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LIVE Transfer Talk: Chelsea eye Jesus 'Tecatito' Corona if swoop for Jadon Sancho fails

The coronavirus pandemic has made the summer transfer window uncertain, but here are the rumours floating around Europe's big leagues and beyond.

TOP STORY: Chelsea identify Sancho 'fall-back' option in 'Tecatito'

Porto winger Jesus "Tecatito" Corona is increasingly becoming a target of Chelsea amid several clubs' pursuit of Borussia Dortmund sensation Jadon Sancho.

That's according to the Daily Star, who have said Corona is considered a "fall-back" option by Blues chief Frank Lampard in case they miss out on securing Sancho's services to current favourites Manchester United.

The versatile Mexican player has been valued at £26 million, and Inter Milan and Sevilla are also reportedly interested in prizing the 27-year-old away from Portugal.

If history is anything to go on, then Chelsea will have to convince Corona to move to one of Europe's top leagues after he previously turned down a move to Barcelona in favour of remaining with his former club Twente. 

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LIVE BLOG

22.53 BST: Napoli have identified two potential replacements for the outgoing Jose Callejon in Sassuolo's Jeremie Boga and Bologna's Riccardo Orsolini, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

21.36 BST: Less than a year after failing in his quest for a move from Real across Madrid to Atletico, James Rodriguez has again set his sights on joining Los Rojiblancos, Mundo Deportivo reports. Atleti could finally land the 28-year-old Colombia international by sending €30m across town. And, like every big-name player looking for a new home, Newcastle reportedly could prove a destination for James.

20.19 BST: Juventus have given up on bringing Paul Pogba back to Turin, according to Corriere dello Sport, not only because the 27-year-old midfielder's wages would break the club's new pay structure, but also because Manchester United's €100m valuation is too rich for the Bianconeri.

19.02 BST: Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart has found little success since leaving Manchester City in 2018. ESPN FC's Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens go head-to-head over the 33-year-old's future.

18.31 BST: Chelsea have opted against using their buyback clause on Sassuolo winger Jeremie Boga, the Guardian have reported.

Boga had loan spells at Rennes, Granada and Birmingham after coming through Chelsea's youth system, but the Ivory Coast international was sold to Sassuolo in 2018.

Chelsea reportedly have a £13m buyback clause for the winger, but are instead negotiating a deal to change the clause for a sell-on clause.

17.48 BST: Former Manchester United and Tottenham striker Teddy Sheringham has warned Harry Kane that he only has "one career" and said the striker should not waste his opportunity to win major trophies.

Sheringham, who made the switch from Spurs to United in 1997 and went to on to win a treble at Old Trafford two year later, has said that Kane should think about doing the same.

"There are similarities [to my situation], but you have to look at where Tottenham are and where they were when I was playing for them,' Sheringham told Sky Sports.

"The ambition had been sucked out of the club when I was playing for them. We weren't really going places, at least they are getting into the top four, they are challenging for things, they were in the Champions League final not so long ago.

"I think it [Kane's relationship with Spurs] might be at a crossroads. If they haven't won anything or they don't look like they are going forwards, then there could be changes.

"Harry has only got one career and he wants to win things. My advice would be 'you only get one career, Harry, make sure you make the most of it.'"

17.00 BST: Manchester United are eyeing RB Leipzig's Timo Wener as a possible replacement to striker Odion Ighalo, whose loan deal is set to expire this week, Goal has reported.

United could lose Ighalo, who arrived at Old Trafford on a short-term loan deal in January, and are reportedly weighing up a number of replacements.

Goal has reported that Werner and Lyon's Moussa Dembele are on United's radar, with Spurs striker Harry Kane no longer seen as a realistic option.

16.24 BST: Nigeria's football leadership is in a race sign head coach Gernot Rohr to a new contract before being imposed with a different manager, with reports claiming the national sports ministry has former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp waiting in the wings to take over the national team job.

The Punch reported last week that Redknapp was the favoured candidate of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, the government department that oversees the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

A source within the NFF confirmed there had been some pressure to do away with Rohr and look elsewhere for a coach.

"People have their own interests and they have been whispering to people at the top," the NFF source told ESPN.

15.52 BST: Wolves are among a host of Premier League clubs who are eyeing Reading's Danny Loader, with the forward's contract set to expire next month, Sky Sports have reported.

The 19-year-old, who was apart of the England's U-17 World Cup-winning side in 2017, was close to joining Wolves last summer, and the Premier League club are ready to go back in for the forward.

Reading have reportedly told Loader that he will not be offered a new deal at the club due to the financial implications caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

15.01 BST: As United States and Ajax star Sergino Dest attracts interest from Barcelona, ESPN FC's Julien Laurens weighs in on how the right-back could be a great fit at the Spanish giants.

