Paper Talk: Chelsea target duo; Coutinho to replace Modric?
Real Madrid are reportedly chasing a Liverpool star to replace Bayern Munich-bound Luka Modric, while it’s a three-way race to sign Luke Shaw, according to Monday’s papers.
REAL TARGET LIVERPOOL STAR TO REPLACE MODRIC
Philippe Coutinho is reportedly a target for Real Madrid as they make plans for Luka Modric’s shock departure to Bayern Munich.
The Brazil star has been a target for Real’s La Liga rivals Barcelona for some time but it now appears that the Bernabeu outfit are also in for the Reds playmaker.
According to a report in the Daily Express, 31-year-old Modric has had his head turned by Bayern and Real are prepared to let the Croatian genius leave for as little as £30m.
That would leave a creative spot open in their midfield and Real are said to want Coutinho to fill that hole.
The Spanish giants are also looking at Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti and Monaco’s Bernardo Silva but Coutinho is thought to be their number one target.
THREE-WAY BATTLE FOR MAN UTD STAR SHAW
The race is very much on for Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw, it would seem.
Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham are all reportedly ready to battle it for the out-of-favour full-back, who is still trying to win over United boss Jose Mourinho after the pair fell out.
The Sun claims that United’s trio of top-four rivals all want Shaw and while a switch to Liverpool or City makes perfect sense, given that both clubs are on the look-out for a new left-back, Spurs’ supposed interest is odd.
They already have one of the best left-backs in the country in Danny Rose, while his deputy, Ben Davies, signed a new deal with the club recently. So unless Rose his on his way out of White Hart Lane this summer, expect the battle for Shaw to come down to a straight fight between City and Liverpool – if indeed Mourinho does want to cash in on the player.
AND THE REST
Manchester City have the upper hand over Manchester United in the race to sign Monaco left-back Benjamin Mendy (Daily Star)
Antonio Conte has demanded a Chelsea spending spree this summer, with Virgil van Dijk and Romelu Lukaku his top targets (Daily Mirror)
Real Madrid are reportedly ready to offer James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata in exchange for Juventus striker Paulo Dybala (The Sun)
Newcastle will move for £10m-rated Fulham star Tom Cairney once they seal promotion back to the Premier League (Daily Mirror)
Wolves are ready to trigger a £1.5million deal for Derby forward Andreas Weimann (Daily Mirror)
West Ham are keeping tabs on Fleetwood star Alex Cairns as Slaven Bilic looks to boost his goalkeeping options (Daily Mail)
Anthony Martial’s strike against Burnley means Manchester United must pay Monaco £8.3m. It was his 25th goal for United since arriving from Monaco in 2015 in a deal worth an initial £36m (Daily Express)
Liverpool, Southampton and Bournemouth all watched £6m-rated Henry Onyekuru score his 17th goal of the season for Eupen in the Belgian League (Daily Mail)
Ronald Koeman believes that Everton have the resources to keep Romelu Lukaku, despite interest from Manchester United and Chelsea and the striker’s dreams of playing Champions League football (Daily Mail)
Man United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he ‘will come back stronger’ and ‘giving up is not an option’ after suffering knee ligament damage against Anderlecht (Daily Star)
Rafa Benitez has snubbed the idea of a city-wide celebration if Newcastle win promotion back to the Premier League (Daily Mirror)