There are reports Leicester City and Inter Milan are set for battle royale over Lille forward Victor Osimhen.

Osimhen has attracted interest from Brendan Rodgers’ scouts as well as Chelsea, Manchester United and Everton this season.

According to Sportsmail, Leicester City retain an interest in the Nigerian but fear he could be tempted by a move to Italy.

However, cash-conscious Lille are demanding around £60million for the 21-year-old Nigeria international while he also has strong interest from Italian sides Juventus and Inter Milan with the latter fearing they will lose Lautaro Martinez to Barcelona.

The Nerazzurri boss Antonio Conte has added Osimhen to the list of strikers to be considered if Martinez moves to the Catalan giants in the summer.

But Leicester want a versatile forward like the Super Eagles striker, with his quick feet and accurate shots, to compete with and ultimately succeed Jamie Vardy.

Youngster Osimhen has had an impressive season for the French side with 18 goals and six assists in 38 appearances across all competitions this season.

Reports in Italy claim Chelsea have made an “extremely aggressive” approach to sign Dries Mertens as Liverpool joined the race to sign the striker.

The Belgium international will be a free agent in the summer, as negotiations over an extension have seemingly ground to a halt after earlier progress.

Corriere dello Sport claim the Blues are “more determined than ever before” to sign the Belgian and have succeeded in “turning his head”.

Other reports have suggest Frank Lampard has already personally held talks with Napoli’s all-time record scorer.

Meanwhile, Tuttomercatoweb claim that Liverpool have also put forward an offer to sign Mertens as a free agent at the end of the season.

His versatility is crucial, able to play as a quick centre-forward or in a wider role.

Mertens turns 33 next month and scored 12 goals in 29 games for Napoli this term, including six in seven Champions League matches.

He had plenty of opportunity to show off against Liverpool, scoring two goals in three encounters.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa claims Antonio Conte is not a ‘top, top manager’ and ‘would never last a season at Real Madrid’ because of his man-management.

Costa won the Premier League under Conte in 2017, during the coach’s first season in charge of Chelsea.

However, their rapport broke down when the Inter boss informed the striker he was no longer needed by text message.

The 31-year-old maintains he has ‘no hard feelings’ towards the ex-Italy CT but is not a fan of his ‘very suspicious’ approach.

“We [Conte and I] had problems off the pitch, but I think he is a really good manager. I have no hard feelings towards Conte,” he told ESPN as cited by Football Italia.

“But to be a top, top manager, he needs to change the human side of his management.”

Conte was tipped to take over at Real Madrid after Julen Lopetegui’s dismissal two years ago…

“He is very suspicious. At a like, say, Real Madrid, he would never last a season.”

Costa returned to Atletico Madrid in January 2018 but has been linked with Serie A moves in recent weeks.

Chelsea have rejected the 10 per cent wage cut proposed by members of their squad amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Blues skipper Cesar Azpilicueta had suggested a 10 per cent cut in the players wages for four months as the club looks to offset the damaging losses caused by Covid-19.

The Premier League had suggested a 30 per cent cut in their proposal on a way forward.

An official statement on the club’s website said: “At this time, the men’s first team will not be contributing towards the club financially and instead the board have directed the team to focus their efforts on further supporting other charitable causes.

“As this crisis develops the club will continue to have conversations with the men’s first team regarding financial contributions to the club’s activities.”