TRANSFER ROUNDUP: Kessie Rejects Chelsea, Morata Commits To Real, And More
Franck Kessie Rejects Chelsea For Roma
REUTERS/Giorgio Perottino
Atalanta midfielder Franck Kessie has reportedly rejected Premier League giants Chelsea in favour of a move to Serie A outfit Roma.
Kessie has been targeted by some of the biggest clubs in England, as per his agent George Atangana, who back in December, was quoted as saying: “We have a lot of interest from the Premier League – Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal. I cannot say at this stage how much he will cost but we are talking about one of the best young players in the world.”
But despite the interest from all the top dogs of the Premier League, Kessie seems to have decided to stay in the Serie A, and move to AS Roma instead. According to The Sun, the 20-year-old will be spending the rest of the season at Atalanta, before making a switch to the Rome-based club in the summer. Meanwhile, Chelsea, who were reportedly favourites to sign Kessie up for £28 million, seem to have lost out on ‘the next Yaya Toure’.
Ipswich Boss Asks Leeds United To Stop “P*ssing In The Wind”
Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy has asked Leeds United to end their interest in Tom Lawrence, and he has done so in an emphatic fashion.
Lawrence, 23, is currently on loan at Ipswich from Premier League champions Leicester. However, the midfielder’s performances for the Suffolk-based side have attracted the interest of numerous other clubs, with Leeds being one of them. But when the Yorkshire giants approached McCarthy over the availability of his player, the Ipswich boss turned them down in a hilarious manner.
McCarthy spoke about the incident with the East Anglian Daily Times, and revealed: “There are clubs interested (in Lawrence). I think Cardiff are interested, I’m told QPR are interested and I’ve also been told Leeds are interested. I’ve told Leeds that he is with us until the end of the season, so they are kind of p*****g in the wind.
“Leicester haven’t received any bids. He’s with us. There is no way, anyhow, I will be sanctioning Tom Lawrence going anywhere else. Is that categoric enough for you?”
Crystal Palace On The Brink Of Signing Patrick Van Aanholt
Crystal Palace are all set to sign Sunderland defender Patrick van Aanholt, Eagles’ manager Sam Allardyce has confirmed.
Speaking after Palace’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City in the FA Cup, Allardyce revealed: “We’ve got two big games coming up now, the window shuts on Tuesday. Is Van Aanholt done? I don’t know. I think it’s close but I’m not absolutely certain it’s finished yet. He is with us. Hopefully he’ll be involved on Tuesday.”
Allardyce also gave an update on the future of Andros Townsend while at it, by stating: “I’ve no idea what the situation is with Andros other than the fact that Steve the chairman hasn’t told me that Newcastle have made any kind of bid whatsoever for us to consider. It’s not even in the back of my mind.”
Rodgers Warns Goalkeeper Against Joining Chelsea
Reuters / Russell Cheyne
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has warned his goalkeeper Craig Gordon against joining Chelsea.
As per reports, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte seems to have identified Craig Gordon as a replacement for their current backup goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, who looks set to leave Stamford Bridge before the deadline day. However, the Blues have already seen their initial bid for Gordon rejected, as the 34-year-old remains extremely valuable to the Scottish Champions.
And now, Rodgers has made it even more difficult for the London club to get this transfer done, by warning Gordon against joining the Premier League outfit and becoming their new ‘training keeper’.
The former Liverpool boss stated: “It’s difficult because it’s Chelsea, but it’s not really a playing role. You become a training keeper and you are virtually forfeiting two or three years of your life to be a training keeper.”
Alvaro Morata Commits Future To Real Madrid
Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata has dismissed all the speculation regarding his future by committing to Real Madrid via his post on social media.
The Spaniard has been rumoured to be unhappy at the Santiago Bernabeu, with several reports claiming Real Madrid would readily part ways with the striker if they receive a substantial offer for him. In fact, as per Spanish media outlet Diario Gol, Los Blancos president Florentino Perez, who is apparently angered by Morata’s attitude, has told the striker: ‘If we get €60m (£51m) you can leave tomorrow.’
Several suitors of the 26-year-old, including Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea, were reportedly alerted due to the aforementioned situation. However, they have now faced a blow in their pursuit of the Spanish international, after he committed his long-term future to Real Madrid in a post on social media.
Morata posted a picture of himself in training, with the caption: ‘Whatever they say, #halamadrid forever!’
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