Transfer Gossip: Chelsea to wreck Man Utd plans with major makeweight greasing £130m striker deal; PSG to sign Prem ace as Messi replacement
Chelsea could use Napoli’s interest in an expensive forward to help sign Man Utd target, Victor Osimhen, while a Bundesliga heavyweight are gunning for a senior Arsenal star and PSG are preparing a shock raid on Crystal Palace – all in Tuesday’s Transfer Gossip.
CASH-PLUS-PLAYER DEAL TO SWING OSIMHEN TRANSFER?
Napoli are growing increasingly interested in wantaway Chelsea forward, Christian Pulisic, and the American’s inclusion as a high profile makeweight could help bring Victor Osimhen to Stamford Bridge, per a report.
Osimhen, 23, is attracting strong interest from Chelsea and Man Utd this summer. Bayern Munich like what they’ve seen, though the Nigerian is likely to be out of their price range.
Indeed, the Daily Mail report a fee in the region of £130m should be enough to snare Osimhen this summer despite Napoli publicly insisting he’s not for sale.
£130m would smash the British transfer record currently held by Enzo Fernandez (£106.8m). The Mail state it’s a figure that by itself is too high for the Blues.
However, a move may still be possible thanks to Napoli’s interest in Pulisic. The winger, 24, is one of a whole host of players who are on the chopping block this summer in what’s shaping up to be something of a firesale.
Todd Boehly must trim his bloated squad down to size and the American – signed for £58m from Borussia Dortmund back in 2019 – is on the exit list.
Pulisic would also be on board with leaving given his cravings for far more regular gametime than he’s received this term.
AC Milan and Atletico Madrid had shown interest, though the Mail report Juventus and more intriguingly Napoli are coming to the fore.
Pulisic’s Chelsea contract only has 12 months remaining, meaning this summer is the ideal time to cash in.
How much of a discount he’d net Chelsea on Osimhen’s £130m transfer fee isn’t stated. However, Chelsea certainly intend to pose the question to Napoli and a cash-plus-player move is the only way they can build a package totalling £130m.
Bayern are out of the running thanks to the finances involved and are understood to be favouring Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani instead.
Both of those strikers are on Man Utd’s radar, meaning a United move for Harry Kane could soon assume greater significance.
LEVERKUSEN ‘DESPERATE’ TO SIGN ARSENAL MIDFIELDER
Granit Xhaka is courting renewed interest from German giant Bayer Leverkusen, and a report has explained why he might be open to leaving Arsenal despite their recent rise.
Xhaka, 30, has morphed into a leader of men over the last two seasons at the Emirates. Long gone are the disciplinary issues that blighted his early years at the club.
Xhaka has been a revelation in more of a box-to-box role under Arteta this season. However, according to the Mirror, a move back to Germany could await.
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen are the side once again chasing a move after previously seeing their interest come to nothing last summer.
Xhaka’s current deal in north London has one year left to run, though Arsenal do hold an option for an extra 12 months.
Logic would dictate Xhaka sees no reason to leave on the back of a superb campaign at Arsenal. However, the Mirror state he’s facing a ‘dilemma’ given the Gunners are primed to bolster their midfield ranks with ‘two’ high profile additions.
Declan Rice is one player firmly on their radar and if signed, it’d likely be Xhaka who’s pushed onto the bench.
The report adds ‘it’s not certain’ Xhaka will leave in the event Leverkusen act on their interest. However, any final decision is likely to rest with the player given the high regard he’s held in at the Emirates.
A bid of ‘less than £20m’ given Xhaka is the wrong side of 30 might soon find its way to Arsenal.
PSG READY MICHAEL OLISE COUP
There’ll be mass change in Paris at season’s end and Crystal Palace’s ultra-talented Michael Olise is being eyed as a replacement for the departing Lionel Messi, per a report.
Both Messi and Neymar look certain to leave PSG this summer. Both players are on colossal salaries, with the Mail claiming Messi alone will free up £740,000-per-week from the wagebill.
To kickstart a bright new era, additions at centre-back, holding midfielder, striker and on the wings are wanted this summer. Per the Mail, Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise is one player they’ll target for the wide berths.
The 21-year-old has racked up an impressive nine assists for an Eagles side that has generally struggled to convert chances this season.
Olise speaks French through his French-Algerian mother and has already racked up four caps for the France Under-21 side.
Olise has reportedly been ‘identified’ as an ideal candidate to offset the exit of Messi. Palace will do all they can to resist, though PSG are capable of lodging an offer they’ll find difficult to refuse. The report adds PSG are ‘ready to make their bid’.
