SERGIO AGUERO is closing in on a move to Barcelona next season.
The Argentine legend played his final game for Man City yesterday, and was given an emotional farewell by manager Pep Guardiola.
Chelsea are looking forward to the Champions League final – and reportedly eyeing a huge £80m swoop for in-demand England ace Jadon Sancho.
And French superstar Kylian Mbappe could be on the move to the Spanish capital this summer, with reports suggesting he has an ‘agreement’ to join Los Blancos.
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Follow ALL of the latest news and updates below…
AUBA AND UNDER
Arsenal are interested in a shock move for Leicester flop Cengiz Under, according to reports.
Under joined the Foxes on loan from Roma last summer, to bolster Brendan Rodgers’ forward line.
The temporary deal included a £20million option to buy.
But with the Turkish international having failed to make an impact in the East Midlands, he is set to be back on the market this summer.
His contract in the Italian capital still has another two years left to run.
But he is expected to be sold in the coming months.
According to Tutto Mercato, the Gunners are one of a number of teams interested in signing the winger.
FOX HUNT
Leicester are reportedly closing in on a £20million deal for Lille midfielder Boubakary Soumare.
The Mail claim talks have been ongoing since January with the Ligue 1 side ready to cash in on the 22-year-old due to the financial impact of Covid.
Soumare is thought to have been convinced by a move to the King Power Stadium by France U21 teammate and Leciester defender Wesley Fofana.
NEYMAR PENALTY SHOCKER
Not only did PSG lose the Ligue 1 title to Lille last night, Neymar also missed a penalty in shocking circumstances.
They did win the game 2-0, but Lille’s victory meant they failed to defend the French top flight.
Here is the spot kick.
KANE NOT ABLE
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has confirmed his interest in Manchester United transfer target Harry Kane – while Ollie Watkins has been tipped to replace the striker at Tottenham.
England star Kane has told the North London side he wants to leave this summer after another disappointing campaign.
That has prompted interest from the Blues, Manchester United and City.
HOME GARD
West Ham fear Manchester United will block any attempt to sign Jesse Lingard by opting to keep the star this summer.
Lingard played a key role in helping the Hammers secure a Europa League spot with nine goals in 16 appearances on loan in the capital.
Boss David Moyes is desperate to bring the 28-year-old to the London Stadium on a permanent basis.
But the popular Hammers gaffer admitted on Sunday he had no clue whether a deal was possible.
There are increasing concerns within the club that United have no interest in letting the England ace leave Old Trafford on the back of the impact he has made while on loan.
SunSport understands there has been no contact at all between the two clubs to discuss a permanent deal, despite the Hammers making it clear they would be willing buyers.
‘WE MUST IMPROVE’
Harry Maguire has urged his Manchester United team-mates to ‘improve again’ after an impressive Premier League campaign.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has also confirmed the injured defender will still travel with the team to their Europa League final against Villareal in Gdansk on Wednesday.
Maguire is almost certain to miss the Europa showdown having injured his ankle ligaments against Aston Villa earlier this month.
But the Red Devils captain will still join his team-mates so he can provide support from the sidelines.
And despite his absence from the upcoming season finale and United’s last four Premier League games, Maguire is still trying to keep standards high.
After United won 2-1 at Wolves on Sunday as they comfortably finished second – five points above Liverpool in third – Maguire took to Instagram to urge his team-mates to get better next season.
The 28-year-old uploaded a picture of himself in a United shirt and wrote: “Great way to finish the @premierleague campaign.
“Well done lads. Another step forward this year but we don’t settle for this, next year we must improve again. Looking forward to Wednesday #MUFC.”
NO PLACE FOR HATE
Rio Ferdinand has been racially abused for the second time in less than 24 hours.
The Manchester United legend was subjected to monkey chants from a Wolves fan at Molineux on Sunday.
The supporter was thrown out, arrested and Wolves promised to ban the fan for life if found guilty.
Ferdinand wrote on Twitter: “The last couple of weeks, it’s been unreal to see fans back.
