Paper Talk: Serie A star in £40m Toon link; Liverpool watch Italian kid

Liverpool and Chelsea have been tracking a young Cagliari midfielder, while Newcastle could beat Man Utd to one of Serie A’s leading forwards, according to Thursday’s newspapers.

 

LIVERPOOL AND CHELSEA JOIN QUEUE OF CLUBS FOR CAGLIARI STAR

Liverpool and Chelsea are monitoring Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella, according to reports.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp sent his scouts to check on the Italy Under-20 star and will have been impressed as he outshone Fiorentina’s Spain international Borja Valero in Cagliari’s 1-0 defeat in Florence on Sunday.

Sardinian newspaper La Nuova believe Barella, 20, is being tracked by several clubs, with the Reds joining Chelsea, Roma, Juventus, AC Milan and Inter in keeping tabs on a player, who is contracted to 2021.

However, in Tommaso Giulini, they’ll face a man who is determined to keep the player, with the Cagliari president telling Barella’s agent that he won’t be allowed to leave this summer.

That’s unlikely to deter the bigger clubs, however, and it remains to be seen if any will follow through and make a bid for the young midfielder.

 

NEWCASTLE TO RIVAL MAN UTD FOR BELGIUM STAR

Mertens to shun Reds?

Newcastle could join the hunt for Napoli star Dries Mertens if they secure promotion this summer.

Belgian news outlet Het Nieuwsblad, via the Daily Star claims the Magpies will rival the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal for the in-form Belgium, who looks likely to leave Napoli this summer after a brilliant campaign.

West Ham and Crystal Palace are suggested as other suitors for the player, who has scored 24 times this season to make him the third top scorer in Serie A this season.

The 29-year-old Belgium international is out of contract in 2018 and looks unlikely to sign a new deal – which could force Napoli to sell to the highest bidder.

Italian newspaper Il Mattino claimed recently that a £40million move to United is being considered after Mertens held a two-hour meeting with Red Devils representatives.

 

AND THE REST

Chelsea are ready to sell Diego Costa this summer as they target a sensational double swoop for Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata (The Sun)

Chelsea are considering a shock £100m swoop on Everton for both Lukaku and Ross Barkley (Daily Mirror)

 

[of_poll name=’Where will Romelu Lukaku be playing his football next season?’ id=’1450781′]

 

Lukaku has strongly hinted that what he sees as a lack of ambition from Everton in terms of signings prompted him to announce he is rejecting the new contract he was widely expected to sign (Daily Mirror)

Luis Muriel: Colombian set for Inter

West Ham have been alerted to in-form Sampdoria striker Luis Muriel, who has scored 10 goals and contributed nine assists in 28 games for the Italians this season (Daily Mirror)

Ben Woodburn will be named in the Wales squad on Thursday for the World Cup Qualifier against the Republic of Ireland (The Sun)

Joe Hart has hinted at a possible Torino stay after admitting he’s loving life in Italy (The Sun)

Manchester United have entered the race alongside Chelsea and a host of other top clubs for Celtic striker Moussa Dembele (The Sun)

United have “deprioritised” Antoine Griezmann as a target, having previously been their primary close-season objective, due to the difficulty of doing a deal (The Independent)

Serge Gnabry (l): Hit hat-trick on Germany debut

Barcelona and Manchester City are interested in signing Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich this summer (The Sun)

Chelsea once had a £56m offer for Franck Ribery rejected by Bayern Munich, Bundesliga club chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed (The Sun)

Holland defender Bruno Martins Indi, 25, wants to stay at Stoke and talks have begun over making his loan move from Porto permanent in the summer (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea have revived their interest in Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, 30. Blues number two Asmir Begovic, 29, is expected to join Bournemouth in the summer for £10m (Daily Mail)

Real Madrid are looking to bring in Porto star Felipe Monteiro in the summer to replace cult hero Pepe (The Sun)

Honduran teenager Wesly Decas has been offered a week-long trial with Liverpool (The Sun)

Liverpool will face stiff competition from Bayern Munich for £20m-rated Bayer Leverkusen winger Julian Brandt

Crystal Palace keeper Steve Mandanda has taken to Facebook to deny he is in talks to return to Marseille, the French club he left to join the Eagles last summer (Daily Mirror)

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has admitted he would like to avoid Leicester City in Friday’s Champions League quarter-final draw (Daily Mirror)

Barcelona have ‘signed’ 11-year-old wonderkid Manu from Brazil side Gremio – but could face legal action from the Brazil side (Daily Mirror)

Antonio Conte wants guarantees of more control over transfers before agreeing to sign a new contract (The Times)

Marcus Rashford is set to be named in the England senior squad (The Times)

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka will be sacked if his side fail to perform against Manchester United this weekend (Daily Star)

Nemanja Matic: Reportedly scouted by Barcelona

Chelsea want to renew Nemanja Matic’s contract – but Barcelona are reportedly ready to step up their chase for the midfield ace (Daily Star)

Manchester United are in the hunt for Portuguese wonderkid Pedro Neto – but Barcelona are reportedly leading the race for his signature (Daily Star)

Jaap Stam has threatened to quit as Reading boss due to uncertainty surrounding a takeover bid for the club (Daily Star)

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has made Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly one of his main summer transfer target (Daily Express)

Barcelona want to bring Thiago back to the Nou Camp from Bayern Munich in the summer (Daily Express)

Liverpool have checked on Red Bull Leipzig striker Timo Werner (Daily Mail)

Arsenal are interested in signing Stuttgart’s rising midfield talent Berkay Ozcan but may have to compete with some of Europe’s biggest clubs for his signature, according to the player’s agent

Barcelona are targeting a move for 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund sensation Ousmane Dembele this summer (Daily Mail)

Norwich City are showing interest in making Celtic’s chief talent spotter David Moss their new director of football (Daily Record)