Paper Talk: Barcelona want Arsenal defender; City eye Ajax star

Riechedly Bazoer: Linked with City switch

Riechedly Bazoer: Linked with City switch

Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin could be targeted by former club Barcelona, Pep Guardiola has Ajax midfielder Riechedly Bazoer on his list of targets for Manchester City, while Everton are tracking Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall, according to Saturday’s papers.

BARCELONA TARGET BELLERIN SWOOP

Hector Bellerin: Impressive for Arsenal this season

Barcelona are interested in re-signing Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin, with a number of their players telling the club he’d be the ideal signing.

The 20-year-old right-back began his career at Barca before joining the Gunners in 2011.

The Spanish giants romped past Arsenal with a 2-0 win at the Emirates earlier this week, thanks to two goals from Lionel Messi.

But one man has caught the eye of the visiting team.

Spanish newspaper Sport claim Barca duo Andreas Iniesta and Gerard Pique asked the player about his situation after the game in north London.

Bellerin used to play for the Catalan club and the two players are keen on him coming back.

Barcelona have history when it comes to poaching Arsenal’s top talent.

The Nou Camp club have pinched Cesc Fabregas, Thierry Henry, Alex Song, Thomas Vermaelen and Alexander Hleb in the past 10 years; before that they also signed Marc Overmars and Emmanuel Petit.

And with right-back Dani Alves, 32, nearing the end of his time at the club, an opening for Bellerin could emerge in Luis Enrique’s XI.

PEP TARGETS BAZOER SIGNING FOR CITY

Incoming Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has added Ajax midfielder Riechedly Bazoer to his list of transfer targets.

The Bayern Munich boss, who will replace Manuel Pellegrini at the Etihad Stadium this summer, has asked his new employers to hijack Chelsea’s bid for the talented 19-year-old, reports the Daily Mail.

The Blues spoke to Bazoer’s brother Irchandley, who acts as his agent, at the club’s Cobham training ground last week regarding a £24million move to Stamford Bridge.

Bazoer has caught the eye of some of Europe’s biggest clubs with his commanding performances in central midfield this season.

Guardiola is a fan of the teenager, who has scored four goals in 25 appearances for Ajax this season and earned comparisons with legendary Holland midfielder Frank Rijkaard.

The incoming City boss is keen to strengthen his squad significantly this summer, with Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba and Roma ace Radja Nainggolan on his wishlist.

Ajax have already rejected a bid from Serie A side Napoli for Bazoer.

EVERTON PLOT £10M MARSHALL MOVE

David Marshall, Cardiff

Everton are keeping tabs on Cardiff City’s £10m-rated goalkeeper David Marshall despite reports that Tim Howard’s potential move to MLS side Colorado Rapids has hit a stumbling block.

The Toffees are therefore on the lookout for a new No 1 and have been linked with Stoke’s Jack Butland and Chelsea No 2 Asmir Begovic.

But Everton have been long-time admirers of former Norwich City and Celtic keeper Marshall.

But Cardiff are in a strong bargaining position as Marshall is under contract until the summer of 2018 having signed a four-and-a-half year deal in February 2014.

West Bromwich Albion tried to sign Marshall last summer but couldn’t agree a fee.

Marshall cost Cardiff just £500,000 from Norwich in May 2009.

AND THE REST

Arsenal are among the clubs reported to be lining up a £20m offer for Watford forward Odion Ighalo this summer. Ighalo’s 15-goal haul has also caught the eye of Chelsea and Atletico Madrid (The Sun)

Meanwhile, the Gunners have announced that they have £159.4m in the bank – a figure which won’t be lost on fans who criticise boss Arsene Wenger for not splashing the cash in the transfer market (The Sun)

Billionaire Farhad Moshiri could be ready to launch a £200m buyout of Everton (The Sun)

Claudio Ranieri wants Riyad Mahrez to show the world he is good enough to play for Barcelona or Real Madrid (The Sun)

Everton will announce they have been sold in a £200m takeover in the next few days. But sources on Merseyside would not confirm the buyer and would only insist it is not the American consortium linked with the club at the end of last year. It is believed the new owners are a mystery group from the Middle East (Daily Mail)

Manchester City have fuelled hopes Kevin De Bruyne could be in line for a return to action ahead of schedule, with a post on their Instagram account (Daily Mail)

Italy boss Antonio Conte hopes to receive confirmation that he will be Chelsea’s next permanent manager before the Italians take on Spain in a friendly on 24 March (Daily Telegraph)

Liverpool have made a £19m bid for Barcelona No 2 goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, according to reports in Spain (Daily Express)

Steven Gerrard says this could be his final year as a professional footballer and that he is preparing for a possible future in coaching (Daily Telegraph)

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has branded the criticism he receives and constant speculation about his job status “an absolute scandal” (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United sensation Marcus Rashford rejected Liverpool to join the Old Trafford club (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United and Manchester City have had bids rejected for 25-year-old Juventus left-back Alex Sandro. The Italian club value the defender at £35m.

Hull will make a fresh bid in the summer to keep on-loan Arsenal midfielder Isaac Hayden (Daily Mirror)

Ryan Mason says Tottenham’s heroics have won the support of neutrals everywhere this season (Daily Mirror)

Manuel Pellegrini is prepared to gamble on Manchester City’s Capital One Cup final hopes and risk the wrath of fans by playing second-choice keeper Willy Caballero against Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday (Daily Express)

Manchester United want to sign Werder Bremen striker Johannes Eggestein. The 17-year-old has scored 69 goals in 71 games for the club’s under-17 and under-19 sides (Daily Star)

Newcastle midfielder Rolando Aarons, 20, is a transfer target for Arsenal, AC Milan and Juventus (Tuttomercatoweb)

Chelsea forward Alexandre Pato is still not fit enough to play, a month after joining the club on loan from Corinthians (The Sun)

Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge, 26, is the best English striker – when he is fit – according to former Reds defender Jamie Carragher (Daily Mail)

West Ham are confident midfielders Cheikhou Kouyate, 26, and Manuel Lanzini, 23, will sign new deals in March (London Evening Standard)