Chelsea and Napoli are currently negotiating a potential exchange deal involving forwards Romelu Lukaku and Victor Osimhen.
Clear and clarified – Chelsea boss Maresca wants Enzo Fernandez saga put to bed.
Chelsea and Napoli are currently engaged in talks regarding a potential striker swap deal. According to The Athletic, Victor Osimhen could make a move to Chelsea on loan, with an option to buy. In return, Napoli could sign Romelu Lukaku to reunite him with Antonio Conte.
The ongoing discussions between the two clubs suggest that any move for Lukaku would be permanent, while the talks surrounding Osimhen centre on a loan deal with an option to buy. If the Lukaku switch progresses, it would see the 31-year-old striker reunited with his former coach Antonio Conte, with whom he worked at Inter Milan. Lukaku spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Roma, where he scored an impressive 21 goals in 47 matches.
In other news, Kieran McKenna, the manager of Ipswich Town, has emerged as a shock contender for the England manager’s role. Following Gareth Southgate’s departure, the FA is searching for a replacement. McKenna, along with Eddie Howe, Graham Potter, and Lee Carsley, is now on the list of potential candidates. McKenna’s back-to-back promotions at Ipswich have caught the attention of the FA, and his previous work with FA technical director John McDermott during his time as a youth coach at Tottenham has further boosted his chances.
Sporting Lisbon may be preparing to sell Viktor Gyokeres this summer, with Arsenal showing interest in the striker. Sporting has paid Coventry City to reduce the sell-on clause in the deal, indicating their willingness to receive a higher sum for Gyokeres. The Swedish international had an outstanding season with Sporting, scoring 43 goals in 50 games after leaving Coventry in a £20 million deal. The reduction of Coventry’s sell-on clause from 15% to 10% could prove beneficial for Sporting in the coming weeks.
Real Sociedad has offered midfielder Mikel Merino a new contract in an attempt to fend off interest from Arsenal. Merino’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, making him available for a cut-price fee. Arsenal, along with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, have been linked with a move for the 28-year-old. However, Sociedad is hopeful that they can convince Merino to stay, and a new contract has been put on the table for him to consider.
Overall, these transfer developments and managerial speculations have created a buzz in the football world, with fans eagerly awaiting the outcome of these potential moves.