CARLO ANCELOTTI is all set to leave Everton and take over the vacant manager’s role at Real Madrid.
The Italian would be returning for a second spell at the Bernabeu after leaving in 2015.
On the transfer front, reports suggest Harry Kane is ready to leave in an effort to win trophies – regardless of whether Mauricio Pochettino returns to Tottenham.
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Follow ALL of the latest news and updates below…
PEP SQUAWK
Pep Guardiola ‘stole’ the Champions League crown from Manchester City with his bizarre team selection, according to Lothar Matthaus.
The Etihad giants’ wait for a first European Cup continues after they slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Chelsea in Porto on Saturday night.
The City boss opted to play three attack-minded midfielders in Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden. That meant both Rodri and Fernandinho were left on the bench, despite at least one playing almost every game all season.
But Germany legend Matthaus has claimed the blame falls solely at the feet of Guardiola for his questionable pre-game tinkering.
Matthaus told Sky Germany: “With his line-up he stole the Champions League from the club and the fans. [Guardiola] has to rightly listen to the harsh criticism from all sides.
“I am sure that there will be internal discussions about whether to part with him. The players will doubt him since that final.”
O MY DAYS
Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Ajax keeper Andre Onana… despite the player’s doping ban.
The 24-year-old was handed a 12-month suspension in February after the banned substance Furosemide was found in his urine.
In a statement, Ajax claimed Onana had accidentally taken one of his wife’s pills while feeling unwell. Onana confirmed he believed the medication to be a ‘simple aspirin’.
Ajax and the player have appealed the decision which could play a big role in his final transfer fee. Arsenal are said to have been in contact with Onana’s representatives since January.
According to Dutch publication NOS, Arsenal will be able to land him for a bargain £1.7million fee if his ban is upheld.
If his suspension is shortened or overturned, then the Gunners will be forced to fork out £7.75m.
TOP DOGS
This is the final eight-man shortlist for the Premier League’s Player of the Season award.
Prem winners Kevin De Bruyne and Ruben Dias make the cut.
As do West Ham star Tomas Soucek and Aston Villa’s England ace Jack Grealish.
RIGHT ON KOU
Sevilla have put a Premier League trio on high alert by placing defender Jules Kounde on the market, according to reports.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are all set to battle it out for the hugely talented 22-year-old centre-back.
Kounde recently fuelled exit rumours by admitting he may ‘change clubs this summer’ to play in the biggest matches in world football.
And Mundo Deportivo write how his club won’t stand in his way amidst the ongoing financial problems in football.
Sevilla are prepared to cash in on their main starlet if they receive an offer in the region of £56million.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is also keen but they may struggle to lure Kounde to North London without European football.
THAT’S THE SPIRIT
Everton are set to approach Nuno Espirito Santo to replace Carlo Ancelotti, it’s understood.
The Italian Toffees boss, 61, is on the verge of completing a stunning return to Real Madrid. Ancelotti had been contracted until 2024, leaving Everton in shock at losing the multiple-Champions League winning coach.
According to talkSPORT, the Toffees will ‘try’ to appoint former Wolves boss Nuno to replace the outgoing Ancelotti. The Portuguese, 47, left Wolves by mutual consent last month, after a low key season in which they finished 13th.
But Nuno has plenty of credit in the bank from his four years at Molineux.
The former Porto and Valencia boss stormed to the Championship title in his first season, before guiding Wolves to two consecutive seventh placed finishes in the Premier League.
Nuno has also been loosely linked with the vacant Spurs job, but isn’t believed to be on the North Londoners’ radar.
FAREWELL JAGS
Sheffield United legend Phil Jagielka has been released by the Blades after 309 appearances for the club spanning 21 years.
The centre-back is being let go when his contract expires at the end of this month.
Jagielka, 38, will join John Lundstram, Simon Moore and Jack Rodwell in heading for the exit door along with youngsters Ashton Hall and Tommy Williams.
Ethan Ampadu will return to Chelsea following his season-long loan.
But Kean Bryan has been offered new terms.
YOUNG GUNS
Phil Foden, Declan Rice and Marcus Rashford have all made the final cut for the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season award.
Mason Mount, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ruben Dias, Bukayo Saka and Illan Meslier have also made the eight-man shortlist.
OLE UP
The Premier League have nominated Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the five-man shortlist for Manager of the Year.
Marcelo Bielsa, David Moyes, Brendan Rodgers and Pep Guardiola also make the cut.
MAUR TO COME
Maurizio Sarri is finally freed from his Juventus contract a year after being sacked, opening the way for a move to Lazio.
The Italian is in talks to succeed Inter Milan-bound Simone Inzaghi on a three-year contract, according to Il Messaggero.
A contract worth around £50,000-a-week is in the works.
ARM WRESTLE
Southampton could bid £15million for Blackburn star Adam Armstrong this summer.
Daily Express report on Rovers’ facing Premier League interest for their star striker.
But Newcastle’s 40 per cent sell-on fee for their academy product will mean the Championship side seeking £20m-plus for a sale.
Credit: PA LILLE BRO
Ligue 1 champions Lille are looking to the English second-tier for reinforcements, according to TEAMtalk.
Bournemouth’s Arnaut Danjuma and Reading’s Michael Olise both starred as their sides missed out on promotion.
And the Cherries would want north of £20million for their star winger, it is claimed.
