Arsenal “have been in contact” with Borussia Dortmund midfielder Sven Bender about the possibility of him heading to north London, reported by Bild (h/t Lewis Rudd for Metro.co.uk).

The Gunners’ alleged interest comes after Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton were linked with the £20 million-rated German, reported by the Daily Mail (h/t Izzy Horsefield of the Express).

Bender was linked with an Emirates Stadium switch as the summer transfer window loomed last year. He missed much of the 2014-15 season after undergoing knee surgery in January, accumulating just 14 Bundesliga starts during Dortmund’s struggled run to seventh.

Sven, like his twin brother Lars, would be able to provide an effective defensive shield for Arsenal. He is a determined winner of the ball, providing 2.5 tackles and 2.7 interceptions per game last season, recorded by WhoScored.com. He’s also dominant in the air and confident in progressing possession while patrolling the halfway line.

In January, former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamman suggested either Bender sibling would significantly improve Arsenal’s play, reported by Simon Mullock of the Mirror:

For me, Arsenal would be much better served, going for one of the Bender brothers, especially Lars. Either of those boys would give Wenger something he hasn’t got in midfield. Someone who can read the game, is ­naturally defensively minded and who will thrive, operating in front of the back four, making sure Arsenal don’t get exposed.

However, Francis Coquelin enjoyed a terrific run of form during the latter half of the season and has proved himself a quality line of defence ahead of Arsenal’s back four. Coquelin’s mobility and energy is key to his game, but he will need top-quality cover to ensure next term’s busy schedule doesn’t impact his progress.

Monaco’s Geoffrey Kondogbia continues to be linked with the club, although it seems local rivals Spurs are also interested in his services. It’s suggested the White Hart Lane club have a lodged a £20 million bid for the destructive Frenchman, according to talkSPORT.

David Amoyal, writer on behalf of Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio, indicates AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has had dinner with the 22-year-old in Monaco ahead of trying to secure a deal. It’s also suggested the Rossoneri’s city rivals Inter Milan are interested. A valuation of €30 million (approximately £21.4 million) is discussed.

Kondogbia posted some highly impressive performances throughout the 2014-15 Ligue 1 campaign and also starred in the Champions League. His goal against Arsenal at the Emirates was just reward for his dominant display, in which his size and physicality overpowered the north London side’s midfield.

B/R UK’s Jonathan Johnson recently discussed how Kondogbia would adapt to life under Arsene Wenger’s guidance:

The Gunners’ need for a specialist defensive midfielder has lessened with the emergence of Coquelin. Even so, a world-class alternative is needed. Too often Wenger has been forced to deploy Mikel Arteta—whose instinct isn’t to defend—or Mathieu Flamini, who is an underwhelming performer at the top level.

Bender or Kondogbia can fulfill important roles for the club. It’s been years since Arsenal possessed genuine physicality through the centre—the kind Patrick Vieira used to add—highlighted by Abou Diaby’s constant injuries at the club.

For all of the squad’s technical prowess, a midfield enforcer should remain top of Wenger’s shopping list.

As highlighted above, the kind of stars he’ll be looking at will receive plenty of interest throughout the summer. The French boss shouldn’t be afraid of spending handsomely to improve his squad, who are on the verge of offering a genuine title challenge.

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Philippe Coutinho enjoyed an outstanding individual campaign in 2014/15, despite the woes of his club side, and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will be looking to the 23-year-old Brazilian to help arrest the Reds’ slide into mediocrity in the upcoming 2015/16 season.

Coutinho was awarded the Players’ Player of the Year, Player of the Year, Goal of the Year and Performance of the Year accolades by the club at the end of the season, as confirmed by Liverpool’s official website in May. The awards served a symbol of his overriding brilliance in a season that saw Rodgers’ side crash miserably out of European competition, fail to achieve any domestic silverware and finish a dismal sixth in the Premier League.

Collecting his awards, Coutinho looked to the future:

It’s very important for me because these awards were chosen by my fellow teammates and the supporters. 

My teammates are the people I work with all year round, so being recognised by them makes it an important award for me which I treasure a lot

[…]

Hopefully we will fight for the first four places and the title [next season], like [in 2013/14]. Unfortunately, things didn’t go our way this season but we hope that next season we will be there or thereabouts.

Having pledged his future to Liverpool with a new long-term contract back in February, again as reported by the club’s official website, Coutinho looks set to outlive wantaway team-mate Raheem Sterling as the pride of Anfield, and his words on the signing of his new deal point to a positive future:

I‘m really happy. It’s a dream come true playing for this great club and being part of this squad.

Today I’ve committed my future to the club and for this I’m feeling very pleased. 

This club is great and the fans have always supported me, so I’ve been eager to sign this new deal since conversations started. Today is a very happy day.

Coutinho clearly sees himself central to any future success for Liverpool, and this hope will be mirrored by the club’s supporters, who had a hand in deciding three of his four end-of-season awards.

But how can Liverpool get the best out of Coutinho in 2015/16?

Receiving his own award at the club’s end-of-season ceremony, departing captain Steven Gerrard chose to divert attention from himself and focus on the majesty of his Brazilian team-mate, as reported by James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo. As he picked up his Outstanding Achievement Award, Gerrard said:

I’m bored of speaking about myself, I want to pay tribute to Philippe. 

