Diego Costa’s departure is imminent
Romelu Lukaku seems certain to join Chelsea at the end of this season after refusing to sign a new contract with Everton. Sky Italia confirmed Lukaku’s imminent return to Stamford Bridge next season, but according to BBC, the Belgian’s arrival will bring an end to Diego Costa’s time at the club.
Despite enjoying a goal-laden season, Costa has been seeking a move away from the Premier League with Chinese Super League clubs interested in his signature as well as his former club, Atletico Madrid who are favourites to sign the Spanish international.
BBC’s Danny Murphy believes that Lukaku could get better: “(Lukaku) is a fantastic athlete who scores lots of goals but he is still learning the game and, under the right coach and around better players, he is going to get better - the question is, where?”
“That is a big 'if' because he comes with a £60m price tag, but there is already plenty of speculation about Lukaku's next move.
“The obvious club to splash out and throw the 23-year-old Belgian straight in the team would be his former side, Chelsea, if they were to sell Diego Costa.”
James Rodriguez wants Old Trafford move
James Rodriguez has issued a ‘come-and-get-me’ plea to Manchester United after deciding to snub Chelsea and Liverpool for a summer move away from Real Madrid. The Colombian attacker has been pushed out of the starting XI by Zinedine Zidane and is most likely to quit the club at the end of the current season.
According to reports from Don Balon, James is convinced by Jose Mourinho’s philosophies and wants to be the leading creative force at Manchester United next season. United are still battling Real Madrid to keep hold of David De Gea, however, with James interested in a switch to Old Trafford, Mourinho might be tempted to go ahead and bring the playmaker by sacrificing De Gea.
Koulibaly could still join Chelsea, confirms agent
Chelsea’s interest in their long-term defensive target Kalidou Koulibaly has been revived after the player’s agent hinted at a possible summer move to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea made as many as three bids to sign the central defender from Napoli last summer but the Serie A side turned them all down.
Antonio Conte brought back David Luiz from PSG, however, Koulibaly’s agent Bruno Satin has once again brought this transfer rumour alive by claiming that he cannot 100% rule out Koulibaly’s switch to Chelsea.
In a recent interview with Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli, Satin said: “Chelsea were interested but then they signed David Luiz and you also have John Terry and Gary Cahill at the club so there is a lot of competition there, so we will see what happens.
“A lot of the improvements that Koulibaly has made in his game has been down to the coaching of Maurizio Sarri.
“Whatever happens in the future will depend on the president [Aurelio De Laurentiis] and whether or not he decides to evaluate any offers that may come in.”
AC Milan to battle with Chelsea for the signing of Andrea Conti
Serie A side AC Milan are planning to swoop in and beat Chelsea for the signing of in-demand defender Andrea Conti, according to the latest reports from Transfermarketweb.
The report claims that AC Milan are ready to open negotiations with Atalanta and are hopeful of completing a deal swiftly for Conti.
The 23-year-old has already made 27 appearances for Atlanta this season and is fast developing into one of the best defenders in the Serie A. Inter Milan and Napoli have also turned their attention towards Conti, who is capable of playing across the defensive line.