“However to the Wolves fan who has just been thrown out for doing a monkey chant at me, you need to be dismissed from football and educated.
“Come meet me and I will help you understand what it feels like to be racially abused!”
But Ferdinand received further abuse online when Twitter user @AageBjerre told the former England defender and now BT Sport pundit to ‘Eat a banana’ followed by three emojis of the fruit.
GUER WILL HE GO?
Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero bid farewell to the Etihad faithful in fairytale fashion on Sunday with two goals in his team’s 5-0 thrashing of Everton.
But focus has already switched to where he will play next season having confirmed he will leave this summer with his contract expiring next month.
Barcelona are hot favourites to sign the Argentine superstar.
The 32-year-old is one of the greatest players in Premier League history and is demanding £200k-a-week from his next team.
And Pep Guardiola all but confirmed the goal machine will join the Catalan giants in the next few weeks.
However, nothing has been confirmed yet and SunSport has explored five teams the Argentine international could join including Ronald Koeman’s side.
Those five teams are:
- Barcelona
- New York City FC
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Chelsea
- Juventus
GOAL MEDAL
Harry Kane completed a unique double as this season’s top goalscorer and assist-maker – but was still some way off the Premier League’s all-time creation record.
Consistent top form and a largely injury-free season allowed the Tottenham star to produce a personal-best tally of 23 goals and 14 assists.
That meant a total of 37 goal involvements, comfortably clear of Bruno Fernandes (30), Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min (both 27).
Patrick Bamford, Jamie Vardy (both 24) and Marcus Rashford (20) also featured in the upper echelons following strong campaigns in front of goal.
But Tottenham hero Kane still has work to do if he is to best the Prem’s greatest-ever goal creators.
RAM SHOCK
Spain have sensationally dropped captain Sergio Ramos from their Euro 2020 squad.
Boss Luis Enrique has decided to axe the nation’s most-capped player for the summer showpiece.
Ramos only managed 21 appearances in all competitions for Los Blancos and has paid the price for his lack of fitness.
And amazingly it is the first time EVER that no Madrid player has been included in a Spanish squad for a major tournament.
Luis Enrique said: “It was a very difficult decision but Ramos has not been able to compete or train very much recently.
“I would have liked Ramos to be in the squad but I did not think it was viable because he has practically been unable to compete.”
BELL’S HELL
Arsenal star Hector Bellerin has revealed how he turned to booze as he struggled to deal with his injury hell.
Bellerin said: “It was the first time that I had got injured like that, and I had friends and team-mates that had gone through it before, I had my family next to me, but I didn’t know exactly what was going to happen to me.
“I talk about an experience when I came back and I wasn’t really training, and I started going out a lot, I started drinking and all this stuff and you know for a footballer that’s not what you’re supposed to say but it’s the truth.
“We have our issues, we have our mental health problems. And when football, which is basically your identity gets taken out of you, we find it difficult.
“Obviously London is a town that offers a lot of distractions and it’s really easy when you don’t feel you have a responsibility – obviously I knew I had to recover, but I didn’t have to train or play – my mind kind of just went elsewhere.”
TOP MAN
Manchester City are favourites to sign Harry Kane this summer after lifting the Premier League trophy.
Kane’s future is uncertain after he made it clear he’d like to move away from Tottenham.
And bookmakers Betfair make City favourites to land him, ahead of Manchester United and Chelsea.
Kane is said to want to stay in the UK despite Daniel Levy’s preference to sell him abroad.
And the bookies believe Kane will get his way with the European contingent starting with PSG at 9/1, Real Madrid 20/1, Barcelona 25/1 and Juventus 33/1.
HEN DO
Jordan Henderson expects to be fit to lead England at next month’s European Championships.
He said: “I was itching to get on. But I have only trained a few times with the team so it wasn’t the wisest thing to do!
“I feel good. I have been training the last few weeks on my own.
“Now I need team training and hopefully I can be fit for the Euros. Fingers crossed. That is my target.