This is his night. I think he’s cleaned up tonight on the awards and deservedly so.

I’m privileged to share a dressing room with him. He’s the next big thing for me. 

I hope he stays here for a long time and can help the club win more trophies.

Gerrard has worked with a plethora of world-class players, with Xabi Alonso, Luis Suarez, Pepe Reina, Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher and Robbie Fowler to name eight, and this praise for Coutinho could see him edging towards this prestigious group. The former Inter Milan midfielder clearly has the talent.

This is evidenced by his recent call-up to Dunga’s Brazil squad for the 2015 Copa America in Chile, and he is set to play a starring role alongside the majestic Neymar Jr., who reserved special praise for his longtime friend, as relayed by the Mirror‘s David Anderson, back in February:

He can be the star player in England. This season I think everybody in England is seeing how talented he is—and I know he has a lot more to show.

[…]

I think since Luis [Suarez] joined us at Barcelona, Liverpool have not had that one player they can look to for that special moment.

Couto can be that player for them I’m sure. When he has the ball at his feet, he can make things happen for himself and he can make things happen for other players. He is a very special player.

Neymar’s outlining of Coutinho’s talents points towards his key strength: creativity.

He averaged 1.7 key passes per game in the league in 2014/15, with only Sterling (2.1), Gerrard (1.8) and Jordan Henderson (1.8) producing more in the Liverpool squad; he played 0.4 through balls per league game, the most of any Liverpool player; and he made 3.1 successful dribbles per league game, also the most of any Reds player.

One convincing argument for why he is behind three of his team-mates in terms of key passes played is the way in which Coutinho was utilised by Rodgers throughout last season.

With much of the first half of the season spent wasted in a wide-left role, Coutinho didn’t truly blossom until Rodgers introduced his successful 3-4-2-1 formation towards the end of 2014, which saw the No. 10 take up an advanced playmaking role behind a lone striker.

In Liverpool’s subsequent switch to a 4-3-3, Coutinho continued a central role—this must be continued in 2015/16 if he is to reach his best form.

His performances in the second half of the season drew further praise from another major Brazilian star, Ronaldinho, with the 35-year-old even suggesting he could be a future Barcelona player—much to Liverpool supporters’ ire—as reported by Nicholas Godden of MailOnline:

He has had a fantastic season—he has been one of the best midfield players in Europe—and when you think he has been playing in a team that has not been performing well that is an even bigger achievement.

I can’t speak for him and I can’t speak for Barcelona—but I know what Barcelona look for in a player and he has all those qualities

[…]

Playing with great players makes you better, I know that. Not only would he win trophies with Barcelona, but playing with Neymar, Messi, Suarez, Iniesta, is going to make him a better player.

As both Neymar and Ronaldinho attest, Coutinho is the player who makes Liverpool tick, and this became even more apparent as he grew in a more natural role in the second half of the season. The latter’s suggestion that Coutinho would flourish with better players around him is similarly astute, and it is something Liverpool should heed as they approach the 2015/16 season.

“The Brazilian maestro that is Philippe Coutinho has captivated the Liverpool faithful since his move from Inter Milan. He mesmerises fans and players alike with what he does with the ball, and it’s little wonder he’s nicknamed The Magician,” Sam McGuire wrote for AnfieldIndex this month, before analogising: “Unfortunately though, for both the player and the fans, he currently lacks a magician’s assistant, which is a key part of turning a successful magician’s act into a mind-blowing one.”

“The assistant draws the audiences gaze which allows the magician to do what’s needed…That right there is what Liverpool lacked last season…Someone who could draw the attention away from our No. 10,” he continued.

McGuire makes a shrewd point here, one that aligns with the sentiments of Ronaldinho about Coutinho potentially flourishing among the myriad talents of Barcelona: Coutinho can’t do it all, and he shouldn’t be expected to at Liverpool.

Rodgers should take note of this as he plots to get the best of the Brazilian in 2015/16. Liverpool need another player to lighten the load currently burdening the 23-year-old on Merseyside, another playmaker to complement Liverpool’s chief technician, another cerebral lobe to accent Coutinho as the Reds’ “brain,” as Rodgers so lavishly acknowledged him last summer.

McGuire’s words preface an examination of what widely reported Liverpool target Mateo Kovacic would bring to Rodgers’ squad if he were to make the move from Inter Milan this summer. The Reds reportedly had a bid for the Inter man turned down back in May, according to Ben Jefferson of the Express.

Like Coutinho, Kovacic is a creative talent, averaging 1.8 key passes per Serie A game last season; like Coutinho, he loves threading a through ball, with an average of 0.3 per game in Italy’s top flight; like Coutinho, he is an astute dribbler, making 2.6 dribbles per league appearance on average.

Importantly, too, the 21-year-old midfielder operates in a slightly different position to Coutinho, taking up a more central midfield role compared to the Brazilian’s traditional No. 10. If Kovacic were to join Liverpool this summer, he would, in theory, lighten the creative load currently weighing Coutinho down and would intertwine well with his dynamic style of play.

