Liverpool legend Dietmar Hamann has urged his former club, as well as Premier League rivals Manchester United and Arsenal, to make a bid for Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski.

The Poland international is reportedly unsettled in Bavaria, and following a series of disappointing performances, transfer rumours are swirling. Per Metro‘s Hannah Duncan, Hamann told Sky Sports Premier League clubs should capitalise:

At the moment United, Liverpool and even Arsenal… Lewandowski is tailor-made for them. He came to Bayern Munich on a free last year but if there was an opportunity to get him out I’d break the bank for him because I think he’s the best No. 9 in the world.

It’ a big question mark. There’s a question mark about the manager. There are still no assurances that he will be there, even though he’s got a contract.

I think the same goes for Lewandowski because the way the team plays under Guardiola, I don’t think it suits him. He was tailor-made for Dortmund and I think he’s tailor-made for two or three English teams where he can play on the counter attack on big pitches where he can run in behind.

Lewandowski was Bayern‘s marquee arrival of the summer, replacing Mario Mandzukic in the squad as the Croatia international departed for Atletico Madrid.

The 26-year-old had a bright start in Munich but started falling down the pecking order as time went along, as it seemed manager Pep Guardiola appeared to prefer other players for his intricate system.

As shared by The New York Times‘ Stefan Bienkowski, it’s becoming more and more clear that Guardiola no longer has full confidence in the Pole:

Lewandowski was a smash hit in Borussia Dortmund‘s system based around pace, high press and the counter-attack, where he excelled at finding the open spaces and positioning himself in front of goal.

Bayern‘s philosophy is built around passing and ball retention, however, taking away some of Lewandowski‘s biggest strengths: his speed, vision and timing.

Hamann‘s comments will undoubtedly unleash a storm of transfer articles and rumours, but it’s far too early to start speculating about Lewandowski‘s future. The Pole is struggling in his first year under Guardiola—that doesn’t mean the Spaniard is about to give up on him, or has any interest in selling.

Liverpool have been linked with another forward in recent weeks, as Inter Milan‘s Mauro Icardi has been the subject of transfer rumours following reports his contract extension talks aren’t going swimmingly.

Speaking to Calcio Mercato (h/t Liverpool Echo‘s Peter Guy), the Argentinian declared himself flattered by the Reds’ reported interest, although he currently has no intention of leaving the Nerazzurri. He said: “If the rumours about Liverpool are real, I would be honoured, because they are a big club, but I’m already in a great team where I can win something important.”

The rumours surrounding Icardi have gathered pace at an exceptional rate in the past week, and it’s difficult to see why. The 21-year-old has given no indication he plans on leaving, and Inter remain determined to keep him at the club.

It’s easy to see why they want to keep him—Icardi is having quite the season in Serie A, via Squawka football:

The forward is a fantastic player plying his trade for a young, talented side that has underperformed the past two years but looks to be headed for a bright future.

Inter would have no intention of selling their star striker unless he specifically asked for a transfer. As long as that doesn’t happen, it’s hard to see where these rumours keep coming from. Expect him to sign a new deal shortly, not demand a move to the Premier League.

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Speculation surrounding Chelsea‘s potential transfer move for West Ham United‘s Enner Valencia continues to increase, with the latest reports indicating the Blues are monitoring the Ecuador international’s situation ahead of a summer bid.

The Daily Star‘s Jonathan Green believes the 25-year-old’s contract contains a £20 million buyout clause:

The Ecuadorian was linked with a move to Stamford Bridge towards the end of the January transfer window but no move materialised.

But reports in Spain claim Blues boss Jose Mourinho is still monitoring the 25-year-old’s progress as he looks to strengthen his forward line this summer.

[…]It was reported earlier this month that Valencia has a £20m buy-out clause in his contract which the Blues could look to activate this summer.

Valencia is not the only striker Chelsea have been watching, with Inter’s Mauro Icardi, Palermo‘s Paulo Dybala and Bournemouth‘s Callum Wilson possible alternatives.

The report has to be taken with a grain of salt—Spanish reports of an English team expressing an interest in a player plying his trade for another English team always do—but the link isn’t new and has been reported in the British press before, via the Metro (h/t Daily Mirror‘s Aaron Flanagan).

