Transfer News

LEEDS are targeting Newcastle striker Callum Wilson.Elland Road boss Daniel Farke is desperate for more firepower after promotion from the Championship.Leeds are plotting a free transfer swoop for Newcastle striker Callum WilsonCredit: ReutersAnd Newcastle forward Wilson is out of contract at the end of the season so is available to Leeds on a free transfer.The 33-year-old was a £20million arrival from Bournemouth five years ago.He has since achieved a terrific record of 47 goals in 111 Premier League appearances in the north-east.But his biggest problem at Newcastle has been injuries.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd he has also moved down the pecking order due to the blistering form of striker Alexander Isak.Wilson has made 16 Premier League appearances this term.But just one of those has been a start.And he has also struggled with both hamstring and back issues.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSWilson has won nine England caps too.But his last appearance for the Three Lions was against Scotland in 2023.How Newcastle bamboozled Chelsea in battle for Champions League Leeds, meanwhile, have also been looking at Wilson’s teammate Sean Longstaff.He is in the final 12 months of his contract at Newcastle.The 27-year-old has made 31 appearances this term.And he will count as a club-grown player if he stays and features in Europe for Toon next season. More

LIVERPOOL have reportedly entered the race to sign Chelsea flop Christopher Nkunku.But the Reds face competition from Premier League rivals Newcastle, as well as a European superpower.Liverpool are set to battle Newcastle for Chelsea flop Christopher NkunkuCredit: GettyNkunku, 27, has struggled to shine since a £52million move to Chelsea from RB Leipzig in 2023.The 14-time France international joined off the back of several knee injuries.And disaster struck in pre-season when he hurt the same area once again, forcing him to undergo surgery.Nkunku has now been sidelined since February with a hamstring injury.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe’s managed to score just 17 goals in 56 outings for the Blues.And as a result, Foot Mercato claims Nkunku will leave Chelsea at the end of the season.However, the versatile forward could end up remaining in the Premier League.It’s reckoned that Liverpool have emerged as shock contenders after storming to the Premier League title in Arne Slot’s debut season.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSThe Reds could be set to part ways with Darwin Nunez.While the futures of Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa also remain unclear. Chelsea star Cole Palmer admits he threw up in the pool on holiday and got his hand stuck in a Pringles tubeNkunku’s ability to play anywhere across the front line, as well as in midfield, makes him an attractive signing for Slot.And if he could get anywhere near the 58 goals he struck across his final two seasons at Leipzig, it would turn out to be an extremely savvy signing.However, Liverpool aren’t the only English side who are said to be interested.Newcastle have also been informed about Nkunku’s situation and are looking to put together funds for a bid.But the ace could yet be swayed by a return to Germany with Bayern Munich.The Bundesliga champs tried and failed to sign Nkunku in January.Read More on The SunThomas Muller is leaving Bayern this summer, freeing up a position for a new forward who predominantly plays through the middle off a No9.And after his success at former club Leipzig, plus his struggles in England with Chelsea, Bayern could end up being Nkunku’s preferred choice. More

MARCUS RASHFORD will be up for grabs for £40million this summer.Aston Villa will have the option to buy the Manchester United ace after he spent the last half of the season on loan with them.Marcus Rashford is available for £40m this summerCredit: GettyHowever, Unai Emery’s side do not have the first option on the 27-year-old and other clubs can sign him for the same fee in the close season.Villa confirmed yesterday that Rashford is not fit to face Tottenham, meaning he has played his last game for them.That’s because their final game of the season next Sunday is against his parent club at Old Trafford when he would be ineligible.As things stand he is due to return to Carrington to begin pre-season training in early July.But it seems unlikely he will play for his boyhood club again while Ruben Amorim remains in charge.The challenge will be to find a club which is willing to pay Rashford’s £315,000-a-week wages as he does not want to take a pay cut.Villa are believed to be covering around 75 per cent of that while he is on loan with them with United making up the shortfall.They may have to enter into a similar arrangement if they want to get him off the books permanently this summer.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSAnother loan deal is an option if a permanent move cannot be found.Rashford is clear he wants to join a Champions League club.He won an England recall on the back of his form with Villa – where he scored four goals and made six assists in 18 appearances.However, he has missed the past few weeks with a hamstring injury which has put an end to his domestic season.THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball. More

MANCHESTER CITY are set to complete a stunning deal by selling a forgotten star for a fee that would see them almost triple their profit for the midfielder.That transfer would also help City raise the cash for a busy summer transfer window that could see them breaking the Premier League record for the most expensive signing.Manchester City are set to sell forgotten man Maximo Perrone to Como for £25mThat money will help Man City complete a record deal for Bayer Leverkusen star Florian WirtzAccording to The Mail, Man City loanee Maximo Perrone is expected to complete a permanent move to Como.Perrone, 22, moved to the Etihad in 2023 from Velez Sarsfield following a £9million deal.However, the former Argentina youth international never managed to break into Pep Guardiola’s first team and only made two substitute appearances.That led two loan stints – one at Las Palmas last season before joining Como in August.Read More on FootballPerrone has been so impressive in Serie A that Cesc Fabregas’ side have nicknamed him as a “compass” and the “Swiss watch” who keeps the team “ticking”.The defensive midfielder, who has laid on three assists in 24 appearances with the Italian outfit, is also keen to stay.And now Como are set to sign the Argentine for a whopping £25million.That works as a massive financial boost for manager Guardiola who will be looking to erase his worst ever managerial season with a dominant run next term.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThe Spanish tactician is looking to start strong by splurging a staggering £126m on Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz alone.Wirtz, 22, is seen as the successor of City legend Kevin De Bruyne, who is leaving the club in June after 10 glittering years in Manchester.Florian Wirtz talks about his highlights playing for Bayer Leverkusen Guardiola has already met the playmaker and held talks with him as well as his parents.And the Prem giants are stepping up their bid by offering Leverkusen an astronomical fee that would be only 56m less than the total sum they spent during the January transfer window for five signings.However, it’s claimed Liverpool also held talks with Wirtz on Tuesday, with the Premier League champions keen to land the No10. More

