CHELSEA are looking forward to the Champions League final – and reportedly eyeing a summer swoop for Bayern’s Niklas Sule.Elsewhere we’ve the very latest on Tottenham’s manager search, while Sergio Aguero is reportedly set for a move to Barcelona.
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…
DEL HELL
Sir Alex Ferguson has questioned the recent form of Tottenham star Dele Alli.
The legendary coach thought the 25-year-old midfielder was going to become a ‘top player’ and has admitted he ‘doesn’t know what’s happened’ to his promising career.
Speaking to SPORTbible, Ferguson said: “I thought Dele Alli was going to be a top player, I must admit.
“I don’t know what’s happened there.”
The 79-year-old had been asked if there was anyone from the current game he’d try and sign if he was still a manager.
He was about to talk about Harry Kane before unexpectedly turning his attention to his Tottenham colleague.
Alli burst on to the scene in 2015 when he joined Spurs from MK Dons for £5million, winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award in his first season at White Hart Lane.
ROO THE DAY
Dimitar Berbatov has shared how he and his Manchester United felt after Wayne Rooney handed in a transfer request at the club.
Rooney, 35, infamously handed in transfer requests on two occasions, in 2010 and 2013.
Berbatov said: “Transfer requests are a normal thing in football, players want to leave clubs.
“I was at Manchester United when one of the biggest names in football at the time, Wayne Rooney wanted to leave and handed in a transfer request.
“There were a lot of questions about why he wanted to go at the time and there was a lot of speculation, but in the dressing room you try to understand motives behind something like this and you don’t ask about it.
“You just try to put yourself in the player’s situation and see things from their side.
“As a player you can’t pay too much attention to these things and get distracted by it because it can affect your own game and performance.
“Moments like this can bring tension to a team which is why you shouldn’t focus too much on it, you can only hope that it gets resolved as quickly as possible for the good of the team.”
DEPAY HIM
Memphis Depay will quit Lyon this summer, with Barcelona reported to be interested in signing the ex-Manchester United forward.
The 27-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season – and it’s bad news for United, who are set to receive nothing from the player’s sell-on clause.
Speaking to French newspaper L’Equipe, Depay said: “It will be strange to think that I will play my final game for the club on Sunday against Nice.
“I am a bit sad that I won’t be able to do that in front of the fans, in an empty stadium without my friends, the fans and my family.
“I’ve had some great times here. I have played in the Champions League, I have captained the team and I am a much better player now.
“I want to go to one of the two or three best clubs in the top five leagues. I don’t know where I will end up yet, but that’s my plan.
“If people don’t consider me a player of that level then they have a problem with me. If I am not on the list of great players then it’s their problem.”
NOU CHALLENGE
Sergio Aguero has agreed a two-year Barcelona contract as Manchester City’s record scorer heads for a summer free transfer.
That’s the claim from journalist Fabrizio Romano as Aguero battles to be fit for City’s Champions League final against Chelsea on May 29.
Aguero is likely to miss the Premier League kings’ domestic finale against Everton in front of returning home fans on Sunday with his leg injury.
But Romano believes the Argentina striker, 32, has made dramatic progress off the field in reported talks with Barcelona.
He tweeted that Aguero is “set to join until June 2023, agreement reached. Bonus included in case Barca will win the UCL”.
LOCK & KEY
Allan Saint-Maximin has urged Newcastle to land Joe Willock on a permanent deal.
The Arsenal loanee, 21, has scored in his last six consecutive matches to fire Toon to Premier League safety.
Saint-Maximin also compared his relationship on the field with Willock to that of lethal Tottenham pair Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.
He added: “My relationship is really good with Joe inside and outside the pitch, and you can see how that helps a team when you have players like that – like Harry Kane and Heung-min Son at Tottenham.”
Saint-Maximin, undoubtedly Newcastle’s shining light in a disappointing campaign, was also speaking openly about his own future.
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce said interest in Saint-Maximin, 24, is ‘inevitable’ this summer.
And whilst the tricky winger admitted he is eager to win trophies, he suggested landing the quality of Willock will help convince him to stay.
ART ATTACK
Fabrizio Romano is adamant that Arsenal are going to continue with Mikel Arteta in the dugout.
Romano said on the Here We Go podcast: “Arsenal’s intention is to go on with Arteta, I would say 100 per cent, because they are convinced with Arteta, they are convinced with the project.
“They think that one year with this kind of manager, he needs time.
“The season has been really disappointing and they know about it, but they want to continue with Arteta, so at the moment the situation is planning with him about players to sell, players to sign and rebuilding in the summer.
“So Arteta is the man for Arsenal”
YOU JUST GOT KANED
Wigan chairman Talal Al-Hammad has mocked Tottenham by telling his Twitter followers the League One side are ‘monitoring’ Harry Kane.
