Chelsea plot swoop for Robert Lewandowski as Erling Haaland’s move falters

Reports in England claim that Chelsea are closing in on Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski as ‘next best option’ to Erling Haaland.

Chelsea are eager to add a new No 9 to their ranks following Timo Werner’s disappointing first campaign and had named Erling Haaland as their primary target.

However, Chelsea recognise the difficulty of prising Haaland away from Dortmund and have subsequently moved on to Robert Lewandowski.

The Mail report that Lewandowski’s agent is looking to secure the striker one last big contract and has pushed him towards Real Madrid or Manchester City.

However, according to The Sun, Chelsea are eager to lead the transfer race and are willing to offer Bayern Munich £50million for the Bundesliga’s top goal scorer.

Bayern Munich are said to be against selling their top striker this summer as he is still under contract at the club until 2023.

Nevertheless, Lewandowski is said to be keen to test himself in the Premier League and could be willing to leave Germany for the right price.

Manchester United-bound star in talks to buy Raheem Sterling’s £3million mansion

Kieran Trippier is in talks to buy a £3million mansion – from England team-mate Raheem Sterling.

The defender, 30, who is on the verge of a move to Old Trafford, has been chatting to Manchester City star Sterling about a possible deal for the luxury pad.

Sterling, 26, bought the plush country pile with five acres of land and a wildlife pond in 2017.

The five-bedroom 7,500-square foot home is nestled in a quiet Cheshire hamlet close to Knutsford and surrounded by farmland.

United believe they are in the final stages of securing a deal for Atletico Madrid star Trippier worth £18m.

Although his family are believed to be United fans, Trippier came through the ranks at Manchester City.

He never made an appearance for the current Premier League champions.

Chelsea overtake Manchester City in race to sign star

Chelsea have overtaken Manchester City and United in the race to sign Harry Kane after launching a ‘more appealing’ bid, according to reports.

In the spring, the England captain, 27, stunned Tottenham by revealing he wanted to quit the club this summer.

Kane has since been chased by a host of suitors in a deal expected to be worth around £150million.

City held the early advantage and have been the favourites with the bookies ever since the forward’s announcement.

But Chelsea now have the edge thanks to their overall package, according to The Athletic.

The Blues are believed to be willing to offer a player-plus-cash deal involving outcast striker Tammy Abraham as a like-for-like replacement.

Revealed: Real Madrid’s clever move to scuttle Raphael Varane’s Man United transfer

Raphael Varane reportedly rejected the possibility of being included in a deal for Kylian Mbappe.

Real Madrid have been linked with a move for Mbappe for some time with the PSG striker one of the most coveted players in world football.

But scraping together the money to sign the Frenchman is another thing with well over £100million likely required to prise him away from PSG.

There may yet be an opportunity to sign Mbappe for free with his contract up at the end of the coming season.

Though, if the France international is not going to sign a new deal, it’s likely PSG will look to sell him before he becomes free to negotiate with other teams.

But if that is the case, Real Madrid will likely find themselves unable to pull off a deal due to their financial issues which have left them more than €900million debt.

In a bid to find a way to pull off a deal for Mbappe, it’s reported by Duncan Castles via Mundo Deportivo, that Los Blancos attempted to include Varane in a swap deal with the defender understood to want a move away this summer ahead of his contract expiring next summer.

But according to the report, Varane refused to be part of the deal and has made it clear that he wants a move to the Premier League amid interest from Manchester United, rather than to his home country, putting an end to Real Madrid’s ambitious Mbappe plan.