Euro Paper Talk: Spurs open talks for €80m French midfielder

Tottenham are ready to negotiate for a highly-rated Valencia midfielder, while PSG manager Thomas Tuchel expects a key player to stay at Parc Des Princes, according to Monday’s European papers.

 

SPURS INTERESTED IN VALENCIA MIDFIELDER

Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks over a move for Valencia’s Geoffrey Kondogbia this summer, according to France Football.

Kondogbia impressed for Los Che after moving from Inter Milan on loan, a deal which has since been made permanent.

However, Spurs could test the Spanish club’s resolve by lodging a bid for the combative midfielder.

Kondogbia has an €80m release clause in his contract, and Valencia will not be able to stand in his way if a club meets it.

Kondogbia, 25, has also played for Lens, Sevilla and Monaco, and has been capped by France in the past.

LIVERPOOL, MAN UTD TARGET WANTS REAL EXIT

Midfielder Mateo Kovacic is insisting that he will leave Real Madrid this summer, amid interest from Liverpool and Manchester United.

The Croatian moved to the Bernabeu in 2015 and has won three Champions League titles, among the nine trophies he has claimed with Los Blancos.

However, the 24-year-old has told his team-mates and coach Julen Lopetegui that he wants out, according to Diario AS.

But AS claims Madrid ‘remain calm over the situation’ and fully intend to retain his services as they see him as an important player for the future.

A report in Marca last week said the 24-year-old spoke to Lopetegui following his return from the World Cup and insisted he wished to depart the Bernabeu for more first-team opportunities.

It had been claimed that Manchester City were keen on the player, but they pulled out of the running due to Kovacic’s €80million price tag, leaving Liverpool and United as the Premier League frontrunners for the talented playmaker.

At this stage it remains unclear whether Real will grant Kovacic his wish to leave, although if they do decide to strengthen their midfield department then there is every likelihood that he will be on his way.

 

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AND THE REST

Thomas Tuchel expects Edinson Cavani to stay at PSG this summer, despite links with Real Madrid (various)

Fiorentina have reached an agreement to sign Juventus winger Marko Pjaca on loan with an option to buy for €22m (Corriere Dello Sport)

Manchester United have rejected Lyon’s approaches for Victor Lindelof (L’Equipe)

Free agent Milan Badelj will arrive in Rome soon to finalise a move to Lazio, alongside Sevilla’s Joaquin Correa (various)

Torino are in talks with Valencia over a deal to take Simone Zaza back to Italy (Tuttosport)

Real Betis have joined several Premier League clubs in the race for Inter midfielder Joao Mario (Diario De Sevilla)

Sime Vrsaljko has accepted personal terms with Inter, having rejected offers from Napoli, Bayern Munich and an unnamed Premier League club (Tuttomercatoweb)

Bernard’s agent is meeting with AC Milan management figures, with Chelsea also presenting an offer for the free agent (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Gonzalo Higuain will meet with Milan sporting director Leonardo to discuss a potential move to San Siro (Calciomercato)

Arsenal and Fulham target Hector Herrera has confirmed he will only leave Porto if the club want to sell him (A Bola)

Benedikt Howedes is set to leave Schalke for Lokomotiv Moscow (Calciomercato)

Sevilla are interested in Porto’s Cameroonian striker Vincent Aboubakar (A Bola)

Serie A giants Juventus are reportedly set to hand a new contract to Chelsea and Manchester City target Miralem Pjanic (Tuttosport)

Barcelona defender Aleix Vidal will return to former club Sevilla in a deal worth €9.5m (Onda Cero)

A hamstring injury sustained by Tottenham target Andre Gomes in a pre-season game has complicated his departure from Barcelona (Sport)

Sevilla are willing to sanction the exit of Arsenal target Steven N’Zonzi for significantly less than his €40m release clause (Estadio Deportivo)

Bayern Munich head coach Niko Kovac does not think Robert Lewandowski will leave this summer (Sky Germany)

But Lewandowski has not given up on his ‘dream’ of playing for Real Madrid (Marca)

Chelsea would now prefer to sign Mattia Caldara over his Juventus teammate Daniele Rugani (Football Italia)

Milan are reportedly set to offer Antonio Conte a contract worth over €6m-a-year to take over as coach (Football Italia)

Barcelona Coach Ernesto Valverde would want to block the potential planned departure of Thomas Vermaelen this summer (Diario Sport)

Sevilla are prioritising a move for out-of-favour Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko should Steven N’Zonzi complete his anticipated exit (Marca)

West Ham, Wolves, Everton and Bournemouth are all interested in taking Inter’s Joao Mario on loan (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Barcelona Coach Ernesto Valverde was deeply unhappy at the club’s decision to sell midfielder Paulinho (Diario AS)

Arsenal reportedly tell Lazio they want a fee of €8m for the signing of forward Lucas Perez (Corriere di Roma)

Valencia captain Daniel Parejo has no plans to leave the club despite speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona, he has clarified (Marca)

Stephan El Shaarawy insists he is not thinking about leaving Roma, adding he welcomes competition for places (Football Italia)

Roma are reportedly set to tie down Alessandro Florenzi to a new contract (Il Messeggero)

Cagliari have held talks with AC Milan over the possible signing of Gustavo Gomez (Gazzetta dello Sport)