Sasa Kalajdzic

Premier League clubs target 6ft 7ins striker

Sasa Kalajdzic is the subject of transfer interest from Everton, Chelsea and Manchester United. The 6ft 7ins striker is one of the tallest footballers in the world and has a stature that can be compared to that of Peter Crouch. The Austrian currently plays for Stuttgart in the German top flight and he scored 6 goals in 15 league matches last season. The interested EPL clubs are all looking for new strikers and they consider him one of the finest targets they can have. Everton has lost Dominic Calvert Lewin to a long-term injury, Romelu Lukaku has left Chelsea to return to Inter Milan, and Manchester United faces uncertainty over the future of Cristiano Ronaldo. Matchplug understands that Kalajdzic will cost a potential suitor just £15 million. The Premier League clubs face competition from Bayern Munich who has lost Robert Lewandowski. It would be interesting to see which of his suitors eventually wins the race for his signature, but he certainly is one interesting player to watch.

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Arsenal defender nears a return to Italy

Pablo Mari has edge closer to a move to newly promoted Monza in the Italian top flight after his loan in the competition last season. The Spaniard was on the books of Udinese in the second half of the 2021/2022 campaign and he did very well. However, they did not have the option to make the transfer permanent and he has returned to the Emirates, where other clubs want to sign him. Monza is now set to win the race for his signature. Matchplug learns that they have reached an agreement over a loan with Obligation to buy with Arsenal. That clause will automatically be triggered if they survive relegation after their first ever campaign in the Italian top flight. With the arrival of William Saliba, Mari was set to play much less football in this campaign, but at Monza he will see more chances to play.

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Everton set to re-sign PSG midfielder

Everton is set to complete the signing of PSG midfielder Idrissa Gueye as he became surplus to requirements at the French club. The midfielder left the Toffees to join PSG in 2019 and has been a key member of the French club since then. However, their new manager, Christophe Galtier is not a fan of his and has improved his midfield. The Senegal star has been told to find a new club.Everton wants to bolster their squad after nearly getting relegated last season and they see the fan favourite as one player that can improve on their squad. The midfielder is now in England to undergo his medical before sealing the switch to the Premier League side, Matchplug understands. He was one of Everton’s best players before he left the club and his masterful performance in their midfield helped the Toffees to thrive in matches.

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Juventus wants to sign West Ham target

Juventus is interested in a move for Filip Kostic even though he is discussing a transfer to West Ham. The Serbian was one of the finest players in Europe last season when he helped Eintracht Frankfurt to win the Europa League. One of his finest performances in the competition came in the semi-final against West Ham and that caught the attention of the Hammers. They now want to add him to their squad, but Juve has also been linked with a move for him at the end of last season. They turned their attention towards a move for Angel di Maria, but they have now returned, according to what Matchplug can confirm. The Italians have contacted his entourage to discuss if he could still join them even though the Irons have reached an agreement with his present club already.

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Chelsea will pay 75% of Kepa’s salary as he joins Napoli on loan

Chelsea is close to offloading Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan to Napoli in this transfer window, but they will pay a significant portion of his salaries. The Spaniard is the world’s most expensive goalkeeper after Chelsea paid £71.6million for him in 2018, but he has hardly been a good buy. Edouard Mendy replaced him in the Chelsea goal when Frank Lampard became their manager and he has been the second choice since then. He wants to play regularly this season so that he would be selected for the next World Cup, and Matchplug understands that he is now one of the players Napoli wants to sign. However, he earns £150,000-per-week and Napoli cannot pay up to half of that figure. Chelsea is set to keep paying 75 per cent of that wages while he plays for the Italian Club. Considering that they have no other top goalkeeper, the Blues might be forced to sign another goalie.

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Everton wants to sign Dwight McNeil

Dwight McNeil could return to the Premier League this summer after Burnley’s relegation from the English topflight last season. The winger has been one of the finest attackers in the Premier League over the years and Everton have targeted him for some time now. Burnley has managed to keep hold of him until now, but their relegation from the top flight means the England under21 international is likely to leave. Everton managed to survive relegation from the top flight last season and has lost Richarlison in this transfer window. Frank Lampard is keen to strengthen his squad with new attackers and a move for McNeil is one of his priority. Matchplug understands that Everton has entered talks with Burnley to sign the winger whose current deal expires in 2024. The Toffees don’t have plenty money and they hope the Clarets will agree to allow him leave for an agreed fee that would be paid in instalments.

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Ronaldo tell Manchester United to allow him leave for free

Cristiano Ronaldo has asked Manchester United to allow him to leave the club for free this summer after returning late for preseason. The attacker missed the club’s preseason tour as they gave him permission to delay his return to training after stunning them with a request to leave the club. Ronaldo has now returned and held showdown talks with United yesterday. Matchplug understands that he requested to leave the club. He reiterated that he wants out because he wants to keep playing in the Champions League, but United has not received any offers yet and insist he is a part of their plan. The attacker is willing to take a pay cut to join another club, but he has to get United to allow him leave for free before that can happen. At the moment, Erik Ten Hag is counting on him and it would be interesting to see how this saga eventually ends.

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Frenkie de Jong wants to join Chelsea

Manchester United transfer target, Frenkie de Jong has no interest in joining them, but he would consider a move to Chelsea. The midfielder has been the subject of long-term interest from the Red Devils and they have even secured an agreement with Barcelona over his signature. However, the former Ajax man is reluctant to move to Old Trafford even though he would be reunited with his former manager, Erik ten Hag. Matchplug understands that the midfielder has no problems leaving Barcelona in this transfer window, but he will only do that for a club that he thinks are worth his talents. At the moment, United is not one of the top clubs in Europe and he is not keen to join them and help them return to the top European football. Chelsea have been spending money to strengthen their squad in this transfer window, but they are not interested in signing a new midfielder.

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Chelsea turn their attention to Inter Milan defender

Chelsea is now interested in a move for  Denzel Dumfries after missing out on their long-term target Jules Kounde. The Blues reached an agreement to sign Kounde from Sevilla after pursuing him for over a year, however, Barcelona has hijacked their move for him and he is not coming to London. It is a huge blow to their summer plans, but they have now turned their attention towards Dumfries of Inter Milan. The Italians need to sell some players to balance their books and they consider Dumfries one man who can leave them for the right fee. Chelsea wants to take advantage of that to add the wing-back to Thomas Tuchel’s squad for this campaign. Matchplug understands that they are now looking to make him one of their summer signings as they desperately try to bolster their defence ahead of an important season.

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Jose Mourinho wants to sign Manchester United defender

Jose Mourinho is targeting a reunion with Erik Bailly at AS Roma as the Ivorian struggles to make a name for himself at Manchester United. Bailly was signed by Mourinho for the Red Devils in 2016 and he has remained on their team since then, continuing to struggle under different manager. The former Villarreal defender has not been able to become the club’s first choice and he is unlikely to impress their new manager, Erik Ten Hag. The Dutchman likes to play with defenders that can play the ball out from the back, but Bailly is guilty of struggling in possession. He was never a favourite under the club’s last two managers and he might suffer the same fate under Ten Hag. Matchplug understands that Mourinho is now targeting a move for him, but the defender wants to stay at United to fight for a place on their team.

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