Gossip: Lukaku, Van Dijk, Bernardo Silva, Keane

Sarah Winterburn

VAN DIJK AND LUKAKU FOR CHELSEA
It’s hardly a new claim but it’s Monday and gossip is always pretty thin on a ground on a Monday. The Daily Mirror claim that ‘Antonio Conte is demanding Chelsea go on a summer spending spree’ and that the two players he has really demanded are Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku.

According to John Cross, that pair ‘would cost in excess of £120million’. And we imagine that Antonio Conte would not stop there. He probably needs a couple more wing-back options and at least one more central midfielder for an assault on the Premier and Champions Leagues.

 

TALKING OF A CENTRAL MIDFIELDER…
Chelsea are reportedly in a three-way battle for Monaco’s Bernardo Silva, with The Sun online quoting ‘Spanish outlet Don Balon’. Yes, we know, but Mondays are really bloody hard when it comes to gossip.

The other two clubs in the race are Manchester United and Real Madrid, and surely the smart money is on the latter. They are apparently hoping to offload Danilo and Isco to make room for not only the £70m-rated Silva, but also Valencia’s Joao Cancelo.

 

EVERTON LOOK BEYOND KEANE…
‘Everton are having to explore alternatives to Michael Keane after Manchester United entered the race to sign him,’ according to the Liverpool Echo. They mention the name of Virgil van Dijk, but that is dream stuff with Southampton wanting £55m for the Dutchman.

One option could be Hull City’s Harry Maguire, who would cost a fraction of the £25m Burnley will be expecting to receive for newly capped Englishman Keane.

 

AND THE REST
Manchester City have the upper hand over Manchester United in the race to sign Monaco left-back Benjamin Mendy…Newcastle want to sign Fulham’s 26-year-old attacking midfielder Tom Cairney, whom the club value at £10m…Wolves plan to take up an option to sign on-loan striker Andreas Weimann from Derby for £1.5m…Southampton, Bournemouth and Liverpool sent scouts to watch Henry Onyekuru play for Belgian side Eupen on Saturday.