Euro Paper Talk: Bargain fee likely as Bale agrees return
Gareth Bale has agreed to return to the Premier League this summer with a bargain fee set to be agreed, while Barcelona expect to land a €35m Liverpool and Man Utd target, according to Thursday’s European papers.
BALE AGREES TOTTENHAM RETURN
Gareth Bale has snubbed a move to Manchester United this summer and informed Real Madrid he wants to return to Tottenham, claim reports in Spain.
Bale is ready to return to the Premier League after five highly-successful years and hopes to mark what looks like being his last appearance for the club with a fourth Champions League winners’ medal.
Bale had been expected to sign for Manchester United, for whom executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had long targeted, but it now seems the player has been swayed by his former side, according to Don Balon.
However, there still appears some work to be done before a fee can be agreed.
Real are looking at recouping as much as €80million (£69.9m) for the Wales star, though Spurs thought to have offered nearer the €50million (£43.7m) mark.
However, the Spanish outlet acknowledges that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy remains a hard man to deal with and is likely to get his way, given Real’s determination to offload and Bale having seemingly made his choice.
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LIVERPOOL TO TEMPT BUFFON AS REAL AGREE ALISSON SWOOP
Gianluigi Buffon has announced that he will leave Juventus after 17 years at the club – but has confirmed he will continue playing.
The 40-year-old confirmed on Thursday morning that his highly-successful spell in Turin would end after this weekend’s clash with Verona.
The Italy legend has 656 appearances for the Bianconeri and recently lifted his ninth Scudetto with the club.
And the Italian media has wasted little time in linking the player with Liverpool, with Sport Mediaset claiming Jurgen Klopp has already met with his agents to offer him a one-year deal at Liverpool worth an estimated £100,000 a week.
It’s claimed Klopp wants Buffon to move to Anfield and help the club push for the 2018/19 title – and help further nurture Loris Karius, before the German becomes their undisputed No 1 thereafter.
The links to Buffon come about after it emerged that Real Madrid had taken a giant leap forward in pursuit of top goalkeeper target Alisson Becker.
Alisson has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield, but the fee remains a sticking point. Mundo Deportivo claim Roma have now told suitors that the Brazilian can leave for a €100m fee – and that Real Madrid were the only club willing to meet their asking price – leaving Liverpool to look elsewhere.
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AND THE REST
Barcelona are confident of securing the signature of Clement Langlet after agreeing to meet the €35m exit fee for the Liverpool and Man Utd target (Mundo Deportivo)
Borussia Dortmund have ruled out a summer swoop for veteran Juventus star Stephan Lichtsteiner (Kicker)
Jorginho’s agent says the Napoli star will sign for Man City this summer if a fee can be agreed (Gazzetta dello Sport)
Lyon right-back Kenny Tete has emerged as a summer target for Roma (Calciomercato)
Luis Figo has warned Inter Milan against selling Mauro Icardi this summer. The €110m Argentine has been linked with Liverpool and Man Utd (Sky Italia)
Juventus have rejected a bid in excess of €40m from Paris Saint-Germain for defender Mattia Caldara (Calciomercato)
Napoli and Roma target Mario Balotelli insists he has yet to make a decision on his future but admits he will “certainly be sad” if he leaves Nice (Nice YouTube channel)
Juanfran has added to the chorus of views that Atletico Madrid’s Europa League victory over Marseille will convince Antoine Griezmann to stay (BeIn Sports)
PSG have emerged as late rivals to Manchester United to sign £40million Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred (L’Equipe)
Fiorentina have made an approach for Inter Milan full-back Davide Santon (La Repubblica)
Valencia are on the trail of Lyon’s 21-year-old defender Mouctar Diakhaby (Le 10 Sport)
On-loan Sevilla defender Miguel Layun says he would like to make his current deal permanent this summer (Deportes Cope Sevilla)
Manchester United are considering a summer move for Atletico Madrid right-back Sime Vrsaljko
Arsenal exile Lucas Perez, who has been on loan with Deportivo La Coruna for the past year, is interested in a move to Lazio this summer, claims his agent (Lazio fans site)
Villarreal president Fernando Roig has admitted it looks like being a summer of change at the Estadio de la Ceramica with the club ready to spend some serious cash (Marca)
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