Saturday’s transfer news: Maurizio Sarri’s mooted departure from Chelsea to Juventus gathers pace
Review all the day's transfer news, rumours, gossip and done deals
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The summer transfer window is officially open with Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and others set to be busy.
Chelsea face an uncertain summer due to their current transfer ban, but one thing they know is that Eden Hazard will be heading for the exit after expressing his desire to join Real Madrid. Arsenal are due to push on with their first signing of the summer, with a bid for Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser set to be lodged in the coming weeks.
A new centre-back is high on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s priority list at United, with Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Leicester’s Harry Maguire both options. Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka is another on the Norwegian’s radar. It won’t just be incomings at Old Trafford, however, with Paul Pogba a high-profile target for Real Madrid and Alexis Sanchez on his way out with Inter Milan and Juventus fighting it out for his signature – if he drops his wage demands. Review all of today's stories below:
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Good morning and welcome to today's Independent transfer live blog.
The summer window is upon us with the Premier League’s biggest clubs set to spend, spend, spend as the sales re-open.
We'll bring you all the latest news plus all the done deals and the juiciest gossip throughout the day right here so don't touch that dial.
We start this morning with the latest at Manchester United, so without further ado, off we go.
We start this morning with Manchester Unite, who are looking to press on with Ole Gunnar Solskjer's squad revamp now that their season is over and done with.
With no Champions League football next season, his summer signings may not be of the calibre we've seen in recent years as United struggle to talk the world's best players into heading to Old Trafford.
But one rather talented player on their radar is the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who is nearing a free transfer from the club this summer after refusing to sign a new contract. Reports in Spain suggest that not only are United in the running to sign Rabiot, but Mundo Deportivo says they are the front runners to land the 24-year-old midfielder when he becomes a free agent on 1 July.
With Arsenal and Liverpool also linked along with Barcelona, this could be quote the statement from United if they can win the race for his signature.
Will Eden Hazard by joined by his manager in heading out the door this summer?
According to reports from Italy, Maurizio Sarri has told the club he wants to leave - despite leading the side to glory in the Europa League. This comes amid links to Juventus, who have yet to replace Massimiliano Allegri.
More below:
Real Madrid will press on with their interest in Eden Hazard by upping their transfer offer following his public admission that he is looking to leave Chelsea.
The forward issued a come-and-get-me plea to Madrid following his man of the match performance in the Europa League final, admitting that his time at Chelsea had come to an end.
Madrid were previously keen to limit their offer to £88m for the Belgian, but The Telegraph reports that the Spanish club will up that offer to £106m to try and force Chelsea down from their stubborn £120m+ valuation.
Manchester City are looking at ways to strengthen what is arguably the strongest Premier League squad ever seen, but one player whose future has come under heavy scrutiny is Leroy Sane.
Bayern Munich have publicly declared they have opened negotiations with City to try and sign the Germany international, who has had to play second fiddle to Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva this season.
But the Guardian reports that Bayern have seen a £70m offer rejected by City, who are determined to keep hold of the 23-year-old and have subsequently made him a fresh contract offer in the hope that he will extend his stay at the Etihad beyond 2021.
James Rodriguez could be headed to Napoli, according to the Daily Mirror.
Carlo Ancelotti is allegedly seeking a reunion with his former player, both having served together at Real Madrid.
With the Colombian's two-year loan at Bayern Munich at an end, and with no future at the Bernabeu, it's been reported that Ancelotti is now looking to lure Rodriguez to Naples.
Everton's Richarlison has insisted he is happy at Goodison Park amid reports of a summer exit.
The Brazilian has been linked with a move to Barcelona and Manchester United after hitting the ground running with the Toffees.
But the forward has talked down all transfer speculation. "It’s a nice feeling when you get praise for your good work, but I’m not thinking about a transfer at the moment," he said. "I’ve just arrived at Everton.
"I’m happy here."
Manchester City and rivals United have reportedly been priced out of signing Leicester City's Harry Maguire.
According to the Metro, the Foxes have set too high a price for the defender, with both clubs now reconsidering their options for the summer transfer window.
It's been reported that an excess of £90m would be needed to land Maguire, which would be a world-record fee for a defender.
However, contrasting reports have suggested that Leicester are unwilling to name a price for the players the intend to keep hold of, including the England international.
United were eyeing Maguire as an alternative to Matthijs de Ligt, who now looks set to join Barcelona, while Manchester City are looking to replace veteran Vincent Kompany.
DONE DEAL!
It's the one you've all been waiting for. Yes, at last, Mo Eisa is on his way to Peterborough United.
Posh have broken their transfer record to land the 24-year-old striker, who joins from Bristol City on a four-year deal.
Chairman Darragh MacAnthony said: “It is no secret we made four bids for Mo last summer as he is the type of striker that ticks every box, criteria wise, for a “Posh signing”. He is quick, technically fantastic and has the ability to improve with us and step up a level."
Lovely stuff.
Juventus are understood to be preparing a compensation package to prise Maurizio Sarri away from Chelsea.
The Italian giants want Blues boss Sarri to replace Massimiliano Allegri in Turin, and must now stump up in the region of £5m to secure their top target.
Chelsea are said to have no plans to sack Sarri, who led the club to a third-place Premier League finish and Europa League triumph in his maiden Stamford Bridge campaign.
Juventus sent a delegation to Baku for talks with Chelsea bosses on Sarri's situation, ahead of the Blues thrashing Arsenal 4-1 to lift the Europa League crown in style.
Sarri appeared delighted with the first major trophy of his managerial career, but had long since accepted he would talk to his Chelsea bosses about his future come the end of the campaign.
While Chelsea would be prepared to let Sarri take the helm for a second season, club bosses are also mindful that the 60-year-old may prefer to return to his native Italy.
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