START THE CAR
Carlo Ancelotti’s quickfire return to Real Madrid is being described as a ‘done deal’!
The Everton boss has been linked by multiple outlets with Los Blancos today and The Athletic say negotiations have been swiftly completed.
Credit: AFP YOU BLUETY
Olivier Giroud announced his new TikTok account in style by sharing a clip of a world-class, training ground goal.
The Chelsea striker, 34, teased fans over a ‘new social media account’ in a hopelessly-contrived conversation with the Blues’ official Twitter account.
CLOCKING OFF
Sergio Aguero shelled out a staggering £60,000 to buy every single member of Manchester City’s backroom staff a watch – AND enter them into a raffle to win his brand new car.
The Argentine legend, 32, will leave the Etihad at the end of the month and join Barcelona and he had some incredible parting gifts for the 60-strong backroom staff at City after a decade at the club.
According to The Athletic, the Man City icon bought everyone either a Tag Heuer of Hublot watch, with some models – including the Tag Heuer Formula 1, valued at up to £1,650.
Each watch was engraved with the words: “Gracias! Kun Aguero.”
The striker also entered every member of staff into a raffle to win his Range Rover Evoque. It’s claimed one of Aguero’s favourite Man City employees won the car – one of the City kit men.
FIK AS THIEVES
Chelsea have agreed to sell Fikayo Tomori to AC Milan for £25million, according to reports.
Happy with his performances, Milan chiefs have been working on making the deal permanent.
They were keen to negotiate a discount, however, on the £25m option to buy agreed in January’s loan transfer.
But according to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea haven’t budged, with Milan set to pay the amount in full to acquire Tomori’s services on a full-time basis.
Credit: AP
DAN IN THE DUMPS
Daniel Sturridge still had the world at his feet back in 2016 — despite being part of England’s shameful Euros exit.
The striker, who had scored in the Europa League final for Liverpool a few weeks earlier, was expected to push on at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp.
But today — as England name their squad for this summer’s tournament — Sturridge is a free agent who last played a match 15 MONTHS ago.
Read Charlie Wyett’s full feature on the striker here.
XHAK IT TO ME
Roma are reportedly chasing a deal for Granit Xhaka before the start of the Euros.
A £17million fee has been slapped on the midfielder by the Gunners.
Former Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho and Xhaka are said to be big fans of one another with La Gazzetta dello Sport detailing a £13m-plus-bonuses offer.
Cengiz Under or Amadou Diawara could even be offered as player exchange alternatives.
Credit: EPA FOR-EMER MORE
Napoli are back in for Chelsea defender Emerson Palmieri.
The Blues’ third-choice left-back is said to cost £13million by Il Mattino, a fee which could be lowered through negotiations.
Ben Chilwell and Marcos Alonso are ahead of the Italian in Thomas Tuchel’s pecking order.
REAL DEAL
Real Madrid have released their new 2021-22 home kit – complete with a blue and orange trim and spiral design.
Los Blancos shared pictures of the strip on their club website, with the latest effort from adidas to be available to buy next week.
And the new jersey – made from recycled materials – boasts a new colour scheme, with blue and orange replacing the traditional gold.
EVENING ENTERTAINMENT
A few international friendlies are on tonight to keep your football hunger at bay.
England’s group opponents Croatia face Armenia while fellow Euro 2020 hopefuls Slovakia host Bulgaria (both 5pm) and Russia take on Poland (7.45pm).
There is also plenty up for grabs in Northern Ireland’s ECL play-off as Cliftonville face Crusaders and Larne host Glenarvon (both 7.45pm).
PEL OF A TEAM
Pele has selected an ultra-attacking FIFA 21 side, available to challenge within the game.
The Brazilian, arguably the greatest player of all time, attempted to cram in as many attacking players as he possibly could.
Check this out…
RAPH RIDE
Manchester United and Chelsea are set to battle it out for defender Raphael Varane this summer, according to reports.
And both are willing to offer DOUBLE the salary that Real Madrid have tabled.
According to Defensa Central, Real Madrid will definitely sell Varane this in the coming months, should he refuse to sign a new deal.
President Florentino Perez hopes to receive more than £60million for the defender – an easy fee for English sides to reach.
Madrid are believed to have offered Varane around £100,000-a-week to stay at Santiago Bernabeu.
But Man United and Chelsea are both willing to pay £200,000-a-week for his services.
ANCEL DELIGHT
Real Madrid have chosen Carlo Ancelotti to become their next manager, according to reports in Spain.
The Everton boss coached the Bernabeu giants to Champions League glory during his first spell in Madrid, between 2013 and 2015.
Marca claim Real want to seal the deal immediately after deciding that Mauricio Pochettino and Antonio Conte were not feasible options to replace Zinedine Zidane.
Credit: AP DONN AND DUSTED
Roma have entered the race for Gianluigi Donnarumma.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Jose Mourinho is pushing his new club into an audacious bid for the goalkeeper.
AC Milan are set to lose him on a free with contract negotiations failing.
Agent Mino Raiola is being entrusted with Donnarumma’s future and a £165,000-a-week contract offer may be enough to seal the deal.
However, the Italian is said to have other clubs on his mind.
VOTING BOOTH
Bruno Fernandes is among the nominees for the Premier League Player of the Season.
Fans will vote on their favourite star online with Harry Kane, Ruben Dias and Mohamed Salah in the running.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
