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      Chelsea struggling to offload flop Tiemoue Bakayoko with Blues’ £31.7m transfer valuation putting off AC Milan

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      CHELSEA’S attempts to bring in cash to offset their summer spending spree are being hampered by AC Milan refusing to meet their asking price for Tiemoue Bakayoko.
      The Blues have splashed out in excess of £230million on signings ahead of the new season and are looking to recoup some cash by offloading their unwanted stars.

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      Tiemoue Bakayoko enjoyed a season-long loan spell at the San Siro for the 2018/19 campaignCredit: AFP or licensors
      Bakayoko, 26, is one they are desperate to flog with Milan willing buyers – but the club are stalling over meeting their £31.6m valuation.
      Chelsea want a £4.5m loan fee to cover this season with an option to buy next summer inserted for a further £27m.
      But Milan are working to a tight budget following the Covid-19 pandemic and say they will only go to £22.6m as the option price, bringing the total value of the deal just over £27m.
      French club Lyon had been interested but it is believed Bakayoko prefers a return to Milan, where he spent the 2018/19 season on loan.

      Chelsea believe they can reach an agreement with Milan over the coming weeks but the deadlock is delaying their plans to start bringing in money with player sales.
      Having wrapped up the signings of Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz, Frank Lampard still has his eyes on two more players before the window closes.
      The club is close to reaching an agreement with Rennes for the £18m capture of Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
      That would see him rival Kepa Arrizabalaga for the position as first choice with the Blues so far unable to find anyone prepared to pay up to £50m for the Spanish stopper.

      West Ham midfielder Declan Rice is another in Lampard’s sights but Chelsea may need to sell more stars to finance a deal with their London rivals valuing the England star at £80m.

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      Palermo captain Alessandro Martinelli forced to retire aged just 27 due to heart issues after extensive tests

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      PALERMO captain Alessandro Martinelli has been forced to retire at just 27 due to heart issues.
      The Swiss star has had to call time on his career after spending only a year at Palermo as medical tests told him it was “impossible” to continue playing.

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      Palermo star Alessandro MartinelliCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Alessandro Martinelli has been hailed as an ‘extraordinary moral character’ by Palermo as he retiresCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The 27-year-old midfielder had been preparing to begin the new season but extensive testing revealed he had anomalous cardiac readings, reports Football Italia.
      Serie C Palermo paid tribute to him in a club statement.
      They said: “The in-depth medical tests that Alessandro Martinelli underwent over the last few weeks have unfortunately shown it is impossible for him to continue his playing career.

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      Palermo captain Alessandro Martinelli has retired age 27Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      “Everyone at Palermo expresses their deep regret and holds Martinelli close, for he was one of the most impressive protagonists of the Rosanero rebirth and a leader, both on and off the field, thanks to his extraordinary moral character, as well as undoubted sporting talent.”

      Martinelli has previously played for Sampdoria, Venezia, Modena and Brescia before moving to Palermo in the summer of 2019.
      He lead the side to promotion last season after the phoenix club were placed in Serie D following the original Palermo going bust a year ago. More

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      Barcelona star Arturo Vidal ‘demands £5.3m payoff to leave’ after being made to train alone ahead of transfer

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      ARTURO VIDAL wants Barcelona to pay him for the remaining year on his contract before he leaves the club, according to reports.
      The Chilean midfielder is closing in on a move to Inter Milan after being told he does not fit into the plans of new Barca boss Ronald Koeman.

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      Arturo Vidal wants a £5.3million payoff from BarcelonaCredit: AFP or licensors
      But according to Gazzetta dello Sport, Vidal is demanding Barcelona first pay him the £5.3million he would be due if he saw out his contract, which expires in 2021.
      Although Vidal’s request has delayed a move to Inter, boss Antonio Conte is confident the deal will be completed.
      The 33-year-old will sign a two-year contract at the San Siro, with the option of a third.
      However, Inter have made it clear they will not pay a transfer fee for Vidal after discovering he has been frozen out by Koeman.

      Further discussions with Barcelona are expected to take place tomorrow in an effort to speed up his departure.
      Vidal also believes he is owed an additional £2.1million in bonuses which could hold up any agreement.
      A move to Inter would see Vidal reunite with Conte, who has made no secret of his desire to work with the mohawked midfielder again following their time together at Juventus.
      Provided negotiations are concluded swiftly, Vidal is expected to complete his medical with the Nerazzurri some time next week.

      Vidal looks set to be the latest casualty of the Barcelona rebuilding job, following the departure of Ivan Rakitic last week, while Luis Suarez is also on the chopping block.
      Suarez and Vidal trained away from the rest of the first-team squad yesterday, with the Uruguayan reportedly closing in on a move to Juventus.
      One man who won’t be leaving the Camp Nou this summer is Lionel Messi, after the Argentine completed a dramatic transfer U-turn by announcing he would be staying at Barcelona.

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      Zlatan Ibrahimovic brands Swedish football a ‘f***ing joke’ in Twitter attack after 1-0 Nations League defeat to France

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      ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has ripped into Sweden boss Janne Andersson for benching Dejan Kulusevski in the 1-0 defeat to France on Saturday.
      The AC Milan striker took to Twitter where he expressed his anger after Les Bleus emerged victorious in the Nations League clash.

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      Swedish icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic ripped into Janne Andersson after the 1-0 defeat against FranceCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Juventus midfielder Kulusevski came on for the last 20 minutes against the world champions, with the player stating he was shocked to not be in the starting XI.
      His comments then drew a surprised reaction from Andersson, which led Ibrahimovic to quote tweet an article from Swedish news outlet Aftonbladet.
      The 38-year-old raged: “What a f****** joke. Further proof.
      “Incompetent people in the wrong positions smothering Swedish football.”