However, if Dominic King of the Mail is correct, and Liverpool have no current interest in the Croatian midfielder—is there an option within the current Reds squad who could help relieve the burden next season?

Adam Lallana, a £25 million signing from Southampton last summer, would surely like to think so. He told Andy Hunter of the Guardian last month that he is ready to take up more responsibility in light of Gerrard’s move to LA Galaxy this summer, declaring:

There shouldn’t be any responsibility on anyone to solely fill Steven’s boots. It is going to have to be a contribution from the team.

If everyone gives two, three per cent extra then hopefully we can half fill that spot. It is going to be tough but we will be working hard.

I’m 27 and I feel that responsibility. I’m a leader and I feel responsible in the group but we have a lot of leaders in the team. We have good team spirit as well. I just hope we can build on this season. There are a lot of ups and downs but plenty of positives to be had. We need to learn from it, take it into next year and definitely build on it.

Lallana operates in a similar attacking midfield role to Coutinho but was deployed alongside him regularly within Rodgers’ 3-4-2-1, proving that they can work well together. He contributes an inventive one-touch game within pockets of space in front of and between opposing defences and looks to charge forward with the ball whenever possible. He could prove the perfect foil to Coutinho’s talents next season, if he remains fit and is truly capable of stepping up, as he attests.

However, with all the help that Kovacic or Lallana would provide, Liverpool would still struggle to get the best out of Coutinho next season if their goalscoring woes continue in the forward line. 

Speaking after making a hero’s return to the Liverpool first team, with a goal just 12 minutes into his return from a long spell on the sidelines with injury in January’s 2-0 win over West Ham United, star striker Daniel Sturridge professed his joy at playing alongside a playmaker like Coutinho.

“It was great play by Coutinho. We have a great relationship—he knows my runs and I know the types of passes he likes to play as well. He makes my job easier,” Sturridge told Neil Jones of the Liverpool Echo. “Once I saw him cut inside, I knew the ball would come and it was just a case of getting it under control and hitting the target.”

These words evoke a near-telepathic relationship Sturridge has with Coutinho—the pair both joined Liverpool in January 2013—and the combination of the Englishman’s intelligent runs and Coutinho’s perceptive ball-playing has been at the fulcrum of Rodgers’ success on Merseyside. With Suarez gone, Coutinho is the player Sturridge has the most chemistry with on the field of play. This points to a hugely important move that Liverpool must make this summer, in signing a new striker.

Disappointingly, the centre-forward that Rodgers has seemingly made his top priority this summer is £32.5 million-rated Christian Benteke, of Aston Villa, as reported by John Percy of the Telegraph. But this battering-ram specification of striker is not what Liverpool should be looking for.

Instead, Liverpool should be looking to sign another dynamic, pacy forward, with similar qualities to Sturridge, this summer. A player like Luciano Vietto, Javier Hernandez or Carlos Bacca, who will run the channels, latch onto the Brazilian’s through balls and terrorise defenders with pace would fit the bill.

Benteke is so far from this calibre of striker, as Belgium manager Marc Wilmots underlined following his side’s recent loss to Wales in their 2016 European Championships qualifier, according to Tom Dutton of the London Evening Standard: “I changed my system [after Wales scored], because Benteke was isolated. I then played with two strikers, but they need more crosses. We asked them to get to the front post, but they stand there like two poles. We still have work to do.”

As discussed, Coutinho is Liverpool’s best player, their creative talisman and the player whose qualities they need to magnify next season in order to achieve success. This will not be accomplished by forcing him to provide cross after cross for a static Benteke, and instead a more suitable, Sturridge-esque striker must be signed.

With this help from the midfield and with a more worthy target to provide for in attack, Coutinho can look to build towards his best in 2015/16.

Speaking to the club’s official website following a 6-0 win away to Newcastle United back in April of 2013, Rodgers praised Coutinho following an outstanding performance but was quick to point out there was much progress to be made. After the victory at St. James’ Park, the manager professed:

We build up players in the country and put them on a pedestal and then quickly nail them down.

He’s had an outstanding performance and people can see why we brought him in. He’s 20 years of age and fits the culture of what we’re trying to do here. 

He’s technically strong and he’s a very humble boy. He works hard, you can see the effort in his game, the pressure, the intensity, so he fits in really well, but there’s a long way to go.

Coutinho finished his first half-season on Merseyside with three goals and five assists from 13 Premier League appearances, averaging at a goal contribution every 117 minutes. He joined Sturridge as the spark that revitalised a flagging 2012/13 season, full of energy and creative inspiration.

But Rodgers was right: He still needed to develop his game, namely in improving his defensive work—an aspect of his game that was prominent from the start of the following season.

The Brazilian is seemingly a very swift learner when it comes to on-field improvements, as he outlined with a remarkable development in his efforts in front of goal in the second half of 2014/15. In January, Coutinho told Ian Doyle of the Liverpool Echo that he was working hard to improve his shooting accuracy, among other areas, saying:

There are always so many things to improve.

I’ve been working on assisting my team-mates even further and improving my goal tally as I understand this as being part of my role. I expect to do better on this. 

In training, I’ve been working with our coaches on specific tasks to better my final touch. 

Whenever possible, I have post-training sessions to work on improving my shooting accuracy.

