Manchester City prepare £36m bid for Copa America star

There are reports Premier League champions Manchester City have launched a £36m bid for Brazilian star Everton Soares.

The 23-year-old Brazilian winger has scored twice so far at the Copa America and could use the South American championship as a springboard for a move to Europe.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Nicolo Schira, City have “offered €40M + bonuses to Gremio for Everton.”

Current Man City stars Fernandinho, Gabriel Jesus and Ederson Moraes will all be surely getting in Everton’s ear about joining them at the Etihad!

Angry Chelsea fans blast club for selling promising starlet

Chelsea fans are furious with the club for selling Jay Dasilva to Championship side Bristol City for just £2million.

The 21-year-old joined Chelsea from boyhood club Luton at the age of 13 and won three FA Youth Cups with their famed academy.

The left-back, 21, won the Uefa Youth League twice and three FA Youth Cups and supporters had high expectations.

But, like many others, a chance of playing in the first team seemed some way off and now he has joined the Robins having never made a senior appearance for the Blues.

Replying to the confirmation, one fan blasted: “Does this club realise we have a ban? We sticking with Alonso over actual talent. Shambles.”

And another added: “Once again getting rid of amazing talent, typical Chelsea”.

While a stark warning came as a supporter tweeted: “Somethings never change 3 things certain in life 1) death 2) taxes 3) Chelsea letting quality players go You will regret this”.

The Chelsea Academy product played 32 games on loan at City last season and joined up with England U21s for their failed bid at the Euros.

Fear of Chelsea’s move for Alvaro Morata grips Atletico Madrid

There are reports in Spain that Atletico Madrid are concerned that Chelsea will activate an option to cancel their loan arrangement for Alvaro Morata.

The striker is on an 18-month loan deal at Los Rojiblancos that will expire at the end of the forthcoming season, when it is expected Atleti will sign him outright.

The player is keen to remain in the Spanish capital and ‘will not countenance’ a return to Stamford Bridge, but, Diario AS reveal, that there is a clause in the agreement which could disrupt Diego Simeone’s side.

Chelsea have an option of ending the loan this summer, to which Atleti would be powerless, but the Spanish club would then have to pay €55m outright to sign the player permanently.

Such a bid, according to Football Espana, would trigger his purchase and contractually the West London club would be obliged to sell, but Atleti do not have the resources to carry out such an exercise whilst also strengthening their squad.

It is a summer of mass change at Los Rojiblancos and they wish to keep Morata a loan player this season before a permanent deal next summer, and are hopeful that Chelsea do not execute their option.

At last! Manchester United, Inter Milan agree on Romelu Lukaku switch

Reports in Italy claim Manchester United have eventually agreed to hand Romelo Lukaku to Inter Milan for a €10m two-year loan with €60m obligation to buy.

According to transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, the first genuine proposal is being prepared after days of talks behind the scenes and it could lead to a positive conclusion.

Football Italia report that the Nerazzurri have made it clear they want Lukaku for new Coach Antonio Conte, but Manchester United reportedly rejected Mauro Icardi as part of an exchange.

Inter cannot afford €70m upfront, but if they can convince Manchester United to spread the cost out over three years, with €10m for a two-season loan and obligation to buy for €60m, that could be the breakthrough.

REVEALED: How Cristiano Ronaldo prevented three of Real Madrid’s top targets from going to Bernabeu

There are reports that Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo have practically prevented three of Real Madrid’s top targets from joining his former Spanish club.

Zinedine Zidane is rebuilding the Los Blancos to regain their lost grip on the European football scene after the team’s dismal campaign both in the Champions League and La Liga last season.

He has therefore successfully signed Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo Goes.

The French gaffer is however not done yet as he is angling for Paul Pogba whose club Manchester United are playing hardball with the Spanish giants.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid have another problem in their hand as, according to Diario Gol, Cristiano Ronaldo is trying to ensure that Real Madrid do not strengthen significantly in the transfer window after his participation in the Paul Pogba and Matthijs de Ligt negotiations have seen them tilt towards Juventus over Real Madrid.

Madrid are especially interested in Paul Pogba, who coach Zinedine Zidane has informed Florentino Perez is his priority signing in the summer.

However, Ronaldo’s involvement in negotiations has seen Pogba move closer to a return to Juventus than to a ‘dream’ move to Real Madrid – per his own words.

Similarly, it was reported that Matthijs de Ligt was of transfer interest to Real Madrid as a potential long-term Sergio Ramos replacement, only for the Portugese superstar to tell him to join Juventus after the UEFA Nations League finals.

Another player who has been reportedly influenced by Ronaldo is Joao Felix. The Juventus star apparently ensured that his young Portuguese teammate chooses Atletico Madrid over Real Madrid despite Los Blancos offering a greater transfer fee for the player.

Maurizio Sarri reveals huge number of cigarettes he smokes per day, explains why he was chewing cigarette at Chelsea

Former Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has revealed the number of cigarettes he smokes everyday, saying “It’s 60 a day, probably a few too many.”

The new Juventus coach could not smoke on the touchline during his one-season stint at Chelsea.

Sarri is currently on vacation in Ascoli-Piceno, where he sat down for a conversation with local site La Nuova Riviera.

He discussed his love for the area and why he’s considering a second home there after renting for several years, even if he might be put off by a new rule banning smoking on the beach.

“I smoke 60 a day, which is probably a few too many,” confessed Sarri as cited by Football Italia.

