CHELSEA are weighing up a chase for Jadon Sancho – by selling Callum Hudson-Odoi to Borussia Dortmund.
Meanwhile Celtic could sell Odsonne Edouard to Southampton with a big summer of transition expected at Parkhead.
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Follow ALL of the latest news and updates below…
FANDEMONIUM
Manchester United fans have been getting into the party spirit in Gdansk ahead of tonight’s Europa League final.
The Red Devils will be backed by 2,000 travelling supporters from England tonight, as they face Villarreal in the Baltic city.
And as fans starved of European travel have arrived in the city, they’ve been quick to revel in the adventure and have a good time.
A great number have been seen enjoying Gdansk’s bars.
And no shortage of pints have been consumed in the city centre.
IN THE FOXHOLE
Leicester have reportedly agreed a deal for French title winner Boubakary Soumare – as they face the prospect of losing midfield star Youri Tielemans.
Belgium international Tielemans won the FA Cup for Brendan Rodgers’ side with a world-class finish in their 1-0 final win over Chelsea.
The 24-year-old has been voted the Foxes’ player of the season and SunSport recently revealed he is set for talks over a new contract.
But reports in Belgium claim Liverpool have targeted former Anderlecht and Monaco ace Tielemans to replace Gini Wijnaldum.
The Holland midfielder, 30, is leaving Anfield on a free transfer this summer with Barcelona a possible destination.
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also credited with an interest in signing £50million-rated Tielemans.
Leicester have now secured an ideal replacement if the Belgian quits the King Power Stadium – by tying up a £20m deal for French ace Soumare.
KAN DO ATTITUDE
Chelsea’s Champions League hopes have received a massive boost after key-men N’Golo Kante and Edouard Mendy returned to duty today.
The Blues pair both took part in training on day one of the build-up to Saturday’s clash with Manchester City.
Inspirational midfielder Kante has been struggling with a hamstring problem to the extent he missed Sunday’s Premier League finale at Aston Villa.
In the same game keeper Mendy was forced off at half-time after crashing into the goalpost making a save and injuring his ribs.
The stopper had to undergo scans in the wake of the incident and for a time boss Thomas Tuchel was sweating on his No1’s fitness.
But news that both have been passed fit for training at least is a massive plus for the Stamford Bridge outfit.
SunSports understands they took part in full training with the rest of the group and then did a session on their own.
Chelsea fly to Portugal tomorrow ahead of this weekend’s final and Tuchel may now have a full squad to choose from.
FANS LIVING IT UP IN GDANSK
Manchester United fans are enjoying themselves in Gdansk, Poland ahead of tonight’s Europa League final against Villarreal.
Credit: Reuters Credit: EPA RUDDY GOOD
Rio Ferdinand has named his Premier League’s four best defenders… including Antonio Rudiger.
The Chelsea ace almost departed in the summer under Frank Lampard after being frozen out of the first team.
But he was thrust back into the starting XI following Thomas Tuchel’s appointment in January and has gone from strength to strength.
Rudiger, 28, has been part of a Chelsea defence that kept a hugely impressive 19 league clean sheets.
Speaking about his top four Premier League defenders of the season, he said: “I think [Antonio] Rudiger, since he’s been playing, has probably been [the] second or third best centre-half after [Ruben] Dias and maybe [John] Stones, [Harry] Maguire.”
‘RUBBISH REPORTING’
Gareth Bale’s agent has rubbished reports in Spain that the Welsh star was hoping to retire after Euro 2020.
The forward is preparing to lead his nation at the next month’s showpiece after building up his fitness at Tottenham on a season-long loan from Real Madrid.
Bale, 31, scored 11 goals in just ten Premier League starts at Spurs but was hardly used by Jose Mourinho before the Portuguese boss was axed in April.
He still has a year remaining on his mega £600,000-a-week Madrid contract but Los Blancos are desperate to get him off the wage bill.
Spanish outlet ABC have claimed today that Bale is preparing to quit football at the end of Euro 2020.
It stated the ex-Southampton ace wanted to hang up his boots and attempt to forge a career as a pro golfer.
However, his agent Jonathan Barnett shot those rumours out of the water when asked about them by talkSPORT.
He said: “Sorry, I don’t speak about rubbish reporting.”
‘RUBBISH REPORTING’
Gareth Bale’s agent has rubbished reports in Spain that the Welsh star was hoping to retire after Euro 2020.