The striker hasn’t been particularly productive during the 2014-15 season, with just three Premier League goals so far, per WhoScored.com. But the Ecuadorian does all the little things well playing up front, and he has been pivotal in the Hammers’ excellent campaign.

According to MailSport (h/t West Ham Central), West Ham are already eyeing a potential replacement, someone fans of the Blues are quite familiar with:

While it would make sense for Jose Mourinho to prioritise the striker position during the summer transfer window, given the advanced age of Didier Drogba and Loic Remy’s early struggles at Stamford Bridge, Valencia’s proposed transfer seems unlikely at this point in time.

A £20 million buyout clause is a stupendous amount of money for a limited forward who doesn’t score with regularity, and if West Ham are serious about replacing him with Romelu Lukaku—which comes across as even more unlikely—they wouldn’t budge on that price tag too much.

Green mentioned the link with Inter Milan‘s Mauro Icardi, and while the Argentinian seems destined to stay at the San Siro, he would be the type of target who fits the profile of a club like Chelsea more than Valencia, who seems to be in the perfect situation in east London.

Another option is Brazilian wunderkind Robert Kenedy, but according to the Daily Express’ David Wright, Manchester United are positioning themselves to strike first. The Blues have an advantage, however:

However, the Red Devils could miss out on Kenedy, with the 19-year-old previously revealing his desire to play for Chelsea.

The youngster appreciates compatriots Oscar and Ramires at the club, with Filipe Luis, Willian and Diego Costa joining since.

“Of course I am happy to play for Fluminense but it is my ambition to one day play in Europe”, he said. “I like Chelsea because of players like Oscar and Ramires. I like the whole team.”

The Fluminense man is already being called “the next Neymar,” although all he shares with the Barcelona forward is his nationality and the fact he plays as a wide man. In terms of style and build, he reminds more of Hulk. Selecao Brasileira also doesn’t understand the comparisons to Neymar:

Kenedy is a bright talent, combining excellent athleticism with solid technique and a very powerful left foot. He’s raw and inconsistent, and he was disappointing during the 2015 South American Youth Football Championship, where he managed just one goal.

The teenager still has lots of developing to do, and a move across the pond would be ill-advised at this point. He’s a regular starter at Fluminense, and it will greatly aid his development if he stays in his native Brazil for another season or two.

Chelsea like to deal for young starlets and stash them out on loan for a couple of years, but usually, those players don’t return to the club and have a real impact. Delaying a move for Kenedy seems like the wiser option.

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Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has urged Paul Pogba to dismiss the reported interest of Manchester United and join the Blues from Juventus.

Anelka, who won four trophies with Chelsea between 2008-12, believes Pogba can play in any division, but has told the starlet to join one of his two former clubs, per France Football (h/t Anthony Chapman of the Express):

Paul technically knows everything and he has the qualities to play anywhere. My preference is for him to join Chelsea, who have very strong players and the financial power of [Roman] Abramovich. Also Real Madrid, who are one of the biggest clubs in the world, if not the greatest. He would grow a lot under Carlo Ancelotti.

Pogba is currently the subject of fierce speculation. As noted by Chapman, the likes of Chelsea and United are suggested to be front-runners for his signature, while Ben Jefferson of the same publication suggests Paris Saint-Germain could also be in the mix.

Mino Raiola, Pogba‘s agent, previously suggested any suitors will need to stump up in excess of £85 million to convince Juve to sell.

“If the right time comes this summer, then it will happen,” said Raiola, reported by Telefoot (h/t Kieran Gill of the MailOnline). “If it is not the right time, he could stay for another year or two. He will beat the transfer record. If there is one Mona Lisa in the world, and she is for sale, it will be a record price.”

B/R UK’s Ryan Bailey and Jonathan Johnson recently discussed whether Pogba could become football’s first £100 million player:

Jose Mourinho has proven himself conscious of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules in recent times. Juan Cuadrado’s arrival was met with Andre Schurrle’s departure, while Juan Mata and Kevin De Bruyne were pushed through the door in January 2014 to make way for Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah.

