for $10 million for the 26-year-old .
PSV, Ajax to battle for Alvarez
Both Ajax and PSV have spoken with people close Club America and Mexico defender Edson Alvarez, according to De Telegraaf .
PSV is hoping to move quickly, but Ajax could more easily pay Las Aguilas' asking price of €10 million (£9m/$11m).
Able to play center back, defensive midfielder or even right back, the versatile 21-year-old also has been the target of interest from Celtic and Ajax but PSV has a long history of signing Mexican players. The report indicates there also is interest from Serie A with Inter, Atalanta and Fiorentina keeping Alvarez on the radar.
Earlier this year, Eindhoven Dagblad reported PSV was high on the defender but had lost interest in signing Monterrey attacker Rodolfo Pizarro. The report noted, however, that the interest that previously existed for Rodolfo Pizarro has died out since the former Chivas playmaker made his move north to Monterrey .
Herrera heading to Atletico
Hector Herrera has reached an agreement to join Atletico Madrid and is set to sign a five-year deal with the club, according to Marca .
Last month, Portuguese newspaper O Jogo reported Herrera had been convinced of Diego Simeone's vision and was ready to join Los Colchoneros. The Mexico midfielder is set to spurn Inter after the Italian club's long courtship, along with Roma and Milan opting instead to play in La Liga. Herrera's Porto contract expires this summer, allowing him to move on a free.
America may part ways with Menez
Club America is considering parting ways with midfielder Jeremy Menez this offseason, according to Esto .
The Frenchman still has six months remaining on his contract with Las Aguilas but his recovery from an ACL injury was followed up with another injury, and America is considering setting the player loose early to free up an international place.
Bundesliga club interested in Santos defender
Werder Bremen is keeping a close eye on Santos Laguna right back Jose Abella, according to Televisa .
The Bundesliga side is interested in the defender, who could command a transfer fee of 3 million euros, though it's also looking at other options in the Americas .
Cruz Azul considering move for Milan midfielder
Cruz Azul is looking to bring in AC Milan midfielder Jose Mauri in the summer, according to Sport Mediaset .
The 22-year-old has played in only four Serie A matches this season and is set to leave the club on a free after the season concludes.
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