The forward is preparing to lead his nation at the next month’s showpiece after building up his fitness at Tottenham on a season-long loan from Real Madrid.
Bale, 31, scored 11 goals in just ten Premier League starts at Spurs but was hardly used by Jose Mourinho before the Portuguese boss was axed in April.
He still has a year remaining on his mega £600,000-a-week Madrid contract but Los Blancos are desperate to get him off the wage bill.
Spanish outlet ABC have claimed today that Bale is preparing to quit football at the end of Euro 2020.
It stated the ex-Southampton ace wanted to hang up his boots and attempt to forge a career as a pro golfer.
However, his agent Jonathan Barnett shot those rumours out of the water when asked about them by talkSPORT.
He said: “Sorry, I don’t speak about rubbish reporting.”
TAP DANCE
Arsenal are reportedly in negotiations to prise highly-rated centre-back and Manchester United target Edmond Tapsoba away from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.
The 22-year-old has been earning rave reviews in the Bundesliga since joining the German side from from Portuguese outfit Vitoria in January 2020.
Man Utd have also been linked with a move for the Burkina Faso international having scouted him this season.
And according to Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari, Arsenal have joined the race to sign the defender.
He has claimed that the player is at the top of Mikel Arteta’s wishlist as he looks to bolster his backline.
HOMEWARD BOUND
Lionel Messi has jetted home to Argentina with his family after being given permission to miss Barcelona’s last league match amid continuing uncertainty over his future.
The footballer was due to reach Buenos Aires this morning with wife Antonela Roccuzzo and children Thiago, eight, Mateo, Ciro, five, and Mateo, three.
Bodyguard Pepe Costa accompanied them as they boarded their plane on Tuesday night at Barcelona’s El Prat airport.
They made a beeline for the airport terminal without stopping after being dropped off in a chauffeur-driven 4×4 despite shouts from waiting photographers anxious to get them to pose for a last family pic on Spanish soil.
The 33-year-old is due to meet up with the Argentina national squad for two World Cup qualifiers with Chile and Colombia on June 3 and 8.
Then they begin their quest for glory at the Copa America tournament.
RU THE DAY
Wolves are willing to sell midfielder and Manchester United transfer target Ruben Neves for around £35million this summer, according to reports.
The Portuguese international looks likely to be one of the names sacrificed as the club plot a mini overhaul.
According to the Athletic, Wolves are being forced to sell their assets if they want to spend big.
Neves, 24, is one of the names up for grabs with reported interest from Man Utd.
He moved to the Molineux in 2017 with the club in the Championship and helped earn promotion in his first campaign.
Neves has since played a key role in Wolves’ time in the Premier League including qualifying for Europe.
EDEN HOME
Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea are the leading contenders to sign Real Madrid star Eden Hazard.
That’s according to bookmakers Betfair, who’ve installed the European heavyweights as favourites to clinch his signature this summer.
Hazard joined Real Madrid from Chelsea in June 2019 in a mega-money deal worth upwards of £130million.
However, things haven’t exactly gone to plan with injuries limiting the 30-year-old to just 34 appearances in all competitions.
The Belgian international managed 10 starts as Real Madrid ended the season without a single trophy and losing their La Liga crown to rivals Atletico Madrid.
The attacker also received scorn from supporters for laughing and joking with his former Chelsea colleagues after his old side had dumped them out of the Champions League.
As a result, reports claim Real will look to offload Hazard in order to finance a major rebuild at the Bernabeu.
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MAN UTD EUROPEAN FINALS XI
Manchester United take on Villarreal in the Europa League final on Wednesday night aiming to win their second title in the second tier of European football.
Luke Shaw will incredibly play in his first-ever cup final after missing the 2017 Europa League final win over Ajax through injury.
But he will almost certainly start for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the 2020-21 squad aim to write their names in the record books.
Ahead of the game, we’ve taken a look at the Man Utd’s best XI based on cup finals.
ED OF THE GAME
Southampton are reportedly plotting a swap deal to sign Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard with Mohammed Elyounoussi heading the other way.
The Hoops’ French striker has scored 83 goals in 168 appearances and attracted plenty of interest from south of the border and abroad.
Both Arsenal and Leicester City have both been linked with a swoop for the 23-year-old.
As Sun Sport exclusively revealed earlier this month, Southampton have now joined the race to sign the former Paris Saint-Germain star.
Now a fresh report from Football Fan Cast has stated the Saints ‘can offer Celtic something which other Premier League clubs can’t’ in Elyounoussi.
