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    AC Milan ‘offered Arsenal star on free transfer’ with no new Emirates contract agreed yet

    AC MILAN could snap up Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson on a free transfer this summer, according to reports.The 23-year-old’s Gunners contract is set to expire at the end of the season.
    Reiss Nelson is out of contract in the summerCredit: AFP
    And the club are yet to reach an agreement when it comes to a new deal despite reports he would “love” to stay.
    According to Football Italia, AC Milan are interested in acquiring him if he becomes a free agent.
    The Italian giants are prioritising the signing of a striker in the summer window as they look to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Divock Origi.
    But with the futures of trio Ante Rebic, Charles De Ketelaere and Rafael Leao all uncertain, a wide forward is also being targeted.
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    And Nelson could fit the mould as he has shown flashes of brilliance this season, despite limited game time.
    He has made six substitute appearances in the Premier League – but not managed a single start.
    Nelson’s standout moment in the 2022/23 campaign came when he struck a sensational last-minute winner against Bournemouth last month.
    However, he has been a bit-part player due to the form of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.
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    And Leandro Trossard’s arrival in January pushed him even further down the pecking order.
    All in all, Nelson has contributed seven goals and seven assists in 61 games for Arsenal.
    But he has shown promise during loan spells with Feyenoord and Hoffenheim.
    And AC Milan could obtain his services if Arsenal fail to tie Nelson down to a new contract.
    The seven-time European champions sit fourth in Serie A as they fight for a Champions League place.
    But they could still qualify for Europe’s elite competition even if they miss out on the top four.
    That is because they are in with a chance of winning it this year as they prepare for a mouthwatering semi-final clash against bitter rivals Inter Milan. More

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    Chelsea ‘to meet Inter Milan chiefs over Andre Onana transfer’ as Blues look to replace Mendy and Kepa

    CHELSEA are ready to meet Inter Milan chiefs over a transfer for Andre Onana.And Romelu Lukaku’s future will be high on the agenda too.
    Andre Onana is wanted by ChelseaCredit: Getty
    Romelu Lukaku’s future will be talked about when Chelsea and Inter Milan meetCredit: Getty
    Officials are set to fly to Italy as the Blues begin planning for a summer overhaul.
    The Evening Standard say Chelsea want Onana to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy in goal.
    Owner Todd Boehly is looking to trim his inflated squad and it’s claimed a swap deal involving Lukaku could be on the cards.
    And that would allow Kepa and Mendy – who have each failed to assert themselves a No 1 – to depart.
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    £97.5million flop Lukaku has spend the season on loan at Inter but has struggled for fitness.
    Lukaku wants to stay in Italy after an unhappy time at Chelsea, but he faces a battle to get them to make the transfer permanent.
    And the Italians could elect to send the Belgian back to Stamford Bridge and demand a fee for Onana.
    The Cameroonian stopper has impressed in Serie A this season, conceding only 18 goals in 20 matches.
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    But sixth-placed Inter’s woes have been at the other end, with Lukaku missing 18 games through injury.
    Lukaku can reportedly stay next year on loan again for the same £7million loan fee and £165,000-a-week wages, roughly half his Chelsea contract, but Boehly may prefer to sell him for good.
    Brentford’s David Raya, Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel and Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili are other keepers being monitored by Chelsea.
    Edouard Mendy or Kepa Arrizabalaga could leave Chelsea this summerCredit: AFP More

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    Two Barcelona stars ‘REJECT salary cuts as club aim to slash wage bill by £180m so they can bring back Messi’

    BARCELONA have been handed a blow in their attempts to cut the wage bill in order to re-sign Lionel Messi.The LaLiga giants are hopeful of bringing the former favourite back to the Nou Camp once his contract expires at PSG this summer.
    Andreas Christensen has rejected a pay cut at BarcelonaCredit: Alamy
    Franck Kessie has also turned down the LaLiga giantsCredit: Alamy
    Barcelona are trying to reduce the wage bill in order to sign Lionel MessiCredit: Getty
    However, to be able to afford the mercurial Argentinian forward, Barcelona must reduce the wage bill by a reported £180million.
    This reduction would allow the club to make some more significant moves this summer after a financially tricky period.
    Over the last couple of years, members of the squad have taken pay cuts in order to help the club.
    But according to Sport, Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen are two that have recently rejected decreases to their salaries.
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    The duo have only been at the club since last summer after joining on free transfers from AC Milan and Chelsea.
    And the report suggests that the proposed pay cut have not gone down well with the players arguing that they rejected larger contracts to join the club in the first place.
    It goes on to say that Kessie and Christensen think that the contract change is unwarranted considering their short time at the club.
    This means that Barcelona would have to consider different options to trim their expenses.
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    Messi recently reignited hope of a spectacular return to the club after he was spotted with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
    Barcelona boss Xavi also revealed that the club are in “permanent contact” with his former team-mate, hinting a return could be on the cards.
    He said: “Messi knows that Barcelona is his home and the doors are open, I said this many times.
    “He’s my friend — we are in permanent contact, a potential return will only depend on him. Leo is the best player in history, he’d always fit in.” More

