Chelsea are planning to hijack a striker deal Man Utd have already reached an agreement for, while Liverpool have identified a replacement for a wantaway star and Arsenal are targeting a Germany international – all in Thursday’s Euro Paper Talk.
CHELSEA TORPEDO MAN UTD PLANS?
The Blues can secure a £70m deal for a striker Man Utd are fully prepared to pay £105m for, and the presence of one Chelsea player at Stamford Bridge could help Todd Boehly pull off an eye-catching hijack, per reports.
Both Man Utd and Chelsea are desperate to sign an elite level centre-forward this summer.
United have cast their eye over Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen, though neither will be easy to sign. Indeed, Tottenham and Napoli both hold reputations as tough negotiators and neither club actually want to part ways with their lethal forwards.
In the event Erik ten Hag misses out on Kane and Osimhen, Portuguese outlet A Bola recently reported a move for Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos will quickly take shape.
The Portugal international has bagged 35 goal contributions in just 37 matches this term. The 21-year-old’s current contract with Benfica contains a gigantic release clause worth €120m (approx. £105m).
Per A Bola, United have agreed internally to activate that clause if Kane or Osimhen eludes them. However, according to a fresh update from Football Insider, United might miss out on Ramos too.
That’s because Chelsea are also in the hunt for the striker and signing a new frontman will be Todd Boehly’s chief objective this summer.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could depart, while Romelu Lukaku is understood to want to continue with Inter Milan. If a permanent move proves too costly, another loan spell could be sanctioned.
Per FI, Ramos is the man Chelsea are turning to and it’s remarkably stated Benfica will actually accept £70m for their striker. That figure is £35m below the £105m release clause that United are reportedly ready to pay.
Aiding Chelsea and Boehly’s cause is the fact Ramos shares the same agency as Blues loanee, Joao Felix.
Felix – also Portuguese – has made no secret of how much he’s loving life at Stamford Bridge. A permanent switch from Atletico has been mooted and a steer from Felix could help the Blues land Ramos too.
LIVERPOOL ZERO IN ON KELLEHER REPLACEMENT
Liverpool have identified Swedish international goalkeeper, Leopold Wahlstedt, as a viable candidate to replace Caoimhin Kelleher as Alisson’s back-up. Kelleher hopes to leave Anfield this summer in search of regular minutes and there’s ‘concrete’ interest in Odds BK stopper Wahlstedt. (Fotboll Transfers)
Man Utd face stern competition from Juventus for Sassuolo midfielder, Davide Frattesi. The bidding for the 23-year-old will start at €35m and Juve have already ‘initiated primary contacts’ with both Sassuolo and Frattesi’s agent. (Get Football News Italy)
Arsenal have maintained constant contact with Everton and Belgium international Amadou Onana who is valued in the €60m-€70m range. A discount is likely if the Toffees suffer relegation. (Het Nieuwsblad)
Lionel Messi will be offered an ‘equity stake’ in MLS side Inter Miami as an incentive to lure him to America. (Independent)
However, Messi’s entourage have strongly condemned what they’re describing as “fake news” reports of an imminent divorce between PSG and the Argentine. (Le Parisien)
Jose Mourinho has received an offer worth a staggering €120m to coach for two years in Saudi Arabia. Mourinho would like to stay with current club Roma, though the opportunity is being viewed as once in a life time. (Corriere dello Sport)
ARSENAL WANT VERSATILE GERMANY INTERNATIONAL
The Gunners are keeping close tabs on Wolfsburg’s Ridle Baku. The Germany international can play anywhere up and down the right flank and has another admirer in Villarreal. (BILD)
Atletico Madrid will focus their meagre resources on bolstering their defensive ranks this summer. Leicester’s Caglar Soyuncu is expected to arrive at centre-half on a free. (Marca)
However, a permanent move for Tottenham’s Sergio Reguilon (currently on loan at Atletico) is unlikely. Reguilon’s loan spell has been plagued by injuries. (Marca)
Liverpool flop Naby Keita will leave Anfield as a free agent this summer and has already received “some approaches”. But as yet, nothing is advanced regarding who he’ll join. (Fabrizio Romano)
Atletico are one club understood to be eyeing Keita up and his availability as a free agent makes a link up with Diego Simeone viable. (Spanish press)
Barcelona continue to retain interest in bringing RB Leipzig’s Dani Olmo back to Spain, though a deal in 2023 is unlikely. (Fabrizio Romano)
TOTTENHAM FAVOURITES FOR PREM PLAYMAKER
Tottenham are on pole position to sign Leicester playmaker James Maddison. Newcastle are also in the mix for a deal that’s likely to cost around £50m. (Telegraph)
Real Madrid are ready to bid €95m for Chelsea ace Reece James. The Blues right-back is viewed as the ideal successor to Dani Carvajal. (Caught Offside)
Erik ten Hag has made Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Donny van de Beek available for sale as Man Utd look to both generate funds and clear the deck for a summer splurge. (Caught Offside)
Aymeric Laporte is ‘likely’ to leave Man City this summer, though he’s unlikely to choose Tottenham if Spurs act on their interest. A left-footed centre-back is required if Clement Lenglet returns to Barcelona once his loan concludes. (Dean Jones)
Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool are all interested in signing Argentine World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton. (Argentine journalist, Cesar Luis Merlo
