There are reports in England that Arsenal star Lucas Torreira is ‘happy’ at Arsenal and not pushing to move to AC Milan.
Reports in Italy are widespread that Torreira wants to link back up with new Milan boss Marco Giampaolo, whom he worked with at Sampdoria.
But The Telegraph have debunked the reports, describing talk of the Uruguayan trying to engineer a transfer as ‘wildly exaggerated’.
They also branded his apparent dislike of Enlgish weather ‘nonsense’, while assuring he is learning the language.
That aside, the publication accepts the 23-year-old is a ‘priority’ signing for the Rossoneri, report Football Italia.
Torreira joined Arsenal from Samp last summer in a €30m deal and played 50 times in 2018-19, becoming a fans’ favourite and reaching the Europa League Final.
Reports in Spain claim Barcelona goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen has passed a medical at Valencia ahead of his move to the Mestalla.
The Dutch international has a contract at the Camp Nou running through until June 2021 and containing a €60m release clause, while it is believed he wants more first-team football, according to Marca.
It follows on from reports in El Mundo Deportivo and RAC1 have claimed there had been a total agreement between the clubs for a swap deal which would see Los Che shot-stopper Neto move the other way.
It is said by the reports that both goalkeepers are valued at €30m – Cillessen is set to earn the same wage at the Mestalla while, as reported by Football Espana, Neto is set to double or triple his current salary.
The shot-stopper has featured in just 32 games in three seasons at the Camp Nou – of which 24 were in the Copa, with just five in La Liga and three in the Champions League.
The 29-year-old joined Barca from Ajax in 2016 but has struggled to dislodge Marc-Andre Ter Stegen from the number one spot.
Valencia and Benfica have both been heavily linked with a summer move for the shot-stopper and now Los Che are said to be favourites to land his signature.
Neto, 29, moved to the Mestalla from Juventus at the start of the 2017-18 season and the Brazilian international has established himself as first choice at the club under Coach Marcelino.
Reports in Spain claim that former Barcelona defender Dani Alves has offered himself back to the club once he leaves Paris Saint-Germain this summer, say reports.
Alves, who is currently away on international duty with Brazil, will formally leave the Parisian club on June 30 when his contract in Paris expires.
Diario Sport lead their coverage on Monday with a report taken from Catalan radio station RAC1 that the full-back has informed the Blaugrana of his intentions.
The Catalan giants may be looking to strengthen in that position this summer as they only have one natural right-back in their squad: Nelson Semedo, report Football Espana.
However, the Portuguese defender himself has been linked with a move away this summer as he is not a regular in the side ahead of Sergi Roberto – a natural midfielder – in the position.
Alves, 36, played 391 games (netting 21 goals and providing 103 assists) with Barça between 2008 and 2016, after he joined the club from Sevilla.
Premier League club Newcastle have confirmed Rafael Benitez will leave the when his contract expires on June 30.
The 59-year-old had been in talks with club bosses over a new deal for months but they have failed to reach an agreement.
Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley was tasked by owner Mike Ashley to lead negotiations with Benitez, who also turned down a new deal last summer, reports Sky Sports.
The announcement of the Spaniard’s departure is contained in a statement on Monday, which read: “It is with disappointment that we announce manager Rafael Benitez will leave Newcastle United upon the expiry of his contract on 30th June 2019.
“We have worked hard to extend Rafa’s contract over a significant period of time, however it has not been – and will not be – possible to reach an agreement with Rafa and his representatives.
“Rafa’s coaching staff, Paco de Miguel Moreno, Antonio Gomez Perez and Mikel Antia, will also leave the club on 30th June.
“We would like to thank Rafa and his coaching team for their efforts over the last three years and their significant contribution to what has been collectively achieved.
“We would also like to thank our supporters, players and staff for their patience during a period of uncertainty. The process to appoint a successor will now begin.”
Chelsea youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi has given Chelsea boost after completing training drills during his comeback from injury.
The teenager ruptured his Achilles during April’s 2-2 draw against Burnley but looks set to be available for the start of the season on August 11, when they travel to Manchester United.
Recovery is going well, I hope to be soon be back on the pitch, let’s go!!🙏🏾⚽️❤️ pic.twitter.com/SCKbOOzWKu
After making 24 appearances and scoring five goals under Maurizio Sarri last season, Hudson-Odoi will be hoping to continue his progress over the next campaign, report the Daily Mail.
On the post, Hudson-Odoi wrote: ‘Recovery is going well, I hope to be soon be back on the pitch, let’s go!!’