“I have been working hard in the background. I feel good but I have to go and train with England and be ready for the Euros.”
MAGIC NUMBER
Gary Neville believes Manchester United’s best route to signing Harry Kane is a players-plus-cash deal.
The 46-year-old told Sky Sports: “It’s difficult. City don’t tend to break their budget, do they? [Their record is] £65m-£70m – they’re not going to get him for that.
“So it’s whether they could get a player to Tottenham that would makeweight the deal.
“And I think that’s what United maybe have in Martial, James and Lingard.
“They’re types of players you could send [to Spurs] plus a chunk of money and it might make Daniel Levy happy.”
REUNION
Jose Mourinho is reportedly plotting a reunion with Nemanja Matic for a third time.
The recently-axed Tottenham manager takes charge of Roma this summer and already has several transfer targets in mind.
According to a report from Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has emerged as his No1 priority.
The 32-year-old Serbian already knows the Portuguese ace well.
He was first signed by Mourinho back in 2014 when he returned to Chelsea from Benfica.
Matic then followed him to Old Trafford from the Blues in 2017 and was a mainstay under him for 18 months.
Now Mourinho appears to want his trusted lieutenant again in Italy.
TOP NEWS
Tottenham fans were given double reason to cheer on Monday with the release of next season’s home kit – and a hint Harry Kane may STAY.
The striker claimed the Premier League Golden Boot and Playmaker awards as he helped his club to a European finish on the weekend.
But the North London club’s faithful were worried they were watching Kane, 27, in a Spurs shirt for the final time.
Those fears were somewhat eased soon after as he featured front and centre of their kit release for the 2021-22 season.
The England star posed in the Nike design, which celebrates the centenary of the club’s iconic cockerel badge.
‘HOW’S THAT HAPPENED?’
Liverpool rose from the dead to snatch third place in the Premier League on the final day of the season – and Gary Neville simply couldn’t believe it.
The Reds lost six straight games at Anfield between January and March as they looked destined to not only miss out on Champions League qualification, but all European football entirely.
But Jurgen Klopp’s squad fought until the bitter end, winning eight and drawing two of their final ten games as they roared back up the table.
Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 2-0 on the final day of the season to confirm their spot in the top four.
But with Leicester and Chelsea both losing – to Tottenham and Aston Villa respectively – the Reds ended up third, just ONE place behind Manchester United.
Speaking on Sky Sports, a stunned Neville squeaked: “Have they finished third? How’s that happened?”
PEP TALK
Pep Guardiola all-but confirmed Sergio Aguero’s transfer to Barcelona and appeared to let slip that Lionel Messi will STAY.
The Manchester City boss will lose his star striker this summer when Aguero’s contract expires next month.
And Guardiola seemed happy with the fact the Argentine will be moving to his former club, where he spent 15 years as a player then manager.
He told BBC: “Maybe I reveal a secret. Maybe he is close to agreeing a deal for the club of my heart – for Barcelona.
“He is going to be playing alongside the best player of all time, Messi.
“I’m pretty sure he is going to enjoy. And maybe Barcelona are stronger and stronger with him on the pitch.”
ASTON VANILLA
Chelsea have reportedly complained to the Premier League after their arrival to Villa Park was delayed by stewards eating ice cream.
The Blues’ team bus was held up at the club car park and told to wait ahead of their final game of the Premier League season.
Staff at the gate then informed them they didn’t have permission from the head of security to allow them to proceed ahead.
The delay enraged Blues boss Thomas Tuchel and his players, who went into the match needing a victory to secure Champions League football for next season.
And according to The Daily Mail, they were further incensed after seeing two of the stewards blocking the bus were eating ice cream.
The two stewards were apparently eating ice creams with Flakes and raspberry sauce instead of clearing a path to a parking space.
Chelsea were eventually granted entry, after a 15 minute delay.
IT S-AINT A NO
Danny Ings has refused to rule out a shock transfer to Manchester United or City.
The Southampton striker is a target for both clubs after impressing with 12 Premier League goals in an injury-hit season.