This end-of-month concession was followed by his two-assist performance at home to West Ham in the Premier League and by scoring the winning goal in early February’s 2-1 away win over Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup with a last-minute, long-range curler. Five more great goals came between then and the end of the season, all near-identical to that Macron Stadium stunner.

Coutinho was on the money with his words on development, but to become the world-class player that Liverpool know he has the potential to be, he must continue to improve. Chiefly, this must come with finding consistency on the pitch—the way in which he drifted into the periphery in April’s 4-1 league loss away to Arsenal will have concerned Rodgers, who was without a number of key players for that clash.

But that low-squad-depth caveat should underline just how Liverpool will get the best out of an ever-improving Coutinho in 2015/16. He must be played in his best position, in the central playmaking role; he must be supported by a similarly able creative talent, be that Lallana or a new signing such as Kovacic; and he must be deployed behind the right specification of striker—hopefully that is Sturridge, but if not another intelligent, dynamic and pacy forward in-sync with Coutinho’s style of play must be acquired.

Those three conditions are vital to Liverpool finding success with Coutinho as their inspiration in 2015/16.

Give him the right tools, and Coutinho can become world-class in the coming season with Liverpool.

Statistics via WhoScored.com.

Follow @jacklusby

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Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez has told Florentino Perez he wishes to sign Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi, according to Italian website Sport Mediaset (h/t AS).

The new boss is hoping to “increase” Karim Benzema’s competition in the squad and will look to Icardi “if the club finally decides not to exercise their option on Chicharito Hernandez,” per the aforementioned report.

Icardi netted 22 goals to finish joint top-scorer in the 2014-15 Serie A season, joined by Verona‘s evergreen Luca Toni. The Argentinian also provided seven assists in 36 appearances and remained creative despite Inter’s continued struggles, per WhoScored.com.

It would be a major challenge for him to maintain a starting spot at the Bernabeu, though. This is particularly true if Benzema remains at the club, because neither are likely to accept a rotational role. AS (h/t Adam Shergold of the Daily Mail) recently reported that Benitez will hand Cristiano Ronaldo a lone No. 9 role, an obstacle that will render other strikers nothing more than back-up.

Icardi would likely be utilised in the same manner as Javier Hernandez, who managed just seven La Liga starts during the recently concluded season.

This wouldn’t help the 22-year-old’s development—Icardi needs to be given responsibility to hone his talent—nor would it greatly improve Madrid’s chances of success. There’s little point spending big on Icardi if he’s to fulfill the Alvaro Morata role—remaining a peripheral figure until he heads back to Italy to find success.

Icardi also recently signed a new four-year contract, tweeted by Inter:

His valuation will be at its absolute highest with this in mind. Although Benitez will understandably want to make an impact on the Los Blancos squad, spending heavily on a striker who is improving—yet nowhere near the complete package—makes little sense. The Real Madrid manager’s attacking options are vast and other areas must be balanced first.

Marca‘s J.L. Calderon believes Manchester United are waiting with “open arms” for defender Raphael Varane. It is suggested the Red Devils asked about the Frenchman’s availability during negotiations for United stopper David De Gea, but that Madrid made it clear “there is absolutely no way” Varane will leave.

The 22-year-old defender could be given greater opportunities to impress under Benitez. He has remained reliable cover for Sergio Ramos and Pepe, but he needs greater playing time to develop into one of the world’s best.

B/R UK’s Ryan Bailey and Jonathan Johnson recently discussed plenty of questions that Benitez will face in his first transfer window with the club:

Varane is immensely talented, an excellent reader of the ball and quality in possession. He could make United fans very happy, even though the likelihood is that he remains in Madrid until his time to shine finally arrives.

Benitez is expected to take a pragmatic approach to getting Madrid on track. It would be a huge call to sell Varane, particularly after the centre-back’s terrific stand-in performances over the years.

Yet, the Spanish manager must make sure everyone within his squad is contributing and genuinely adding to Madrid’s quality. It’s questionable whether Icardi would be able to achieve that just yet.

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Manchester City will begin their 2015-16 Premier League campaign with a tricky fixture against West Brom at The Hawthorns.

Manuel Pellegrini‘s side finished second last season, eight points behind champions Chelsea, and will play host to Jose Mourinho’s team at the Etihad Stadium in the second match of the season on Aug. 15, per the official Premier League website.

City started the last campaign with a 2-0 win away at Newcastle United. Pellegrini‘s side followed this with victory over Liverpool, but then lost their third match against Stoke City.

City’s objectives for the season should be competing to take Chelsea’s crown while maintaining their presence in cup competitions. Most notably, the side must improve in the Champions League after annual struggles on the continent since receiving investment from Sheikh Mansour.

Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero finished five goals ahead of Tottenham Hotspur‘s Harry Kane last season, topping the scorers chart with 26 strikes. He remains City’s most important player—a continued match-winner across all fronts—and vital to the side’s potential success.

Maintaining the presence of powerhouse midfielder Yaya Toure—who was linked with a move to Inter Milan, reported by Simon Jones of the Daily Mail—should also be seen as pivotal to City’s hunt for silverware.

Notable dates for the season include both Manchester derbies, which will go ahead on Oct. 24 at Old Trafford and Mar. 19 at the Etihad.