Let’s not forget the £50 million exit of David Luiz, which helped fund Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas‘ arrivals in the summer.

As such, it could be difficult to raise in excess of £85 million without significantly impacting the squad. Pogba is a terrific young player—a current superstar and future legend if he continues to improve—but a world-record transfer could be problematic for the west London club.

Mourinho may be better off focusing on another Serie A target in Mauro Icardi. Constantly linked to a host of teams in recent weeks, per the Mirror, the Argentinian striker recently hinted he would be willing to move to the Premier League.

His comments were reported by Rob Dawson of the Manchester Evening News: “I’m not interested in rumours, what counts is winning with Inter,” said Icardi. “If the ones about United, Chelsea and Liverpool were real, I would be honoured, because they are big clubs, but I’m already in a great team where I can win something important.”

Icardi is currently one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe after bagging himself 15 goals with Inter Milan this season, per WhoScored.com. Football writer Adam Digby recently commented on Icardi‘s quality during Inter’s win over Atalanta, which the 21-year-old missed through illness:

Mourinho has built a physical, well-rounded squad which possesses depth in every area. Pogba and Icardi would slot in well, but there’s no doubt major outgoings would have to follow. The Portuguese manager is always itching to improve, so he will monitor his players closely as the business end of the season approaches.

Pogba‘s departure from Juve would likely be the biggest, most expensive transfer of the summer if it goes ahead. With over a decade of top-level football left in him, Pogba is likely to reach his peak at his next club.

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Arsene Wenger is reportedly “ready” to act on Arsenal’s interest in Lyon midfielder Maxime Gonalons, a player who “has been watched by Arsenal scouts on various occasions in the last two years,” according to Spanish publication Fichajes (translated by Jamie Sanderson of the Metro).

Sanderson suggested Gonalons is “expected to leave” in the summer. The 25-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season with Lyon, who are currently two points clear atop Ligue 1. Gonalons averages 4.1 tackles and 2.8 interceptions per match across 24 appearances in the domestic division, as recorded by WhoScored.com.

He has largely been deployed in defensive midfield this campaign—an area Arsenal desperately need to galvanise—and could represent a cheaper alternative to the likes of Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin. Sanderson indicates Gonalons will set suitors back £14.8 million.

The 25-year-old could be brought in as a potential replacement for Santi Cazorla, who continues to be linked with a switch to Atletico Madrid.

Sky Sports’ Guillem Balague recently confirmed the Spanish club are looking to secure Cazorla‘s future, telling Revista de La Liga: “Atletico are convinced that they can persuade the player to join them. Then they just have to pay the money.”

Gonalons is a different type of player—he’s a destroyer—but possesses the passing quality to fit in with Wenger‘s side. He has completed 89.3 percent of his passes this season, per WhoScored.com, executing an average of seven long balls per game. Although the Frenchman rarely offers a goal threat, he is extremely useful around the halfway line and can also play in defence.

Wenger may also be in the market for a prolific striker. Tancredi Palmeri of beIN Sports recently suggested the club are working on a deal for Palermo’s Paulo Dybala, citing Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport:

The same publication suggests Inter Milan will step into the Dybala conversation, per 101 Great Goals:

This could make things difficult for Arsenal. Inter owner Erick Thohir continues to invest in quality players, signing the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri and Marcelo Brozovic during the winter transfer window, not to mention Arsenal’s Lukas Podolski on loan.

Dybala would be costly—Metro (h/t James Whaling of the Mirror) believe he could cost £29.5 million—but a powerful owner can make such a deal happen. Fellow Serie A side Napoli have also been linked with the Argentinian, but Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini believes no Italian club can afford to pay his fee, as reported by talkSPORT:

His future? The problem is not the boy but his agents. I am sorry for this. I’ve been to London and I have received calls from all over Europe. I would be happy Napoli bought him, but I don’t think he is within their reach. Dybala is out of reach of all Italian companies.

Dybala‘s likely exit is destined to be among the summer’s most interesting transfer stories. B/R UK’s Ryan Bailey and Matteo Bonetti recently discussed a handful of other potential moves:

It’s been years since Arsenal possessed a squad which could legitimately challenge for the Premier League title, so supporters may wish to see the likes of Gonalons added without losing a key player. Wenger needs to hold onto his stars, players such as Cazorla, to give the Gunners an excellent chance of success.

