ERLING HAALAND’S transfer to Manchester City has been COMPLETED and he is already receiving a warm welcome.
Following the huge news, Aymeric Laporte tweeted: “Happy not to be running after this guy for the next couple of years. Welcome Erling.”
Meanwhile, Real Madrid completed some business of their own as legendary transfer guru Fabrizio Romano announced that Los Blancos have got Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger over the line.
And Luis Suarez is reportedly willing to slash his wages for a shocking move BACK to Barcelona this summer.
Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news across the globe…
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Conte might quit Spurs unless they splash out
Ex-Tottenham and Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet reckons Spurs boss Antonio Conte might quit unless he’s allowed to spend big this summer.
Conte’s fifth-placed team will leapfrog Arsenal if they win tomorrow night’s Prem derby at home.
But Uruguay legend Poyet told Boyle Sports: “I think if he isn’t promised transfers in the summer window, he could leave.
“Everyone was talking about Conte and PSG last summer and it seemed they weren’t ready for each-other, so why now?
“The situation with PSG and Conte is strange for many reasons as they do not play like Unai Emery or Mauricio Pochettino.
“But maybe he’s what they need to get their special trophy that they’re looking for.
“The two teams that need it the most are PSG and Man City and they cannot get it.”
New director promises Boehly bonanza on transfers
Todd Boehly is set to splash the cash this summer at Chelsea once his £4.25billion takeover of the club is completed, writes JAKE LAMBOURNE.
That is the promise of incoming director Daniel Finkelstein, who will be part of the Blues‘ board once the takeover goes through.
American billionaire Boehly and his consortium have agreed a £4.25bn deal to buy the club from Russian owner Roman Abramovich.
The 46-year-old’s team consists of billionaires Mark Walter, Hansjorg Wyss and investment firm Clearlake Capital.
In a statement, Chelsea said the deal is “expected to complete in late May subject to all necessary regulatory approvals”.
Chelsea’s proposed £4.25bn takeover is set to be more than DOUBLE the record for the most expensive in sporting history.
Boehly was in attendance at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to watch the club draw 2-2 against Wolves as Conor Coady scored a dramatic 97th minute equaliser.
And it appears that he is aware that the West London outfit need strengthening, with the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger all set to depart as free agents.
Callum and Nketiah tipped for Ghana switch
Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eddie Nketiah are set to switch from England to Ghana before the winter’s 2022 World Cup.
That is according to Football London, who claim that the two players have been convinced to link up with the African nation, for which they are eligible to play.
Arsenal ace Nketiah, 22, leads the Three Lions’ Under-21 all-time scoring list with 16 goals in 17 appearances but has never competed for the senior team.
Chelsea star Hudson-Odoi, 21, on the other hand, has registered three senior caps. They all came in 2019 when Gareth Southgate dealt with an injury crisis.
A Fifa rule change in 2020 allows players with no more than three international appearances to change their allegiance if those caps came before their 21st birthday.
Therefore, both players can complete the move, which would boost their hopes of playing in the winter’s World Cup in Qatar
Jes the ticket
Manchester United ace Jesse Lingard, whose contract runs out in June, has priced himself out of a transfer to Newcastle.
The Magpies pushed hard to sign Lingard on loan in January, only to be scared off by United’s £16million loan fee.
The Toon have subsequently been touted as a logical potential free agent destination for the midfielder.
According to the Telegraph, however, the England international has scared them off with his financial demands.
They claim that the 29-year-old wants in excess of £150,000-a-week at his next team
Transfer Dor closing
Borussia Dortmund have claimed they can “win the fight for Jude Bellingham” despite interest from Manchester United and Liverpool.
Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke believes they can keep Bellingham after losing Erling Haaland to Manchester City despite rumours linking him to United and the Reds.
Watzke told CNN: “That’s the only way for us because when a player performs very well, we have to fight against the big, big, big clubs with the oligarchs and the Arabian states at their back. And this fight we cannot win.
“But we can win a fight over an 18-year-old player, like Jude Bellingham, because this player loves to play at Borussia Dortmund because we have always 80,000 spectators, it’s a very good atmosphere and the club knows how to manage young players.
“That’s our way and, OK, we have a good department who are scouting young players every day, but it’s also very important if you have the player here, you must develop him and I think that works… most of the time, it works”
West Ham Dec-lined
West Ham star Declan Rice will turn down the Hammers’ offer of an eight-year deal believing it would be crazy to commit the majority of his career to the club, reports SunSport’s Duncan Wright.
The East Londoners have tabled a £200,000-a-week offer for Rice taking him through until 2030.
But SunSport understands the £10million-a-year package is being viewed by the Chelsea and Manchester United target’s side as West Ham co-owner David Sullivan playing to the crowd.
The 23-year-old is one of the hottest prospects in European football and admits he may have to quit the London Stadium to play the top-level football he craves.
And though The Hammers have now come up with four improved offers in an attempt to tie him down the midfielder is standing firm by rejecting all of them.