Pellegrini will be hoping to employ a more exciting and lethal brand of football, having watched on as his side struggled through important matches last season.

City should be considered the next likely team beyond Chelsea to take the title, having won the trophy twice in the last four years.

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In what can only be described as a “nomadic existence” during his professional football career, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has found some semblance of calm at Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG‘s mammoth Swede has never played longer than three seasons (plus four games) at the same club, meaning the 2015/16 season would be the centre-forward’s longest stint at any destination. Malmo FF, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and AC Milan over 14 seasons saw various versions of Ibrahimovic, but he has consistently produced his best work in France.

The now-33-year-old striker has directly contributed to 149 goals in 129 appearances at PSG over three seasons, but, despite his success, there appears to be—as ever—speculation surrounding his future.

Entering the last year of his contract, Ibrahimovic is being seen across Europe as a possible target, as the French champions could be persuaded to end their marriage rather than proceeding onward.

Bought for £15.7 million in 2012, the Daily Express‘ Charles Perrin, via Metro, suggests PSG have put an £11 million price tag on their talismanic striker, with Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Milan monitoring the situation.

Furthermore, ESPN FC’s Ian Holyman reported on 16 June: “Ibrahimovic and [his] agent Mino Raiola have travelled to Qatar to meet Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to discuss his future.”

This development is of import because the veteran centre-forward told the media last week, via Eurosport’s Maxwell Ward:

I belong to PSG. I have one year left on my contract and there is no truth to these stories. I’m a PSG player.

I really don’t think I will leave. We won everything at PSG this season. I have no idea where the stories come from, but I guess people need something to write about.

Ibrahimovic could be toeing the company line and attempting to avoid creating waves, but when has “the Zlatan” ever shied away from speaking his truth? If the Swedish international has no desire to leave the Parc des Princes, it stands to reason he has flown with his agent to Qatar for (if not a holiday) contract negotiations/assurances.

The question for PSG then becomes: “If clubs are interested in Ibrahimovic, do we hold on to a depreciating asset or shall we cash in whilst we still can?”

An argument could be made at 33 years old the best of Zlatan has passed, and having never won the Champions League—or even played in a Champions League final—during his numerous pit stops around the European continent, Ibrahimovic may not be the footballer to carry a club to European glory.

Add 22 missed games last season (from red-card suspension, a four-match ban from the French league’s disciplinary committee and then general injury/fatigue) and cutting bait seems an optimal outcome; especially considering taking a £4.7 million loss for 149 goals after three seasons is actually fantastic business.

The argument is sound, but not without complication.

Ibrahimovic is a worldwide attraction, whose fans extend into the millions—PSG cannot afford to lose their star and place their marketing burden on Edinson Cavani, David Luiz, Thiago Silva or Marco Verratti?

Paris Saint-Germain’s (and French football’s) greatest fear would likely be losing global popularity were Zlatan to leave for the Premier League or Serie A, as UEFA Financial Fair Play ramifications exist.

Therefore, while solid reasoning exists to end the relationship, if the player wants to stay in the French capital and the fiscal element is included, PSG could be better off long-term keeping their larger-than-life centre-forward into his retirement and making him an ambassador.

What cannot happen, however, is allowing Ibrahimovic carte blanche. He must understand his powers will begin to fade further, and he should not expect the same wages or salary moving past 2015/16.

PSG‘s “Zlatan experiment” has largely been successful—excluding the Champions League—so another season would not be the worst outcome, but extending aging footballers is not progression, more maintenance.

Follow @danieltiluk

Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.

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Tottenham Hotspur are hoping to complete a transfer for Chelsea‘s Mohamed Salah during the summer window, but the Blues would rather avoid selling to a direct Premier League rival, according to the latest rumours.

As reported by the London Evening Standard‘s Tom Collomosse, the Egypt international is likely to leave Stamford Bridge during the summer, and while Fiorentina are interested in turning his loan deal into a permanent move, Spurs will also be in the mix:

Tottenham are interested in bringing Mohamed Salah to White Hart Lane, though Chelsea would prefer to sell him abroad rather than strengthen a Premier League club and local rival.

Salah helped Basel knock Spurs out of the Europa League in 2013 and he did the same with Fiorentina earlier this year to eliminate Mauricio Pochettino’s men in the last 32.

[…] Fiorentina are keen to renew the agreement but Salah is thought to be looking at his options – and Inter boss Roberto Mancini would like his club to explore the situation.

The 23-year-old joined Fiorentina during the January transfer window after spending most of 2015 sitting on Chelsea’s bench, and he enjoyed an impressive start to his Serie A career, scoring almost at will in the first couple of weeks.

While he cooled down after that, he remained one of La Viola’s top performers, and he continued to impress with the national team. Salah could be a popular name during the summer transfer window, and following the sacking of manager Vincenzo Montella, he no longer wants to play for La Viola, per La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t FourFourTwo‘s Adam Digby):

Inter Milan are also interested, per Collomosse, and the Nerazzurri would make for an interesting fit as they continue their rebuild.

