Paper Talk: Prem duo to rival Liverpool for Gotze; Terry to stay

Mario Gotze: Linked with Liverpool

Mario Gotze: Set to return to Dortmund

Liverpool have competition from two Premier League rivals for Bayern Munich star Mario Gotze, while Chelsea could be set to offer John Terry a new deal after all, according to Friday morning’s newspapers.

 

ARSENAL AND CHELSEA ENTER GOTZE RACE

Chelsea and Arsenal are both reportedly ready to rival Liverpool for Bayern Munich playmaker Mario Gotze.

The Reds have been linked with the player ever since Jurgen Klopp took charge at Anfield, with the player doing little to dampen talk he would relish the chance to play for him again.

But The Sun claims Chelsea have been told by incoming Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti they can have the World Cup winner if they stump up £35m.

The Stamford Bridge club acted on the information and it is claimed they have already had discussions with Gotze’s representatives.

Bayern will demand a fee of around £35m for the 23-year-old after spending the same amount on Benfica teenager Renato Sanches.

However, Suddeutsche Zeitung claim the player will be allowed to leave for considerably less this summer – and could leave the Allianz Arena for as little as £16million.

And the German outlet claims Arsene Wenger is weighing up a bid, with Gotze’s reduced exit price of interest to Arsenal.

 

TERRY COULD STAY AT CHELSEA AFTER ALL

John Terry: Out of contract in the summer

Chelsea have cancelled a planned “farewell” tribute to John Terry – sparking rumours the Blues will announce a shock U-turn and give the skipper a new 12-month deal.

Terry had believed there was no chance of a change of heart by the club and that his 18-year stay at Stamford Bridge would end after Sunday’s game with Leicester.

Despite admitting at the start of the week that he still hoped to stay at the club, the defender had been making plans for life after Chelsea.

Organisers of the club’s end of season awards bash at Stamford Bridge tonight had included a section paying tribute to the 35-year-old “captain, leader, legend”.

But Chelsea officials contacted coordinators on Wednesday to tell them to take that planned section out of the running order.

According to The Sun, incoming boss Antonio Conte wants to keep Terry, believing his experience and knowledge of the club would be a major asset as he comes to terms with the Prem and English football.

Terry, courted by teams in China and the Middle East as well as Danish side Midtjylland would have to be willing to take a pay cut from his current £150,000-a-week wages, as well as accepting he is no longer an automatic starter.

But with Guus Hiddink having hinted at the possibility of Terry staying following his decisive meeting with Michael Emenalo and Roman Abramovich’s key aide Marina Granovskaia, the likelihood of a last term at the club appeared to be increasing.

 

AND THE REST

Nathan Redmond: Stoke City to try again for Norwich City winger

Manchester United want to make two big signings this summer, Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, 23, and Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Mario, 23 (Daily Star)

Sam Allardyce will demand a summer war chest of up to £50m in crunch talks with owner Ellis Short next week (The Sun)

Borussia Monchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl says Arsenal are still yet to make an offer for 23-year-old midfielder Granit Xhaka (Kicker)

Everton want Ronald Koeman to replace Roberto Martinez as their new manager (The Sun)

Leicester City look set to miss out on Gianluca Lapadula with the Pescara striker joining Lazio instead. The 26-year-old has scored 24 goals for the Serie B side this season (Gazetta dello Sport)

Nathan Redmond is certain to leave relegated Norwich this summer and the Canaries could receive just £8m (The Sun)

Swansea boss Francesco Guidolin has made keeping £15m midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson his No 1 job (The Sun)

Marseille have put Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham target Michy Batshuayi up for sale (The Sun)

Chelsea academy forward Tammy Abraham, 18, says he wants to stay at Stamford Bridge next season rather than be loaned out elsewhere (Evening Standard)

Everton are targeting Southampton’s Ronald Koeman as their new manager with a £100m transfer kitty as bait (Daily Mirror)

Swansea City manager Francesco Guidolin is keen to sign on-loan QPR midfielder Leroy Fer, 26, on a permanent deal (South Wales Evening Post)

Mesut Ozil is close to a new Arsenal contract which would make him their first ever £200,000-a-week player (Daily Mirror)

Pep Guardiola is gearing up for his first battle with Manchester United – over Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos (Daily Mirror)

Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho wants a pay-rise up to 10 times his current £15,000-a-week wages (Daily Mirror)

Alvaro Morata has put Arsenal and Manchester City on alert with the striker set to leave Juventus (Daily Mirror)

Tottenham will hand Mauricio Pochettino a £60m summer transfer budget after the Argentine signed his bumper new contract (Daily Mail)

Jamie Vardy will defy pain to play at Euro 2016 for England as he finally prepares to undergo surgery for a broken wrist (Daily Mail)

Pep Guardiola has approved a new four-and-a-half year deal for 19-year-old Manchester City attacking midfielder Bersant Cellina (Daily Mail)

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has warned his players to prepare for their most gruelling pre-season ever after revamping the backroom staff (Daily Mirror)

Arsenal want Arsene Wenger to sign a new contract at the start of next season despite a turbulent 2015-16 campaign (The Times)

Massimo Cellino says that he is ready to give Leeds United fans what they want and quit the club (The Times)

Jurgen Klopp has told his Liverpool players to prepare for a pre-season boot camp featuring triple sessions, 7am starts, reduced holidays and summer fitness programmes (The Times)

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley will keep faith with managing director Lee Charnley, despite relegation and transfer failures (Daily Telegraph)

Manchester United will target Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Everton stars in a major squad overhaul this summer (Daily Express)

Manchester United and Chelsea are on red alert with Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic refusing to rule out a departure (Daily Star)

Rafael Benitez is interested in the vacant Everton role but is 50:50 on remaining at Newcastle despite their relegation (The Independent)