Monday, April 27

• Liverpool have opened talks to sign Lille striker Victor Osimhen

• Omari Forson will sign his first contract with Manchester United

• Chelsea are considering a move for Juventus star Adrien Rabiot

• Lionel Messi wants Barcelona to keep playmaker Philippe Coutinho

• Chelsea are still in contact with PSG talent Kays Ruiz-Atil

• Manchester United are still in with a shout of signing Federico Chiesa

• Celtic have opened contract talks with striker Odsonne Edouard

Mohammed Salisu to Man Utd

Manchester United are in the running to sign Real Valladolid defender Mohammed Salisu, Spanish newspaper AS claim.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking for a new centre-back to partner Harry Maguire next season and has identified Salisu as a potential addition.

Salisu, 21, has a £10.5million release clause in his contract, which is due to expire in June 2022.

United have dispatched scouts to monitor the Ghanaian defender in the past and could take advantage of the fact he’s represented by Juan Mata’s father.

Andre Onana decision

Chelsea have suffered a blow in the chase for Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Frank Lampard is interested in signing the 24-year-old shot stopper but a return to Barcelona appears to be on the cards.

Onana set tongues wagging by posting what appeared to be a goodbye message to Ajax fans after it was confirmed the Eredivisie season had been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He wrote on Instagram: “This journey ends with an empty stadium, but full of pride and satisfaction. Thanks for all the love and support.”

According to Sport, he has decided to wait for Barcelona, despite the mounting interest in his services, with Paris Saint-Germain also keen.

Odsonne Edouard talks

Celtic have opened talks with striker Odsonne Edouard.

Edouard, 22, has been linked with Premier League trio Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton in recent months after another impressive campaign in Scotland.

The French striker has scored 60 goals and provided 31 assists in 126 appearances for Celtic.

And Neil Lennon’s side are looking to secure his long-term future with Football Insider claiming contract talks are already underway.

Gonzalo Higuain plan

Gonzalo Higuain will honour his contract with Juventus.

That’s according to his father, who has dismissed claims the Argentine international wants to leave Turin for a potential return to River Plate.

“Everything that’s been said about Gonzalo isn’t true,” Higuain’s father, Jorge, told LM Nequen. “I can tell you one thing: Gonzalo will stay with Juventus because he still has a year and a half left on his contract and he’ll respect it. He’ll see out his current contract.

“In 18 months, Gonzalo will decide what to do because he will be the master of his own destiny.”

AVB not coming back

Andre Villas-Boas says he’ll never manage in the Premier League again.

The former Tottenham and Chelsea manager doesn’t think the English top-flight suits his philosophy or style of football.

“I will not go back there. It is the championship with the most investment, the best players and teams,” Villas-Boas told Portuguese radio station Radio Renascenca.

“But, I like being in a league that includes different game philosophy. This is not the case in England.”

Kai Havertz plan

Chelsea have no “imminent” plans to sign Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho.

Barcelona would be prepared to accept a significant loss on Coutinho with a fee between £50m-£70million reported to be enough to seal his signature.

But The Athletic points out that cost would still put Chelsea off as they’re not prepared to pay close to a club-record fee.

Instead, it is said Chelsea are far more interested in going after the highly-rated Kai Havertz, who they have been scouting on a regular basis.

Federico Chiesa pursuit

Manchester United are still in with a shout of signing Fiorentina star Federico Chiesa.

Chiesa, 22, is expected to leave Fiorentina after four profitable seasons and Juventus are considered the leading contenders to secure his signature.

United, Chelsea and Inter Milan are also thought to be interested in the Italy international, who has scored 29 goals and provided 20 assists in 139 appearances for Fiorentina.

Gazzetta dello Sport via Sport Witness suggest the player and his family are eager to stay in Italy but a lucrative contract offer from the Red Devils could force the winger to ‘rethink’ his next destination.

Lionel Messi wants Philippe Coutinho

Lionel Messi wants Barcelona to keep Philippe Coutinho.

The Brazilian playmaker, 27, has been tipped to leave the Nou Camp having failed to justify his £142million move from Liverpool in 2018.

Chelsea, Everton, Leicester and Newcastle have all been linked with his services after reports Bayern Munich have decided NOT to make his loan spell permanent.

However, The Athletic claim Messi disagrees with Barcelona’s stance on Coutinho and would rather attacker Ousmane Dembele was sold instead.

Jadon Sancho latest

Borussia Dortmund are ‘totally relaxed’ about the situation surrounding Manchester United target Jadon Sancho.

Sancho, who is reportedly valued at £120million, is at the top of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ed Woodward’s wishlist in the upcoming transfer window.

But Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc insists there has been no developments.

“There is no new status,” Zorc told Sport1. “At the moment, all clubs are running on sight – even in England! I can’t and don’t want to go too far out of the window with forecasts because the situation is changing daily.

“We will see what happens. We have a long-term contract with Jadon Sancho. This will not change now. We are totally relaxed about it.”

Victor Osimhen to Liverpool

Liverpool are looking to sign Lille striker Victor Osimhen.

That’s according to French publication Le10sport, who claim the Premier League leaders have opened discussions with Osimhen’s representatives.

It’s believed Jurgen Klopp’s side are ‘laying the foundations’ for an opening contract proposal that could see the eight-capped Nigeria international arrive at Anfield this summer.

Le10sport also suggest Manchester United and Chelsea are set to battle it out for the 21-year-old forward, who is expected to cost around £70million.

Wanted: Kays Ruiz-Atil

Chelsea are still in contact with Paris Saint-Germain talent Kays Ruiz-Atil.

That’s according to French newspaper L’Équipe, who claim the teenager’s family are waiting on a ‘firm sign’ from the Premier League club.

The Blues were first linked with Ruiz-Atil, who’s been dubbed the ‘next Lionel Messi’, in January but a deal failed to materialise.

L’Équipe claim talks are still ongoing for the 17-year-old, who has also held discussions with Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund and Marseille.

The 17-year-old can operate in central midfield, on the left wing or as an outright striker and expects to be training with the senior side next season.