His days with Chelsea appear all but over, to the point Bleacher Report’s Andy Brassell didn’t even discuss the winger when he looked at which players the Blues should keep or sell during the summer:

Fans will argue he wasn’t given enough opportunities to prove himself with the Blues, but with so much competition for playing time out on the wing or right behind the striker, Salah simply couldn’t do enough to break into the starting XI.

It’s unlikely that would change in 2015-16, with the likes of Juan Cuadrado eager to impress.

A permanent move away from the club seems the only solution, and thanks to his fine form with Fiorentina and the national team, Salah’s value is high enough for the Blues to turn a nice profit on their initial investment.

Juventus Once Again Linked With Oscar

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegro recently admitted he loved what Chelsea midfielder Oscar brings to the table, per Metro‘s Sean Kearns, and those comments are once again fuelling speculation the Bianconero could launch a bid for the Brazil international.

As reported by Kearns, Allegri was asked whether he liked Oscar and said: “Very much. He is one of those players who can make a difference in Europe. I like Oscar. But I also like Isco, Javier Pastore, Angel Di Maria, Toni Kroos – all the best players from the Champions League.”

It’s important to note Allegri never brought up the subject himself―he simply replied to a reporter’s question.

The Bianconeri have a stacked midfield, with the likes of Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal, Claudio Marchisio and Andrea Pirlo shining in the Champions League and Sami Khedira yet to join. Roberto Pereyra looked impressive on loan and is expected to move to Turin on a permanent basis, and youngster Stefano Sturaro also joined an excellent season for the Old Lady.

None of those players can play as a classic No. 10, however, and Allegri’s system has always relied heavily on such a creative force in midfield. ESPN FC’s Mina Rzouki believes Juventus need someone like Oscar and Isco to take the next step in Europe:

Oscar is a popular figure in Chelsea, however, and while inconsistency has plagued him at times, the Brazil international is still a young player growing as a footballer.

Manager Jose Mourinho might be tempted to sell the midfielder, but given his past contributions and obvious potential, the transfer fee would be high. And while Juventus don’t have to worry about their finances after winning four consecutive Serie A titles and making this year’s Champions League final, they’ve been relatively prudent with their transfer investments recently.

Some kind of swap involving Paul Pogba―their interest in the player is well-documented―would be a possibility, but keeping the France international in Turin beyond the summer is Juventus’ top priority, and unless Pogba himself demands a transfer, he’s unlikely to leave.

It’s hard to see how the finances would work out in any deal for Oscar, as the Bianconeri are unlikely to offer more than £30 million, and the Blues won’t settle for less.

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is “watching every move” in the Raheem Sterling scenario, and “will enter the bidding,” according to John Richardson of the Express.

Richardson also believes Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez is “interested” in the wantaway Liverpool player but that Manchester City “remain the favourites” despite having a bid of an initial £25 million turned down. Interestingly, the Sun on Sunday (h/t Charles Perrin of the Express) suggests a sale needs to be made this summer if Liverpool are to receive anything like the £50 million they want for him.

Failure to do so could see Sterling’s valuation drop to £20 million next summer, noted in Perrin’s report. Sterling enters the final year of his contract in July 2016, per Transfermarkt, so it stands to reason that he would automatically be a cheaper purchase for any prospective buyers. This is without factoring in form; if he struggles during the 2015-16 season, he’ll knock significant cash from his potential fee.

As such, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is likely in two minds. The Northern Irishman has repeatedly stated that Sterling isn’t for sale, reported by James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo. However, cashing in would allow the boss to significantly improve his squad. Anywhere near £50 million could land Liverpool a star player who is far more established then Sterling or a couple of other top-quality purchases.

Keeping Sterling against his will and forcing him to perform could be disastrous for the club. It’s the kind of situation that helps nobody involved—prolonging the inevitable is likely to frustrate Sterling, Rodgers and the club’s fans. How are supporters going to react knowing he doesn’t want to sign a new contract?

Holding onto Sterling would be a financial risk, but the more damaging aspects could arrive in the form of a toxic atmosphere. At this point, Rodgers would be wish to cash in, move on and let someone else deal with the player.

He could spend some of the money on Inter Milan‘s Mateo Kovacic, a player who has allegedly agreed a £16.4 million deal to join the Anfield club, according to Tutto Mercato Web (h/t George Bellshaw of Metro).

The Croatian is a well-rounded midfielder who could play multiple positions for Rodgers. However, Tuttosport (h/t Marc Williams of the Daily Star) reports comments from the player that suggest he is still a long way from moving:

“For now I’m still happy in Italy, but we’ll see about the future,” said Kovacic. “There’s no need for us to talk, I recently renewed my contract. I’m not expecting any further notifications, but of course you never know with the transfer market.”

WhoScored.com recently looked at other options for Liverpool:

Kovacic is the type of signing who could make up for the loss of Sterling—exciting, young and eager to improve—but there’s no doubt the Merseyside club has a huge decision to make in the coming weeks. That is unless any side bids £50 million for Sterling. In which case, he should be shipped off immediately.

B/R UK’s Sam Tighe believes other changes should also be made:

Sterling put in a good performance during England’s 3-2 win over Slovenia on Sunday, but he’s far from justifying anything near his reported £50 million valuation. Even at £10 million less, he’d be extremely expensive.

