Oscar on Chelsea's chopping block?
The summer window will be opening before you know it, and rumours around the world are picking up steam. As always, Transfer Talk has its finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest gossip. See the latest deals here.
TOP STORY: And the Oscar for best exit goes to..?
With a new era about to dawn at Chelsea under Antonio Conte, thoughts on which players might be heading out of Stamford Bridge are proving as much of a hot topic as the ones heading in.
The Telegraph says that Oscar is one to watch as far as exits go, reporting that the Brazil international’s future is “in further doubt” after he withdrew, late on, from the squad for the comprehensive home defeat to Manchester City on Saturday evening.
It says Oscar “told interim manager Guus Hiddink and Chelsea’s medical staff that he was sick, which forced the Dutchman to make a late change after having originally named the 24-year-old among his substitutes.”
The Brazilian had been in the team for the previous week’s 1-0 Premier League defeat at Swansea, but was set to drop to the bench against City because, the Telegraph explains, Willian was available again and Hiddink also “preferred to stick with youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek.”
So, is it the end of the Chelsea road for Oscar? The Telegraph concludes that, “having fallen out of favour under former manager Jose Mourinho,” he is a player for whom offers might be listened to by the Londoners.
What’s more, it points out that Conte has already told Chelsea players that he will “demand total commitment” from everyone in his squad as he prepares to get his Blues revolution up and running.
Clubs reported to be interested in Oscar — among them Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain — might be encouraged to look again, the report adds.
City to focus on matters Morata?
Talking of new eras, here’s Manchester City. For a while now, reports have linked City with a move for Juventus star Paul Pogba, the midfielder it seems absolutely everybody wants.
But hang on a moment, says the Sun — City “will sacrifice their pursuit of £80 million-rated Pogba to land his Juventus teammate Alvaro Morata this summer.”
With incoming coach Pep Guardiola poised to put his stamp on a City team that — who knows? — could be Champions League winners by the time he gets there, the paper reports that he was “impressed by the striker” during the dramatic Champions League clash between Juve and his current side Bayern Munich earlier this season.
The Sun says Morata is “viewed as a replacement for Wilfried Bony” — who, it can be said, has failed to make a huge impression since joining City from Swansea.
Chance would be a fine thing
“No more chances, Mario” feels like something more than a few people have been reported as saying about Mario Balotelli over the seasons.
Saying it again, according to the Sun is new AC Milan boss Cristian Brocchi, who has told the on-loan Liverpool striker he needs to look at his situation after a disappointing spell on loan from Liverpool.
Balotelli, who appears to have no Anfield future under Jurgen Klopp, has been told by Brocchi that “if a player thinks he can decide the match by himself, that’s not right,” the paper reports.
It says the coach has told Balotelli that “it’s important that he shows he truly cares about the Milan jersey” and said “even the most talented players have to be strong mentally.”
Balotelli, for his part, admitted on Sunday that he had no desire to return to Liverpool and was keen to prove his worth at the San Siro over the remaining six games of the season.
Hughes not Stoked about Berahino prospects
Ah, memories. The saga of a potential Saido Berahino move to Tottenham Hotspur began in around 1927, or that’s what it feels like. And now someone’s only gone and brought it up again.
That someone is the Mirror, which reports ahead of Tottenham’s huge game at Stoke on Monday that Potters manager Mark Hughes believes Spurs are likely to beat him in a summer transfer race for Berahino.
Stoke are keen to sign the West Brom striker — who may want to keep out of the limelight for a bit after seeing two penalties stopped by Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes at The Hawthorns on Saturday — but Tottenham, so heavily linked for so long, are still very much interested in him.
The potential price tag? Well, it’s somewhere around the £20 million mark — but Hughes feels money is unlikely to be the decisive factor.
The Mirror quotes him as saying that “by all accounts Spurs will always have an interest in quite a few players we are interested in” and adding: “If we are being realistic, if a player has a choice of Spurs or Stoke we could pitch up and make a good case for them to come here. But they may feel Spurs are a more attractive option, and we have to accept that.”
Tap-ins
– Tottenham again. They could enter a summer transfer scrap with Barcelona for Pescara forward Gianluca Lapadula, according to the Mirror.
The paper reckons both the North Londoners and Barca have sent scouts to watch 26-year-old Lapadula, adding that the player is “certain” to leave Pescara if they fail to gain promotion to Serie A. It says Leicester, Juventus and Napoli could also move for him.
– Bournemouth have joined a clutch of teams interested in Southend United goalkeeper Daniel Bentley, the Mirror adds.
It says Cherries manager Eddie Howe “wants a new keeper and has identified the soon-to-be free agent as a potential target.”
Bentley, 22, has already been reported as being on the radars of Norwich and Everton, while Hull and Cardiff have also been mentioned as potential destinations.
