Chelsea face battle with Tottenham for £110m RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol - Paper Round
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Updated 07/01/2023 at 10:01 GMT
Chelsea could face competition from Tottenham for the signing of Josko Gvardiol, who could cost more than his £110m release clause, while Unai Emery wants to bring Alex Moreno to Villa Park. Elsewhere, Real Madrid are reluctant to pay over the odds for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, and former Belgium manager Roberto Martinez could join Portugal.
Former Italy striker and Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli dies aged 58
Chelsea face battle for Gvardiol
Despite signing Benoit Badiashile from Monaco, the Sun reports that Premier League side Chelsea still have their eye on RB Leipzig’s defender Josko Gvardiol. The 20-year-old has a £112 million release clause that becomes active in 2024, meaning the club will expect a bigger offer before then to let him go, and Chelsea could face competition from fellow Londoners Tottenham.
Paper Round’s view: It is close to impossible to imagine that Daniel Levy would be prepared to spend over £100m on any player in the world except Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. It is not how Tottenham usually operate, but with Gvardiol’s reputation that continues to improve and young age, he might ultimately prove to be a bargain who can play for a team for a decade.
Emery targets Moreno
Unai Emery hopes to sign 29-year-old left-back Alex Moreno from Real Betis, reports the Daily Mail. The defender’s arrival would put Lucas Digne’s place in the squad in doubt, who only joined a year ago from Everton for £25m. Emery is Aston Villa’s new manager and also has his sights set on another forward, though he wants a player who can operate on the flanks.
Paper Round’s view: Villa continue to receive decent financial backing from their owners but they are starting to suffer from a lack of stability in managerial roles. Emery did a relatively good job for Arsenal but he will have to prove that he can build a coherent squad over the rest of the season in order to build a proper foundation for next season in the Premier League.
Real Madrid refuse Bellingham auction
Real Madrid will not enter an auction for the services of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, according to Spanish newspaper Marca. The 19-year-old England international is expected to leave at the end of the season for a fee of 110m euros guaranteed, with more for Dortmund should various clauses be met. Real will not budge from their 12m euro salary limit for Bellingham.
Paper Round’s view: Real Madrid in Florentino Perez’s first tenure were an ill-judged mess which caused financial problems that only really settled by the time he came back for a second go. This time around, despite the coronavirus, he has kept their heads above water, financially disciplined, and built an increasingly young squad that should keep challenging for trophies, and Bellingham could be part of that soon.
Portugal target Martinez
Roberto Martinez left his job as manager of the Belgian national team but the 49-year-old could be offered a chance to stay on the circuit by Portugal, according to the Telegraph. The former Everton manager may have disappointed in Qatar but overall his time with Belgium has been an impressive one, and Portugal may need to move quickly in order to beat clubs to his door.
Paper Round’s view: Martinez was briefly impressive at Everton and he solidified his reputation with his six years with Belgium. While they might not have made the absolute most of their golden generation, those who ultimately won Euro 2020 - Italy - and in Russia -France - three years before were excellent sides. Martinez will probably be able to manage a similarly talented Portugal side well.
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