Paper Talk: Barca want £60m Arsenal ace; Chelsea eye Dann

Aaron Ramsey: Pleased to make semi finals

Aaron Ramsey: Pleased to make semi finals

Barcelona are confident of signing Aaron Ramsey from Arsenal this summer, Chelsea want Scott Dann, while Newcastle will move again for Alexandre Lacazette and also want Mame Biram Diouf, according to Sunday’s newspapers.

BARCELONA MAKE RAMSEY ‘TOP SUMMER PRIORITY’

Barcelona are confident of taking Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey to the Nou Camp and have made signing the 25-year-old Welsh midfielder one of their top summer priorities – with a fee of up to £60million being reported.

The European champions, who also hope to beat Real Madrid to Everton defender John Stones, updated their expanding dossier on the talented Gunner during Wednesday night’s exciting 3-3 draw at Liverpool, according to an ‘exclusive’ in the Sunday Express on Sunday morning.

Now they believe Ramsey will join his Wales team-mate Gareth Bale in La Liga next season.

Barcelona attempted to land the former Cardiff attacking midfielder last summer only for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger to reject their overtures.

But the Express claims sources close to Ramsey say the Gunners won’t deny the player the opportunity of joining the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar at Barcelona next season.

Ramsey admitted last year that he was flattered by reports that Barcelona were scouting him but nothing will be finalised until after next summer’s European Championships in France allowing him to focus on Wales.

Barcelona know they will have to part with a fee in the region of between £50million and £60million but they are fully committed to that in the belief that Ramsey will slot in effortlessly into their side and can be a long-term replacement for Andres Iniesta.

Barcelona are amongst the clutch of clubs who also want Stones but while there are plenty of negotiations ahead for that to happen the Ramsey deal is moving ever closer.

CHELSEA DESPERATE FOR DANN TO REPLACE TERRY

Scott Dann: Celebrates Palace's goal at Goodison Park

Chelsea are looking at Crystal Palace’s Scott Dann, 27, as a replacement for club captain John Terry, 35.

The west London club have watched the Crystal Palace defender in almost every match this season, according to the Sunday Mirror.

Dann, who only last year signed a five-year deal with the Eagles, could expect to double his money should Roman Abramovich give the green light to any move at the end of the current campaign.

The 27-year-old can play on either side at centre-half but made his name in the Premier League at Birmingham City six years ago on the left of a defensive pairing.

Dann, who was on Everton’s radar six months ago in case the Toffees chose to accept the money on the the table for John Stones, agreed a fresh £60,000-a-week deal with Palace.

He could expect to double that at Stamford Bridge but is reluctant to leave because he enjoys a good working relationship with boss Alan Pardew.

 

NEWCASTLE TO MAKE £25M LACAZETTE MOVE – AND ALSO WANT DIOUF

Alexandre Lacazette: Rejected move to Tyneside

Newcastle have made a £25million offer for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette, according to the Sunday People.

The Magpies are testing the resolve of the cash-strapped French club to hang onto their prized asset and lodged a huge bid for the forward.

Head coach Steve McClaren is in desperate need of additional firepower that will drag the Tynesiders clear of relegation danger.

And the Magpies have tried to gazump a host of suitors by going in hard and fast for the in-demand Lacazette.

Lyon are likely to accept the bid, but it remains to be seen whether the 24-year-old – who has his sights set on leaving in the summer for a club offering him Champions League football – could be enticed by a move to the north-east.

He has also been on record to say that he rejected a move to Newcastle this month, and also insisted earlier this week that he was intent on staying at Lyon until the summer.

But money often talks, and Newcastle’s power-brokers will be hoping that they can persuade the forward to quit France now.

Owner Mike Ashley has sanctioned a sizeable spend in the past 12 months, including this month’s signings of Henri Saivet and Jonjo Shelvey for a combined £17m, knowing full well that the prices for top-quality players will sky-rocket once the cash from the Premier League’s new £5 billion television deal is available to clubs.

If Lacazette cannot be convinced to join the heavy French foreign legion at St James’ Park, it’s claimed Newcastle will turn their attention to Stoke’s Senegalese frontman Mame Biram Diouf.

Diouf has not featured much this season, having to be content with a role from the bench.

 

AND THE REST

Real Madrid director general Jose Angel Sanchez claims a number of Premier League teams could face transfer bans similar to the one his club were given this week (Sunday Telegraph)

Real Madrid still want to buy Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, 25, in the summer despite their transfer ban (The Independent on Sunday)

Real want United to sign midfielder Toni Kroos, 26, to help them fund a bid for Paris St-Germain striker Edinson Cavani, 28 (A Bola)

Chelsea are looking at Leicester playmaker Riyad Mahrez, 24 (Daily Star Sunday) 

Manchester United are plotting a £21.4m swoop for Paris St-Germain’s Adrien Rabiot, who has been a long-term Arsenal target (Daily Star Sunday)

Yaya Toure is the new target for the cash-rich Chinese Super League. Reports in China claim Jiangsu Suning are ready to pay the Man City midfielder an incredible £230,000-a-week after tax (Daily Star Sunday)

Former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, 74, would be willing to help Ryan Giggs if Louis van Gaal loses his job (Sunday People)

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes he will succeed Louis van Gaal, 64, as United manager within six months, and has sounded out some of his former assistants about joining him at Old Trafford (The Sun on Sunday)

Jose Mourinho, 52, turned down the chance of returning to Real Madrid in order to resume his Premier League career, most likely with Manchester United (The Sunday Times)

West Brom are demanding £7m for winger Callum McManaman, 24, after QPR and Middlesbrough became the latest clubs to register an interest (Sunday Telegraph)

Barcelona sent a scout to watch Everton defender John Stones at Stamford Bridge on Saturday as they step up their bid to sign the 21-year-old (Mail on Sunday)

Former Arsenal and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole is considering an offer from MLS side LA Galaxy after the 35-year-old was bought out of his Roma contract (LA Times)

Sunderland are set to increase their offer for Swansea City’s Andre Ayew to £14m after having an initial £11m bid for the 26-year-old striker turned down (Sunday Express)

Swansea are prepared to sack head coach Alan Curtis after the club slipped into Premier League relegation zone fewer than two weeks after appointing Curtis as full-time successor to the recently-sacked Garry Monk (The Sun on Sunday)

A potential return to Bologna in Serie A for Southampton midfielder Gaston Ramirez, 25, has hit a snag over the length of contract on offer (La Gazetta dello Sport)

Norwich manager Alex Neil says his club are interested in signing 27-year-old defender Timm Klose from Wolfsburg (Eastern Daily Press)

Newcastle are looking to bring Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis, 30, to St James Park (Mail on Sunday)