NEWLY crowned French champions Paris Saint Germain are reportedly “digging their heels in” over the future of sharpshooter Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan ace has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Premier League in the summer, with Manchester United and Chelsea the two clubs most anxious to sign the 27-year-old Cavani.
In recent weeks rumours have emerged alleging Cavani is “frustrated” with consistently being played out of position by coach Laurent Blanc. But in an interview on French television, PSG chief Nasser al-Khelaifi rubbished the idea that they could be willing to sell at the end of the season. “He will stay here,” declared al-Khelaifi. “He has a contract with us.”
Frustration is the name of the game as far as Romelu Lukaku is concerned, with the 20-year-old frontman “still waiting to hear” from Chelsea as to whether he will be sold at the end of the season. The Evening Standard reports that Lukaku, who has scored 15 goals on loan at Everton this season, is no nearer to knowing whether Blues boss Jose Mourinho will allow him to make his stay at Goodison Park permanent.
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As a result, according to his agent, the uncertainty is preying on the young hitman’s mind. “For the moment, Romelu belongs to Chelsea,” said agent Christope Henrotay when asked about a full-time switch to Everton. “It’s going to depend on Chelsea. After that, we’ll see together what the best options are if Chelsea decide to let him go.”
Meanwhile Everton coach Alan Stubbs has told Talksport that the club don’t need to sell Ross Barkley this summer. The 20-year-old playmaker has been in sparkling form this season and that’s led to a rash of rumours linking Barkley with a £38m move to either Liverpool or Manchester United in the summer.
Despite offloading Marouane Fellaini and Mikel Artera in recent seasons, Stubbs says Barkley will remain a blue for the foreseeable future because they don’t need the cash. “The club are in a different position than we were five years ago, where we had to maybe sell one of the big stars,” explained Stubbs. “The club is in a much healthier place at the moment.”
In other news, the International Business Times says that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he will "accept it and respond" to any transfer request from Bacary Sagna this summer. The 31-year-old Frenchman is out of contract at the end of the season and Manchester City, Inter Milan and Turkish club Fenerbache have all been linked to the French defender.
Arsenal have offered Sagna a contract extension, one which he has yet to accept. “Only he can decide,” said Wenger when asked if Sagna would sign on for another stint at the Emirates or head to pastures new.
One player not heading off for a fresh challenge this summer is Lionel Messi. Sky Sports reports that the Barcelona striker has been mooted as a possible target for Real Madrid and Manchester City in the Spanish press, but Messi has scoffed at the idea he could ever leave the Camp Nou after winning six league titles and three Champions League crowns with the Catalan club.
“I'm fine,” Messi told Spanish rag Marca when asked about life at Barcelona. Then, referring to the speculation in the media, he raged: "They have said a lot of things during the year. Many atrocities have come out, most of them lies.”
