Real plan Hazard swoop
Real Madrid will launch a world-record bid this summer to prise Eden Hazard away from the Premier League. The Sun reports that Real will bid a world-record £100m for Chelsea playmaker Hazard, which would see him become the first player to player to cost a nine-figure sum.
But De Gea plans foiled?
Meanwhile, The Sun also claims that Real’s £60m offer for Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has been rejected. The saga could rumble on throughout the summer, though it’s evident Real would have to smash the transfer record for a goalkeeper – currently held by Gianluigi Buffon (£33m, Parma to Juventus, 2001) – to get their man.
Paper Round’s view: Real have been relatively quiet in the transfer market in the past couple of seasons. Alvaro Morata was the only arrival last summer, while they haven’t spent ‘big’ since signing James Rodriguez in 2014 for £63m plus add-ons. However, Los Blancos look set to correct that in the coming months, though that should come as no surprise with the presidential elections coming in July. Current chief Florentino Perez will promise big names, having brought over Gareth Bale in 2013 upon being re-appointed. Four years before that? Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso all arrived… Expect something big.
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City hope to poach Van Dijk
Manchester City will look to spend big on Virgil van Dijk in a bid to hold off Liverpool and Chelsea’s advances. The Southampton defender is widely expected to leave St Mary’s this summer, and the Times claims City are prepared to pay £50m for the centre-back, while also offering him £180,000-a-week. Chelsea were said to be frontrunners to land the Dutchman, but now City appear to be in pole positon with their more-lucrative offer.
Paper Round’s view: The transfer window hasn’t even opened officially, but Pep Guardiola is wasting no time in reshaping the City squad to his wants and desires. It would certainly be a statement of intent to snare Van Dijk from the jaws of two Premier League competitors, and there’s no denying that whoever manages to land Van Dijk will benefit in the long-run.
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Chelsea line up Bakayoko
Chelsea are in talks with Ligue 1 champions Monaco with regards to signing midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko. The i writes Antonio Conte wants to make the France international his first summer signing in a move which would cost the Premier League winners £42m. It would then leave Nemanja Matic free to leave Stamford Bridge and join Manchester United, with Jose Mourinho said to be an admirer of his former player.
Paper Round’s view: Conte knows Chelsea can’t rest on their laurels after clinching the title, and Bakayoko would certainly be a quality addition to the side. N’Golo Kante’s position is not for taking, but the fact that both Matic and Cesc Fabregas failed to hold down the other midfield spot suggests Chelsea are looking for someone to fill that role. Bakayoko fits the bill, but you have to feel for Monaco in what looks set to be a summer of exits.