Rodgers will know he faces a dilemma regardless—he’ll either have a disgruntled player to handle or a Sterling-shaped gap to fill—so it doesn’t help Liverpool to prolong the situation. Arsenal and Madrid’s interest may help drive up the 20-year-old’s price, and in turn, help the club transition away from this ongoing saga.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly told Real Madrid he is set to continue his career at the club following the appointment of new manager Rafa Benitez, all but bringing an end to rumours of a potential transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

The star forward never seemed likely to leave the Spanish capital, and per the Daily Mail‘s Rob Draper, reported issues with club president Florentino Perez won’t push Ronaldo out of the door:

Cristiano Ronaldo has told Real Madrid that he wants to stay at the club next season following the appointment of new manager Rafa Benitez.

Benitez has spoken to most key players since his appointment two weeks ago and Ronaldo, who scored a hat-trick for Portugal against Armenia on Saturday night, has reiterated his commitment to the new manager despite interest from Paris Saint-Germain and past tensions with Real President Florentino Perez.

As shared by BBC Sport, the Sunday Telegraph previously claimed the Portugal international could be on his way to France, as PSG were anxious to add him to their ranks:

Such a transfer never looked likely. Not only do the French giants have financial fair play to worry about, Les Parisiens simply don’t have the stature of Los Blancos. Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world, and he belongs at a club of Real’s caliber. PSG are a great club, but they sit a level below the 10-time European champions.

The 30-year-old finished his 2014-15 campaign with a fantastic performance for his country against Armenia, scoring a hat-trick to lead Portugal to a 3-2 win. Football writer Barney Ronay thought the star forward moved more freely than he does for Real, something Benitez undoubtedly spotted as well:

Under former manager Carlo Ancelotti, Ronaldo was a massive success, but Benitez has always relied heavily on his creative players up front and should be aiming to get the most out of Ronaldo.

Benitez loves his wingers, but according to AS (h/t Real Football Family), the former Napoli manager plans to move Ronaldo to the centre of the pitch and use him as a striker:

While Ronaldo has the sheer quality and body type to be successful as a striker―or anywhere else on the pitch for that matter―he has always been at his best as a wide man, cutting inside from the left wing and using his speed to run past defenders.

At the age of 30, Ronaldo has developed his playing style, and it seems like a risky decision to ask him to change that. Ronaldo is too talented a player not to build your system around, and in all likelihood, Benitez will continue playing him in a wider role, giving him the freedom to roam.

That leaves Karim Benzema as the logical choice to play the striker position unless the club goes after a new No. 9.

Mauro Icardi Reportedly Eyed

According to AS‘ Javier G. Matallanas, that striker could be Inter Milan‘s Mauro Icardi, who is next in the line of Real’s targets if a move for Manchester City‘s Sergio Aguero fails to materialise:

The Argentinian was last season’s joint-top scorer in Serie A with 22 goals and recently committed his future to the Nerazzurri, per Football Italia:

Inter are looking to build their team around the 22-year-old, and with a new contract under his belt, it seems unlikely he would consider leaving Milan during the summer.

The Nerazzurri have been in a downward spiral in recent years, however, and were hit with financial fair play sanctions earlier this year, reported by Sky Sports. If Los Blancos were truly keen to land the young forward, they could present his club with the kind of offer they simply couldn’t refuse, given their current situation.

Icardi is a favourite of Benitez, per Matallanas, and he has earned his stripes in Serie A. Like Benzema, he has a powerful build and reads the game very well, using his positioning and awareness to find the open spaces inside the box and finish chances.

He’s opportunistic in front of goal and rarely misses when he has space, and while he lacks the height of players such as Alvaro Morata and Fernando Llorente, he’s more than capable in the air. Icardi also isn’t a bad passer of the ball, although he falls well short of Benzema in that department.

Icardi likely wouldn’t start over Benzema, who has proved himself to be a world-class striker during his time with Los Blancos, but as a young backup and rotational player, the Inter man has a lot of value. He’s young and still has plenty of time to develop, and Real don’t currently have a backup for Benzema who brings the same kind of scoring touch as the Frenchman.

Convincing Inter to sell wouldn’t be easy, but for the right price, the Nerazzurri will be tempted to cash in and balance their books.

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Barcelona look set to sell two of their fringe players, with Chelsea on the brink of signing Alex Song and Martin Montoya keen on a move to Inter Milan.

Former Arsenal midfielder Song has spent the season on loan at West Ham, returning to London after his failed spell at the Camp Nou, and it now seems that Chelsea will extend the player’s stay in the capital.

David Wright of the Express says Song has “impressed” manager Jose Mourinho with his performances over the past 12 months, and the Blues coach is said to be willing to pay £6 million to add the player to his Premier League-winning squad.

Wright says Liverpool and Arsenal have also expressed interest in the Cameroon international—but Chelsea’s status as champions would surely give them the edge in any pursuit.

The 27-year-old was in top form for most of the season as the Hammers occupied the top half of the table, with Song featuring 28 times for the east London outfit, per Squawka.

And Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph says Song may yet remain at Upton Park, with the player said to be happy with new managerial appointment Slaven Bilic:

For a player of Song’s ability and age, and considering he still has two years on his current deal, per Wright, the £6 million price represents a bargain for prospective clubs.

