ARSENAL’S quest in making Martin Odegaard’s transfer permanent has taken a blow, with reports in Spain naming him as one of Real Madrid’s four ‘untouchables’.
And we’ve got the very latest on Sergio Aguero and Erling Haaland’s futures as the transfer speculation intensifies for what will be a thrilling summer.
Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
ANDRE WOULD COST UTD £35m
Man Utd will have to fork out £35million if they want to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Andre Silva in the summer.
According to Bild, the Red Devils are interested in the Portugal international who has banged in 23 Bundesliga goals this term.
It has been claimed that United are battling Atletico Madrid and Barcelona for his signature.
Silva is seen as a cheaper alternative to Borussia Dortmund marksman Erling Haaland.
ZLAT-RIANO
Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City are circling for the ‘next Zlatan Ibrahimovic’ – Inter Milan striker Martin Satriano.
Premier League giants have reportedly stepped up their interest in Liverpool fan Satriano as Serie A leaders Inter face financial problems.
And the Uruguay starlet, 20, has admitted he’d love to play in the Prem.
The Mail claim Champions League semi-finalists Paris Saint-Germain and second-placed Bundesliga side RB Leipzig are also keen on him.
Satriano has amassed eight goals and six assists in just 18 matches this season.
But although his contract runs until 2024, he appears to be one of the players most likely to be sold if Inter decide to cut costs this summer.
Inter Milan’s Uruguayan starlet Martin Satriano is being eyed by a string of top European rivals, even though his contract runs until 2024 TOP OF THE KOPS
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool is the ideal setting for Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian is wanted by a host of clubs, including Manchester United, this summer but the ex-defender hopes to see him at Anfield.
He told CBS Sports: “I think Haaland should come to Liverpool, because it’s his type of football.
“Basically heavy metal football, he relies on his pace and his power. That’s the type of football that Liverpool play.
“Who would not want to play in front of the Kop? Liverpool, energy, Champions League football nights.”
FUL STEAM AHEAD
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal take on Fulham this weekend aiming to string together back to back victories in the Premier League for the first time since January.
The Spaniard’s side have been riddled with inconsistency this season, but will be buoyed by Thursday night’s 4-0 trouncing of Slavia Prague in the Europa League.
Arteta, 38, will now need to strike a delicate balance between keeping his key men fresh, while also maintaining positive momentum on the pitch.
The success, are lack thereof, of Arsenal’s season, will almost certainly be more determined by their upcoming Europa League semi-finals with Unai Emery’s Villarreal.
But the North Londoners can’t just neglect their league campaign, especially when they sit just one point above the bottom half.
Here’s how the Gunners could start.
Here is how SunSport predicts Arsenal could start against Fulham JUST A GAME
Ronaldo once treated his Real Valladolid players to a Playstation 5 after a victory.
The Brazilian legend and club president’s kind-hearted gesture was revealed by right-back Saidy Janko.
The 25-year-old former Manchester United prospect also told of how Ronaldo invited players over for online gaming.
Janko told blick.ch that players went to Ronaldo’s house “to play a little online against the Juve stars Douglas Costa and Paulo Dybala”.
And he added: “Once he just gave us a Playstation 5 after a win. He’s very sociable, and he’ll have a coffee with you from time to time.”
Ronaldo brought a 51 per cent stake in the Spanish club in September 2018.
EURO CASH
Chelsea and Manchester City are cashing in the most from their European exploits so far this season after making the Champions League semi-finals.
Chelsea have banked £79.8m for their exploits in Europe so far this season while Pep Guardiola’s Citizens have netted £76.8m, according to figures from football-coefficient.eu.
The riches on offer in Europe’s premier competition dwarf the financial benefits of playing in the Europa League – where the rest of the Prem sides find themselves.
Manchester United have the considerable advantage of having dropped down into the tournament courtesy of finishing third in their Champions League group.
The Red Devils have earned £50.7m worth of prize money as it stands after beating Granada to make the Europa League semi-finals where they will play Roma.
Arsenal started the season in the competition and have only chalked up £14.4m in winnings.
RED AND BURIED
Mikel Arteta will take on his predecessor Unai Emery for a place in the Europa Leauge final.
But how are the two Spaniards faring in their roles this season – and who is doing better?
On the face of it, the stats are pretty even – both have picked up 26 victories in all competitions.
However, Emery, 49, boats a slightly better win percentage at 55 per cent from 47 matches compared to Arteta’s 53 per cent from 49.
Villarreal have 14 draws in the 2020-21 campaign while Arsenal have just eight.
But the Gunners do have more than double the number of defeats with 15 to just seven for the Yellow Submarine.
TALENT SHOW
Bukayo Sako was hailed as ‘an outstanding talent’ by Arsenal legend Martin Keown after tearing Slavia Prague to shreds.
Keown told BT Sport: “That young man didn’t play the FA Cup final last year and he has the point to prove.
“That will have hurt him. He probably deserved to get on in that game but maybe it was a blessing. He’s determined and his contribution tonight was different class.”
The ex-Arsenal stalwart added: “His versatility is a must.
“They can’t stop (Saka), he’s just too good. It was emphatic how he put it in the net (for his goal).
“He can play as a No 10, as a left back as I keep suggesting and on the right. He really is an outstanding talent, so why would Gareth Southgate not look at him? He’s quite unique in the skill-set he has.”