The England captain wants to leave North London and the Wigan chief jokingly offered to have him at the DW Stadium next season.
The banter started when Al-Hammad tweeted an inspirational quote.
He wrote on the social media platform: “Dream big – dream very big.
“Work hard – work very hard, don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon. Up the Tics.”
Having lifted silverware more recently than Tottenham Hotspur we are continuing to monitor the Harry Kane situation closely https://t.co/UV0Dw8ZEMt— Talal Al Hammad | طلال الحماد (@Talalalhammad32) May 21, 2021
JAD YOUR CHANCE
Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho will be allowed to leave the club for under £86million this summer, according to reports.
And Manchester United and Chelsea are set to battle it out in an ‘open race’ for the England winger.
The Red Devils were desperate to land Sancho last summer.
But Dortmund’s previous asking price of £117million proved to be more than United were willing to pay.
This time around, however, Fabrizio Romano reports that the German side’s position is ‘clear’ – that they will sell for a ‘bit less’ than £86m.
Man United and Chelsea are both keen on signing the 21-year-old, but no offers or talks have yet taken place.
Credit: Alamy
IN THE BAGGIE
Chris Wilder will reportedly hold talks over becoming West Brom’s new boss.
The Baggies are on the lookout for a manager after Sam Allardyce rejected an offer to plot their promotion bid out of the Championship.
Having only won four of his 25 games in charge, the 66-year-old has called for the club to find a ‘long-term’ solution in the dugout.
Lincoln boss Michael Appleton and ex-Chelsea manager Frank Lampard have been linked.
But Wilder is the frontrunner after the Telegraph reported on upcoming negotiations between the club and coach.
West Brom are said to be keen on a free agent with their summer transfer budget already set.
UP FOR THE CUP
The prospect of the World Cup coming every TWO years took a huge step forward after Fifa voted to back the idea.
Fifa President Gianni Infantino is a supporter of the concept, which is bitterly opposed by European chiefs.
But a proposal to establish a “feasibility study” into the idea of holding both the men’s and women’s World Cups on a two-year cycle passed by a substantial margin at the virtual Congress of the 211 member associations.
Saudi Arabia’s proposal was supported by 166 nations, with only 22 opposed and 21 abstaining – Pakistan and Chad are currently suspended by Fifa.
Only the Saudis, backed by Morocco, spoke about the motion, although a smiling Infantino promised: “This will be looked at by the Fifa administration and all stakeholders.”
But Infantino also signaled he will use the study to look at significant changes to the number of international matches played in qualifying campaigns.
Infantino, in his earlier address to the world game, said: “We face challenges and questions about how many matches can a player play per year.
“Do we want more games or less, but more meaningful, games? The International Match Calendar is global and has to take into account the variety of situations around the world.
“Our starting point is not that the calendar is full and nothing can change. Instead we have a blank sheet of paper and we are open to take on board all views and opinions about how to make it better.
“We cannot just look at the final tournament in isolation. We have to look at qualifying competitions as well.”
BRUY ME
Harry Kane has described Kevin De Bruyne as the Premier League star he would most like to play with – amid rumours linking him with a move to Manchester City.
The league champions are joined by Chelsea and Manchester United in chasing down the 27-year-old after he told Tottenham he wanted to leave.
It is thought Kane would prefer a move to the Etihad and the opportunity to work with playmaker De Bruyne appears to be a tempting one.
During an episode of The Overlap, the striker was asked by Gary Neville who he dreams of playing in front of.
Kane didn’t hesitate and replied: “De Bruyne for sure.
“When I watch De Bruyne play… he’s a special, special player.
“And some of the balls I see him put in for City are just a striker’s dream if I’m honest.
“You see it year in year out, he’s an outstanding player.
“With the ball, off the ball, pressing. But his delivery is as good as I’ve ever seen.”
Credit: AFP
SEE LU, LATER
Arsenal confirmed David Luiz will leave the club on a free agent at the end of the season after just two years at the club.
The Gunners signed the Brazilian centre-back, 34, from Chelsea in an £8million deal in the summer of 2019.Luiz has since gone on to help them win the 2019-20 FA Cup in 73 games at the Emirates.
But Mikel Arteta has confirmed Luiz will walk away from the club this summer after negotiations over a contract extension collapsed.
And Arsenal’s official Twitter account posted an image of Luiz, simply captioned with a heart emoji following the news.
On Luiz’s departure, Arteta said: “He’s a player who has won everything in football and has earned every right to do so through who he is as a player and as a person.
“I had the privilege to work with him for 18 months. I really enjoyed it. I think we got on really good. I think we had some great moments together.
“He’s been really helpful, someone who we really like and appreciate so much. So I say thank you to him and wish him the best of luck in his next chapter.
“I’m sure knowing David that he will have many more to come as a player and in the future somehow related to the game.”
HAAL OF A MOVE
Tottenham reportedly started planning for Harry Kane’s exit in FEBRUARY – and even discussed moving for Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland to replace him.
The North London club have been left stunned after the striker told them he wants to move this summer.
That should see a £150million transfer scramble by a player highly regarded in world football.
According to MailOnline, in February Spurs ‘made discreet enquiries about the terms required by Borussia Dortmund forward Erling Haaland’.
But they were put off by his wage demands – believed to be at least £350,000-a-week.
Recruiting a potential replacement for 27-year-old Kane then began, with Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus and Manchester United star Anthony Martial shortlisted.
Although Spurs chairman Daniel Levy does not want to sell to the two Manchester clubs, those players could form part of the deal.
ROYAL RUMBLE
Arsenal and Everton are interested in Barcelona right-back Emerson Royal, according to reports.
The Brazilian has spent the last two seasons on loan at Real Betis, as he looks to establish himself in LaLiga.
Emerson, 22, hopes to impress parent club Barca during pre-season, aiming to become their first choice right-back next term
But should he look likely to have to play understudy to Sergino Dest, the former Atletico Mineiro starlet will look elsewhere.
According to Sport, Emerson wouldn’t be short of suitors, with Villarreal and AC Milan both keen.
But they reckon that the player himself prefers the idea of moving to England.
Arsenal are a particularly good fit, especially if Hector Bellerin completes a rumoured move to Paris Saint-Germain.
DOR OPEN
Chelsea are plan to step up their pursuit of Jadon Sancho by launching an £80million bid.
The Blues are huge admirers of the England winger but face a battle with Manchester United for his signature.
The 21-year-old is set to quit Borussia Dortmund this summer and has his heart set on a return to the Premier League.
Sancho was eyed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side last year but his £117m price tag proved too high.
SunSport understands Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is a huge fan of the Three Lions wideman.
The German wants to focus on having a strong finish to the season before eyeing transfers.
But Stamford Bridge chiefs are then expected to make a serious move for the former Manchester City academy kid.
IRN BRU
Steve Bruce admitted that Arsenal loanee Joe Willock may have priced himself out of a permanent Newcastle move.
He said: “It’s a double-edged sword because he’s probably done too well. I know for a fact we will do our utmost to test Arsenal’s resolve.
“We know it’s going to be very, very difficult because he’s become the youngest player in the Premier League to score six in six, and he’s somebody else’s player.
“We’re going to be up against it. We’re expecting that but we can only try, and I will make sure we try our best.
“We have to respect that he’s Arsenal’s player and that he’s 21-years-old.
“But of course it would be disappointing if we can’t bring him back.”
Credit: PA
GOOD FOR THE SOL
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed he does not expect ‘too many outgoings’ in the upcoming transfer window.
The United manager said: “We’re planning as we normally do. It’s not like end of season, and let’s see what we do, that’s an ongoing process, looking at the squad, players who are going to stay, players who might be leaving.
“And, as I said a couple of times recently, I hope we’re going to strengthen with two or three players we definitely need to challenge higher up in the table.
“We’re still too behind to think it’s just going to come by itself. We’ve had a few players on loan that might come back in, there is interest in a few others, maybe going out.
“But you want to come out of the transfer window strengthened and it might be we allow some players to go out and gain experience, come back stronger for it.
“Apart from that, it’s difficult to say. I can’t see too many outgoings.”
EUR HAVING A LAUGH
Journalist David Ornstein has claimed Arsenal’s transfer business won’t be affected if they fail to qualify for Europe.
He told Sky Sports: “I know with Arsenal they [the transfer plans] have already been submitted by Edu and Mikel Arteta to the board of directors and they are very clear in what they want to do.
“Whether they will be able to do it will depend on the finance which is made available by the owners and whether they will be able to attract players.
“I know of a number of players Arsenal have made proposals to, very attractive, and they do have a plan to get back into the big time.
“Edu & Arteta are selling an impressive project to potential recruits but many of those players have ambitions to play in the Champions League or at least the Europa League so they are not considering those proposals at this point.”
TAKING THE NIK
Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Bayern Munich defender Niklas Sule this summer.
The 25-year-old has been in and out of the German champions’ side over the last two campaigns.
He has played 133 times for Bayern but could well be on the move at the end of the season, according to Abendzeitung.
This is because his contract expires in 2022, so the club may feel they need to cash in on him this summer.
When talking about contract negotiations with Sule, Bayern board member Oliver Kahn said: “You have to see what package we can offer a player.
