Rumour Reel: Foxes track Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane on the move?
Holly Thackeray | May 22, 2016
There’s never a better time to read Coral’s rumour reel than on a sunny Sunday morning, feet up and coffee in hand – and today’s football gossip does not disappoint. It looks like a summer of change of Arsenal, who feature heavily, with the latest reports including one winger in and another out…
Oxlade-Chamberlain for Arsenal escape?
It seems as though young Gunner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been around for an age, but the currently injured Englishman is still only 22.
Having been in and out of the Arsenal team this term, Premier League champions Leicester City are the latest club linked and will be hoping the lure of Champions League football can tempt the wideman to the King Power Stadium.
The former Southampton star has been somewhat of a project for Arsene Wenger, but after just one goal and a sole assist in the Premier League this season, the Foxes are circling, as Claudio Ranieri seek to reinforce.
Should Arsenal offload Oxlade-Chamberlain, another adaptable attacker would be required, which is where our next transfer rumour ties in rather nicely. Wenger has reportedly picked up the scent of yet another Saints player, with flexible forward Sadio Mane in the frame for an Emirates switch.
With just two seasons left on his deal, the St Mary’s dangerman, long tipped to join Manchester United, has scored 11 and assisted seven – meaning Mane, 24, would be an upgrade on several current Arsenal options.
Klopp chasing Chilwell
Dominating Liverpool’s expected summer splurge are continued whispers that Bayern Munich playmaker Mario Gotze is on the verge of arriving at Anfield – for a cut-price £20m deal.
Yet, perhaps more interestingly, Jurgen Kloop looks set to address the Reds’ recurrent left back problem by poaching Leicester’s Ben Chilwell, with the young Englishman also a Gunners target. The teenage talent is stuck firmly behind Christian Fuchs in the Foxes full back pecking order, which could open the door for the Merseysiders to snatch the defender.
Conte keen on Koulibaly
While, current Italy and incoming Chelsea coach Antonio Conte has already been linked to a wealth of Serie A players, so here is one more mooted move for good measure.
Napoli and Senegal centre half Kalidou Koulibaly has attracted plaudits for his dominant defensive displays for the Little Donkeys, and Conte could move to capture the 24-year-old this summer, with the Stamford Bridge Blues in need of backline refreshment.
With rumours that Chelsea number one Thibaut Courtois could be on his way out, Conte is also believed to have an eye on another Italy-based star in Inter Milan post protector Samir Handanovic, who is now 31 but rated at a £15m price if he is to be poached from the San Siro side.
Midfielder on Man Utd radar?
Finally, elsewhere in England, FA Cup winners Manchester United appear to be already planning a summer makeover, with Sevilla defensive shield and Poland deep playmaker Grzegorz Krychowiak the latest name out of the hat to join the Red Devils’ transfer revolution.
Canny midfielder and recent Europa League winner Krychowiak could be drafted in to steady the ship, with Michael Carrick’s contract set to expire, Morgan Schneiderlin out of form and Bastian Schweinsteiger injured.
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