Ed Woodward to trigger £290K Man Utd deal, Lionel Messi wants £135m transfer, Liverpool

Chelsea plan?

Chelsea are reportedly in pole position to sign Udinese goalkeeper Juan Musso as a replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga this summer.

Chelsea are leading the chase for Juan Musso after the Udinese goalkeeper has been identified as the latest star who could potential replace Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Blues are in the “front row” to sign the Argentine with money no object in the pursuit, according to reports.

Chelsea remain in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer with manager Frank Lampard still unconvinced by current No 1 Arrizabalaga.

The Blues have been linked with a host of world class stoppers already, with Jan Oblak, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Andre Onana and Dean Henderson all on their transfer shortlist.

And Udinese star Musso is the latest name to be touted for a move to Stamford Bridge, according to reports from Italy.

TuttoUdinese claim Chelsea are “the team that really seems in the front row” in the pursuit of the 25-year-old as they look to bolster their options between the posts.

Gareth Bale on a free?!

Real Madrid are prepared to part ways with Gareth Bale.

That’s according to newspaper Marca, who claim the Spanish heavyweights could allow the Welshman to leave win a free transfer.

Bale, 30, has completed just six 90-minute La Liga fixtures this season and looks surplus to requirements under Zinedine Zidane at the Bernabeu.

Now, Marca claim Real Madrid can no longer justify his £350,000-a-week after tax wages and understand nobody would be prepared to meet their valuation.

Danny Ings exit?

Southampton should be worried about the future of their talisman Danny Ings.

That’s according to club legend Francis Benali, who thinks the striker could be a target for several Premier League clubs having impressed this campaign.

“That is always the concern. Anyone who has played well, it is a worry and history shows that,” Benali told Sky Sports. “Quite rightly. I think anybody that performs well, at any club really, at Manchester City or Liverpool, if they are catching the eye then there will be other clubs interested in signing players.

“The form Danny Ings has been in this season. The goals he has scored, for sure. There are going to be clubs who will want a player of his calibre and he’ll be attracting some interest.”

Wanted: Alex Telles

Chelsea are interested in signing Porto star Alex Telles as an alternative to Ben Chilwell in the summer.

According to A Bola, the Blues have made initial contact with the Portuguese giants and are willing to pay up to £36million for Telles.

Frank Lampard has been playing Marcos Alonso at left-back but appears keen on strengthening in that position and that is why he is keeping tabs on the Brazil international.

The 27-year-old has 18 months left on his contract with Porto and a potential extension would be “impossible” as he fears that would affect his chances of moving to Stamford Bridge.

Milan Skriniar swap proposal

Manchester City have been tracking Milan Skriniar of Inter Milan for a number of months, and are looking to recruit the Slovakian defender this summer.

Pep Guardiola is prepared to offer Inter Milan a deal that would see full-back Joao Cancelo move to the Italian side, in exchange for the centre-back.

The Citizens chose not to replace Vincent Kompany in the transfer window, opting to go into this season with just Aymeric Laporte, Nicolas Otamendi, John Stones, and Eric Garcia as recognised centre-backs.

City plan to offer Inter Cancelo in exchange for former Barcelona target Skriniar during the summer, according to Calciomercato.

But, it’s believed that Inter boss Antonio Conte isn’t completely sold by the plan. While Conte is looking to sign a new right-back, he’s not convinced by Cancelo’s quality.

Omer Faruk Beyaz options

Turkish prodigy Omer Faruk Beyaz has three options for his next move.

That’s according to Turkish newspaper Aksam, who claim Beyaz will end up at either Manchester United, Manchester City or Barcelona.

The youngster, 16, has a growing reputation having impressed for Turkey’s Under-17 side and been included in two of Fenerbahce’s top-flight match-day squads.

Turkish-football claim Beyaz could follow in the footsteps of Eljif Elmas, who joined Napoli in July 2019 for £15million.

Tino Anjorin contract

Tino Anjorin is close to signing a new contract with Chelsea.

Anjorin, 18, has worked his way into Frank Lampard’s plans at Stamford Bridge having made the bench against Liverpool and earned minutes during the 4-0 demolition of Everton.

Goal claim Chelsea have made good progress in talks with Anjorin and have convinced him that first-team opportunities are a realistic possibility.

However, the report says ‘several small details’ still need to be cleared up before the academy star signs on the dotted line.