Central to his thinking is not wanting to box himself into a similar position to Harry Kane, who saw his dream move to Manchester City blocked because Tottenham had him locked into a long-term deal
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Fabian Ruiz price named
Arsenal will have to pay £34million for Napoli star Fabian Ruiz in the summer transfer window.
According to Napoli Piu, the Gunners are the “most interested” in signing Ruiz, who has also attracted attention from elsewhere.
The Partenopei have set an initial price tag of £34m for the midfielder due to his contract situation.
The Spain international has one year remaining on his current contract, meaning his value will likely decrease if he is not sold in the next window – and in 12 months he will be available for free.
The report also suggests that the Serie A outfit could even be persuaded to drop the price by around £3.4m to facilitate a move
More from Jesus agent
Arsenal are targeting Manchester City star Gabriel Jesus ahead of the summer transfer window.
But the Gunners are facing competition from six other teams, who are also interested in Jesus.
That is according to the centre-forward’s agent Marcelo Pettinati, who also admitted his client likes the project at the Emirates.
Pettinati added: “There are six more clubs interested in Gabriel – he’s focused on final games with Man City, we’ll see”
Gabriel Jesus confirmation
Manchester City star Gabriel Jesus’ agent has confirmed transfer talks with Arsenal, admitting his client likes the club’s project.
That is a significant transfer boost for the Gunners’ search for a striker as they face the prospect of having no one to lead the line in June.
Jesus’ agent Marcelo Pettinati has admitted that the striker likes the project that Arteta is putting together.
Pettinati told transfer expert Fabrizio Romano: “We had talks with Arsenal about Gabriel Jesus, we like the project – it’s a possibility we’re discussing”
Ten Hag’s assistant
Manchester United are closing in on naming Mitchell van der Gaag as incoming boss Erik ten Hag’s assistant.
Van der Gaag is Ten Hag’s No2 at Ajax and an agreement is “getting closer”, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
The Red Devils are claimed to consider the Dutchman an “important addition” to the coaching team and have been working on an agreement for months.
Ten Hag is planning a major overhaul at United ahead of his imminent arrival
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Ghana make a change
Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eddie Nketiah are set to switch from England to Ghana before the winter’s 2022 World Cup.
That is according to Football London, who claim that the two players have been convinced to link up with the African nation, for which they are eligible to play.
Arsenal ace Nketiah, 22, leads the Three Lions’ Under-21 all-time scoring list with 16 goals in 17 appearances but has never competed for the senior team.
Chelsea star Hudson-Odoi, 21, on the other hand, has registered three senior caps. They all came in 2019 when Gareth Southgate dealt with an injury crisis.
A Fifa rule change in 2020 allows players with no more than three international appearances to change their allegiance if those caps came before their 21st birthday.
Therefore, both players can complete the move, which would boost their hopes of playing in the winter’s World Cup in Qatar
Has Hag enough
Manchester United incoming boss Erik ten Hag wants the club to begin pre-season in late June – two weeks earlier than planned.
Recalling the squad to training on June 20 would mean a number of United aces having to cut short their summer break.
The Red Devils’ pre-season is set to start on July 4, a month before the next Premier League season gets underway.
But in order to have his squad in tip top shape Ten Hag will ask his players to start two weeks earlier than originally scheduled, report The Mirror
Mart his words
Arsenal have been dealt a major transfer blow in their pursuit of Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez as his agent Alejando Camano has insisted he will not be quitting the club in the summer.
Camano told TV programme ‘Como te va?’: “Sometimes the media publishes stories about his possible transfer but Lautaro is only focused on Inter, giving the fans joy and making them champions again.
“Then he can start preparing for the World Cup with Argentina.
“We are not expecting or looking for a transfer.
“He is at Inter, he is happy, the city is wonderful. We are thinking only of Inter.”
Lautaro has also been linked with Tottenham, who are now coached by his former Inter manager Antonio Conte
Chelsea join Nkunku chase
Chelsea have joined Manchester United in the bidding war for RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku.
According to Sky Sports, the Blues’ boss Thomas Tuchel is now keen on bringing Nkunku to Stamford Bridge.
That is an approach which could diminish United’s hopes of signing the attacking midfielder for next term.
However, the France international currently has no release clause and Leipzig are not keen to sell him
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Rice transfer hint
West Ham star Declan Rice has given the biggest hint yet he will snub a move to Chelsea and Manchester United to stay at the Hammers.
Speaking at the club’s end-of-season awards, Rice picked up the Hammer of the Year before being asked if they will see him for the start of the 2022/2023 campaign.
The midfielder smiled and replied: “Yeah of course.”
After the crowd started chanting his name, he added: “There has been so much speculation but you can see every time I put on a shirt what this club means to me.
“Every time I step onto that pitch, every time I leave the pitch, I will always walk off having given 100 per cent and I will always give everything for this club and the manager and my teammates”
Final efforts for Nketiah
Arsenal are fighting desperately to keep Eddie Nketiah in the team.