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    Victor Osimhen set for Premier League transfer as Napoli move for Tammy Abraham but they face unlikely English rival

    VICTOR OSIMHEN is set for a move to the Premier League this summer.And Napoli have reportedly lined up a replacement in ex-Chelsea star Tammy Abraham.
    Victor Osimhen is set to leave Napoli and prefers a Premier League moveCredit: Rex
    Napoli want Roma’s Tammy Abraham as a replacement but face competition from an English sideCredit: Rex
    But they face interest from an unlikely English rival for the striker.
    Osimhen, 24, has netted 26 goals in a sensational season for Napoli.
    The Nigerian has fired them to the brink of the Serie A title.
    And Tuttomercatoweb claims Osimhen is destined to swap Italy for England in a big-money move this summer.
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    Chelsea are known to be interested as they hunt for a new striker under incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino.
    Manchester United would also like to bring Osimhen to the Premier League.
    The ace has other suitors in Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
    But Osimhen would prefer a move to England’s top flight.
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    And it’s reckoned that Napoli have already started making preparations for his departure by putting Roma forward Abraham on their shortlist.
    The 11-time England international has scored 35 goals since leaving London for the Italian capital two years ago.
    But with Jose Mourinho’s future unclear, Abraham could end up moving on this summer.
    He would likely jump at the chance to join Napoli in the defence of their soon-to-be title.
    However, Abraham has an unfancied suitor back home in England.
    It’s believed Aston Villa have thrown their hat in the ring after their impressive rise under Unai Emery.
    The ex-Arsenal boss wants to pair Ollie Watkins with a powerful partner.
    And Abraham, who spent the 2018/19 season on loan at Villa, ticks all the boxes.
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    Emery’s men are currently fifth in the Premier League table.
    And a European finish could boost their chances of convincing Abraham to re-join them. More

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    Arsenal boost as target Ivan Fresneda drops huge transfer hint ahead of summer window

    IVAN FRESNEDA has given Arsenal a boost by dropping a huge transfer hint ahead of the summer window. Fresneda, 18, is currently plying his trade for Real Valladolid in La Liga but is widely expected to be on the move at the end of the season.
    Fresneda came close to joining Arsenal in January but the deal fell throughCredit: Rex
    The right back has been on Arsenal’s radar for a while and came close to joining in the January window but a deadline day move collapsed at the last minute, despite a fee of £13million being agreed.
    The Spaniard has also attracted interest from German giants Borussia Dortmund and has been learning English and German.
    It it likely that Mikel Arteta will renew his interest in the summer given that Ben White has predominantly had to fill in at right back this season.
    The teenager is under contract until 2025 but that is unlikely to be an obstacle should he seek a move to the Premier League.
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    But in an interview with The Athletic, Fresneda dropped a huge hint as to where his future may lie.
    He said: “I like Arteta a lot because I think he’s a great coach; I follow the European leagues and I think the work he’s doing with his club is fantastic.
    “But now with [Real Valladolid manager] Pezzolano and before with [previous manager] Pacheta we do that style of play, and that style is the one I like the most.”
    There is expected to be plenty of change in the full back positions at The Emirates this summer with Kieran Tierney linked with a £30m move to Newcastle.
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    Arsenal will look to get their Premier League title challenge back on track when they take on Manchester City tonight in a huge top of the table clash at The Etihad. More

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    Newcastle ‘set to meet Inter Milan’s £31m fee for Marcelo Brozovic transfer but Toon face competition from Barcelona’

