Rumor Mill: Ronaldo wants Ancelotti; Sane stalls on contract; Arsenal to pay Manolas’ RC

RC triggering

Arsenal are set to shore up their defense by bringing in Roma centre back Kostas Manolas this summer. The Gunners can activate his £31million release clause, which will bring his five-year spell with the Giallorossi to an end. According to Italian news outlet II Messaggero, the 27-year-old will be allowed to leave the Serie A side in a cut-price deal should they fail to secure a top-four spot come the end of May.

-source: Daily Mail

---

Extensions

---

Officially official

---

Brighton manager

Brighton & Hove Albion are poised to confirm the appointment of Graham Potter as their new manager. After spending the last five days deliberating over his future, Potter has informed Swansea City he wishes to accept the opportunity to manage in the Premier League and the 43‑year‑old will also be taking three of his backroom staff with him. It is understood the FA Cup semi‑finalists have met the release figure in Potter’s Swansea’s contract, which still had two years to run following his arrival from Östersund last June, and means the Premier League club will have to pay more than £2m in compensation.

-source: The Guardian

---

Scouting Calhanoglu

Leicester City have reportedly sent a scout to view Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu in the Serie A match against Frosinone. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Calhanoglu will be watched very carefully by representatives of Premier League side Leicester City tomorrow evening. The 25-year-old Turkey international has contributed three goals and 13 assists in 44 competitive games for Milan this season.

-source: Football Italia

---

A very good signing

---

Cancelo to remain

While it remains unclear as to how the new manager will decide to move forward with both Dybala and Costa, Goal understands that Joao Cancelo is one man that will definitely be remaining with the Turin giants. The Portuguese only arrived from Valencia last summer although had been linked with a Juve exit amid controversy surrounding an Instagram ‘like’ that appeared to call for Allegri to depart.

-source: Romeo Agresti

---

A Madridista renion

Cristiano Ronaldo has urged Juventus to sign Carlo Ancelotti as the Max Allegri replacement, report several sources, but he won’t leave Napoli. It was announced on Friday that Allegri will be leaving this summer, despite the fact his contract is not due to expire until June 2020. According to Libero, La Gazzetta dello Sport and TV Luna, Cristiano Ronaldo asked Juventus directors to approach Ancelotti.

-source: Football Italia

---

Mario Rui to Turin

Torino are reportedly interested in signing Napoli left-back Mario Rui for €14m, but face competition from Benfica and Sporting CP. According to Tuttosport, Toro Coach Walter Mazzarri is a fan of the 27-year-old and has included him on his list of reinforcements, if his side qualifies for next season’s Europa League.

-source: Football Italia

---

Stalling

---

One from their rivals

---

The first move

He is a player that Madrid president Florentino Pérez would love to take to the Bernabéu, having already tried to sign him on several previous occasions. However, if he is to leave Paris for the Spanish capital, Los Blancos want it to be the forward who makes the first move to trigger such a departure.

-source: Diario AS

---

Llorente’s price

The meeting reportedly took place on Thursday and Atlético were told in no uncertain terms that Real Madrid are not keen on the idea of Llorente, a scion of the revered Gento family, donning the red and white next season and accordingly named their price for the midfielder: 50 million euros.

-source: Diario AS

---

Plan B

Aside from Griezmann, one of the players that like most sports boat policymakers are Rashford. The striker from United, which completed contract in June 2020, love for their versatility in attack, its speed and its projection.

-source: Mundo Deportivo

---

Mitrovic

---

United looking at HG, young players

Manchester United have made initial contact with Fulham over the potential signing of Ryan Sessegnon, Sky Sports News understands. Tottenham and Juventus are also understood to be interested in the youngster, who will turn 19 on Saturday, but United are the only team to have approached Fulham so far.

-source: Sky Sports News

Manchester United have made initial enquiries over a possible £20million move for Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff. The 21-year-old has been earmarked as a potential replacement for Ander Herrera and is viewed as a player who could emulate United coach and fellow Geordie Michael Carrick. Newcastle say they will resist offers for a talent that has progressed through their academy via loan spells at Kilmarnock and Blackpool.

-source: Daily Mail

---

Permanent

---

The return

Wilfried Zaha is prepared to re-join Manchester United if they bid for him this summer. The 26-year-old winger has informed Crystal Palace that he is determined to leave and will push for a move which is expected to lead to a prolonged transfer saga.