BAIL OUT
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed he is relaxed over Eric Bailly’s contract situation with the defender set to become a free agent in 2022.
The Man Utd boss said: “Eric has played well when he’s played. I know there’s been speculation. We’re talking to him about his contract so I don’t see any issues really.”
And the Red Devils boss is hopeful the centre-back will be ready for selection to face Burnley on Sunday.
He added: “Eric has been isolating back home in the Ivory Coast. He’s back to England now. We hope he can be available for the weekend.
“Hopefully he can train tomorrow, depending on how he feels within himself. He’s had his tests today so we need to get the confirmation that he’s still negative.”
STOP AT NOTHING
Barcelona have pulled out all the stops to try and convince Lionel Messi to stay, according to reports.
The Catalan giants are said to have offered the Argentine a staggered pay packet, an ambassador role after he retires and the signing of Erling Haaland this summer.
Barca are in dire financial straits with the Nou Camp club said to be around £1BILLION in debt.
And as a result, they cannot offer Messi anywhere near the £2.4million-a-week salary he is currently getting.
Club chief Joan Laporta knows he cannot compete with the financial might of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain who are the favourites to sign the 33-year-old if he does leave Barca.
And as a result he has offered Messi a deal that would see his earnings start lower than what he currently earns but gradually increase throughout the duration of the new deal as the club’s finances improve, according to RAC1.
This would also see him transition into a role as a club ambassador when he decides to retire.
SILVA LINING
Man Utd will have to fork out £35million if they want to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Andre Silva in the summer.
According to Bild, the Red Devils are interested in the Portugal international who has banged in 23 Bundesliga goals this term.
It has been claimed that United are battling Atletico Madrid and Barcelona for his signature.
Silva is seen as a cheaper alternative to Borussia Dortmund marksman Erling Haaland.
COOCHY COOCHY BLUE
EXCLUSIVE – Man City wonderkid Phil Foden is celebrating again after revealing he is to become a dad for the second time.
He and childhood sweetheart Rebecca Cooke, both now 20, had little Ronnie — named after Foden’s boyhood nickname — in January 2019.
Now the midfield ace has told friends they are having a baby girl to join them in their £3.25million mansion in Prestbury, Cheshire.
The new arrival is expected in late summer or early autumn, The Sun understands.
A source said of Foden and his table-topping Sky Blues: “City can’t stop scoring at the moment — both on and off the pitch.
“They’ve hit the back of the net more times than any of the teams and are now celebrating another kid. It couldn’t be a better way to cap off such a great season.”
STAR SUPPORT
Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe paid tribute to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on Thursday night.
The Gunners duo put up an ‘A’ celebration after the Frenchman’s second goal in their 4-0 win at Slavia Prague.
The message was a tribute to team-mate Aubameyang, who contracted malaria while on international duty.
The Gabon striker missed the Europa League quarter-final second leg and explained the reason why on Instagram.
After the victory, Mikel Arteta said: “He feels really good. That’s what he said to me today. Everybody’s been in contact with him.
“He was watching the game like everybody else at Colney. These things happen. He travelled to his country. These risks always exist.”
Nicolas Pepe and Alexandre Lacazette showed their support for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang BISS CHASE
Liverpool should replace Georginio Wijnaldum with Brighton’s Yves Bissouma this summer, according to John Barnes.
The former England star told BonusCode Bets: “Yves Bissouma has the ability to play at a team like Liverpool.
“He could fill what Jurgen Klopp wants from the three midfield players.
“He is strong defensively, he works hard, he plays the ball quickly and every now and then when he needs to dribble, as much as we don’t speak about Brighton, you know he can do it, because he has [in the past].
“Of all the players playing in England, that could fit the template of Liverpool’s midfield three, he is one of them.
“He looks like Georginio Wijnaldum, although he doesn’t attack as much as Gini, because Brighton plays a different style of football, when Bissouma wants to he can. He is 24 and young, he would be a great fit.”
ODE GEAR
Martin Odegaard has reportedly been named as one of four young ‘untouchables’ at Real Madrid, in a blow to Arsenal’s chances of signing him.
The Norwegian has impressed during his temporary stint in North London, even bagging a memorable derby goal against Spurs last month.
Hopes have been raised among the Gunners’ fanbase that the attacking midfielder can be retained for next season.
But according to Marca, Odegaard won’t be going anywhere.
The Spanish paper report that the 22-year-old is one of four young ‘untouchables’ that the Madrid hierarchy want to build around.
Odegaard’s contract in Spain is set to expire in 2023, and a board-led renewal appears likely.
Spanish media state that Real Madrid do not wan to sell Martin Odegaard in the summer
AGUER-DOUGH
Chelsea target Sergio Aguero is demanding £200,000-a-week wages from his next club, according to reports.
The Manchester City legend is leaving the Etihad at the end of the season when his contract expires and there are four clubs looking to land the 32-year-old.
Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus are the three teams battling Chelsea for Aguero’s signature, according to AS.
And the striker’s agent told Italian giants Juve they would have to cough up £200k-a-week in order to sign him, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Aguero is trying to capitalise on his free agent status with any club not required to pay a transfer fee for such a talented player.
Barca are unlikely to be able to cough up the big dough with their finances crippled by Covid-19, but the chance to play with his friend Lionel Messi – if he stays in Catalonia – could tempt Aguero to the Nou Camp.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