Jose’s reputation

Jose Mourinho feared Manchester United paying over the odds for Harry Maguire would damage his reputation, reports say.

The Tottenham boss wanted to land the England international from Leicester in the summer of 2018 but didn’t get his man and, with the club stuck in a rut months later, lost his job at Old Trafford.

Mourinho was angry at United in the months leading up to the job, furious that Ed Woodward didn’t fork out for Harry Maguire.

The Athletic say Mourinho actually prevented the Red Devils from spending big on the centre-back in the summer of 2018.

It’s claimed Mourinho feared spending over £50million on Maguire would actually impact his reputation.

Read the full story here.

Marc Cucurella interest

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has entered the transfer race to sign 21-year-old midfielder Marc Cucurella.

The Barcelona youngster has just joined Getafe on a permanent deal, after a successful loan spell, but he could still be available this summer.

While the permanent switch to Getafe appears to be negative for clubs hoping to sign the 21-year-old, there’s a catch.

The obligated-to-buy clause in the original loan deal also stated that if the move to Getafe was permanent, his contract at the La Liga club must include a release clause of €25m (£23m).

Tottenham and Arsenal have now joined the race for Cucurella, according to Spanish outlet La Razon, after Chelsea became interested earlier this week.

Paul Pogba contract

Manchester United have decided to trigger Paul Pogba’s contract extension ahead of the summer transfer window, according to reports.

The France international, who earns £290,000-per-week has been linked with Juventus and Real Madrid ever since expressing a desire to leave Old Trafford back in the summer.

But, now, journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed the Red Devils will be triggering the option of an extension in the 27-year-old’s contract.

And he’s claimed that United actually made the decision six months ago – meaning an announcement is expected soon.

Samuel Umtiti available

Arsenal and Manchester United have reportedly both been offered the chance to sign Samuel Umtiti for £50million this summer according to reports.

The Daily Star claim the Premier League duo have been given the opportunity to snap up the 26-year-old.

Barca have deemed the France international surplus to requirements with injuries and competition for places having kept Umtiti to 16 first-team appearances this season.

And the Star report that for the Gunners or United to act on any interest in Umtiti, Barca’s price tag for the player will have to drop.

Umtiti is under contract in Catalonia until 2023 and has a massive £455m buy-out clause in his deal.

Ousmane Dembele SALE

Barcelona have lost patience with Ousmane Dembele.

That’s according to Spanish publication AS, who claim Barcelona chiefs want him offloaded as soon as possible.

Dembele arrived at the Nou Camp from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £135million but he’s failed to justify that outlay having made just 51 La Liga appearances and scored 12 goals since August 2017.

Its unclear how much Barcelona would want for their injured attacker with Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United all previously linked with the 22-year-old at various stages.

In December, Spanish website El Desmarque reported that Dembele’s agent, Moussa Sissoko, had “met with executives from PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City”.

Chris Smalling to Roma

Roma are desperate to sign Chris Smalling on a permanent basis.

Smalling, 30, arrived at the Stadio Olimpico on a season-long loan and his since cemented his position alongside Gianluca Mancini in central defence.

The Serie A side have already made three separate offers for the Manchester United defender but none have been accepted by the 13-time Premier League champions.

Now, Italian website Il Tempo claim Roma will try their luck again and will have to offer roughly £18million to secure his services.

Jesse and Jones…

Manchester United duo Phil Jones and Jesse Lingard are in a vulnerable position at Old Trafford, the Manchester Evening News report.

And that means the pair could be sold when the transfer window reopens at the end of the campaign, with the Red Devils seemingly preparing to offload the duo.

Lingard is a product of the Manchester United youth academy and became a vital member of the squad during Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal’s respective reigns.

But the England international has struggled for form at Old Trafford ever since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came in, failing to register a single Premier League goal or assist in over a year.

Jones, meanwhile, is one of the club’s longest-serving players having been at United since joining from Blackburn Rovers in 2011.

Read the full article here.

Lautaro Martinez interest

Chelsea have entered the battle to sign Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez.

Barcelona are considered front-runners to sign the Argentine star, who would reportedly like to join his compatriot Lionel Messi at the Nou Camp.

But Chelsea and Premier League rivals Manchester City are in the frame.

Spanish publication Sport claims Frank Lampard wants to bring the sought-after 22-year-old to Stamford Bridge this summer and Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu fears the threat posed by the English pair.