Edouard is valued at around £13.5m with Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl previously suggesting he would target players under the £10m price bracket.
AOU ABOUT THAT
Arsenal have been given a major boost in their quest to sign Houssem Aouar with the Lyon midfielder reportedly available for £25million.
The Gunners were heavily linked with a move to sign the 22-year-old last summer, but were priced out of a deal to bring the Frenchman to the Emirates.
It was claimed that the playmaker agreed to link up with the North Londoners who failed to stump up the £54m needed to secure his services.
According to L’Equipe, Aouar’s price tag this summer is over half of what Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas was previously demanding.
They state that an offer between £22m-£25m could be enough to prise the player away from the Groupama Stadium.
That is because Lyon failed to qualify for the Champions League after William Saliba – on loan at Nice from the Gunners – scored the winner in Sunday’s 3-2 victory.
And Arsenal could reignite their interest in Aouar with boss Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu known to be huge admirers of him.
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NO WAY, JOSE
Eden Hazard is reportedly being eyed up by Jose Mourinho who is looking to make him his first Roma signing.
The 30-year-old is one of a number of players that has been put up for sale by Real Madrid following another underwhelming season in Spain.
And it has even been claimed that the Belgium international is looking to leave LaLiga in the summer having failed to prove his worth.
A move back to Chelsea is believed to be his priority, but Leggo via Mundo Deportivo have stated that Mourinho is lining up an audacious swoop for the winger.
The Italian news outlet has declared that the Special One is plotting a reunion with Hazard having managed him at Stamford Bridge for two years.
Mourinho is likely to be given funds by the Giallorossi when he takes charge next season in his first year back in Italy since 2010.
A £43million offer could be enough to tempt Los Blancos into accepting with Hazard failing to live up to his £130m price tag.
BACK ON TORR?
Fernando Torres has dropped a major hint that he is considering a sensational return to football.
The former Chelsea and Liverpool striker hung up his boots in August 2019 after a stint with Japanese side Sagan Tosu.
El Nino would then take up a coaching role with Atletico’s B team of last year before becoming their manager in January – a position he has temporarily stepped away from due to personal reasons.
Away from football, the 37-year-old went viral last year after piling on the muscle in a dramatic body transformation.
Now Torres could be putting his new-found figure to good use back on the football pitch judging by his latest social media post.
Posting an image of the iconic No9 shirt, he wrote the caption: “I only understand life in one way – playing. That’s why I’ve decided to return.”
Fans will need to wait for more information with Torres adding: “This Friday I will communicate where.”
EUR IN TROUBLE
UEFA have opened the way to ban Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus from the Champions League after beginning formal disciplinary charges against the rebel trio.
Euro chiefs are determined to bring the three Super League ringleaders to heel after the collapse of their breakaway plan.
Unlike the Prem Big Six, the two Milan sides and Atletico Madrid, the three clubs have refused to pull the plug on their scheme.
That has infuriated Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin.
He is out for revenge and wants to impose two season bans.
And now that prospect had moved a step closer after Uefa announced its first move.
In a statement, Nyon officials said: “Following an investigation conducted by UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors in connection with the so-called ‘Super League’ project, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona and Juventus FC for a potential violation of UEFA’s legal framework.
“Further information will be made available in due course.”
CONT TO GO
Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte is reportedly set to depart the San Siro within the next 48 hours following a huge row with the club’s president Steven Zhang.
The 51-year-old’s possible shock departure comes after he guided the Nerazzurri to their first Serie A title since 2010 after finishing 12 points clear.
The ex-Chelsea gaffer hinted earlier this month he is unsure of what the future holds, despite having a year left on his contract.
Inter are known to be in serious financial trouble, with La Gazzetta dello Sport claiming their Chinese owners Suning and Zhang are demanding the club to raise money.
It has been stated that as well as Inter needing to cut the wage bill by 20 per cent, they need to raise a whopping £86.5million in player sales.
Former Juve manager Conte – who has recently been involved in a training ground boxing bout with Romelu Lukaku – is said to have been furious after being informed of the decision.
He is claimed to have expressed bitterness towards Inter’s new direction in the meeting and is now seeking to quit the club.
DRIVES YOU MADD
Brendan Rodgers claims James Maddison’s injury-plagued season cost him his place in England’s Euro’s squad.
The Leicester boss said: “James has been unfortunate the way the season has panned out.
