Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda’s daily transfer news and rumours roundup for 10th May 2017. Today’s biggest stories surround Philippe Coutinho, Riyad Mahrez, Alvaro Morata and more. With the transfer window opening on July 1st 2017 for English clubs and 1st June for the rest of Europe, things are certainly heating up. On that note, let’s head right in.
Coutinho reportedly agrees Barcelona move but it’s NOT a done deal
The biggest story today according to reports from the Spanish press is that Liverpool’s star midfielder Philippe Coutinho has agreed to join Barcelona. The Daily Mail and Catalan news outlet Sport report that Barcelona have entered talks with Coutinho and his representatives over a move to the Nou Camp and the player has responded positively.
However, Liverpool are demanding £76 million for their star man and that has put Barcelona off for the moment with the club reluctant to meet their demands. According to reports from the Daily Star, Coutinho’s father is against a possible move for his son and wants him to stay at Anfield and continue to play at Liverpool.
Coutinho’s father is worried his son’s chances will be limited at the Nou Camp and is thus against the move. However, Barcelona are keen to sign the player and could make an official bid for the midfielder soon. If the move does go through, Coutinho would become the fourth most expensive transfer in history. Nothing is confirmed at the moment but check this space for more in the coming weeks.
Arsenal and Spurs in battle to sign Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez
Another big story in today’s papers surrounds the future of Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez. The Telegraph reports that last year’s PFA Player of the Year Mahrez expects Leicester to let him move to one of London’s big clubs after fulfilling his side of the agreement to stay on with the Foxes for an additional season.
Both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are pushing to sign the Algerian player and this could go right down to the wire when the transfer window opens. Both Spurs and Arsenal are in the market to sign wide players who can score and create and the Leicester star fits the bill perfectly.
There has been reported interest from both Barcelona and Marseille for Mahrez and Leicester could wait this one out and let the offers flood in as they are holding out for at least £30 million. There will be more on this story in our roundups in the near future so look out.
Conte asks Chelsea board to complete Morata transfer
The Metro reports that Antonio Conte has asked the Chelsea board to sign Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid. According to the report, the Chelsea boss favours Morata over ex-Chelsea player Romelu Lukaku and firmly believes the Spaniard would suit his system and squad better than the Belgian.
Morata is understood to be frustrated at playing second fiddle to Karim Benzema under Zinedine Zidane and Conte wants the Spaniard to be the long-term successor to Diego Costa. The Italian boss has urged the Chelsea hierarchy to complete the transfer as he wants to link up with the Spanish striker once again.
Morata himself spoke highly of Conte in a recent interview with the Guardian saying, “Conte is the manager who most ‘bet’ on me, without even ever having had me in his team. I’m very conscious of that: he bet on me for Juventus but left before I arrived; then he wanted me at Chelsea come what may. He knows me better than I could imagine, I’m sure, and that’s important: it motivates you to work hard, train well.”
“I feel indebted to him because he’s the coach that most trusted in me, most wanted me, who made me feel I could perform at the highest level,” the Spaniard concluded.
Manchester United’s last-ditch effort to keep David De Gea
Manchester Evening News reports that Manchester United are trying to convince David De Gea to turn down a move to Real Madrid in favour of a new contract at Old Trafford. The United goalkeeper is reportedly a major target for Florentino Perez at Real Madrid and wants to make the switch in the summer.
However, United are trying to persuade De Gea to sign a new contract and commit his future to the club in what looks like a last-ditch attempt to hold on to their star goalkeeper.
DONE DEAL: Chelsea sign 15-year-old Rangers wonderkid
Chelsea have completed a move for Rangers’ youth product Billy Gilmour. The 15-year-old highly touted midfielder has joined the Blues as confirmed by statements from Rangers.
A statement from the Scottish club read: “Rangers can confirm that agreement has been reached for our under-16 player Billy Gilmour to join Chelsea in the summer”
“The club's preference would have been for Billy to stay at Rangers but when he made clear his desire to move to the Premier League it was important that we maximised the commercial value for him. We believe we have done this.”
“The agreement will provide Rangers with a significant sum for a young player who has yet to play first-team football, and further significant amounts could be due based on milestones being reached. We are pleased with this outcome and believe this deal represents good value for Rangers.”
“That he was sought after by many Premiership clubs, and indeed a number of the largest clubs in Europe, further demonstrates the quality of player now being produced by the academy. Everyone at Rangers wishes Billy well for his future.”
