Paper Talk: Chelsea set for triple swoop; Everton eye Juve star

Joao Mario: Linked with Chelsea

Joao Mario: Linked with Chelsea

Chelsea are being linked with a swoop for two Euro 2016 stars and a former Man Utd target, while Everton are eyeing a £25.5m bid for a Juventus defender, according to Tuesday’s newspapers.

 

CHELSEA POISED TO SWOOP FOR BIG-MONEY TRIO

Chelsea are being linked with moves for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Mario and Lazio winger Felipe Anderson – while they’re also tipped to finally launch an official bid for N’Golo Kante.

Mario has just returned to Lisbon following Portugal’s success at Euro 2016, and the midfielder is wanted by new Blues boss Antonio Conte this summer. Portuguese paper A Bola report the midfielder will be sold by Sporting – but only if a club matches their €60million valuation (£50.8million). However, reports elsewhere on Tuesday suggest the Blues are only willing to spend €40million for the player – which is just short of £34million.

It’s a similar story with Lazio winger Anderson – a player who was very much on Manchester United’s radar under the tenure of Louis van Gaal.

Reports in the Italian press claim the Brazilian, 23, has recently changed agents to Giuliano Bertolucci, who himself has close ties to Kia Joorabchian. Both Bertolucci and Joorabchian have what is described as “strong ties” at Stamford Bridge – and are currently talking with the Blues about a £30million swoop.

Meanwhile, both the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph claim the Blues will launch an official bid for N’Golo Kante – and are prepared to go higher than the France star’s £20million release clause to beat a host of their rivals to the player.

That comes after Chinese club Shanghai SIPG launched a £35m bid for the player, and while the Telegraph claim the midfielder has ruled out a move to China, Chelsea will now have to negotiate a fee with Premier League champions after activating his clause. It is not anticipated they will have to go as high as £35million, however.

The 25-year-old has turned down a new £100,000-a-week contract at Leicester and Chelsea are hopeful they can now reach an agreement for the man widely regarded as the player of last season.

 

EVERTON TARGET RUGANI SWOOP

Daniele Rugani: Linked with a move to Everton

Everton have made an offer of £25.5m for Juventus defender Daniele Rugani, according to reports in Italy.

Italian outlet Calcio Mercato say that the offer for the centre-back includes bonuses.

However, the same report states that Juve want to keep hold of the 21-year-old.

Everton boss Ronald Koeman is keen to strengthen his defence, especially with John Stones’ constantly being linked with a move away from Goodison Park to Manchester City.

After a loan spell with the Old Lady in 2012-13, Rugani joined them permanently last year.He made 17 Serie A appearances last season, with the likes of Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini ahead of him in the pecking order.Calico Mercato claim that Juventus have told Rugani that he will get more first team football next season should he stay. 

PAPER TALK ITALIA: Arsenal are ready to offer €60m plus Giroud for Higuain

AND THE REST

Mario Gotze: Opted to stay at Bayern Munich

The FA will speak to Hull City boss Steve Bruce about the England manager’s job this week (Daily Telegraph)

Sam Allardyce has quit Sunderland’s Austria training camp to fly home for England talks (The Sun)

Allardyce is ready to mentor a successor if he is appointed England manager (The Guardian)

Manchester City are hoping for a breakthrough this week in their efforts to sign Leroy Sane (Daily Telegraph)

Celtic are weighing up a third bid for Aston Villa winger Scott Sinclair (Daily Telegraph)

Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho faces a fresh legal battle over his doping verdict (Daily Telegraph)

Midfielders Juan Mata, 28, and Bastian Schweinsteiger, 31, and defenders Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind (both 26) have all been deemed surplus to requirements by new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho (Daily Record)

Villarreal have joined Everton in the race to sign United midfielder Mata (Daily Express)

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is targetting Atletico Madrid star Lucas Hernandez (The Sun)

Veteran former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger could make a shock move to Liverpool 

Roberto Di Matteo is ready to axe the deadwood from his bloated squad, with Brad Guzan, Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, Leo Bacuna and Gabby Agbonlahor all facing uncertain futures (The Sun)

Colombian forward Marlos Moreno, 19, will sign for Manchester City on a five-year deal, but will then spend next season on loan in La Liga at Deportivo La Coruna (Daily Mirror)

Crystal Palace transfer target Christian Benteke, 25, is not on the brink of leaving Liverpool, according to the striker’s agent (London Evening Standard)

David Beckham has written a message to Marcus Rashford on the back of a Manchester United shirt (The Sun)

Inter Milan have put a £43m price tag on 23-year-old forward Mauro Icardi, who is a target for Tottenham (AS)

Pep Guardiola left Carlo Ancelotti a good luck message in the Bayern Munich manager’s office (Daily Mirror)

West Ham chairman David Sullivan fears the transfer market has “gone barmy” and is spiralling out of control (Daily Mirror)

Martin Skrtel is due to arrive in Istanbul on Tuesday to complete his £5.5m move to Fenerbahce (Daily Mirror)

Leicester full-back Danny Simpson is a shock £4m target for Sunderland (Daily Mirror)

Graziano Pelle’s move from Southampton to Chinese side Shandong Luneng has made the 30-year-old striker the sixth-best paid player in the world on £260,000 a week (The Sun)

Manchester United are stepping up their efforts to sign West Ham wonderkid Reece Oxford (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea have sent coach Andy Myers on loan to Dutch link-club Vitesse Arnhem (Daily Mirror)

West Ham have told their Euro 2016 sensation Dimitri Payet he is going nowhere this summer, even if he tells them he wants out (Daily Mail)

Manchester City are lining up a bid for either of Barcelona’s two goalkeepers Marc-Andre ter Stegen or Claudio Bravo (Daily Mail)

Wolves are leading the race to sign former Manchester United youngster Nick Powell (Daily Mail)

Tottenham have not made an approach for Mario Gotze, contrary to reports in Germany (Daily Mail)

Liverpool are out of the race to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Mario Gotze, leaving Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund to compete for the 24-year-old (Liverpool Echo)

Aston Villa are interested in Bristol City striker Jonathan Kodjia, 26, who scored 20 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions last season (Birmingham Mail)

Burnley have suffered a double blow after failing with bids for Derby midfielder Jeff Hendrick, 24, and Brighton midfielder Dale Stephens, 26 (Daily Mirror)