The football world’s gossip mill is in full swing, and Transfer Talk is monitoring the whispers ahead of all the summer moves. Check out the latest deals here.
Chelsea change course, eye Sanchez, Lukaku
Chelsea have set their sights on a pair of Premier League stars this summer as their interest in Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata has apparently fallen off, according to the Telegraph.
The paper reports the Stamford Bridge club are lining up a bid for Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku after Antonio Conte met with Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia to hammer out transfer plans for this summer.
Sanchez, who has yet to commit his future to the Emirates club, has interested the Blues as far back as 2011, before he moved from Udinese to Barcelona. He could see Conte Co. join Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Chinese sides in a bidding war for the Chile star, with his desire to stay in London likely to tip the scales in Chelsea’s favour.
Lukaku, meanwhile, has already told Everton he doesn’t want to sign a new deal at the club, which has sparked fear around Goodison Park that he’s set his mind on rejoining the Blues, who “made enquiries about re-signing Lukaku last year, but are optimistic they stand a better chance of landing the Belgian this time around,” according to the paper.
The summer swoop that would cost Chelsea well over £100 million in transfer fees corresponds with the club’s sudden apathy toward Real star Morata, who, the outlet says, had told friends he was anticipating a move to London this summer. Oops.
Wenger’s French connection
Arsene Wenger‘s future has been a hot topic seemingly since the New Year, and the Daily Star is reporting they may know his next destination.
According to the outlet, “Paris Saint-Germain have offered Arsene Wenger an immediate return to the dugout if he opts to quit Arsenal.”
The French giants, the paper says, have let Wenger know the job is his should he step down with the Gunners, offering a one-year contract with an option to extend it another year should the 67-year-old manager want it.
The problem, according to sources, is that ol’ Arsene is having trouble letting go at his longtime club and is hoping for “another opportunity to restore Arsenal to greatness.”
Man United keen on Keane
As they did in spectacular fashion with Paul Pogba last summer, Manchester United aren’t afraid to right a previous wrong in the transfer market. And as in the case of the former Juventus man, they are interested in bringing back another future star who was allowed to leave Old Trafford for far too little.
With Chris Smalling and Phil Jones confirmed to have sustained long-term injuries this week, the Daily Mail are reporting Jose Mourinho Co. are interested in signing former academy product Michael Keane from Burnley.
Of course, the move won’t come cheap as United will be expected to shell out £25 million for the England international just two years after seeing him get away for one-tenth that amount.
Tap-ins
— Inter Milan are considering loaning Gabriel “Gabigol” Barbosa to Atalanta as part of a new partnership between the two Italian clubs, reports Football Italia.
After paying €29.5 million to buy Gabriel from Santos last August, the Brazil international has played only 81 minutes of Serie A football over seven substitute appearances for the club.
— Bayern Munich are set to sign 20-year-old midfielder Julian Brandt from Bayer Leverkusen for €30 million, according to German outlet Bild.
— Former Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole has agreed a new deal at United Soccer League side Tampa Bay Rowdies, sources close to the player have told ESPN FC.
Cole has impressed at Rowdies since joining the club last May as a free agent, scoring nine goals in 24 appearances in the USL and one of 10 players nominated for the Golden Ball award.
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