      Speaking after the loss, Kulusevski was asked whether he was given enough time to impress, he said: “No, no, I don’t think so.
      “I was shocked. It felt really, really good in training.
      “But unfortunately, that’s how football is.”
      Commenting on Kulusevski’s reaction, Andersson told reporters: “I haven’t spoken to him afterwards but if he has said it then that is clearly his opinion.

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      Dejan Kulusevski was limited to just 20 minutes in the match against Les BleusCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      “We’ll have to talk about it. I haven’t experienced him as being very shocked.
      “He has done well in the training session, as have many others.
      “We will see if there will be more playing time on Tuesday. He has great qualities and is a great player and will grow into this eventually.”

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      AC Milan in pole position to land Real Madrid flop Luka Jovic as back up to Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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      AC MILAN have reportedly bid to take Luka Jovic on loan from Real Madrid after the Serb’s nightmare debut season in Spain.
      A tally of just two goals in 27 appearances was hardly befitting of a striker who cost over £50million when signing from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer.

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      Luka Jovic may not stay in Madrid after struggling in his debut campaignCredit: Getty – Contributor

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      Zlatan Ibrahimovic turns 39 in October and will need back-upCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      And Jovic’s future is up in the air as Real consider shuffling their pack for the new season.
      According to Tuttosport, Los Blancos are pondering a loan offer from Milan.
      The two clubs have recently been in contact over Brahim Diaz’s temporary switch to the San Siro, allowing Milan to discuss Jovic’s situation.
      Having first been keen on the 22-year-old when Ralf Rangnick was set to take over as coach, coach Stefano Pioli is now thought to also be interested in bringing him in.

      A forward such as Jovic is seen as key for Milan to challenge on both the domestic and European front next season.
      Particularly with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic turning 39 in a month.

      The Swede returned to the club in January and extended his contract for another year in the week.
      After forking out for Brescia starlet Sandro Tonali, the Rossoneri are expected to resort to loan deals for the rest of the window.

      Former Chelsea loanee Tiemoue Bakayoko is reportedly on their radar, as well as Federico Chiesa of Fiorentina.

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      Luis Suarez snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo from five best strikers of all-time list… but is now set to link-up at Juventus

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      LUIS SUAREZ may have to re-think his top strikers of all-time list as he edges closer to joining Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus.
      The 33-year-old is poised to leave Barcelona after he was told by new boss Ronald Koeman that he is not in his plans at the Nou Camp.

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      Barcelona striker Luis Suarez is reportedly close to joining JuventusCredit: Getty – Contributor

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      Cristiano Ronaldo was not named in Suarez’s top five strikers list of all-timeCredit: Icon Sport – Getty
      Andrea Pirlo is said to be a huge fan of the Uruguayan marksman – who has one year left on his deal in Catalonia.
      Juve are looking to bring him to Turin on a free transfer, where they will pay the Blaugrana performance-related bonuses.
      Personal terms are understood to have already been agreed, with Suarez to pocket £256,000-a-week in Turin.
      And with the player set to link up with old rival Ronaldo, he may be wishing he didn’t omit the Portuguese legend from his top five forwards of all-time.

      In an interview with Bleacher Report in December, the former Liverpool star spoke of his favourite attackers – with all the entrants coming from South America.
      RONBELIEVABLE
      Unsurprisingly, his team-mate Lionel Messi sits at the top of the list in what he described as an easy choice.
      Suarez said: “Number one for me is Messi. Because he is one of the best in the world.
      “It’s an easy decision for me.”

      In second place is Argentine legend Gabriel Batistuta – who banged in 54 goals in 77 appearances for the national team.
      Number three is Suarez’s former international team-mate Diego Forlan, with the pair both scoring in the 2011 Copa America final win against Paraguy.

      Brazilian icon Ronaldo is fourth, with Suarez saying: “The fat one. The first Ronaldo. The Brazilian Ronaldo.
      “He’s really good. He’s so quick. He’s an intelligent guy. He’s a nice finisher. He had it all.”
      Completing the list is Ronaldo’s 1994 World Cup-winning team-mate Romario.

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      Chelsea flop Tiemoue Bakayoko close to £2.6m loan to AC Milan with Blues including £27m option to buy in transfer deal

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      AC MILAN ‘are now close’ to agreeing a £2.6million loan move to sign Tiemoue Bakayoko from Chelsea with a £27m option to make the deal permanent.
      The 26-year-old impressed in Italy two seasons ago during a year-long loan at the San Siro. 

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      AC Milan ‘are now close’ to agreeing a £2.6million loan move to sign Tiemoue BakayokoCredit: Reuters
      And after he made 23 appearances on loan at Monaco last term, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is keen to shift the midfielder. 
      According to Fabrizio Romano, Milan are in the final stages of sealing a deal to sign Bakayoko which gives them the option to buy him for £27m after an initial loan fee.
      The Blues have already added Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Malang Sarr, Thiago Silva and Kai Havertz to their squad this year.
      It leaves Lampard is need of a summer clear out and Bakayoko is among those unwanted. 

      The Frenchman was part of Chelsea’s pre-season squad last term with plans to allow the Frenchman the chance to fight for his place. 
      But after a disappointing summer he was loaned back to Monaco, the club he was signed from for £40m in 2017.
      Having had two consecutive loan spells, Chelsea are now keen to sell him permanently. 

      But Milan are reluctant to strike a deal to pay out for him immediately, and will have the upcoming campaign to decide whether they will sign Bakayoko permanently.

      They are also closing in on agreeing a deal to extend Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s San Siro stay by a year – having joined the Italian’s on a one-year deal last summer.
      It comes after Milan announced the loan signing of Brahim Diaz from Real Madrid.

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