He has spent lavishly over the previous two summers—signing Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez—and can be expected to splash the cash once again at the end of the season.

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Juventus are reportedly “keen” on signing Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi, a player who is said to have triggered the interest of Chelsea and Manchester United in recent weeks.

Bruce Archer of the Daily Express suggests the Serie A champions are “plotting a summer move” to lure Icardi to Turin. The 21-year-old is currently the division’s No. 2 scorer this season with 13 goals, eclipsed only by Juve frontman Carlos Tevez, per WhoScored.com. 

Archer suggests Icardi is being eyed as a replacement for Didier Drogba and potentially Loic Remy. It’s difficult to decipher how Jose Mourinho would flit between four strikers when he rarely deploys more than one at any given time, so any attacking arrival is likely to be met with someone being pushed out.

Drogba‘s age and diminishing effectiveness make him a prime candidate to depart, while it may be smart for Remy to move on in search of first-team football. The Frenchman has started just three Premier League matches this season, per WhoScored.com, all of which have been out of necessity when Diego Costa was either injured or suspended.

Icardi recently sat out of Inter’s 4-1 win over Atalanta due to illness. Despite the heavy victory, football writer Adam Digby noted how noticeable his absence was:

Mourinho will likely have to work extremely hard to land the player and satisfy UEFA’s financial fair play rules. Archer indicates Icardi will cost in the region of £30 million and that Manchester United are following his progress.

United could also stand in the way of Mourinho finally signing Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane, per the Daily Mirror, via Uche Amako of the Daily Express.

Amaka reports Varane is becoming “increasingly unsettled” with his bit-part role at the Bernabeu. He suggests United boss Louis van Gaal has identified the centre-back as an “attainable target,” particularly because a bid of £25 million “could tempt” Los Blancos to sell.

It seems unlikely such a little fee would capture a player of Varane‘s quality, though. Mourinho knows exactly what Varane is about—having signed him for Madrid—and previously suggested he is among the best young defenders in the world, alongside Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma. 

Ben Jefferson of the Express reported Mourinho‘s comments:

I think the French Federation should write me a letter to thank me because I think they have now the best two young central defenders in the world. I’m not saying the best because there are young, there are obviously end products, mature players 24, 25, 28, 30 years old.

But as young defenders can you imagine what Varane and Zouma can represent in football in a couple of years.

Mourinho recently tied up the future of another young worldbeater in the shape of Eden Hazard. The Belgian’s new five-and-a-half-year contract hasn’t stopped admiration pouring in from Paris Saint-Germain.

Colin Harvey of the Daily Star reports comments from Brazilian defender Thiago Silva. “He [Hazard] is not just good, he is very good,” said Silva. “If he really comes, [he] will be very welcome.”

Hazard recently confirmed he has never considered moving to the Parc des Princes. “Personally, there has never been anything with PSG,” he revealed to French television station TF1, per Ian Holyman of ESPN FC. “I knew from the start I wanted to stay (at Chelsea). I don’t want to move, I’m good here.”

WhoScored.com highlighted exactly why Hazard is important to Chelsea’s chances of success:

B/R UK’s Garry Hayes also believes the former Lille star is untouchable for elite clubs:

Chelsea and PSG come head-to-head on Tuesday night when the English side travel to France for the Champions League round-of-16 first leg. Both sides won their home ties when the pair met in last season’s quarter-finals, but a Hazard-inspired Chelsea have massively improved since then.

With players such as Icardi and Varane linked to a summer switch to Stamford Bridge, it’s not outlandish to suggest Mourinho‘s squad will keep improving across the next year too.

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Fresh from qualifying for the FA Cup quarter-final, Manchester United appears ready to put some summer-transfer plans into action. Chief among those plans is a potential move for Real Madrid‘s touted young centre-back Raphael Varane.

The Red Devils will also target precocious Brazilian forward Kenedy. He’s been dubbed the “new Neymar” by some.

But it’s interest in Varane that should have United fans most excited. He’s reportedly “unsettled” as he struggles for playing time in the Spanish capital, according to Daily Mirror reporter John Cross, who notes both United and Chelsea are watching the situation.