LIAM DELAP and Chelsea could be a match made in heaven as the Blues grow increasingly confident of signing Ipswich’s £30million striker.Delap, 22, is set to be on the move just one year after joining the Tractor Boys from Man City in a deal worth just £20m.Liam Delap could be a perfect fit for Chelsea and vice versaCredit: AlamyA move would see the Ipswich star reunited with Enzo MarescaCredit: PAHe has scored 12 Premier League goals this season.And that has seen several clubs join the race for his signature this summer.Manchester United are keen as Ruben Amorim searches for more firepower.But SunSport can exclusively reveal that Chelsea are now leading the race for Delap.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd a move to Stamford Bridge could be the perfect outcome for both parties.For starters, Chelsea now resemble a mini-Man City following Todd Boehly’s £1billion rebuild.Former academy star Cole Palmer is the club’s top player.Romeo Lavia has also become a fan favourite – at least when he’s fit enough to play.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSBehind the scenes, recruitment chief Joe Shields knows Delap well from their time together at City’s academy.But most importantly, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was his manager at City’s academy.Liam Delap tipped to snub Man Utd and Chelsea for EVERTON transfer after fans spot gesture following match vs ToffeesDelap would play in the same side as Romeo Lavia and Cole PalmerCredit: AlamyThe pair enjoyed a fine working relationship together.And Maresca hailed Delap before both of Chelsea’s fixtures against Ipswich this season, with the forward scoring in his side’s 2-0 home win in December.However, Delap and Chelsea also match up in terms of playing style.The hitman’s intelligence and movement off the last line creates plenty of space.Delap could thrive off the clever passes pinged in by Palmer and Enzo Fernandez.His athleticism and strength would also help break down teams that sit in a deeper defensive block.Delap’s movement off the last line helps to create plenty of space for both himself and his team-matesIn the above example, we see a clever movement from Delap where he first creates the attack before timing his arrival into space to finish comfortably.He picks up the ball and drives forward before releasing it wide.The forward then moves into the space to pick up the cross and finish first time.Chelsea could definitely benefit from having a stiker with this kind of movement in his locker.Chelsea raids on Man City starsCHELSEA have become adept at nicking some of the talent factory from rivals Man City – and it doesn’t look like stopping any time soon.Liam Delap would become the EIGHTH high profile name to move to Stamford Bridge from The Etihad, sometimes via a couple of other clubs in between.Enzo MarescaChelsea’s current head coach was once part of Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff at City — and is such of devotee of his former boss he’s known as Diet Pep. Maresca, 45, – who also spent a season as Leicester manager – worked as manager of City’s Under-23 team.Joe ShieldsChelsea’s Co-Director of Recruitment and Talent, who was poached from Southampton, where he spent just two months after leaving Man City in 2022. Glenn van der KraanVan der Kraan was at City before joining as Chelsea’s academy technical director last October. He was head of coaching at City’s academyCole PalmerThe 23-year-old England star made the switch from Man City to Chelsea in 2023 for £40million, potentially rising to £42.5m. Palmer, pictured here with Lavia at Man City in 2021, has become the star man at Chelsea with 37 goals in 68 games for the club.Romeo LaviaThe Belgium international midfielder, 21, joined Chelsea from Southampton for £53m in 2023. Before that he spent two years at Man City, making one appearance for the first team.Jadon SanchoSancho, 25, spent two years at Man City where he was rated very highly.  But they sold the young winger to Dortmund for £8m in 2017, and he then joined Man Utd for £73m in 2021. Currently on loan at Chelsea.Tosin AdarabioyoThe 6ft5in centre back was at Man City’s academy for four seasons, and made his debut for the first team aged 19. Now 27, he spent four years at Fulham before moving to Chelsea on a free transfer last summer.Delap also has a sharp sense when it comes to scoring.His ball anticipation and first-move timing is impeccable.The centre-forward’s tendency to attack space while running across defenders means he is often arriving at the right time to meet crosses.Despite his size, Delap also boasts plenty of pace.Cole Palmer has not had a striker playing with him this season who he can rely on to make runs in behindDelap is able to read the pass before it’s madeHis surprising speed helps stretch the game while opening up gaps in the final third.And creative team-mates like Cole Palmer could take advantage with clever dribbles towards goal while forcing the opposition backwards.Read More on The SunIt now remains to be seen where Delap ends up once the season is over.But should he accept a move to Chelsea, it is highly likely to be the right choice.Join SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford Bridge More