14.26 BST: Barcelona are still trying to find a way to bring down the cost of Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez.

The Argentine has a release clause worth €111m in the first two weeks of July but Barca cannot afford that and need to include players in any prospective deal to lower the price.

A number of names have been discussed in recent weeks, but Mundo Deportivo report that only one has stuck: Junior Firpo.

The left-back, signed from Real Betis for around €20m last summer, would be allowed to leave Camp Nou having failed to provide adequate competition for Jordi Alba in his debut campaign at Camp Nou. However, even the inclusion of Junior may not reduce the cost enough for the Spanish champions.

13.45 BST: Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has said that the club should be allowed to sign a replacement striker should Odion Ighalo leave Old Trafford.

United are facing the prospect of losing Ighalo this week with talks to extend the striker's loan from Shanghai Shenhua at an impasse, sources have told ESPN.

Ighalo's temporary deal at the Manchester club is set to end on May 31 and although United have expressed a desire to keep the 30-year-old for longer, Shanghai have so far resisted all approaches.

"United need to know what is happening with him," Berbatov told Betfair. "If they know they will lose him, they need to find someone else to replace him.

"If a team is losing a loan player because of the situation, the federation should allow a team to get someone else because of the situation. If Ighalo goes, United should be allowed to get a replacement."

13.00 BST: FC Cincinnati boss Jaap Stam has told ESPN that he thought the wrong picture used for his announcement was a prank.

The former Manchester United player was hired last week but the Major League Soccer club mistakenly used a photo of Ajax youth manager Tinus van Teunerbroek to welcome Stam.

The club then deleted the tweet and re-posted with the correct image of Stam.

"I was quite surprised to be honest," he told ESPN. "I got the picture over here from a friend in Holland and I thought he made a practical joke by orchestrating the picture himself.

"Afterwards I got a message from somebody else as well so after that, I was quite curious what was going on. So, I saw the picture on the website and I was quite surprised, but mistakes are made and I can laugh about it as well."

12.37 BST: Barcelona have intensified talks with Juventus over a move for midfielder Miralem Pjanic, sources told ESPN last week.

Barca are prepared to let midfielder Arthur go in the other direction, but the Brazilian is reluctant to leave.

The possible trade has raised eyebrows given the seven-year age gap between Pjanic, 30, and Arthur, 23. However, Diario AS claim to have had access to an internal report from January in which Barca detail why they are targeting the more experienced Pjanic.

"The requirements of the specific position must be taken into account," the report said. "Perhaps not only very young players should be signed. Older players contribute more to positions where more knowledge of the game is required.

"In addition, experienced players may need less time to adapt and find their best form. The percentage of successful passes is 3 to 5% higher in 30-year-old players, too, compared to those between 16 and 29."

11.50 BST: Dean Henderson will be allowed to complete his season-long loan at Sheffield United by parent club Manchester United, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Henderson, 23, has enjoyed a breakout year with the Blades, as his performances in goal have contributed to them sitting in fifth place in the Premier League in their first season back in the top flight.

Despite him playing for one of Manchester United's main rivals for a place in Europe next season, Old Trafford chiefs will let him see out the campaign at Bramall Lane.

11.04 BST: Manchester City have identified Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey as a potential replacement for Leroy Sane should the Germany international seal a move to Bayern Munich, the Daily Mail reports.

Sane, 24, is a long-term target for Bayern, and if the Bundesliga giants get their man then City may well fill the gap with a player from the same league.

Jamaica international Bailey offers a similar threat to Sane in terms of pace and goals from the left-hand side, and the Mail reports City are willing to pay £40m for the 22-year-old.

10.29 BST: Barcelona are racing against the clock to bring in around €70m in player sales before the end of June to balance the club's accounts, sources have told ESPN.

There is genuine concern among the club's hierarchy that, despite ongoing negotiations regarding a number of players, they will not be able to hit that target due to the complications generated by the coronavirus pandemic across football.

Arthur Melo, Ivan Rakitic and Arturo Vidal are three of the players Barca are open to moving on. However, all three have voiced a desire to remain at Camp Nou in recent weeks despite interest from elsewhere.

Junior Firpo, Samuel Umtiti and Nelson Semedo are among the other members of the squad the club hoped would generate money. But sources told ESPN finding buyers for Junior and Umtiti is proving difficult. Interest has been shown in right-back Semedo, but nothing is imminent at this stage.

09.50 BST: Barcelona coach Quique Setien will find a way to start Lautaro Martinez alongside Lionel Messi should the Inter Milan forward join Barcelona, says Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni.

Scaloni believes Barcelona target Martinez "has that will to make him the reference striker of the future."

"If Lautaro were to arrive at Barcelona, I believe the coach [Setien] would find a way to start him," Scaloni told Radio La Red. "He can complement Leo Messi but the Barcelona coach will have to see how but it's possible."

