The Italian FA is looking to name Chelsea manager Antonio Conte as their new boss after failing to qualify for this year’s world cup in Russia. The Italians are looking to name the best man for the job and have shortlisted former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Conte as their preferred choice. Conte currently has two-and-half years left on his current Blues deal, but he looks likely to leave Stamford Bridge this season after criticizing the club’s transfer business. Although he has continued to insist that he wants to see out his Chelsea contract, it is getting clearer by the day that he may be sacked or walk out on the Blues. Ancelotti has been out of work since he was sacked by Bayern Munich and may be interested also. However, one man who has not been considered for the job is Roberto Mancini. An Italian FA official was asked if Mancini was in the running for the job and he replied by saying they already have their top targets. Chelsea may have been preparing for life without Antonio Conte as they have reportedly approached Diego Simeone, but the Argentinian rejected their approach.

Chelsea have been knocked back in their efforts to bring in Atletico Madrid’s manager as a replacement for Antonio Conte after this season. The Blues are currently looking for a replacement for Conte after the Italian manager fell out with the club’s board and some players like David Luiz. Italy has offered Conte the job of their national team manager back, but he has told them to forget the idea of bringing him back as he is only looking to continue his good work with the Blues. However, Sun Sport is claiming that Chelsea have begun searching for his replacement and they have sounded out Simeone. Per the report, the Argentine rejected their offer as he is reluctant to learn English and prefers the Latino lifestyle. Simeone however, is interested in managing Manchester United at some point. The Red Devils sounded him out during the turbulent reign of David Moyes before they settled for Louis van Gaal. His current deal at the Wanda Metropolitana expires in the year 2020 the same time Mourinho’s current deal would expire. However, Simeone may not finish his contract with the former La Liga champions as he is expected to move to Italy sooner rather than later.

Liverpool are facing serious competition from Real Madrid in their quest to sign AS Roma goalkeeper Allison. The Brazilian has been hailed as the revelation of the season by some quarters of the Italian media, and nearly joined Liverpool last month. While negotiations were not made public and none of the clubs spoke about the move, it is believed that Liverpool did table a bid for his signature. The Reds are expected to return for his signature in the summer except any of their current under-pressure goalkeepers step up their game and make the number one spot at Anfield his own. However, Liverpool now faces genuine competition from Real Madrid according to Goal.com. Madrid failed to sign a goalkeeper this month, but they remain interested in Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois as well as Manchester United’s David de Gea, but if they fail to land any of the Premier League duos, Allison is their 3rd choice. Per the reports, they could have moved for Allison last month, but they confident of signing Athletic Bilbao’s number, but ultimately failed to sign the young Spaniard.

Manchester United have identified Barcelona defender, Samuel Umtiti as their number one summer target and the Red Devils have no problem meeting his release clause. The French defender has been a revelation since joining Barcelona and was considered the club’s best defender before suffering an injury that has kept him out of action for some time now. Surprisingly, he has just £56 million as his release clause, a sum that is too small for his reputation especially when one considers that Virgil van Dijk cost Liverpool £75 million. According to Goal, Jose Mourinho has asked the Red Devils to bring the French man to Old Trafford after this season and they have started working on the deal. Manchester United succumbed to a 2-0 loss to Tottenham at Wembley on Wednesday, a display that was marred by some shambolic defending from Phil Jones, and Mourinho knows he cannot win the Premier League without a good defence. Chris Smalling has also come in for some criticism with many fans of the Red Devils considering him an average defender, while Victor Lindelof is still not settled at the former Premier League champions.

Bayern Munich can brace themselves for an interesting battle to keep hold of their youngest ever debutant, David Alaba as Barcelona have made him their number one summer signing. The Catalans did not have the busiest winter transfer window, but offloading Arda Turan and signing Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool means their fans can consider the transfer window a successful one. However, they are not resting on their laurels and they have begun plans for the next transfer window. Reports in the German media are claiming that Barcelona want to bring Alaba to the Camp Nou next summer as they look to add one more body to their defence. Per the reports, they are ready to sell the duo of Thomas Vermelean and Lucas Digne to make room for the Austrian. Barcelona however, do not feel Jordi Alba is doing badly and unless Alaba can prove to be a better left back, he would have to settle for a place in central defence. Alaba has been a mainstay in the Bayern defence since he made his debut for them as a 17 years old in 2010. He has survived several managers including Pep Guradiola and Carlo Ancelotti and still remains a fan favourite at the Allianz Arena.

