Reports in Italy claim Manchester City are working to tempting Napoli into parting with Kalidou Koulibaly if they match the €120m asking price.
The Senegal international centre-back has long been a transfer target for several clubs, including Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Juventus.
According to Tuttosport newspaper, Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis would be prepared to let him go for €120m.
Manchester City Coach Pep Guardiola is so eager to have Koulibaly in his side that he will ask the club to break the bank.
There would also be interest from Juve where he’d reunite with former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri, but that seems highly unlikely for a number of reasons.
Football Italia, however, disclose that the Bianconeri are instead stepping up their focus on Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt, with reports last night and this morning that a deal is ready for €70m.
Fresh reports indicate that Chelsea expect to finalise the appointment of Frank Lampard as their new manager next week.
The Stamford Bridge club’s legend is favourite to take over from Maurizio Sarri, who has been unveiled by Juventus on Thursday as their new manager.
ESPN FC claim that Chelsea are prepared to pay the £4 million needed to release Lampard from his contract with Derby, but the Championship club’s desire to secure a replacement before sanctioning his departure has slowed the process.
Lampard is expected to sign a three-year contract and be accompanied by former Chelsea academy coach Jody Morris and long-time fitness coach Chris Jones.
Derby had wanted to keep Lampard after a positive first season in which he led a vibrant young team to the Championship playoff final, and are reported to have offered him a contract extension.
Lampard will work closely with former Chelsea teammate Petr Cech, announced as the club’s new technical and performance adviser on Friday.
Cech will provide advice on all football and performance matters, work to improve the pathway from the academy to the first-team squad and travel with the senior side home and away.
Barcelona have reportedly rubbished reports that they signed pre-contract agreement with PSG star Adrien Rabiot.
The Catalan giants are said to have previously signed a pre-contract form with the midfielder which would mean the player is owed money by Barca even if they do not exercise their option to sign him.
Reports claim that the agreement between the two parties comes into effect when Rabiot’s contract expires on 1st July.
But, according to SPORT, Barça are insisting there is no such pact with the Frenchman.
This alleged deal was included during talks between Rabiot and Barça last summer.
Rabiot is out of contract at the Parisian club this summer and would not command a transfer fee, but his reported wage demands alongside agent fees (the player’s representative is his mother) are said to be excessive.
The 24-year-old has not featured for the first-team in over five months with the club refusing to play him until his situation is resolved, with the player seemingly intent on an exit.
Meanwhile, reports in Italy say he has agreed personal terms with Juventus despite efforts by two Premier League clubs Manchester United and Arsenal to sign the midfielder.
Reports in England state that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told Manchester United bosses he wants to sell Paul Pogba as Real Madrid and Juventus intensify efforts to sign the Old Trafford club’s midfielder.
The former Old Lady’s star has been heavily linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu and Turin club. He recently admitted that he was looking for a ‘new challenge’ .
According to the Metro, Solskjaer want to offload the Frenchman so he can reinvest the funds in improving his squad.
United have maintained that Pogba is not for sale and it would take an enormous offer to change that stance, but the Daily Star claim Solskjaer is ready to sanction a move.
The Red Devils have only given Solskjaer a summer transfer kitty of £100million to spend after failing to qualify for the Champions League, meaning they have just £27m left once Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s move is finalised.
But Solskjaer knows his rebuild will cost far more than that, with a centre-back, defensive midfielder and playmaker all on his agenda, and is ready to sacrifice Pogba to bolster the funds available to him.
United will demand in excess of £140m for Pogba, all of which will be given to Solskjaer to continue his summer rebuild, while they also hope to raise funds from the sales of players like Romelu Lukaku and Matteo Darmian.
Solskjaer’s modest budget has seen United pull out of the running for the likes of Jadon Sancho and Kalidou Koulibaly, while they fear being blow out of the water by rivals City in the race for Harry Maguire.
Reports in Spain claim Atletico Madrid have pulled out of a move to sign Chelsea wing-back Marcos Alonso due to his €40m valuation.
The 28-year-old is, according to Cadena Cope, have been lined up by Los Rojiblancos to replace the outgoing Filipe Luis, who is out of contract at Atleti this summer, in the backline.
Alonso is viewed as a set-piece specialist and offers a goal threat but it is questionable if the West London club will sanction his exit in light of their FIFA-imposed transfer ban.
Football Espana cite previous reports that claimed he has been in talks with Atleti over the past two months but his lack of game-time in the Europa League final victory over Arsenal is said to have hastened his decision to seek a move elsewhere.
The Spain international has fallen behind Emerson Palmieri in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge and is now said to want a return to Spanish football.
However, the exit of Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri – with whom Alonso did not have a strong relationship – to Juventus appears to have calmed his desire to leave.
Alonso came through Real Madrid’s La Fabrica youth system but did not make the grade in the first-team and has since represented several clubs, joining Chelsea from Fiorentina in 2016.
Chelsea legend Petr Cech has been appointed as the Stamford Bridge club’s Technical and Technical and Performance Advisor.
The former Czech Republic international spent 11 years as a player at Chelsea, making 494 appearances for Chelsea and won 13 major honours, and winning every domestic and European club honour.
He left to join Arsenal in 2015, but retired at the end of the season.
Chelsea state on their official website that Cech will be “providing advice on all football and performance matters throughout the club as well as embed and facilitate strong links between the club’s men’s and academy teams, ensuring that the various support departments are working together effectively.
“His role will also align him with the men’s first team coaching and backroom staff, travelling with the team home and away with an emphasis on strategy and performance.”
He is expected to work closely work closely with Chelsea Director Marina Granovskaia.