As a combative and ultra-athletic young defender, he’s exactly the kind of star presence at the back United need. Varane is widely considered one of the brightest talents at his position in Europe.

Oddly enough though, one man who doesn’t seem to share that view is Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian coach still prefers to trust veteran pairing Sergio Ramos and Pepe.

It doesn’t help that whenever Varane has seen the pitch, he’s hardly done much to change Ancelotti’s mind. His latest woes came during Los Merengues’ 4-0 derby defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Varane’s place as a regular on the bench naturally has some of Europe’s best maintaining an interest. But it’s United’s Premier League rival Chelsea who could have the inside track.

After all, it was Blues boss Jose Mourinho who gave Varane his chance in Madrid. The Stamford Bridge outfit has recently been linked with a £35 million summer bid for the 21-year-old, per Daily Express reporter Tony Banks.

United can certainly compete with that level of fiscal outlay. But manager Louis van Gaal would also have to be able to offer the lure of UEFA Champions League football.

As a budding young star, Varane fits the template for the kind of players Van Gaal wants to build his new-look United squad around.

So does youthful South American ace Kenedy. United are eager to beat Serie A side Inter Milan to a deal worth as much as £5 million for the Fluminense sensation, per Daily Star reporter Jonathan Green.

He notes how United already have the inside track with the Rio de Janeiro club, thanks to the deal to sign Fabio and Rafael Da Silva back in 2007. But United’s connection may be deeper still.

A Sport Witness report traced the original source of the Kenedy rumour to a Sambafoot article by Frederic Fausser, citing an unnamed Fluminense Youth trainer. Sport Witness also claims the presence of Marcelo Teixeira, who still works with United’s Brazilian delegation, as a key factor in this deal.

Van Gaal has made giving young talent a chance a focus of his rebuilding project at Old Trafford. He’s offered opportunities to defenders Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett, along with striker James Wilson.

United also signed 20-year-old Sadiq El Fitouri and 21-year-old Andy Kellett during the winter-transfer window. Adding Kenedy to the ranks would give Van Gaal another enticing prospect to develop.

But it’s Varane who’d have more immediate value. United have failed to adequately replace Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the defence.

Varane could be the building block the Red Devils need. Playing at a club with more belief in his overall ability would surely help the Frenchman reach his undoubted potential.

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Rumours regarding Manchester United‘s Juan Mata and a potential transfer back to Spain continue to swirl, as The Sun (h/t Metro‘s Simon Osborn) reports Atletico Madrid are willing to offer the Red Devils defender Miranda on top of a significant fee for the midfielder’s services.

The news comes just days after El Mundo Deportivo claimed Barcelona are contemplating a move as soon as their transfer ban ends, via Bleacher Report UK:

As reported by Osborn, the La Liga champions are believed to have turned down a deal involving star midfielder Koke, but they would be willing to part with veteran centre-back Miranda and £22 million in cash:

Atletico Madrid have told Manchester United they will not include midfielder Koke as part of their offer to sign Juan Mata.

It was reported over the weekend that United wanted the attacking midfielder in part-exchange for former the former Chelsea star, but Atletico have ruled out letting the 22-year-old leave for Old Trafford.

However, the Sun are now reporting the Spanish champions have offered £22m plus 30-year-old defender Miranda as an alternative.

Mata has not been a regular starter under Louis van Gaal, not having started a Premier League match since January 17, per WhoScored.com. The 26-year-old doesn’t appear to be a part of Van Gaal‘s long-term plans and could be anxious to explore his options at the end of the campaign.

The Dutch manager told reporters he wants to buy a creative midfielder during a media session on Monday, an odd statement considering he has the Spain international at his disposal. ESPN FC wondered whether that meant his time could officially be up:

A swap deal for Koke would have filled the void Van Gaal emphasised, but Miranda wouldn’t be a bad consolation price. The Brazil international has been a part of Atletico‘s vaunted back four for years now, but the emergence of youngster Jose Maria Gimenez means he could soon be relegated to a bench role.