“FC Bayern has an excellent squad that can win all titles. And this wonderful city! What more do you want as a player?”
Niklas Sule could be set for a move to England this summer
SOL TRADER
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told the Glazers they need to splash the cash on two or three more players to close the gap on champions City.
United sealed runners-up spot last week but will still finish well adrift of their neighbours.
Now the Red Devils boss wants to spend to make sure that they can lift the title next season for the first time since 2013.
Solskjaer said: “I hope we are going to strengthen with two or three players, we definitely need to challenge higher up in the table and we’re still too far behind to think it will just come by itself.
“We’re not where we aim to be, we’ve got ambitions to move one place further up.”
Spurs striker Harry Kane, Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund and even a return for Cristiano Ronaldo are all being discussed at the highest level at Old Trafford.
They will hope to get one of those and then prioritise another centre-back and midfielder.
ALL OUT
Massimiliano Allegri has reportedly snubbed an approach from Tottenham in order to wait to see whether Zinedine Zidane leaves Real Madrid.
The North London club are looking for a permanent replacement for Jose Mourinho after axing the Portuguese boss days before the Carabao Cup Final.
Ryan Mason is in temporary charge until the end of the season but chairman Daniel Levy is already working on finding a new man to take over.
Now Diario AS claims former Juventus boss Allegri was asked about his interest in the job.
The Italian has been out of work since leaving the Old Lady two years ago.
However, the Spanish outlet says the 53-year-old rejected Spurs because he is keen on potentially replacing Zidane at Madrid.
Reports emerged last week that the French legend will leave the Bernabeu this summer due to a feeling he no longer has the support of president Florentino Perez.
Massimiliano Allegri has reportedly snubbed Tottenham
BUZZ KYL
Kylian Mbappe and his family ‘have an agreement’ with Real Madrid, according to reports.
But the Spanish giants face a battle striking a deal with Paris Saint-Germain.
The Frenchman is set to enter the final year of his contract at Parc des Princes, with little to indicate that he is close to penning an extension.
PSG’s Qatari owners have tabled a three-year extension.
But according to football agent Bruno Santin, Mbappe, 22, has already reached an agreement with Madrid.
Asked about the potential move, he told French network Canal+: “My feeling is more than he is willing to do it.
“I also have some information, according to which Kylian Mbappe and his family have an agreement with Real Madrid.
“In principle, there would be an agreement on the part of the player, but we also need the agreement of Paris Saint-Germain.”
NUNO GOING
Nuno Espirito Santo will leave Wolverhampton Wanderers after Sunday’s final game of the season.
The 47-year-old Portuguese boss is walking away from Molineux by mutual agreement after four seasons.
Nuno said: “Since the first day we arrived at Compton, our ambition was to make a positive change and push this football club forward, and I am proud to say that we did that every single day. We achieved our goals, we did it with passion and we did it together.
“Firstly, I want to thank the supporters, who have all played such an important part in helping us reach new heights for Wolves, and the people of the city, who embraced us and made us feel at home.
“I, of course, want to thank all of the staff at Wolves, for their support and total commitment, every single day.
“Most importantly, I want to thank each-and-every player that we’ve worked with since the day we started, for their loyalty, their dedication, hard work and talent. They are the ones who have made this amazing journey possible for us.
“Sunday will be a very emotional day, but I am so happy that the fans will be back in Molineux and we can share one last special moment together, as one pack.”
KEP YOUR MONEY
could be offered Kepa Arrizabalaga or Tammy Abraham in Chelsea’s bid to sign Harry Kane.
The Blues are in the mix to snap up the striker, 27, after he told Spurs of his desire to leave at the end of the season.
Manchester clubs United and City were revealed by SunSport this week to be preparing an £80million, five-year contract offer for the player.
But a huge transfer fee will also be required, potentially up to £150m, as Spurs seek to hold onto their star forward.
Therefore several reports of part-exchange deals have emerged with United said to be willing to let Anthony Martial or Jesse Lingard sign for Tottenham to reduce the cash payment.
According to ESPN, Chelsea are also considering this route with a number of fringe players eyed for a swap.
MAN DOWN
Harry Maguire will miss the Europa League Final in Gdansk due to his ankle ligament injury.
Now he must be a major doubt for England and the Euros next month too.
Hopes were raised when he was pictured on Thursday night without crutches or his protective boot at the premier of Sir Alex Ferguson’s film ‘Never Give In’.
But Manchester United boss Ole Solskjaer says those are forlorn hopes.
Solskjaer said: “He’s walking but it’s a long way from walking to running. To be honest I don’t think we’ll see him Gdansk, no.
“I’m going to give him until Tuesday night, the last training session to be out there. Steadily but surely he’s improving but ligaments take time to heal.”
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