Rumour Mill: Chelsea in midfielder bid; Man Utd starlet’s deal
Chelsea have launched a big-money bid for a Euro 2016 winner, while Manchester United have rewarded one of their most highly-rated prospects with a new deal, according to Thursday’s rumours.
ARSENAL
– Antoine Griezmann and Robert Lewandowski top of Arsene Wenger’s wishlist – with Alexandre Lacazette as a third option (The Sun)
– Arsenal have now been told that Riyad Mahrez is not for sale at any price (The Guardian)
– Arsenal’s Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil, 27, would relish a return to his previous club Real Madrid
– Arsenal are moving towards a breakthrough in negotiations to sign Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia (Times)
BOURNEMOUTH
– Crystal Palace have joined Middlesbrough, Bournemouth, West Brom and Norwich in the race to sign Daniel Opare. The right-back will be allowed to leave Augsburg on a free (The Sun)
BURNLEY
– Burnley are planning to make a move for Newcastle United defender Paul Dummett (Daily Mail)
CHELSEA
– Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has identified Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Blaise Matuidi as a possible transfer target this summer and is readying a £43 million offer for the French star (The Sun)
– The Blues have made a €45million bid for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Mario, who is also wanted by Inter Milan (Jornal de Noticias)
– Lamine Kone is a target for Chelsea, though they face competition for his signature from Everton (Daily Mail)
– Chelsea attacker Pedro Rodríguez reportedly wants to leave the club, not too long after joining from Barcelona (Sport)
– Ajax have agreed a deal to sign Chelsea starlet Bertrand Traore on a season-long loan deal (De Telegraaf)
– Eintracht Frankfurt have held discussions with Chelsea over the possible loan of defender Matt Miazga (Daily Mail)
CRYSTAL PALACE
– Crystal Palace have joined Middlesbrough, Bournemouth, West Brom and Norwich in the race to sign Daniel Opare. The right-back will be allowed to leave Augsburg on a free (The Sun)
– Crystal Palace have become favourites to sign Ashley Young this summer (Daily Star)
– Yannick Bolasie will complete his £25m switch from Crystal Palace to Everton in the next 24 hours. The 27-year-old Congolese winger will earn around £90k a week at Goodison Park (Daily Mirror)
EVERTON
– Everton transfer target Axel Witsel is ready to see out the rest of his contract at Zenit St Petersburg (Liverpool Echo)
– Juan Mata is expected to try to leave Manchester United, which has led to Ronald Koeman exploring the possibility of bringing him to Goodison Park (Liverpool Echo)
– Everton target Lamine Kone has told new Sunderland manager David Moyes: ‘Back me or sell me’ (Daily Star)
– Yannick Bolasie will complete his £25m switch from Crystal Palace to Everton in the next 24 hours. The 27-year-old Congolese winger will earn around £90k a week at Goodison Park (Daily Mirror)
HULL CITY
– Hull City are launching a transfer bid for Reading right-back Chris Gunter as the club look to secure a first summer signing, but face competition from Derby County (Daily Mail)
LEICESTER CITY
– Claudio Ranieri is lining up a deal worth near £19m for Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes, but he faces competition from Liverpool (MediaSet)
– Arsenal have now been told that Riyad Mahrez is not for sale at any price (The Guardian)
– Atletico Madrid have made a €20m (£17.2m) offer for Santos and Brazil striker Gabriel Barbosa, 19, who is reported to be a target for Leicester (Mundo Deportivo)
LIVERPOOL
– Liverpool could snap up German wonderkid Mahmoud Dahoud for a bargain price – as long as they are prepared to wait until next summer. The Reds reportedly bid £26m for the player last month (Bild)
– Claudio Ranieri is lining up a deal worth near £19m for Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes, but he faces competition from Liverpool (MediaSet)
– Former Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate has retired from football and has joined Liverpool as a scout
– Jurgen Klopp has blocked Lucas Leiva’s move from Liverpool to Galatasaray at the last minute (Daily Mirror)
MANCHESTER CITY
– French stars Eliaquim Mangala and Samir Nasri are facing an uncertain future as Manchester City have decided to put them on the transfer list (SportWitness)
– Manchester City are expected to send French forward David Faupala on loan to NAC Breda this season (L’Equipe)
– Manchester City’s 21-year-old Belgium defender Jason Denayer could move to Galatasaray permanently, after spending last season on loan at the Turkish club (Manchester Evening News)
MANCHESTER UNITED
– Timothy Fosu-Mensah has signed a new long-term deal at Old Trafford as Jose Mourinho hopes to continue to blood the youngster (Daily Mail)
– Manchester United striker James Wilson will join the Championship outfit Fulham on loan this summer (Football league Paper)
– Manchester United have agreed their fifth and sixth signings of the summer by luring two academy players in the form of Tahith Chong and Joshua Bohui
– Crystal Palace have become favourites to sign Ashley Young this summer (Daily Star)
– Juan Mata is expected to try to leave Manchester United, which has led to Ronald Koeman exploring the possibility of bringing him to Goodison Park (Liverpool Echo)
– Manchester United will allow Adnan Januzaj, 21, to join Sunderland on loan, but will not consider selling the Belgium forward (Various)
– However, Januzaj, who has played 66 times for United’s first team, would prefer a move abroad (Independent)
MIDDLESBROUGH
– Crystal Palace have joined Middlesbrough, Bournemouth, West Brom and Norwich in the race to sign Daniel Opare. The right-back will be allowed to leave Augsburg on a free (The Sun)
– West Brom centre-back James Chester is being hunted by Aston Villa and Middlesbrough
SOUTHAMPTON
– Saints have had a bid of £6.8m turned down by Dinamo Zagreb for midfielder Marko Rog (Daily Star)
STOKE CITY
– Stoke City can afford the £6m transfer fee for Robin van Persie, but cannot afford his £160k per week wages (Fanatik)
SUNDERLAND
– Everton target Lamine Kone has told new Sunderland manager David Moyes: ‘Back me or sell me’ (Daily Star)
– Leeds United could be set to walk away from a deal to bring Liam Bridcutt to Elland Road as the midfielder’s wages remain an obstacle (Yorkshire Evening Post)
– Manchester United will allow Adnan Januzaj, 21, to join Sunderland on loan, but will not consider selling the Belgium forward (Various)
TOTTENHAM
– Tottenham’s move for Marseille and France winger Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, 21, could be on the brink of collapse, because of disagreements over the structure of the £11m payment (Guardian)
WATFORD
– New Watford head coach Walter Mazzarri wants to sign up to three new players before the transfer window shuts (Watford Observer)
– Fulham are being linked with a move for Watford defender Juan Carlos Paredes (Bolavip)
WEST BROM
– Crystal Palace have joined Middlesbrough, Bournemouth, West Brom and Norwich in the race to sign Daniel Opare. The right-back will be allowed to leave Augsburg on a free (The Sun)
– West Brom centre-back James Chester is being hunted by Aston Villa and Middlesbrough
WEST HAM
– West Ham are reportedly targeting Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne with the attacker looking to leave the Italian club (Il Mattino)
– Slaven Bilic has ruled West Ham of the running for French striker Alexandre Lacazette but has stated the club will clinch the signing of Argentine forward Jonathan Calleri