However, it is clear that Song is surplus to requirements at the Catalan superclub, and the EPL is the obvious destination for the midfielder, who spent six seasons playing for the Gunners.

Alves Renewal Prompts Montoya Exit

Despite strong interest from a host of English clubs, it seems that Martin Montoya has his heart set on a move to the San Siro to join Inter Milan.

Izzy Horsefield of the Express says the defender will snub Arsenal and Liverpool in favour of a transfer to the Serie A giants.

Horsefield quotes the player’s agent, Juan de Dios Carrasco, speaking to FCInterNews about his client’s hopes and ambitions for the coming season:

Next week we will have a meeting with Barcelona and hear what they have to say. Obviously, Martin would like to play more consistently. Before saying one way or the other, I want to first talk to the club, but as I repeat he wants to be a starting player. We’ll know much more on the situation next week. Inter would certainly be a welcome destination, especially if he’d be used as a regular starter. We are talking about a great club.

The continued selection of Alves, who appeared to be on his way out of the club before renewing his deal, has stifled Montoya’s progress at the Camp Nou.

Montoya started only seven games in La Liga and the Champions League during the recent campaign, per WhoScored.com, and with Alves remaining, his starting opportunities will remain limited. 

Both Song and Montoya are strong squad-playing individuals but are also too good to sit on the bench for extended periods. Barcelona’s strength and depth is at an optimum at the moment, and both players will be successes at other clubs.

Song is a credible defensive talent and the perfect holding midfielder in the right team. However, a transfer to Chelsea would cause him similar issues—with time on the bench guaranteed behind the likes of Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas.

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Liverpool could be set to plunder Serie A with the signings of former Manchester United hero Carlos Tevez and Croatian starlet Mateo Kovacic.

Anthony Chapman of the Express says AS reports that the diminutive Juventus and Argentina forward will be available for as little as £10 million this summer, with the Anfield giants and Atletico Madrid leading the charge from Europe’s elite.

However, it is believed Tevez might have agreed to return to his homeland for next term, with a deal to Boca Juniors in the pipeline, per Chapman.

Tevez has been a sensation since swapping life in the north-west of England for residency in Turin. His two seasons with the Old Lady have produced two Serie A championship titles as well as an appearance in this year’s Champions League final.

The former United and Manchester City player has been on the goal trail in 2014-15, scoring 27 goals in 45 Italian league and European appearances, per WhoScored.com, proving to be one of the best strikers on the planet.

Tevez recently spoke to the Copa America official site about his disillusionment with the game over the years and how he, despite being referred to as “the people’s player,” fell out of love with football. However, he has since found peace with his situation—and feels he is in the best form of his career (via Ezequiel Scher and Ben Hayward of Goal.com):

Football bored me more than that nickname. At one time, I was more bored by that than by what people called me. Playing so much football bores you. There comes a time when, without a break, you get bored.

…

I am eight kilos lighter. I think I am better physically, better emotionally and better in football terms. I am better than I was before. When you feel important at your club, that makes you feel good inside and out, I believe that shows on the pitch.

As a kid I dreamed of being Tevez. I fought to be Tevez. It was very hard for me to become what I am today. I’m not going to reject what I am. I think to reject who I am would be to not value myself and not think about everything I did to become Tevez.

A move to Anfield would be a shocking finale to an eventful career for the forward. But Tevez has always been the type of man to cause a surprise, whether that be joining West Ham in his first outing in England or defecting across Manchester, swapping red for blue.

Football writer and United fan Rich Laverty claims he would have Tevez back at Old Trafford in a heartbeat:

Tevez would provide manager Brendan Rodgers with the performance level previously achieved by Luis Suarez, and he would be the perfect foil for Daniel Sturridge at the sharp end of the attack.

Kovacic Hints at Possible Transfer

As Rodgers considers his attacking options with Tevez, Inter Milan‘s Mateo Kovacic could be on the coach’s wishlist as he looks to strengthen his midfield.

James Orr of the Independent says the 21-year-old prodigy has hinted that he might consider a move to Merseyside, with Liverpool in the hunt for his services in a £16 million deal: “I signed a new contract some months ago and I want to stay here. Right now, yes [I want to stay], but you can never say never.”

Will Giles of the Metro cites TuttoMercatoWeb.com‘s claim that Rodgers has sent a delegation to watch the player perform for his country in an attempt to further his team’s chances of attaining the Croatian.

Kovacic has been a regular for Inter during their Serie A campaign, appearing 35 times and scoring on five occasions, per Squawka.

Both Tevez and Kovacic are the types of exceptional talents Rodgers should be looking at—and with a potential combined fee of £26 million, Rodgers will be enthused by the value in the market.

Kovacic is a player waiting to explode on the correct stage, and he would find the passionate nights at Anfield to be to his liking as he develops his game in English football.

However, the capture of Tevez would take Liverpool back into Champions League contention. Mario Balotelli has been a disaster since his transfer to Merseyside, and Tevez would be the perfect replacement for his former City team-mate.

Tevez brings EPL experience with him but also vast European knowledge. Liverpool need a player with Tevez’s skill set, and at £10 million, he would be the bargain of the summer.

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