Euro Paper Talk: Zidane moves to sign €400m Prem trio for Real Madrid

Zinedine Zidane will begin his Real Madrid revolution by sanctioning three huge transfer raids on the Premier League, while Man Utd have prioritised a €40m swoop for an AC Milan full-back, according to Monday’s European papers.

 

ZIDANE WANTS PREM TRIO TO JOIN REAL MADRID

Zinedine Zidane plans to relaunch his bid to reclaim Real Madrid’s crown as European champions with moves for three Premier League stars, according to reports in the Spanish media.

Zidane won three successive Champions League crowns with Real before walking away from the hotseat last summer, but after successors Julian Lopetegui and Santiago Solari both tried, and failed, to reach the heights required, Frenchman Zidane has been tempted back.

Aside from a €15m a year contract, Zidane has also been persuaded back with the promise of a huge €500m transfer warchest – and, according to various reports – he has already apportioned a large chunk of it on three Premier League stars.

According to respected Spanish journalist, Guillem Ballague, Zidane already has a deal in place to bring Eden Hazard to the Bernabeu in a deal set to be worth €125m. Hazard almost joined Real last summer before Zidane’s departure, but his return to the Bernabeu has only sped up the inevitable. With 12 months left on his contract come the summer, Chelsea will have little option but to wave the mercurial Belgian on.

Zidane also plans to splash a further €125m to sign Christian Eriksen from Tottenham – another man with currently just over 15 months left on his current deal.

Eriksen could be brought in as a replacement for Toni Kroos – tipped to join Man City as a replacement for Ilkay Gundogan – though Real could soften the blow of losing stylish Dane Eriksen by allowing Spurs the chance to re-sign Gareth Bale.

Finally, Zidane also wants to bring in a new striker and while Harry Kane would be his first choice, Tottenham’s refusal to allow both Eriksen and their star striker to leave in the same summer will see Real turn their attention back towards Liverpool.

Don Balon reports that while both Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have both been heavily linked, Zidane would prefer to bring in Roberto Firmino and will test the water with Liverpool by offering an initial €150m for the Brazilian forward.

 

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MAN UTD WANT TO SIGN MILAN STAR AS NEW RIGHT-BACK

Manchester United are reportedly willing to spend up to €40m to convince AC Milan to sell them right-back Davide Calabria, this summer, according to reports.

Il Corriere della Sport claims United have sent scouts to make several checks on the the 22-year-old, who has become a regular in their side this season.

The Italian sports daily now claims United are readying a firm approach to Milan for Calabria, with interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deciding that the Italy U21 star is his top target to replace veteran Ecuadorian Antonio Valencia, who will depart Old Trafford this summer.

United rejected the chance to trigger the one-year option on Valencia’s contract, meaning the former Wigan man will be free to find himself a new club at the end of the season.

The club had signed Diogo Dalot last summer as long-term replacement, but it’s now suggested Solskjaer sees the Portuguese’s future in midfield – with Calabria targeted now instead.

The Milan star’s agent confirmed last month he had been watched by United, telling Calciomercato: “Interest from top clubs and Manchester United? ​No real negotiations, no, but the intentions are there and they have been there.

“I’ve never sat down with anyone because of the simple fact that he’s very happy where he is, he’s young and he plays at high levels, it seems to me normal that he could be interesting for important teams: Manchester United has never called me, it has never gone beyond a few chats, it’s difficult to find better than Milan.

“The clubs interested? I prefer not to name them, but I can say they were a couple of English clubs and a couple of Spaniards.”

 

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AND THE REST

Bayern Munich director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is confident that Colombian international James Rodriguez will remain at the club next season, despite talk of interest from Arsenal (Bild)

Barcelona are set to offer club captain Lionel Messi a contract extension this summer to take him beyond his current agreement to 2021, according to club president Josep Bartomeu (Mundo Deportivo)

Christian Panucci has admitted he was never asked by Roma to take charge, but insists Claudio Ranieri is the ‘right’ man to steady the ship (Radio Anch’io Sport)

PSV Eindhoven are reportedly braced for summer bids for winger Steven Bergwijn amid interest from a number of top European clubs (De Telegraaf)

Real Madrid have approached Paris Saint German over the availability of midfielder Giovani Lo Celso (Marca)

 

West Ham are ready to offer AC Milan an immediate profit on Franck Kessie and have told the club – who have the option to make his loan move a permanent €24m deal this summer – they will pay up to €35m for the Ivorian (Tuttosport)

Kylian Mbappe has assured Paris Saint-Germain fans that he will not be leaving this summer, amid talk he could be the subject of a €300m approach from Real Madrid (Telefoot)

Arsenal are ready to battle it out with Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid for Ajax for defender Nicolas Tagliafico (De Telegraaf)

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Juventus are growing increasingly confident they will sign Marcelo from Real Madrid this summer after the Brazilian was benched this weekend (Calciomercato)

 

Wanda Nara has again appeared on live Italian TV to stress than her husband Mauro Icardi only sees a future at Inter Milan (Tiki Taka)

Ajax captain Matthias de Ligt has admitted he would seriously consider a £60m switch to Liverpool this summer (Omnisport)

Atletico Madrid have welcomed back Diego Godin and Koke into their squad ahead of this week’s clash with Juventus but remain without Diego Costa, Lucas Hernandez and Filipe Luis (various)

Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho has reportedly issued a come-and-get-me plea to Manchester United in the hope of landing a summer move to Old Trafford

 

Stefano Pioli has hinted he may not remain in charge of Fiorentina beyond the summer following the 1-1 draw with Lazio (Sky Sport Italia)

Real Betis have reached an agreement with Francis Guerrero to extend his contract to 2022 and raising his exit clause to significantly higher than €25m that exists in his current deal (ABC de Sevilla)

Liverpool are reportedly ready to hand Virgil van Dijk a new contract worth £200,000 a week in order to fend off interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona