Paper Talk: Conte’s Chelsea plans; triple Man Utd blow

Rob Conlon
Diego Costa: Striker has been linked with Chelsea exit

Diego Costa: Striker has been linked with Chelsea exit

Antonio Conte has already began reshaping Chelsea’s squad, while there is bad news for Manchester United on three fronts, according to today’s papers.

CONTE STARTS TO MAKE HIS MARK AT CHELSEA

Incoming Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has met with members of the Blues squad as the Italian begins to put his plans in place at Stamford Bridge.

Conte will arrive at Chelsea after taking charge of Italy at Euro 2016 and has already been linked with a host of players. But according to The Guardian and The Telegraph, one of the 46-year-old’s first priorities has been resolving Diego Costa’s future.

Both outlets report that the Spain striker, who is understood to be unhappy in England, has been persuaded to snub interest from former club Atletico Madrid, as well as a number of teams in the Chinese Super League, to remain at the London outfit.

Conte has also met with club captain John Terry, but has yet to inform the former England international whether he will be offered a new deal this summer.

Meanwhile, Chelsea have reportedly stepped up their interest in Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan, after the Serie A club’s sporting director, Walter Sabatini, was spotted outside Stamford Bridge on Friday.

Nainggolan is said to be one of Conte’s main targets this summer, while fellow Roma team-mates Kostas Manolas and Miralem Pjanic have also been linked with a move to the Blues.

AND THE REST

– Manchester United players and staff will face a pay cut totaling £14million – which works out a £500,000 a player – if the club fail to qualify for the Champions League (The Times)

– Barcelona will attempt to blow United out of the water by making a £40million bid for Leicester sensation Riyad Mahrez (Don Ballon)

– The Red Devils have been told to stump up the same fee if they want to land Juventus defender Alex Sandro (Calciomercato)

– Mesut Ozil has held talks with Fenerbahce and has told the Turkish club he is willing to join them in the next three years (The Sun)

– Pep Guardiola has told Manchester City to move for Borussia Dortmund hotshot Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Le10 Sport)

– Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce wants to be reunited with West Ham’s Joey O’Brien for a third time and sign the full-back on a free transfer (Daily Mirror)

– Sporting Lisbon complete the permanent signing of on-loan Sunderland defender Sebastian Coates in a £4million deal (Daily Mirror)