Gossip: Sanchez has decided to leave Arsenal

Daniel Storey

CHELSEA TO BID FOR ALVARO MORATA, SELL BATSHUAYI
We’re starting with Diario Gol, who claim that Chelsea are likely to make a €40m offer for Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata. Morata has been forced to stay as back-up to Karim Benzema since his move back from Juventus, and would presumably jump at the chance to join Chelsea.

In the Daily Mirror, Darren Lewis writes that Chelsea will also sell Michy Batshuayi, after the Belgian has failed to break into Antonio Conte’s first-team plans following a £33m transfer. They’re not going to make a profit on this one.

Elsewhere in that Mirror article, Lewis writes that Chelsea are also watching Torino’s Andrea Belotti and Swansea’s Fernando Llorente, and will buy a striker even if Diego Costa stays (which he surely will).

 

STURRIDGE OFF IN SUMMER, PSG WANTED HIM
To Liverpool now, and the future of Daniel Sturridge. We wrote here about Sturridge’s struggles this season, and it sounds like Jurgen Klopp has had enough. Most of Wednesday’s papers report Klopp on his striker:

“I have no idea what happens in the summer. It is not only Daniel but a lot of players. Daniel was not in training for eight or nine days because of a virus infection. We have to bring him back to the best shape possible and then bring this season to an end as successfully as possible.

“Then we will make decisions and speak about Daniel and any other players about what will happen at the end of the season. A lot of things will influence this and we can speak about it when it is time.”

Given Sturridge’s poor form and continued struggles with injuries, it is surely like that the striker will leave.

One line from Goal.com on Wednesday morning says that Paris St Germain were interested in Sturridge in January, but that Liverpool rejected a loan bid from the Ligue 1 champions. If he gets a move to PSG, Sturridge has done very well for himself.

 

CONFIRMED: SANCHEZ IS LEAVING. ISH
You’ve gotta love the Daily Star*. They’re not afraid to put their necks on the line and claim an exclusive that, if true, other journalists with Arsenal connections would surely have the scoop on. They’re not afraid to say ‘Hey, we know that you know we’re making journalistic leaps here, but just click on the bloody story’.

And so to their big exclusive on Wednesday morning: ‘ARSENAL EXCLUSIVE: Alexis Sanchez will quit Gunners this summer for Spain return’.

In fairness, the piece comes from Chief Football Writer David Woods, who claims that Sevilla are in pole position to land Sanchez, because he is a big fan of Jorge Sampaoli. Better go there before he joins Barcelona, then.

Woods then says Atletico Madrid are next, but they need to get their transfer ban reduced before they can sign Sanchez, before mentioning Paris St Germain, Juventus and China. But Woods’ biggest claim is that Sanchez has decided to leave, and made that clear to his teammates.

Fair play to Woods if he has got the exclusive over David Ornstein, James Olley and John Cross, all of whom have reliable Arsenal connections, but we’re remaining unconvinced for now. It feels like a punt.

* You really don’t have to love the Daily Star.

 

AND THE REST
Roy Hodgson is the shock bookies’ favourite for the Leicester job but caretaker Craig Shakespeare has the firm backing of the champions’ stars ahead of talks… Manchester United have handed a trial to Slovakian teenager Martin Murcko. The 16-year-old had a trial with Manchester City in December… Manchester United and Manchester City are set for summer battle to sign Victor Lindelof… Walter Mazzarri has ordered Watford to sign Tom Cleverley on a permanent basis… Norwich City boss Alex Neil is now the bookies’ favourite to become the next permanent manager of Rangers.