Gossip: Mbappe to United, Conte wants four, Barkley

Matt Stead

MBAPPE CHASE
Are you ready for a summer in which the only thing you will hear about is Kylian Mbappe?

ESPN are the latest to offer some insight into where the Monaco striker is headed in the transfer window. Arsenal, Barcelona, Manchester City and Real Madrid have all been linked, but the claim is that Manchester United could be at the front of the queue.

Manchester correspondent Mark Ogden writes that the club sent their head scout to watch Monaco’s 3-1 win over Manchester City in midweek, with Mbappe and Tiemoue Bakayoko top of the agenda. Neither player did themselves a disservice; both were on the scoresheet.

It is claimed that Jose Mourinho ‘has made attacking reinforcements a priority this summer’, while Bakayoko is considered an ideal replacement for Michael Carrick.

 

FOUR FOR CONTE
Over to Chelsea now, and the news that not only will Antonio Conte sign a new deal, but he wants four new players this summer.

The London Evening Standard reports that the sales of Oscar and Patrick Bamford, as well as the departures of John Obi Mikel and Branislav Ivanovic, has generated enough money for considerable reinforcements this summer. And with John Terry unlikely to earn a new deal, that wage bill is looking much nicer.

So, who does Conte want? There are no specific names offered, but it is claimed that he wishes to sign a centre-half, a full-back, a midfielder and a striker. Lovely.

 

SPURRED ON
We finish with Tottenham, who appear to have grand plans for this summer. Their interest in Ross Barkley is well documented, but they could also return for long-term target Wilfried Zaha.

Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror reports that Mauricio Pochettino believes both players can ‘beef up his midfield’, which is absolutely something we can imagine Mauricio Pochettino saying.

Crystal Palace would want £30m for Zaha, but that ‘would not dissuade Spurs’. Ronald Koeman stated on Thursday that Barkley must sign a new deal at Everton – his current one has 18 months remaining – or he will be sold.

 

AND THE REST
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is keen to sign Barcelona star Rafinha…Man City are preparing to get rid of up to 13 players in the summer – including full-backs Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna as well as Pablo Zabaleta…City boss Pep Guardiola wants to sign Bayern Munich and Germany defender Joshua Kimmich, 22, in the summer…Paris Saint-Germain could move for Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino if they change manager…Everton are still in the hunt for Cypriot star Pieros Sotiriou – but they face a huge battle for his signature…Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has added AC Milan ace Suso to his wish list and the club have given him the go-ahead to sign four players this summer.