He was often spotted chewing cigarette filters on the touchline during his Chelsea career.

“I don’t particularly feel the need to smoke during games, but straight afterwards it really is necessary. I had back problems tormenting me for weeks, but I feel much better now.”

Sarri also explained that his dog, given the classically-Neapolitan name Ciro, was adopted three years ago after he kept hanging around the Napoli training ground.

“He came to Castel Volturno every day and became the team mascot.”

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the tactician had hired a dog sitter for Ciro in London and only accepted a private jet to Turin for the Juventus paperwork because he could bring his canine friend along.

Egypt star dumped out of Africa Cup of Nations for sending inappropriate sexual messages

Reports from on-going Africa Cup of Nation indicate that Egypt have removed striker Amr Warda from their squad after he was accused of sexual harassment by a number of women.

According to the Daily Mail, the Egyptian-British model Merhan Keller alleged that Warda, 25, had sent her inappropriate and aggressive messages.

Keller then followed up her claims by sharing testimonies from a number of other women who’d contacted her saying they too received unwanted messages from the footballer.

Screenshots of messages and videos allegedly sent by Warda to women on Instagram were shared on Twitter, with his alleged misbehaviour becoming the top trending subject in Egypt.

Some messages showed how Warda became aggressive when women rejected his advances.

Calls for the Egyptian Football Association to take action grew and president Hany Abo Rida confirmed on Wednesday that Warda had been removed from the squad for their home tournament.

Egypt will play the remainder of the tournament with just 22 players.

FA president Rida said the decision had been made after consultations with the team’s technical and administrative staff and was ‘in keeping with the team’s discipline, commitment and focus’.

Warda, who plays for Greek club Atromitos on loan from PAOK, had previously been accused of harassing a fashion model on Instagram and a complaint against him had been filed at Egypt’s Attorney General.

The decision to exclude the 25-year-old forward, who played for Egypt at the World Cup in Russia last year, came hours before they were to meet the Democratic Republic of Congo in Cairo in their second Africa Cup of Nations fixture.

Photo Credit: AS

Italy football legend Gigi Buffon returns to Juventus after brief stint at PSG

There are reports in Italy that Gianluigi Buffon is in advanced negotiations for a return to Juventus on a one-year contract, with a future as a director.

The shot-stopper is already 41 years old and will be 42 in January 2020, but left the Bianconeri at the end of his contract in July 2018.

Although Paris Saint-Germain offered him an extension on the one-year deal, he decided against another stay in Ligue 1, report Football Italia.

According to Sky Sport Italia transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio, Buffon is in regular and advanced talks for a stunning return to Juventus.

He is expected to accept the role of second choice goalkeeper to Wojciech Szczesny, as Mattia Perin is moving away to seek more regular playing time.

This arrangement would allow Buffon to make a smooth transition into the role of director or part of Maurizio Sarri’s coaching staff in 2020.

He had been linked with a number of potential clubs this summer, including Parma, Brescia, Atalanta, FC Porto and even Leeds United.

Photo Credit: Twitter/psg.fr

REVEALED: How Frank Lampard almost lost Chelsea job to coaching legend

Reports in England claim Frank Lampard beat off a late bid from Portuguese coaching legend Vitor Pereira to land the Chelsea job.

According to The Sun, Pereira, now at Shanghai SIPG, emerged as the only serious rival to Lampard when Chelsea whittled their shortlist down to two.

Lampard overcame the last remaining competition because of his connections to the club as one of their legendary figures.

Former Porto and Fenerbahce chief Pereira, 50, has won titles in Portugal, Greece and China during a varied coaching career.

Yet he only played football at amateur level and quit aged 28.

He was sounded out by Chelsea, but ultimately he could not compete with Lampard’s history and association with the club.

Former England midfielder Lamps, 41, won the Champions League, three Premier League titles and the FA Cup four times during 13 glorious years at the Bridge, also notching a club-record 147 goals.

Britain’s richest man wants to buy Manchester United

Reports in England claim that Britain’s richest man Jim Ratcliffe has enquired about taking over Manchester United but was put off by the asking price.

Ratcliffe, whose worth is £21.05 billion, is chemical engineer turned petrochemicals tycoon and the CEO of London-based chemicals company Ineos.

He allegedly, according to Utdreport, approached the Glazers and expressed his interest in buying the club, but did not see any value in the deal offered by the American family who are currently in charge at Old Trafford.

The 66-year-old previously said back in May of this year: “I’m a tortured Manchester United fan. We [Ineos] have dipped our toe in the water with football,” when quizzed over the possibility of purchasing a football club.

At the time, Ratcliffe was linked with a bid to take over Chelsea from Russian owner Roman Abramovich, a rumour Ratcliffe refused to rule out.

Sir Ratcliffe, who is also a Chelsea season-ticket-holder despite growing up a United supporter, bought FC Lausanne-Sport of Switzerland in November 2017, and is clearly interested in dipping his toes in the football market, report the Mirror.

The Glazers purchased United for £790m in 2005 but have not always been popular with followers of the club, who recently started a new #GlazersOut movement on social media.

Supporters also wore green and gold scarves to games in the past, which represented the colours of Newton Heath, the club United formed from in 1902.

They are unhappy with the Glazers saddling the club with debt, and with recent poor performances on the pitch to add to the mounting financial issues, the owners are now more unpopular than ever.