Real Madrid could have swooped for new Arsenal attacker, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang this month, but they do not trust his attitude. The Gabonese attacker sealed a £55 million move to Arsenal on transfer deadline day after falling foul of several team rules at Borussia Dortmund. However, the attacker claimed in an open letter to his former club’s fans that he was sorry for his problems and that he already wanted out of the former German champions since last summer. Real Madrid are currently struggling for goals especially in the league and they have fallen more than 10 points behind league leaders Barcelona. Los Blancos wanted Aubameyang to come in and help them score the goals they desperately need, but several of the club’s leaders were left fearing for the future if Aubameyang continued his bad-boy behavior at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid’s loss would certainly be considered a gain by Arsene Wenger after losing Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United. Aubameyang was the top goal scorer in the Bundesliga last season, and Wenger would be hoping he can score that many goals for the Gunners in England.

Liverpool had a busy deadline day last night as they sent out two of their flops on loan although they welcomed no new signing. The likes of Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho had been sold earlier in the window and it appeared as though deadline day at Anfield would be a quiet one, but it all changed at the last minute after Swansea pulled out of their move for Lazar Markovic, leaving the Reds with no choice  but to arrange a loan move for the Serbian. Markovic finally joined Belgian side, Anderlecht for the remainder of the season, but he was not the only player to leave them. Jon Flanagan had a solid breakout campaign in the 2013/2014 season, but he has failed to live up to the expectation his performances that year set for him. His career has not progressed and a loan move to Burnley last season failed to reignite it. He has, however, left Anfield and moves to Bolton Wanderers for the next six months and he would be hoping he can reignite his career at the former Premier League campaigners.

Riyad Mahrez have submitted a transfer request to Leicester City after Manchester City made a surprise £60 million bid for his signature. The Algerian who won the PFA Player of the Year in 2016 has been linked with a move to a top European side since he helped Leicester City win the Premier League in the 2015/2016 season. He came close to leaving the King Power Stadium last season but no club could meet Leicester City’s demand. He has been outstanding for them once again this season, proving to clubs that he is not a one-season wonder. Pep Guardiola had not planned to sign a new attacker this month after losing out to Manchester United on the signing of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal, however, the injury to Leroy  Sane and Gabriel Jesus has forced him to return to the market. Leicester do not have to sell and certainly don’t want to sell this late in the transfer window as it would be hard for them to replace the Algerian, but Mahrez wants to leave and he has handed in a transfer request. The Algerian was missing in the Foxes training on Tuesday as he looks to force through the move, knowing he could potentially win another Premier League by the end of this season.

Newcastle United and West Ham are going head to head in their bid to sign Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala before the close of transfer window today. The Premier League duo are looking to bolster their squad ahead of a potential relegation scrap. Mangala has fallen further down the pecking order after the signing of Aymeric Laporte and knows his only chance of playing regularly this season is to go out on loan. He has been the fourth choice center-back before the arrival of Laporte, behind Vincent Kompany, John Stones, and Nicolas Otamendi. Pep Guardiola would not stand in the way of Mangala and only had good things to say about the defender when asked why he signed Laporte with Mangala still on their books. Guardiola admitted that Mangala has been helpful to them this season especially in the absence of one of the first choice defenders. Valencia, where Mangala spent last season on loan, are also interested in bringing him back as they chase a Champions League spot. Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez is desperate to add Mangala to his team after finally getting permission from Mike Ashley to spend some money in the transfer market. David Moyes has also been left without a choice but to make a new defensive signing following the injury to Winston Reid and James Collins.

Juventus are close to completing the free transfer of Emre Can from Liverpool on a free transfer and the Italians are optimistic that he would join them. The Italian club’s president was asked about the situation of things with Can and he claimed that talks were well on their way with the German and they hope to wrap things up sooner rather than later. Can has just under 6 months left on his Liverpool contract and has been reluctant to sign a new deal with the Reds who have been in talks with his representatives for the past 2 years. At the age of 24, he can sign a pre-contract agreement with any European side from this month, but the German has kept his options open even claiming that he could still sign a new Liverpool deal. Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Can could leave Liverpool after this season, but he insisted that the German would still be involved in his team’s game plan as long as he remains committed to the Reds. The German manager also dismissed any suggestion that Liverpool would sell Can this month, and also admitted that the Reds may not be making any further addition to their squad this month despite losing Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge.