Paper Talk: Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd rumours

Mark Holmes

Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United have all been linked with new players, while Steve McClaren’s future is the subject of much speculation.

CONTE WANTS CAVANI AT CHELSEA

Chelsea will attempt to sign Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani if Antonio Conte takes control, but there is little prospect of Paul Pogba following his former Juventus boss to Stamford Bridge, says the Daily Mail.

It has been reported several times that Conte wants Cavani, with French newspaper Le 10 Sport claiming Chelsea are already negotiating with PSG over a deal which would see Diego Costa head in the opposite direction.

The Daily Mail do not agree but do say Chelsea ‘may be planning for life without the Spain international’, who has also been linked with a return to Atletico Madrid.

Conte would like to build his attack around Cavani, rather than Costa, it is claimed, but Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain is listed as a possible alternative.

Securing Pogba is said to remain unlikely, however, due to the club’s almost certain failure to secure a Champions League spot, leaving Roma’s Radja Nainggolan as a more realistic target.

MAN CITY WANT NEW CB PARTNERSHIP

Pep Guardiola wants to sign Everton’s John Stones and Athletic Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte for Manchester City, according to The Sun.

Both players have been linked with City already, but the newspaper says Guardiola has decided he wants both, not one, due to Vincent Kompany’s injury proneness.

City have an initial target of five top-class signings, it is said, and would be willing to spend in excess of £80million on a new centre-half partnership, though both Everton and Bilbao will fight to keep hold of their stars.

Laporte in particular is also likely to be the subject of rival bids, with Barcelona and Real Madrid apparently keen, but City are hoping the Guardiola factor can prove decisive.

AND THE REST

Manchester United are interested in Bayer Leverkusen defender Omer Toprak (Kicker)

Barcelona are preparing a £15million summer bid for Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez (The Sun)

Steve McClaren expects to be axed by Newcastle in the next 24 hours (Daily Star)

Steve McClaren has pleaded with an aide of Mike Ashley, the Newcastle United owner, not to be sacked (The Times)

Crisis talks are taking place at Newcastle United with directors debating whether to sack Steve McClaren and whom they might replace him with, with David Moyes and Rafael Benitez possible candidates (The Guardian)

Steve McClaren is expected to be told on Monday he has been sacked as Newcastle United head coach, with owner Mike Ashley keen to move quickly to secure the services of David Moyes, though Nigel Pearson’s name has also been mentioned (Daily Telegraph)

Remi Garde is likely to be sacked for failing to turn around Aston Villa’s disastrous campaign – but he could beat the Midlands club to the punch by resigning first (Daily Express)