-source: The Telegraph

---

More talks

Rafa Benitez is set for a second day of talks over his Newcastle United future. Benitez, out of contract next month, had discussions in London with the club’s hierarchy yesterday. United’s manager – who guided his team to a 13th-placed finish in the Premier League – wants to know if he will get the backing he believes he needs to take the club higher up the division next season.

-source: Shields Gazette

---

Ajax to Leverkusen

A benefit for the former Ajax coach and current Leverkusen trainer is that Safari has a contract until the summer of 2020 has and everyone in Amsterdam him because of all the injuries that plagued him a transfer. Thereby seems Leverkusen, which is still in the race for the Champions League, not the main price having to pay.

-source: De Telegraaf

---

BVB above PL

Julian Brandt is expected to join Borussia Dortmund if he decides to leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer, Sky Sports News understands. Reports in Germany and the UK this week claimed Tottenham are among the clubs to have shown an interest in the attacking midfielder, while he has also previously been linked with Liverpool. According to Sky in Germany, Brandt is set to stay at Leverkusen if they finish in the Champions League places, which they can still do if they better Borussia Monchengladbach’s result on the final weekend of the season.

-source: Sky Sports News

---

Over

Manchester United’s hopes of signing England winger Jadon Sancho this summer have collapsed. Sancho was United’s number one target for a summer rebuild, and they were willing to pay Borussia Dortmund up to £100m for the 19-year-old. But United’s recent performances, ending up sixth in the Premier League table, have ended any prospect of a deal.

-source: The Independent

---

Trying to tie down

Arsenal are attempting to tie down two of their brightest young talents amid interest from Bayern Munich. Teenagers Tyreece John-Jules and Xavier Amaechi are wanted across Europe, with several Bundesliga clubs keeping close tabs on the pair. The Gunners are well aware of the interest from abroad and Goal understands contract talks are now underway aimed at securing both to long-terms contracts, with their current deals due to expire in 2020.

-source: Goal

---

Set to leave

---

Favorite

Juventus are officially seeking a new Coach with Mauricio Pochettino and Simone Inzaghi among the favorites, but Antonio Conte, Pep Guardiola and Didier Deschamps would be difficult.

-source: Football Italia

---

Derby d’Italia betrayal

Juventus have reportedly agreed personal terms with Inter striker Mauro Icardi, but a fee remains a stumbling block. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Icardi’s ‘first and only choice’ in the event he leaves Inter this summer is Juve.

-source: Football Italia

---

Smart

Inter have reportedly cooled their interest in Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez and Atalanta’s Duvan Zapata. Gianluca Di Marzio claimed on Wednesday that Inter had met Sanchez’s agent, while Zapata has regularly been mentioned as a possible replacement for Mauro Icardi. However, Gazzetta dello Sport claims that despite United’s willingness to cover a ‘large chunk’ of the Chilean’s salary, he has ‘not entirely convinced’ the Nerazzurri.

-source: Football Italia

---

Not to stay

In-demand striker Maxi Gomez will play his final game for Celta Vigo this weekend before moving on this summer, report Diario AS. Earlier this week, Estadio Deportivo cite a report in The Guardian which claims West Ham, Tottenham and Liverpool are all in the running for the Uruguayan striker.

-source: Football Espana

---

Of hopes and dreams

Atletico Madrid are dreaming of Benfica star Joao Felix and believes he can replace the outgoing Antoine Griezmann, according to Marca. Felix, 19, has risen to prominence for the Lisbon-based giants this season and has netted 19 goals for the club, who now lead the Portuguese top-flight.

-source: Football Espana

---

Rekindled

Real Madrid have reopened their interest in River Plate midfielder Exequiel Palacios after a January deal was scrapped, say reports in Spain. Cadena SER, via El Mundo Deportivo, say that the two clubs have maintained an excellent relationship and a summer move may be rekindled by Los Blancos.

-source: Football Espana

---

Return of the Neapolitans

Napoli have made a summer move for Villarreal midfielder Pablo Fornals of €26m, according to El Mundo Deportivo. The report in the Catalan daily cites Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport as saying Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti is a fan of the player, while the club already have a Spanish contingent - Raul Albiol, Jose Callejon and Fabian Ruiz, who joined from Real Betis last summer.

-source: Football Espana

---

Expected interest in Dybala

---

MDL update

---

Never say no to Messi

---

David De Gea to Cillessen?

---

PL interest in Augustin

---

Official

---

The Ndombele situation

---

Lyon manager

---

Puel

---

Blanc