    NEWCASTLE are reportedly preparing to pay £31million for Inter Milan and Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.Eddie Howe is keen to add reinforcements to his squad in the summer as they prepare for European football.
    Marcelo Brozovic is being linked with a move away from Inter Milan this summerCredit: Getty
    A stunning 6-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday moved the Magpies up to third place in the Premier League table.
    And failing a late collapse, they will be in the Champions League next season.
    According to Croatian outlet Sportske Novosti, Newcastle are eyeing up Brozovic as a potential transfer at the end of the season.
    It is understood his arrival would free up Bruno Guimaraes to move into a more attacking role.
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    Barcelona are also interested in the Croatian international – who has 85 caps for his country.
    And Liverpool are known to be monitoring his situation.
    But Saudi-backed Newcastle have the financial power to facilitate a deal for Brozovic – who has started just 13 league games this season.
    And they are expected to offer him a substantial salary package to sweeten the deal.
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    Brozovic, who joined Inter Milan from Dinamo Zagreb in 2015, has a contract until 2026.
    He has played more than 300 games for the Serie A giants, contributing 30 goals and 38 assists.
    He has claimed a Serie A title and Coppa Italia during his eight-year spell at the club.
    The midfield engine also reached the World Cup final with Croatia in 2018 and the semi-finals last year. More

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    Chelsea to hold talks with Romelu Lukaku with Mauricio Pochettino likely to offer striker club lifeline

    MAURICIO POCHETTINO is set to offer Romelu Lukaku a Chelsea lifeline, according to reports.The Argentine, 51, looks on course to be Graham Potter’s permanent replacement at Stamford Bridge and could even be appointed this week.
    Romelu Lukaku could make a return to Chelsea next seasonCredit: Getty
    Mauricio Pochettino looks set to take over as their new managerCredit: Reuters
    The ex-Tottenham and PSG boss has held talks with the West Londoners with negotiations progressing well.
    And one of the key issues will be what to do with Lukaku.
    The Belgian striker, 29, rejoined Chelsea for £97million in 2021 but fell out with former boss Thomas Tuchel, prompting him to be shipped out to Inter Milan for this season.
    However, a combination of injury and poor form means the Italians are unsure whether they will explore another loan or even buying Lukaku back.
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    And now The Telegraph state Chelsea are planning talks with the forward.
    It is understood they will sit down to discuss the player’s options and a return to the Blues first team has not been ruled out yet.
    That is despite Lukaku allegedly preferring to stay at the San Siro after a difficult first season back at Stamford Bridge, in which he scored eight Premier League goals.
    Chelsea know they need to trim down the bloated squad when the transfer market reopens after spending more than £600m on new recruits this season.
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    Ironically, though, a No9 is still needed – but Pochettino may relish the chance to work with Lukaku.
    Armando Broja should also be back in contention for the new season as he recovers from ACL knee surgery.
    Poch helped transform Harry Kane from a fringe man into a record-breaking goal machine – and Chelsea will no doubt be hoping he can work similar wonders with their current attackers.
    As revealed by SunSport, the free agent manager is confident he can transform the fortunes of the struggling side languishing 11th in the Premier League table despite dozens of international players.
    He will try and bring long-serving assistants Jesus Perez, Toni Jiminez plus sports scientist son Sebastiano with him to Stamford Bridge if he becomes the fifth manager in the chaotic Todd Boehly regime – although Frank Lampard is expected to stay on as interim boss for the time being.
    Pochettino, Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann – all currently without a job – have been interviewed for the job, but ex-Bayern Munich chief Nagelsmann is understood to have ruled himself out. More

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    Liverpool ‘make Kalvin Phillips No1 transfer target’ as they line up £35m transfer raid on Man City

    LIVERPOOL are keeping tabs on Manchester City ace Kalvin Phillips ahead of the summer transfer window, reports suggest.That is according to the Daily Star, who report that the Reds are preparing a £35million bid for Phillips, who has failed to establish himself at City.
    Liverpool are keeping tabs on Manchester City ace Kalvin PhillipsCredit: Rex
    The Merseysiders have turned their attention on the midfielder after dropping out of the transfer bid for Borussia Dortmund superstar Jude Bellingham.
    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is prioritising a signing to boost his midfield amid a turbulent campaign.
    And the England international is keen on moving to Anfield to reboot his Premier League career after a rough stint at the Etihad.
    The 27-year-old joined City last summer following a £50m deal with Leeds.
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    However, Phillips underwent a shoulder operation in September which ruled him out until mid-season, when the 2022 World Cup kicked off.
    The talented No6 still earned an international call-up by Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate and played twice in Qatar.
    But Phillips still ended up being frozen out from City following a break in New York with friends.
    Manager Pep Guardiola wasn’t satisfied with the player’s fitness levels upon his return.
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    Guardiola even criticised him publicly claiming he returned overweight from the World Cup.
    The Spanish tactician then decided to banish him from training because he was out of shape.
    Phillips has only managed to start in two games across all competitions but has never featured in Guardiola’s starting line-up in the Premier League this season.
    The ex-Leeds star has only registered a mere 16 appearances with City so far this term. More