Friday 1 June 2018 12:33, UK
With just two weeks before the World Cup kicks off, the window for teams to get their transfer business done early is narrowing while Zinedine Zidane's departure from Madrid could spark a domino effect in the dugout across Europe.
Our friends at Football Whispers have scoured the European media market to find the best stories and rumours…
ITALY
Tottenham will turn to Chelsea target Maurizio Sarri if Mauricio Pochettino leaves for Real Madrid. Pochettino is Madrid's No 1 candidate to replace Zinedine Zidane and Spurs have identified Sarri as his most likely replacement as are Chelsea refusing to pay his €8m release clause and now want Laurent Blanc. If Madrid are unable to hire Pochettino then they will turn to Guangzhou Evergrande coach and former Los Blancos defender Fabio Cannavaro. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
Wolves look set to miss out on Andre Silva with the Milan striker poised to seal a €32m switch to Monaco. Silva, a one-time Chelsea transfer target, would prefer a switch to the principality as Monaco are in the Champions League and have a greater chance of winning silverware. Agent Jorge Mendes is also pushing the Portugal international to Monaco with an exchange for Radamel Falcao also being discussed. (Corriere della Sera)
Lazio have turned down an €80m offer from Juventus for in-demand midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Serbian international, a Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United transfer target, is Lazio's prized asset and the Serie A side have set a high price demanding in the region of €130m. Earlier this week Lazio president Claudio Lotito claimed Juve wouldn't be able to afford Milinkovic-Savic (Gazzetta dello Sport)
SPAIN
Mauricio Pochettino has a "gentleman's agreement" with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to speak to Real Madrid despite signing a new contract earlier this month. Pochettino is Madrid president Florentino Perez's favoured choice to succeed Zinedine Zidane and Los Blancos have already made contact with the former Espanyol defender. (Marca)
If Madrid fail to bring Pochettino to the Bernabeu then they will look to Joachim Low, Jurgen Klopp or former playmaker Guti. Madrid have already contacted Low, who is under contract with the German national team until 2022, after directors Jose Angel Sanchez, Ramon Martinez and Perez held a lengthy meeting last Thursday to identify candidates. Guti is in the frame having impressed while in charge of Madrid's Juvenil team. (Marca/AS)
Zidane quit Madrid last week after president Perez held an unsuccessful two-hour meeting with him on the Wednesday before the Champions League final to try and make him stay. Zidane ruled this season a failure after elimination in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals to Leganes and finishing so far behind Barcelona in La Liga. Zidane knew four or five new players are needed and after a stressful and demanding three years at the helm lacked the desire to commit to a full-scale rebuild. (Marca)
GERMANY
New Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac could sell a number of first-team stars as he has been told to trim his squad ahead of the new season. Bayern are ready to listen to offers for midfielder Arturo Vidal who has just one year left on his contract, Thiago Alcantara feels "undervalued" in Bavaria and could also be sold and defender Jerome Boateng is yet to commit his long-term future to the club. Spanish full-back Juan Bernat has been deemed surplus to requirement. (Sport Bild)
Lothar Matthaus has told Bayern Munich to sign Paulo Dybala from Juventus and Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger, should Boateng leave the Allianz Arena. Legendary former Germany and Bayern midfielder Matthaus believes the expected €46m sale of Douglas Costa to Juventus can help finance a move for Dybala while Rudiger is the ideal replacement for wantaway Boateng. Matthaus believes Bayern are outside the best six teams in Europe with major additions needed to compete with the Premier League elite, PSG and Spain's big two. (Sport Bild)
Borussia Dortmund have been told they will have to pay €28m to sign Abdou Diallo from Mainz. Diallo, 22, is Dortmund's favoured replacement for the Arsenal-bound Sokratis with the French centre-back keen to play in the Champions League. Diallo, however, also has interest from a number of unnamed clubs in the Premier League. (Bild)
FRANCE
Dortmund are also considering a move for Tottenham target Benjamin Pavard with Stuttgart expected to request €50m for the France international. Pavard, 22, was one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga last season and Vfb sporting director Michael Reschke is determined to keep hold of him with the centre-back attracting interest across Europe. (L'Equipe)
Atletico Madrid have agreed terms with Monaco and France full-back Djibril Sidibe who had been considered as a potential summer signing by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. Atletico will pay between €23m-€25m for the 25-year-old with Diego Simeone keen to use him as both a right-midfielder and right back. (L'Equipe)