Nketiah looks almost certain to be moving on this summer with his contract up next month.
According to the Daily Mirror, the Gunners are “pulling out all the stops” in a bid to convince the centre-forward that his career lies at the Emirates.
Nketiah has held more talks with the North Londoners, with boss Mikel Arteta said to be “desperate to hang on to the forward”
Takeover situation latest
The consortium led by Todd Boehly is ready to take over from departing owner Roman Abramovich at Chelsea.
However, Boehly’s team still needs to be accepted by the Premier League and the UK government until the deal finally becomes official.
Until then, the sanctions remain in full effect and the Blues can’t sell tickets, grant new contracts and buy or sell players.
Therefore, any sort of transfer business won’t heat up until Boehly officially takes over at Stamford Bridge
Gabriel Jesus “really happening”
Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Manchester City star Gabriel Jesus.
It appears that the Gunners are stepping up their pursuit for Jesus ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.
The 25-year-old could be allowed to depart the Etihad to avoid losing him on a free transfer with his contract running out in 2023.
Commenting on the potential deal, Brazilian reporter Andre Hernan has said that talks are at an advanced stage, with negotiations “really happening”
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Pogba faces price cut
Manchester United star Paul Pogba will have to take a pay cut to join one of Europe’s elite.
Pogba’s United deal is set to expire, and there is very little interest from either side to renew his time at Old Trafford.
The midfielder is understood to make around £290,000-a-week at the Red Devils.
And according to Italian journalist Alfonso Pedulla, the France international’s potential suitors cannot match that salary.
Pedulla claims that former club Juventus can pay the 29-year-old a maximum salary of £130,000-a-week.
While he adds that even mega rich Paris Saint-Germain won’t go much over £165,000-a-week.
Real Madrid have also been strongly linked with the Frenchman but they are believed to be easing off now
Kounde keen on Chelsea
Chelsea are still Sevilla ace Jules Kounde’s top choice ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Blues were on the brink of signing Kounde last summer but the move collapsed at the eleventh hour.
But the centre-back is still keen on a move to Stamford Bridge despite interest from a slew of other clubs, according to Football Talk.
The report adds that the West Londoners are the “main suitors” for the France international.
However, he won’t come cheap as the Andalusians are demanding £51.4m for the defender and Chelsea still need to complete Todd Boehly’s takeover
Suarez keen on Barcelona comeback
Atletico Madrid star Luis Suarez would slash his wages for a shock Barcelona return.
That’s the claim in Spain as Suarez eyes a free transfer at the end of his contract this summer.
According to El Chiringuito reporter Jose Alvarez Haya, the striker “would be willing to lower his salary and adapt it to the needs of Barcelona”.
It’s understood Atletico are unlikely to try to renew the Uruguay international’s deal at the end of the season
Rudiger joins Real Madrid
Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger has completed his free move to Real Madrid.
Rudiger will join Real when his contract expires with the Blues upon the season’s conclusion, according to The Athletic.
The centre-back penned a four-year deal with Los Blancos worth between £7-8million per year AFTER TAX, the report added.
The Germany international’s deal will also include a £342m release clause
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Haaland transfer completed
Manchester City have confirmed they have an “agreement in principle” to sign Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland.
If City and Haaland agree on terms, he will be unveiled by the club by July 1, 2022.
A club statement read: “Manchester City can confirm we have reached an agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund for the transfer of striker Erling Haaland to the Club on 1st July 2022.
“The transfer remains subject to the Club finalising terms with the player”
Tuchel in turmoil
Chelsea are battling dressing-room turmoil just as new American owners close in on a £4.25billion takeover.
Boss Thomas Tuchel hauled in his underperforming stars for extra training and a team meeting on their day off on Sunday 24 hours after they blew a two-goal lead against Wolves.
It follows claims the head coach had an exchange of words with left-back Marcos
Alonso, who was substituted at half-time in the game.
Chelsea deny any bust-up between the pair but sources claim Alonso felt he was made a scapegoat for a poor team display.
The Spanish defender believed he was having his effort questioned and that tactics were also to blame for the struggle to secure the points.
Alonso accepts the manager’s right to take him off and wants to play in tomorrow’s game at Leeds to put the incident behind them.
Time off for the Erl
Erling Haaland has been given time off by Borussia Dortmund to finalise his move to Manchester City.
And the Norwegian wants it rubberstamped by the end of the week.
The 21-year-old striker’s wish is that he can say farewell to the Dortmund fans at their final game of the season against Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
Haaland, who has a £64million release clause and is expected to sign a fiveyear deal, is believed to have visited the Erasmus Hospital in Brussels on Monday for some tests connected to the move.
The German club said yesterday: “The players have no training today and we allowed Erling to take care of some personal matters.”
Sources in Germany say Dortmund are now aware that the English champions plan to activate the release clause in his contract.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