He told talkSPORT: “I’ve got a contract until the summer of 2022. I haven’t really acknowledged them [transfer rumours].
“I’ve just been focused on each game. Ultimately, I’ve still got a contract here. My main focus is to finish the season strong.”
ARTETA ON KROENKE
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta couldn’t lead the club to next season’s European competitions.
The Gunners endured a turbulent campaign that saw the fans clashing with the Kroenke family after the European Super League fiasco.
Arteta, however, defended Josh Kroenke and claimed he “wants to take the club to a different level”.
The Arsenal boss said: “He’s very supportive, very passionate about the club and he wants to take the club to a different level. That’s the ambition and that’s why he’s here”
GOOD MORNING FOOTBALL FANS
Jordan Henderson reveals he expects to be fit to lead England at next month’s European Championships.
The Liverpool captain has not played since the Merseyside Derby in February due to a groin injury that required surgery.
Hendo said: “I was itching to get on. But I have only trained a few times with the team so it wasn’t the wisest thing to do!
“I feel good. I have been training the last few weeks on my own.
“Now I need team training and hopefully I can be fit for the Euros. Fingers crossed. That is my target.
“I have been working hard in the background. I feel good but I have to go and train with England and be ready for the Euros.”
Meanwhile Andrea Pirlo sparked Cristiano Ronaldo exit rumours after dropping him for Juventus’ clash with Bologna.
The Old Lady headed into the away fixture needing to win to stand a chance of qualifying for the Champions League.
In what is undoubtedly one of the biggest games in Pirlo’s reign, he sensationally left Ronaldo on the substitute bench.
And Chelsea could look to steal Jadon Sancho from under the noses of Manchester United.
According to the Daily Mirror, however, the Blues are looking to test the waters with a bid in the region of £80million.
The star winger made a “gentlemen’s agreement” with Dortmund that he will be allowed to leave in the summer if an interested party meets certain demands.
LILLE MIX
Lille completed an incredible Ligue 1 title win on Sunday as they held off a final day challenge from moneybags Paris Saint-Germain.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men beat Brest 2-0 thanks to an own-goal from Romain Faivre and a Kylian Mbappe strike.
But PSG’s victory meant little as Lille beat Angers 2-1, finishing top of Ligue 1 by a single point.
Canadian striker Jonathan David got the party started for Lille after just ten minutes.
And Burak Yilmaz’s penalty had his side looking comfortable before half-time.
A late strike from Angelo Fulgini gave Lille a scare.
But they rode out the last few minutes to clinch title glory.
Lille have now won their first Ligue 1 trophy since the 2010/11 season, when a young Eden Hazard propelled them to victory.
HEN DO
Jordan Henderson expects to be fit to lead England at next month’s European Championships.
The Liverpool captain has not played since the Merseyside Derby in February due to a groin injury that required surgery.
The 30-year-old was an unused substitute against Crystal Palace on the final day of the season but he is confident he can play for Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions at the Euros.
Hendo said: “I was itching to get on. But I have only trained a few times with the team so it wasn’t the wisest thing to do!
“I feel good. I have been training the last few weeks on my own.
“Now I need team training and hopefully I can be fit for the Euros. Fingers crossed. That is my target.
“I have been working hard in the background. I feel good but I have to go and train with England and be ready for the Euros.”
PIRL OF WISDOM
Andrea Pirlo has fuelled Cristiano Ronaldo exit rumours after dropping him for Juventus’ clash with Bologna.
The Old Lady headed into the away fixture needing to win to stand a chance of qualifying for the Champions League.
In what is undoubtedly one of the biggest games in Pirlo’s reign, he sensationally left Ronaldo on the substitute bench.
The Portuguese ace is the league’s top scorer with 29 goals.
But his exclusion, just four days after winning the Coppa Italia, will raise huge doubts over his future.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Ronaldo is not injured and it is a ‘technical decision’ made by Pirlo.
It is only the fifth time in three seasons as a Juventus player that Ronaldo has been benched.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