Cech said: “I feel very privileged to have this opportunity to join Chelsea FC again and help create the best possible high level performance environment to continue the success the club has had over the past 15 years .
“I’m looking forward to the new challenge and hope I can use all of my football knowledge and experience to help the team achieve even more success in the future.”
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said:”We are delighted to welcome Petr back home to Chelsea.
“During his playing career here he was one of the most dedicated, successful and thoughtful professionals we have ever had.
“We always hoped that when Petr was ready to retire we would see him back at Chelsea FC and we are thrilled to add his expertise and knowledge of the game to the technical staff.”
Jorginho’s agent is waiting for transfer offer for his client from Juventus after reports in Italy indicated the Turin club’s interest in the Chelsea midfielder.
He was quoted as saying that he would: “wait a few days to figure out whether there is any truth” in Juventus interest.
The midfielder followed Sarri from Napoli to Chelsea and could do the same now that the tactician has signed on for Juve.
Joao Santos told Tuttomercatoweb as cited by Football Italia: “Sarri already showed at Napoli and Chelsea that he is a top level Coach.
“At a club like Juve, who have been so well-organised for years, he can only improve and continue to win. I’ve been tracking Sarri for five years and his style of football is very entertaining. Juventus will change, because before they would win without being convincing. Now they’ll convince too.”
The representative was asked if Jorginho will also be following Sarri to Turin this summer.
“Chelsea have a four-year contract with the lad. We’ll wait a few days to figure out whether there is any truth in this interest mentioned in the papers.
“His past at Napoli won’t be an issue, because Jorginho is a professional. Right now, Jorginho is happy at Chelsea. He found a great atmosphere and we can’t really say that he’d like to go elsewhere, but anything can happen on the transfer market. We’ll wait and see…”
Reports in Italy claim Paris Saint-Germain star Adrien Rabiot has agreed a five-year contract with Juventus worth €7m plus bonuses, plus a €10m signing-on fee.
Manchester United are reportedly in the hunt for the French midfielder who is available on a free this summer after running down his contract in Paris.
Italian icon Gigi Buffon, who spent the season with Rabiot in Paris, heaped praise on the midfielder, comparing him to three of the best midfielders in recent Juventus history.
“Rabiot is this fantastic mixture: he has the strength of Pogba, who is built like a wardrobe, the courage of [Arturo] Vidal and potentially the dynamism of [Claudio] Marchisio.”
Sky Sports suggest the Bianconeri are feeling very optimistic about the deal, whereas Sportitalia insist Rabiot has already given his word that he’ll reject an offer from Manchester United.
According to Sportitalia transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà, the agreement is for a five-year deal worth €7m per season plus performance-related bonuses.
There will also be a €10m signing-on fee, not dissimilar to the approach that Juventus used to get Aaron Ramsey as a free agent from Arsenal.
United are in need of midfield reinforcements with Ander Herrera leaving at the end of the season and Paul Pogba being chased by Real Madrid and Juve.
The Old Lady have gained a well deserved reputation for snapping up players on free transfers, with Aaron Ramsey the latest star to arrive for no fee.
Rabiot was recently quoted as saying: “I’ve spoken with Juventus, it’s a great club where everyone would like to play.
“I like Italy so much, it’s wonderful here. A demanding season awaits me. At Juventus? Juve watched me and we talked about it, but I can’t say anything.
“Manchester United? It’s the same as last year, I have to decide. I’m on vacation for now. Soon you will know.”
Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed his desire to return to the game as a manager of a national team rather than a club.
The Portuguese has been out of management since being sacked by Manchester United in December after overseeing the club’s worst start to a campaign in 28 years.
When asked about his next challenge, Mourinho said he would welcome the opportunity to manage at international level and revealed it would not necessarily have to be with Portugal, report Sky Sports.
“I want to compete in new competitions,” the 56-year-old told Eleven Sports. “I think about the World Cup and the European Championships.
“For a long time I have had the desire to try out such an adventure. Right now, I see myself more at a national team than with a new club.
“Is Portugal the right team for me? Not necessarily.”
England start their European Under-21 Championship campaign against France tonight in Cesena.
A large contingent of Chelsea youngsters are looking to help England end a long wait for glory in this year’s UEFA Under-21 Championship in Italy and San Marino.
The Young Lions, won back-to-back tournaments in 1982 and 1984 when the final was played over two legs but the years since have brought frustration for the Young Lions, who lost to Germany in the 2009 final and were beaten on penalties by the same side in the semi-finals in Poland two years ago.
While Callum Hudson-Odoi is unable to play after suffering an untimely injury late in the season, five other talented Blues are in Aidy Boothroyd’s side, seeking to claim the title for England for the first time in 35 years.
GK Angus Gunn Southampton GK Dean Henderson Sheffield United GK Freddie Woodman Newcastle United DF Jake Clarke-Salter Chelsea DF Jay Dasilva Chelsea DF Lloyd Kelly Bristol City DF Jonjoe Kenny Everton DF Ezri Konsa Brentford DF Fikayo Tomori Chelsea DF Aaron Wan-Bissaka Crystal Palace MF Harvey Barnes Leicester City MF Hamza Choudhury Leicester City MF Kieran Dowell Sheffield United MF Phil Foden Manchester City MF Morgan Gibbs-White Wolverhampton Wanderers MF James Maddison Leicester City MF Mason Mount Chelsea MF Ryan Sessegnon Fulham FW Tammy Abraham Chelsea FW Dominic Calvert-Lewin Everton FW Demarai Gray Leicester City FW Reiss Nelson 1899 Hoffenheim FW Dominic Solanke AFC Bournemouth