“He didn’t start the season and it was difficult for him but then he got a run of games and was exceptional.
“He was creating and scoring goals. It was looking very good for him. Then, he’s picked up the injury and he hasn’t got back to the level of fitness he needs.”
“When you are a very gifted technical player – as he is – you have to be able to move to be able to get on the ball.
“Then, when you have the ball, you need the fitness to produce at such a high technical level. That’s something, unfortunately, that’s just not quite been there.”
CALL TO ARMS
Chelsea are considering flogging winger Callum Hudson-Odoi to Borussia Dortmund this summer, according to reports.
The German giants are eyeing a replacement for Jadon Sancho if the England winger heads to Manchester United.
Hudson-Odoi, 20, has been limited to just 10 Premier League starts this season having failed to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s first-team plans.
The England international was heavily linked with a move to Bayern Munich a year ago.
But Chelsea convinced him to commit his future to Stamford Bridge having penned a £120,000-a-week contract until 2024.
However, Hudson-Odoi has failed to fulfill his potential and Tuchel would be open to letting him leave either permanently or on loan if he can land a replacement.
According to Eurosport, Dortmund are ready to make their move if United pursue Sancho.
RENNES FOR THE HILLS
Arsenal target Eduardo Camavinga has handed in a transfer request but the teenage sensation has his heart set on Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports.
The Rennes midfielder, 18, is one of Europe’s hottest properties following yet another brilliant season.
PSG are one of the clubs monitoring his situation closely and believe he is the future in their midfield.
And it appears his head has been turned after telling Rennes he won’t be signing a new contract.
Camavinga has just a year left on his current deal meaning the club will be forced to flog him this summer or lose him for nothing.
According to RMC Sport, Rennes are prepared to play hardball having slapped a £100million price-tag on their star man.
With the current financial crisis in football due to the coronavirus pandemic, Rennes risk pricing out Europe’s biggest clubs for his signature.
The report adds how club owner Francois Pinault is hoping to spark a bidding war with Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid also all interested.
MORNING FOOTBALL FANS
Gareth Southgate announced his provisional 33-man England squad yesterday, with four uncapped players getting the nod.
Ben Godfrey, Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale and Sam Johnstone all made the cut, although there were some tricky omissions for Southgate to make.
Hopefuls Patrick Bamford, Danny Ings, James Maddison and Eric Dier all missed out, with the Three Lions boss admitting that it was ‘difficult’ not to pick the latter.
He said: “He is a man who I have tremendous respect for and he has been, as you’ve rightly identified, a key player in some of our biggest nights, some of our biggest moments.
“Unfortunately I just don’t think his season has been strong enough to be in the squad.”
There was room for some exciting young talent, however, with Mason Greenwood, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden among a number of players that could be heading to their first tournament.
Southgate, 50, is expected to announce his 26-man squad for the finals next week.
In club football news, Harry Maguire looks likely to miss out on featuring in the Europa League final for Manchester United this evening.
Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to rule his skipper out of contention when quizzed, but Maguire didn’t take part in training last night with his team-mates.
He HAS, however, been included in Southgate’s squad.
Meanwhile, Uefa have begun the process that could eventually lead to Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus being banned from European competitions, after their involvements in the failed European Super League breakaway.
WAGS WARNED
By Duncan Wright
England’s Wags and families will be banned from seeing the England players in the team hotel for the duration of the Euros.
Gareth Southgate has revealed Uefa protocols around Covid-19 make it impossible for his stars to catch up with loved ones at St George’s Park.
He said: “We’re not going to be able to let people in.
“There’s a clear edict from Uefa on what the bubbles need to look like to be as secure as we can make them.
“It’s never going to be 100 per cent failsafe but we’ve got to comply with as much as we can.
“We’re hoping that we might at some point be able to let the players have a little bit of time at home.
“But that’s constantly being assessed. It’d be a preference for us if we can.
“But of course, we’ve got to monitor not only our own situations, but where we are as a country, what are the variants, what the government guidelines are.
“That’s we hope to do that and we’re working towards that, but it is going to be limited access which we have to accept is going to be harder for some players to cope with than for others.
“You know everybody’s going to react to that and respond to that differently.”
ICYMI – THIRTY THREE LIONS
Gareth Southgate named his provisional 33-man England squad earlier today.
Uncapped stars Sam Johnstone, Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White and Ben Godfrey forced their way in.
But their was no place for the likes of Eric Dier, James Maddison, Danny Ings or Patrick Bamford.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