Scaloni says his only concern is for Martinez to have a starring role.

"I would like for Lautaro Martinez to play, to have continuity," he said. "He is going to have to make sacrifices to earn a place...but he is young and he will get a place because he runs for others."

Scaloni believes Martinez has improved a lot since arriving at Inter Milan in the summer of 2018 from Racing Club.

"This is not the Lautaro Martinez we saw prior [to the 2018 World Cup in] Russia," he said. "He has grown a lot, today he is a more complete player. I considered him for the [2018 World Cup squad] until the last minute."

09.17 BST: Manchester United are facing the prospect of losing Odion Ighalo this week with talks to extend the striker's loan from Shanghai Shenhua at an impasse, sources have told ESPN.

Ighalo's temporary deal at Old Trafford is set to end on May 31 and although United have expressed a desire to keep the 30-year-old for longer, Shanghai have so far resisted all approaches.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been impressed with the Nigeria international, who has scored four goals in eight appearances, but is said to be "relaxed" about the situation because Marcus Rashford is almost fully recovered from injury.

Ighalo was brought in during the January transfer window as emergency cover for Rashford, who last played a game on Jan. 15 because of a back problem, and sources have told ESPN that the deal did not include an option to buy.

The former Watford man wants to stay at United, his boyhood club, but Shanghai appear set on having him back for the start of the Chinese Super League campaign in June.

08.52 BST: AC Milan midfielder Lucas Biglia says he is considering his future and is not ruling out a return to Argentina.

The 34-year-old who joined AC Milan from Lazio in 2017 and becomes a free agent this summer, told Argentine radio station 94.7FM: "My contract with Milan expires on June 30. I'm listening to several offers that I've received, some of which are from Argentine football.

I'm evaluating my future. We will see what the best option is for my family. I am not ruling out anything."

Biglia played for Argentina Jrs. and Independiente before launching his European career at RSC Anderlecht.

08.27 BST: Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi is edging closer to a permanent move to Paris Saint-Germain, sources have told ESPN.

Talks between the two clubs have intensified while Wanda Nara, Icardi's wife and agent, has also been busy finalising a deal with the Parisian club while putting pressure on the Italian side to lower the fee.

Icardi, 27, arrived in Paris on loan last summer with a buy-out option of €70m. PSG's sporting director Leonardo now wants the fee to be reduced due to the coronavirus crisis. Although Inter initially did not want to budge on the money, the negotiations have been very positive and Sunday was seen as a real breakthrough between all parties.

The fee has almost been agreed between €55m and €60m depending on bonuses. The discussions will continue this week but PSG are confident the Argentina international will remain in Paris.

08.00 BST: Misfiring striker Luka Jovic wants to stay at Real Madrid and convince Zinedine Zidane that he's the man to lead their attack, Marca reports.

Jovic will have to bide his time as he recovers from a fractured heel which has seen him miss the team's return to training and could see him absent for the rest of the 2019-20 season when it restarts next month.

The €60m forward has scored just two goals in La Liga so far and his difficult year continued after the COVID-19 pandemic began, when he was accused of breaking quarantine rules in Serbia.

According to Marca, there is interest in Jovic from the Premier League, Serie A and the Bundesliga, but the 22-year-old isn't ready to give up on making it at the Bernabeu.

Another factor is the likelihood that Real Madrid's main attacking targets -- Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland -- will not be available before 2021.

PAPER TALK (by Shaun Reynolds): Klopp hosts virtual meeting with German star Werner

Liverpool fans wishing for Timo Werner to join from RB Leipzig received a boost after it emerged that Jurgen Klopp held a virtual meeting with the German forward over Easter.

Sport Bild in Germany this afternoon confirmed talks took place between the Reds chief and the 24-year-old, who has already scored 30 goals in just 38 appearances for his Bundesliga side.

The report adds that Werner believes Liverpool to be the best team in the world, with the German reportedly keen on the idea of moving to Liverpool. In addition, Bild states that he is confident Werner's switch to Merseyside will happen this summer.

Werner has a release clause of approximately £51m. 

Tap-Ins

- West Ham United have displayed an interest in Rangers centre-back Connor Goldson, though they will have to fork out at least £6m if they are to prize the 27-year-old away from Ibrox. That's according to Football Insider 247, who today confirmed that Goldson has been on the Hammers' radar since January. Championship clubs Leeds United, West Brom and Fulham are also said to be interested. 

- Barcelona will look to remove Ousmane Dembele from the club's wage bill in the summer by placing the French forward on the loan list. The Daily Mail said the decision was made amid great confidence in the ability of fellow forwards Francisco Trincao and Ansu Fati improving next season. Juventus are already said to be interested in Dembele's services. 

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