Paper Talk: Arsenal plan overhaul; Chelsea star for sale

Mark Holmes
Alvaro Morata: Real will activate buy-back

Alvaro Morata: Real will activate buy-back

Arsenal are back in for two of their former targets as they plan a squad overhaul, while Chelsea have apparently put a star up for sale.

ARSENAL BACK IN FOR MORATA AND MANOLAS

Arsenal want to sign Alvaro Morata, Granit Xhaka and Kostas Manolas this summer, according to the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mirror, with Arsene Wenger apparently keen to strengthen his squad in every area.

Arsenal tried to sign Morata from Real Madrid two summers ago but lost out to Juventus, while Wenger also considered a move for Manolas before the Greece centre-back joined Roma from Olympiacos.

Sources in Spain claim Real now want to exercice their £23million buy-back clause for Morata before selling him on for a profit, alerting Wenger, who believes the eight-cap Spain forward would fit into his team perfectly.

Manolas, meanwhile, is wanted by new Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, but Arsenal have the bonus of being able to offer the 24-year-old Champions League football if they decide to rival the Blues for his signature.

Xhaka, who Arsenal are said to have watched over 30 times this season, could cost in excess of £30million, but Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky will all leave Emirates Stadium at the end of their contracts in the summer, while the Telegraph says Wenger is willing to listen to offers for Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs.

CHELSEA PUT HAZARD UP FOR SALE

Chelsea have put Eden Hazard up for sale, claims The Sun, and are willing to accept around £30million less than the £80million price tag they put on the Belgium winger in January.

Hazard was one of the stars said to have contributed to Jose Mourinho’s sacking and has refused to rule out a move away from Stamford Bridge, expressing admiration for both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

It has apparently convinced incoming boss Antonio Conte to move the player on, with two agents with close ties to the Blues since informing Europe’s elite clubs Hazard is available this summer for any price in excess of £50million.

Conte could be tempted by a swap deal involving Real’s James Rodriguez, but the Italy coach has told Chelsea transfer chief Marina Granovskaia a dominant centre-back remains his top priority, though Conte is set to meet with John Terry to determine whether he gets another year’s contract.

AND THE REST

Chelsea’s wantaway striker Diego Costa is prepared to consider a money-spinning move to China if Atletico Madrid cannot afford to take him back to Spain this summer (Daily Telegraph)

Manchester City spies were in Spain on Thursday night to watch Villarreal centre-back Eric Bailly against Sparta Prague in a Europa League quarter-final.

Everton have stuck a staggering £65million price-tag on Romelu Lukaku (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool are interested in signing Valencia midfielder Dani Parejo (Fichajes)

Barcelona are interested in Liverpool youngster Cameron Brannagan (Sport)

Daniel Trickett-Smith has been told to look for another club – four years after a £1m deal took him to Anfield (Daily Mail)

Jose Mourinho has a verbal understanding with Manchester United he will take over from Louis van Gaal at the end of May (The Sun)

Real Madrid will make a desperate attempt to steal Jose Mourinho from Manchester United’s clutches should they be eliminated from the Champions League next Tuesday (Daily Mirror)

Tottenham are to offer Mauricio Pochettino £5.5million-a-year deal to keep him at White Hart Lane (Daily Mail)