It’s no secret United have a need in defence—Bleacher Report’s Ryan Bailey labeled the Red Devils as transfer-window losers for failing to address the position with a world-class player:

Miranda isn’t on the level of team-mate Diego Godin, but he’s an experienced veteran who could step in and help out immediately and for the next two or three years. If Mata is indeed free to leave in the summer, it wouldn’t be a bad move to bring in the Brazilian in return.

Inter Milan have reportedly identified Fiorentina‘s Khouma Babacar as a potential replacement for Mauro Icardi, leading to speculation the prolific striker could be on the move at the end of the campaign, per the Daily Express‘ Charles Perrin.

The two sides have been engaged in contract negotiations but have so far come up empty, although manager Roberto Mancini remains confident a deal will be struck, via FOX Soccer:

Icardi is one of Serie A’s best strikers playing for an Inter squad that has underperformed tremendously the past two years, and most of the transfer speculation surrounding his name comes from the idea he might be willing to move to a club with more potential for silverware.

The Nerazzurri won’t be willing to part ways with their star forward easily, however. Per FourFourTwo‘s Adam Digby, the squad simply doesn’t perform at the same level whenever he doesn’t play:

Inter’s squad is young and wildly talented, and with Mancini now at the helm, they’re expected to once again emerge as a force in Italian football. Icardi is in a fantastic situation in Milan, and he’s expected to simply sign a new deal and stay in Italy for the foreseeable future.

United could use a player of his caliber to lead the attack, but with the likes of Robin van Persie, Radamel Falcao and James Wilson already in the squad, Icardi wouldn’t come in and be a starter from day one. The Argentinian knows this as well—expect him to stay with Inter, instead.

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Inter Milan need to make the right call when it comes to Argentinian centre-forward Mauro Icardi, 21, who is a talented but troubled youngster.

Placating Icardi by upping his salary is a certainty, but Inter Milan need to figure out if this is just a cash-grab tactic from his handlers or the beginning of a melodramatic transfer saga, which could lead to a premature departure in the summer.

World-Class Upside

There are only six footballers aged 21 years or younger who have scored 10 goals or more in either the Bundesliga, Eredivisie, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League or Serie A this season.

Icardi is one of the six.

A right-footed goal-poacher, Icardi’s positional sense is outstanding, and with his jumping ability, he is an aerial threat.

Icardi believes he is the next Gabriel Batistuta.

“People compare me to Batistuta, and he is the player I base myself on,” Icardi said, per Diario El Litoral (h/t Football Italia). “I have great technique, a good shot and I’m pretty good in the air. I think I’m a lot like [Batistuta].”

Scoring three goals from outside the box in three seasons makes you question Icardi’s judgement, given Batistuta was one of the most lethal long-range shooters of his generation.

Yes, Icardi is a natural goalscorer, but there are noticeable flaws in his game.

For a finisher, Icardi’s 35.3 percent shooting accuracy is not proficient enough. Icardi is also heavily reliant on his teammates feeding him the ball. Yet, when he is in advantageous positions, he tends to go alone rather than looking to pass.

That is why Icardi averages just 0.7 key passes per game, and his selfishness causes friction, as evident with the Dani Osvaldo bust-up.

That said, Icardi’s biggest red flag has nothing to do with his playing ability.

“Whatever, I do what I want.”—Eric Cartman

Unlike Brian Williams, Icardi is unabashedly truthful.

Confined to a realm where positive public relations is paramount to developing a professional athlete’s brand, Icardi does what he pleases without consideration for his image, let alone the feelings of others.

You can imagine Maxi Lopez shouting: “Hear, hear!“

Having a predisposition for nonconformity, the phrase “political correctness” probably does not exist in Icardi’s lexicon. 

“There are plenty of professional players [like me] who couldn’t care less about football. I never watch games and know nothing about what’s going on in the sport,” Icardi said, per SportWeek (h/t Football Italia). “[In life], the unhappy people are those who listen to others. I never listened to anyone and I’m very happy.”

Icardi’s me-against-the-world attitude was on show after a 3-1 defeat to Sassuolo when Inter Milan fans spurned his attempts of giving away his shirt.

