Gossip: Man Utd target Chelsea star to replace Maguire
Manchester United want to pinch a Chelsea defender, while the Blues will ‘go all out’ for Dembele.
RUDE AWAKENING
Antonio Rudiger reasserted this month that he wants to remain at Chelsea, putting the onus on the club, as all out-of-contract players who want more money tend to these days.
“I feel great here, I have always said it,” Rudiger said. “I think the way I play you can see that I’m happy here. But there are also other people who have to make decisions.”
The Germany international currently earns £100,000-a-week and wants £225,000, which would make him the fourth highest paid Chelsea player, behind Romelu Lukaku, N’Golo Kante and Timo Werner.
The current Chelsea offer on the table is said to be well below that mark – around £140,000-a-week – while Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are rumoured to be willing to stretch to as much as £400,000-a-week.
But the Mirror has added Manchester United to the running.
The report claims Ralf Rangnick is a ‘big fan’ of Rudiger amid a ‘shadow over the future of Harry Maguire’ at Old Trafford.
Rudiger is currently focused on Chelsea’s push for silverware and will leave his decision until the end of the season.
CHELSEA SERGE FOR DEMBELE
The Thursday gossip put Chelsea in the frame to land Serge Gnabry, who is currently in a contract standoff with Bayern Munich.
But The Sun claims the Blues have already ‘given up’ on the former Arsenal and West Brom forward, reverting their attention to Ousmane Dembele.
Thomas Tuchel was thought to be keen on landing Dembele – whom he managed at Borussia Dortmund – in January, only for the winger to opt to stay at Barcelona and fight for his place in Xavi’s side.
On a potential new contract offer, Xavi said: “Ousmane’s contract ends in June and we’ll see what happens. The decision to renew depends on him, but to me he’s a player I like. I heard a lot of fake stories about him – it’s the opposite. He’s been a great professional, trust me.”
But Spanish outlet Sport claim Chelsea will ‘go all out’ to sign the 24-year-old this summer, amid reported competition from Manchester United and Juventus.
QUINTET FOR DYBALA
Five of the Big Six are keen on Juventus forward Paulo Dybala.
Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal are all in ‘open dialogue’ with Dybala’s representatives, according to 90min, having confirmed an ‘initial interest’ in the Argentina international.
The report adds that Dybala is ‘open to leaving’ the Serie A club when his contract expires in the summer.
But there are reported concerns from the Premier League clubs that the 28-year-old is in fact keen to stay at Juventus and is simply using his contract situation to get himself a better deal.
