Rumour Reel: Conte’s Chelsea relentlessly chasing former frontman Lukaku
Lee Gormley | August 3, 2016
Coral’s rumour reel
The new season is swiftly approaching, with the annual curtain raiser the Community Shield set to take place this coming Sunday, meaning Premier League clubs will be hoping to enjoy a flurry of transfer activity before the anticipated kick-off.
Chelsea pushing for Lukaku return
Chelsea offloaded former forward Romelu Lukaku to current club Everton in 2014 for £28m, but the Blues are now relentlessly tracking the Belgium international frontman once again, as they look to secure his high-profile return this summer.
Such is Antonio Conte’s desire to oversee the Toffees striker’s comeback to Stamford Bridge, the Italian coach is reportedly willing to fork out a mammoth £65m as well as including Loic Remy in the deal.
Everton are currently holding out for £75m in this transfer window for the 23-year-old, who has three years left on his current contract at Goodison Park, though Remy was a target for their director of football Steve Walsh in January while at Leicester City.
It’s believed Lukaku himself is growing increasingly frustrated over the situation surrounding his future and is looking to push through such a switch, while Chelsea forward Remy may welcome a move in the opposite direction to gain regular action.
Moyes makes Gray Sunderland target
Former Everton and Manchester United boss David Moyes is seeking his maiden acquisition at Sunderland, after replacing newly appointed England manager Sam Allardyce at the Stadium of Light, and the Scot has outlined Burnley striker Andre Gray as a target.
The new Black Cats coach is interested in snapping up the 25-year-old attacker and make him the first signing of his reign on Wearside, with Moyes hoping to bounce back from a disappointing spell with Real Sociedad in Spain.
In fact, Sunderland are still without a signing this summer due to the previous situation with Allardyce, though they have shipped out no less than eight players so far.
Moyes is hoping to land Gray to bolster his inherited squad’s attacking ranks, while reports suggest he is keen on reuniting with both Red Devils duo Marouane Fellaini and Adnan Januzaj too.
Toon offered Real starlets in Sissoko dal
Ahead of their Championship campaign, Newcastle United are expecting a bid from Spanish giants Real Madrid for their France international midfielder Moussa Sissoko, with the Toon slapping a £35m price tag on their wantaway man.
The 26-year-old enjoyed a personally impressive Euro 2016 campaign this summer and his outings have caught the eye of Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane, who will reportedly offer the Magpies youngsters Mariano Diaz and Marcos Llorente on season-long loans as part of any deal.
This may be an attractive offer for Rafael Benitez, with 23-year-old forward Mariano having recently netted against Chelsea during pre-season and 21-year-old former Spain youth playmaker Llorente also showing plenty of promise.
Zidane is said to hold Mariano in high regard, after he struck 30 goals in 40 B-team appearances last season, but feels a loan stint will do him good, while Newcastle could benefit greatly from his and Llorente’s qualities in the second tier.
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