Instead of walking away, Icardi escalated the negativity permeating from the travelling Inter Milan fans. “Pieces of s–t,” Icardi said, per Marcus Christenson at the Guardian. “You are all pieces of s–t.”

The following week, Icardi was still afflicted, as observed by Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini: “In my opinion, you should celebrate after a goal [but Icardi didn’t],” Mancini said, per Sky Sport (h/t FourFourTwo). “I don’t think [Icardi is] unhappy, so I assume it’s a leftover from last Sunday.”

Here is an insight into Icardi’s paradoxical nature.

Last April, he was admonished for excessive celebration by then-Inter Milan manager Walter Mazzarri in a 4-0 win over Sampdoria.

“All [Icardi] had to do was go back to the centre of the field and not make that gesture,” Mazzarri said, per La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Ben Gladwell at ESPN FC). “[If] we manage to get rid of all the superfluous things about him, then he’s going to become a great player.”

What did Icardi do? 

Upon scoring, “[he] sprinted immediately toward the [Sampdoria] Ultras in the Gradinata Sud, cupping his ears in their direction,” per Paolo Bandini in the Guardian. “If the mood had been hostile before kick-off, then it was only ratcheted up further by this perceived act of disrespect.”

Context: Sampdoria gave Icardi his career break when his development at Barcelona was stagnating.

Don’t Upset Icardi

Arrogant, disobedient, emotional, hostile and impulsive are all valid adjectives you could use if you were asked to describe Icardi’s character. 

Loyalty is not a trait you associate to Icardi, who has already quit on Barcelona and Sampdoria.

Once he feels slighted, he will leave.

This is why Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio short-changing Icardi is as dangerous as playing Russian roulette.

There are two financial stumbling blocks that are barriers to Icardi committing to Inter Milan, per David Amoyal at GianlucaDiMarzio.com:

• The proposed €2.8/£2.1 million annual salary.
• Icardi wants to control the financial rights to his image rather than give away a revenue source to Inter Milan.

“Of course it’s normal that [Icardi] is not happy to be earning less than he feels he deserves,” Ausilio said, per Mediaset (h/t Ben Gladwell at ESPN FC). “Even if we’re only taking small steps [negotiating an improved contract], one every month, there’s no reason to be worried.”

How can Ausilio not be worried?

The Premier League recently negotiated a €6.92/£5.136 billion TV deal with Sky and BT, so Ausilio will be priced out if he plods along in contractual negotiations with Icardi.

Icardi’s primary suitors are from the Premier League.

• “Manchester United have emerged as shock favourites to sign Chelsea target and Inter Milan star Mauro Icardi,” per Anthony Chapman at the Daily Express.
• “Chelsea are considering making a move for Inter Milan’s contract rebel Mauro Icardi in the summer,” per Simon Johnson at the London Evening Standard.
• Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are scouting Icardi, per Corriere dello Sport (h/t Football Italia).

Here is why Ausilio isn’t flustered. 

Inter Milan hold leverage over Icardi, who is contracted until 2018 and earns €1 million/£739,620 per year, according to Carlo Laudisa at La Gazzetta dello Sport.

If Icardi does not play ball, expect him to be sold in the summer before his contractual negotiations drag out Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao style.

+allanjiang.

When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com. 

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The agent of Colombian midfielder Fredy Guarin announced his player turned down moves to Chelsea and Real Madrid in favour of remaining at Inter Milan.

Football-Italia.net quotes Marcelo Ferreyra, speaking to Calciomercato.com, about the recent offers for the midfielder, who is having an impressive campaign at the San Siro:

He was happy after the game against Atalanta. Since [Inter Coach Roberto] Mancini arrived, he told Fredy he was counting on him. Trust is everything in football, and we’re also counting on Inter, the result is the Guarin you’re seeing.

He’s complete in attack, defence and tactically. Were there bids from Chelsea and Real Madrid? That’s all true, but we rejected those offers because we had a real, solid project with the club. Both sides have respected each other and now you’re seeing the results.

The 28-year-old has been Mancini’s star player in recent weeks, hitting the goal trail.

Guarin now has 14 Serie A starts under his belt, scoring five times from deep and providing five assists for his team-mates, per WhoScored.com.

