Gossip: Schweinsteiger, Witsel, Draxler, Lacazette

Daniel Storey

PSG TARGET SCHWEINSTEIGER
We’re starting with our Germanic friends at Sport Bild, and their punchy claim that Paris St Germain want to sign Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Now just look here, PSG. How many central midfielders do you really need? Benjamin Stambouli, Marco Verratti, Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Adrien Rabiot; is that not enough?

‘PSG hot on Schweinsteiger!’ is the excellent headline, and we’re told how PSG want to reinforce their midfield options. Pretty sure they don’t need to.

 

CHELSEA AGREE WITSEL DEAL
Back to England now, and that bastion of decency and journalistic integrity The Sun. They report that Chelsea have hijacked Everton’s pursuit of Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel.

The Sun believe that Chelsea will pay £28m for Witsel, and have ‘all but agreed terms’ with Zenit St Petersburg, with the midfielder ready to move to Stamford Bridge.

We are also told, quite reasonably, that Witsel’s arrival would cause the departure of Nemanja Matic from Chelsea.

 

EVERYBODY WANTS DRAXLER
Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are all reportedly interested in signing Wolfsburg star Julian Draxler.

The 22-year-old only moved to the Wolfsburg last summer from Schalke for £25.5million – the club essentially buying him as a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne. But the Germany international, who has impressed for Joachim Low’s side at Euro 2016, has been linked with a move away from the Bundesliga outfit this summer.

And now France Football claim United, Arsenal and Liverpool are all ready to make approaches to bring the player to the Premier League. The report adds Juventus are also interested in the midfielder, but Wolfsburg won’t allow him to leave for less than £50million.

Please, please, please come to England.

 

ARSENAL TO PAY LACAZETTE CLAUSE
And finally to the Daily Telegraph, and chief football correspondent Jason Burt’s report that Arsenal are ready to pay the £34.2million that would meet Alexandre Lacazette’s release clause.

West Ham have been desperately trying to flutter their eyelashes at Lacazette for a while, but the Lyon striker is having none of it. Burt tells us that ‘Arsenal have suggested that the fee not a problem’.

Now we’re not saying Burt isn’t entirely sold on the Lacazette/Arsenal thing, but this line in the last paragraph makes us less sure: ‘Arsenal have yet to follow through their interest in Lacazette and it would appear Wenger is assessing other options.’ Well, yes.

 

AND THE REST
Juventus are planning a raid for Chelsea star Nemanja Matic, who would cost around £18m…Watford are emerging as serious contenders to sign West Brom striker Saido Berahino and are set to make an official bid this week…Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino will turn his attention to signing a new attacking midfielder if he can secure a deal for forward Vincent Janssen, with Newcastle’s Georginio Wijnaldum among his targets…Arsenal are ready to compete with Chelsea to sign Spain forward Alvaro Morata, 23, from Real Madrid – but the European champions must lower their £57m asking price… Stoke boss Mark Hughes is in pole position to sign Egyptian striker Ramadan Sobhi. The 19-year-old will cost £3.5m from Al Ahly…

Valencia have turned down a mega £40m from Chelsea for star midfielder Andre Gomes…Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has called new Celtic signing Moussa Dembele, 19, an “exciting player” and believes Bayern Munich, Monaco and Juventus were all interested in the forward…Steve Bruce is keen on taking free agent Wales forward Hal Robson-Kanu to Hull…Spurs and Liverpool are locked in a battle to land Cologne’s £17m-rated left-back Jonas Hector, who has impressed for Germany at Euro 2016…Aston Villa are set to land Italy U20 goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini from Hellas Verona…Arsene Wenger is taking Dutch keeper Guy Smit on a fortnight’s trial at Arsenal.