The departure of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid this summer is set to grant Hudson-Odoi plenty more opportunities in the coming season.
A new, long-term contract is also on the horizon to ward off long-held interest from Bayern Munich in signing the youngster.
He will also be looking to build on the two senior international caps he earned in March to cap a meteoric rise to the top.
Rio Ferdinand has claimed Chelsea “need” Frank Lampard and has urged his former teammate to take the job at his old club.
Lampard has been touted as the likely successor to Maurizio Sarri, after the Italian swapped life at Stamford Bridge to take over the reins at Juventus .
The Derby boss has been linked with the role after steering the Rams to the play-off final in his first season as a manager.
Ferdinand has thrown his support behind the ex-England midfielder, and thinks it’s the right move for both parties, reports the Mirror.
Speaking on former Blue’s legend Didier Drogba’s Instagram post, Ferdinand said: “Frank, take the job man. Take it. Chelsea need you.”
Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has confirmed that his former team-mate Frank Lampard is in discussions with Chelsea to become their new manager.
Lampard has been heavily linked with a return to Chelsea but his current club Derby say that no talks have taken place, as reported by Sky Sports.
Chelsea are on the lookout for a new boss after the departure of Maurizio Sarri to Juventus.
During an Instagram live video, a fan asked Drogba who he thinks would be the best Chelsea manager, reports the Daily Mail.
Drogba replied: ‘The one who is in talks now to get the job – Frank Lampard.’
Asked further about the possible appointment, the former Ivory Coast striker said: ‘Relax! Relax!’
Lampard would be a hugely popular choice among the Chelsea supporters, with the former midfielder having enjoyed a trophy-laden spell at Stamford Bridge that saw him score 209 goals in 640 appearances.
Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo came from the bench to hand Nigeria the much-needed goal to deliver the country from ignonimous draw againt debutant Burundi.
A lovely back-heel from Ola Aina was all Ighalo needed to beat the stubborn Burundi.
80’ | Nigeria score a world class goal. Ighalo with the finish but what an assist by @Aina2Ola!
The Super Eagles of Nigeria kicked off their nations cup quest on the right footings edging a resilient Saido Berahino-led Burundi side 1-0 in Alexandria.
Burundi who are ranked the lowest African side in the latest fifa ranking amongst the 24 participating teams in Egypt defied their underdog status to really give Gernot Rohr’s side a fight for their own.
Burundi were denied by the bar in the 37th minute when Cedric Nsabiyumva’s header off a Shassir Nahimana freekick on the left came against the woodwork. Nsabiyumva picked up the rebound but his volley went wide off target.
The East Africans almost had a point to show for their debutant performance no thanks to late substitute Odion Ighalo’s 77 minute close range finish after a neat back heeled assist from the impressive Torino right-back Ola Aina, much to the delight of the Super Eagles.
Samuel Chukwueze was the most exciting player off the left wing as his pace and trickery on the ball often proved to be too much to bear for the Burundian defenders.
It was an entertaining contest indeed in Alexandria, and a much valuable 3 points opener for the West Africans, who had been absent in the past 2 editions of Afcon.
Chile head coach Reinaldo Rueda has revealed the reason why Alexis Sanchez has struggled at Manchester United, stating that he does not have a close relationship with his teammates .
The former Arsenal forward has flopped spectacularly since he swapped The Emirates for Old Trafford 18 months ago, with neither Jose Mourinho or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer able to illicit an improvement in his performances.
Sanchez commands a salary of nearly £500,000-a-week, which has proved a complicating factor in United’s attempts to get the likes of David de Gea and Marcus Rashford to commit to new contracts, report the Metro.
The 30-year-old managed just two goals in all competitions for United last season and struggled to maintain fitness, suffering a serious hamstring injury in December before succumbing to an ankle infection against Huddersfield in the penultimate match of the campaign.
Sanchez, however, has returned to goalscoring form in Brazil at the Copa America, surrounded by the players with whom he has won the last two editions of the tournament.
‘It’s not easy to explain, but Alexis has come here and shown a lot of commitment and perhaps in Manchester he does not have the emotional bond he has with his team mates here, that affection,’ Rueda told a news conference.
‘He’s had bad fortune because Manchester United have had problems for a while, so he does not have the structure he has here. He has also had injuries, he’s lacked consistency, he has lacked continuity.
‘We have done brilliant work with him, we have given him a lot of warmth, which is what he needs. He has a special connection with the team and the group is very fond of him.
‘He can recover because he is a natural born goalscorer but he has been anxious after the injuries, he looks after himself well and luckily has been able to rediscover his form.’