BT Sport’s Italian football expert Richard Hall recently highlighted the player’s stunning performance against Atalanta, as Inter climbed their way back up the Italian league:

Guarin has been much talked about in the past as a potential target for Manchester United, per Ben Jefferson of the Express, with Juventus also in for the midfielder when the Red Devils were brokering a deal for Arturo Vidal.

But it seems that Chelsea were the club who came closest to adding Guarin to their squad after the recent revelations by Ferreyra.

Guarin has the box-to-box attributes that the top EPL teams would love to have, but Chelsea are the least likely team who would currently need such a player.

Guarin would be perfect for United, but Chelsea have the running and skill of Willian and Ramires, making a move for the Colombia international unlikely.

However, if the player finishes the campaign strongly in Italy, the top teams in England and Europe will once again begin their flirtation with the improving midfielder.

Guarin is certainly a player who is in top form, but both Chelsea and Madrid have a better variation of options in the centre than the Inter man could provide.

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Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini once again reiterated his desire to sign Manchester City star Yaya Toure, as rumours of a possible summer exit continue to swirl around the veteran midfielder.

Appearing on Sky Sport 24, the former City manager was asked about his interest in the Ivory Coast international and didn’t hide his feelings, via Goal:

Yaya Toure? Piero Ausilio [Inter’s sporting director] – put your hand in your pocket! I had Yaya at Manchester City and I think he is one of the best players in the world.

It’s not easy, though, because he’s at Manchester City, so it’s up to him and whether he wants to come and play in Italy, after playing in the other major European leagues.

He’d be a big signing not just for Inter but also for the Italian league’s prestige as a whole.

Inter have more appeal than many teams, though, so we’ll see what happens in the future, but he belongs to Manchester City at the moment.

The Italian previously suggested Inter could be moving for Toure, as reported by the Daily Mirror‘s Simon Mullock, and Mullock believes the 31-year-old is open to joining the Nerazzurri.

Toure’s relationship with current club City has been rocky the past year, to say the least. There was the odd row regarding his 31st birthday, via BBC Sport, followed by a poor start to the 2014-15 season.

The Ivorian’s play has gradually improved throughout the campaign, however. His importance to the Citizens’ system was highlighted by their string of poor results whenever the veteran wasn’t in the starting XI. As shared by Squawka Football, the numbers are almost embarrassing:

Toure remains one of the world’s most well-rounded midfielders, combining creativity and vision with a keen eye for goal and the physicality to be an excellent presence in front of the back four.

His scoring numbers often steal the headlines, via Sky Sports, but the former Barcelona man does far more than just score goals:

Selling Toure at this point in time sounds like madness, but at the same time, the AFCON winner is 31 years old and is playing on incredibly high wages, via the Daily Mail‘s Ian Ladyman.

Cashing in on the midfielder now before his performances start to deteriorate could be smart business. In the age of financial fair play, clearing over £200,000 worth of weekly wages off the books is a huge advantage. That money could go to securing a younger replacement.

Toure’s production is close to irreplaceable, but someone like Juventus‘ Paul Pogba would be a perfect fit. Like Toure, he’s a versatile, well-rounded midfielder with a penchant for scoring goals from long range. And Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Johnson thinks he could be moving to a new club very soon:

One more factor has to be taken into account—whether Toure is eager to start a new chapter or not. The Ivorian makes a ton of money at the Etihad Stadium but knows his level of play will start to drop very soon. A move to the slower Serie A could help prolong his career.

With so many variables influencing whether or not a transfer would be a good idea, manager Manuel Pellegrini faces a difficult decision. When the offer from Inter comes—and judging by Mancini’s comments, it will—will have to weigh Toure’s importance, via Grantland’s Mike L. Goodman, against the long-term outlook of the club:

Toure is a phenomenal player, showing little signs of slowing down. Conventional wisdom says you keep him around until he starts to deteriorate. But if Inter’s offer is significant, the temptation to sell and go all-in for someone like Pogba will be difficult to pass up.

Mancini continues to whet Toure’s appetite with constant promises he will bid for his former midfielder, and no one but the Ivorian knows how he feels about a potential move at this point. Fans better strap themselves in; this transfer saga could take over every headline in the country once the summer comes around.

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