Gossip: Benzema, Keita, Sanchez, Blind

Daniel Storey

CHELSEA AND ARSENAL WANT BENZEMA
It’s some piping hot likely bullsh*t from Spain to start us off this morning. Don Balon tells all about the future of Karim Benzema.

Benzema, now 29, is still a regular at Real Madrid, but it does feel as if his time in the Spanish capital is coming to an end. He doesn’t quite have that star factor that Real is famous for anymore. They will surely eye up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer.

Don Balon’s report says that three clubs want to sign Benzema this summer: Chelsea and Arsenal are two of them. Arsenal have been linked with a move for Benzema since God knows when, but Chelsea are a new addition. Are they really going to sign a striker for a large fee who is close to turning 30 and has never played in this league before? Hmmm.

As for Arsenal, we’ll say what we always say: Until the managerial situation is sorted out, transfer targets surely take a back seat.

 

SPURS IN FOR NABY KEITA
Back to England with a bump, and landing in the arms of Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror; there are far worse landings. Lewis writes that Tottenham are the latest club to show serious interest in RB Leipzig’s Naby Keita, the midfielder that all the bad guys want.

Keita joined Leipzig from Red Bull Salzburg last summer, a move certainly not related to Red Bull’s ownership of both teams, but has seriously impressed in the Bundesliga. Liverpool have already reportedly declared their interest.

Lewis writes that Mauricio Pochettino wants to improve his squad ahead of likely Champions League participation next season, and sees Keita as the ideal support act for Dele Alli, who will be suspended for half of Spurs’ group stage matches.

 

MANCHESTER UNITED MAKE SANCHEZ CALL, BUT PSG CLOSER
You have to hand it to the Metro, who at least scour far and wide to source as much sensational and questionable transfer gossip as they can find.

This time we’re told that Chile’s El Show de Prensafutbol claimed that Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has phones Alexis Sanchez about the possibility of moving to Old Trafford this summer. We’re gonna stick our necks out here: Absolute hogwash.

Far more interesting is the report from Jason Burt in the Daily Telegraph, which claims that Paris St Germain are stepping up their efforts to sign Sanchez. Burt believes that Sanchez would prefer a move to Chelsea, but that Arsenal’s determination not to sell to a Premier League rival give PSG hope that they can be his most likely suitor.

‘PSG have long tracked Sanchez and have held a series of discussions with his representatives,’ Burt writes. ‘It is understood those talks have now been stepped up again as the French club seek a significant overhaul of their squad this summer targeting a number of big-name signings.’

 

AND THE REST
Ex-England boss Steve McClaren is the shock name in the frame to be Huddersfield’s new director of football… Ajax are considering trying to take Manchester United’s Daley Blind back to Holland… Chelsea are confident of beating off strong interest from Premier League rivals to land Schalke left-back Sead Kolasinac… Kasper Schmeichel has been told he is going nowhere this summer by Leicester and looks set to stay as he has no buy-out clause… Liverpool and Real Madrid are tracking Atletico Madrid’s French left-back Theo Hernandez, 19, who could be available for £20m… West Ham are reportedly interested in snapping up Liverpool outcast Lazar Markovic.