Premier League transfer gossip and rumours
Pogba deal ‘very difficult’
Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane has been warned that it will be “very difficult” to sign Paul Pogba this summer.
The warning comes from none other than the man who controls the purse strings, Real president Florentino Perez.
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According to ESPN the Spaniards do not have the funds to sign the 26-year-old French World Cup winner who has hinted that he wants to leave Manchester United.
“Zidane has made clear his admiration for Pogba both publicly and privately, and on Wednesday evening, during a transfer summit at Madrid’s pre-season base in Montreal, asked Perez and director general Jose Angel Sanchez to make another effort to sign the midfielder,” says the broadcaster.
“But Zidane was told that, with Madrid having already spent more than €300m [£269.7m] on new players, another big deal was not feasible at present.”
The Independent adds that Perez wants Zidane to drop his interest in Pogba and bring Gareth Bale back into the fold because the club are struggling to sell the Welsh international.
Zaha ‘wants to leave’ Palace
Arsenal’s pursuit of Wilfried Zaha is back on after the winger reportedly told Crystal Palace that he wanted to leave.
Sky Sports reports: “The 26-year-old forward made his feelings clear after returning to Palace following his participation in the Ivory Coast’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
“The Eagles rejected a bid of £40m for Zaha from Arsenal earlier this month, but the Gunners are expected to raise their offer in the coming days.”
However, Palace boss Roy Hodgson says the initial offer from the Emirates was not “anywhere near” their valuation of the player.
Sky Sports also says that there has been no falling out between Zaha and the Eagles, but the player who flopped at Manchester United wants a second chance on the big stage.
United want Aubameyang to replace Lukaku
Manchester United have set their sights on Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as a replacement for Romelu Lukaku.
Belgian forward Lukaku has been linked with a move to Inter Milan and has reportedly told United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he wants to leave Old Trafford.
Picking up on reports in Italy The Sun claims United have launched a raid for Aubameyang and “made a £62m bid” for the Gabon international. However, Arsenal will “resist” any efforts to prise him away from the Emirates.
Confusingly, the Sun also claims that Inter are now “getting cold feet” over paying £75m for Lukaku – “leaving the striker in limbo and [manager] Antonio Conte fuming”.
“The striker is now being left hanging as the Serie A side suddenly look to other potential cheaper options - such as £33m Everton target Rafael Leao,” says the paper.
The impasse will presumably be welcomed in the red half of north London.
Hudson-Odoi to stay at Chelsea
Frank Lampard’s return to Chelsea as manager is already paying off, with England teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi in “advanced talks” over a new deal having spent much of the last season on the brink of an exit.
The 18-year-old struggled for game time last season and was targeted by Bayern Munich who made offers for his services in January and again this summer. But Lampard has “swayed” the teenager, says the Daily Mail, who is “ready to commit himself to his boyhood club”.
A new five-year contract worth £100,000 a week is on the table “but the deal is likely to rise to £10m a year if he keeps making progress”.
The Mail adds: “The aloofness of former manager Maurizio Sarri and his unwillingness to use Hudson-Odoi meant the players’ representatives were unhappy with his development and game time.
“With Lampard returning, along with his former Under-18 Chelsea manager, Jody Morris, Hudson-Odoi’s fears have been allayed and he seems set to be central to Chelsea’s starting 11 this season.”
Lo Celso in, Rose out at Spurs?
Daily Mirror reports that Tottenham are set to break their transfer record for a second time this summer. Spurs remain keen on £70m-rated midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, who has told Real Betis that he wants to move to north London.
Meanwhile, one player who looks to be leaving Spurs is England left-back Danny Rose. Sky Sports says that Paris Saint-Germain are leading the race to sign Rose, who Spurs value at £20m.
