Gossip: Chelsea want to sign everyone

JAMES COMING TO ENGLAND?

We’ll start with the Daily Mirror, and their claim that Real Madrid want £60m for James Rodriguez. The Colombian has fallen out of favour in Madrid, still playing regularly but criticised for his apparent fondness of Spain’s nightlife. Who can blame him? It’s great.

The Mirror make the link to Manchester United and Chelsea, though it’s difficult to envisage either club stumping up that sort of cash. Call it £50m and we’ll start talking, surely?

The other club mentioned regarding James is Paris Saint-Germain, and that certainly does make a lot of sense. The Colombian already has successful Ligue Un experience, and PSG would consider him the type of marquee signing they pride themselves on. Watch this space.

CHELSEA WANT EVERYONE

The papers have gone big on possible targets for new Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, with several star names linked with moves to the club on Tuesday morning. It’s top work to know the manager’s targets less than 24 hours following the announcement.

First up is the Daily Star, who claim in an exclusive that Conte has told the Blues to re-sign Romelu Lukaku – and wants a deal done before Euro 2016. The paper claims Conte wants to make Lukaku the focal point of his attack, with Chelsea prepared to offer £50million for the Belgian they sold to Everton for £28million in the summer of 2014.

The Star also claims the Blues are confident of signing Roma pair Radja Nainggolan and Kostas Manolas – but look set to abandon a move for Leonardo Bonucci. The Juventus defender, 28, is under contract until 2020 and the Italians are refusing to do business, making a deal difficult.

Elsewhere, Miralem Pjanic has flown into London to discuss a possible move to Stamford Bridge, according to the Daily Express. Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal is also on Chelsea’s radar, and is understood to be interested in a move to Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile, the Gazetta dello Sport says Conte hopes to bring Napoli and Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain, 28, to Stamford Bridge.

Those are all definitely going to happen.

VAN GAAL TO GET A WARCHEST?

Fighting talk from Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, who not only claim that Louis van Gaal will be given another season in charge of Manchester United but also report that we will be given another £80m to spend on the squad.

Given that Van Gaal has already spent £250m and has United in fifth place in the Premier League, it would be superb work from the club if they allowed Van Gaal to proceed along his merry way. If De Telegraaf are right, there are going to be some unhappy supporters at Old Trafford.

Anyway, the paper claim that Romelu Lukaku is the player at the top of Van Gaal’s transfer wishlist. At least he has some taste.

AND THE REST

West Ham have made a formal approach to sign £9.5m-rated Levante midfielder Victor Camarasa… Antonio Conte may have to plan without striker Diego Costa as the 27-year-old Spain international is intent on returning to La Liga… Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini, 32, is reportedly considering a move to MLS this summer when his contract at the Emirates expires… Leighton Baines has admitted that Everton’s troubles are deepening because there is no chemistry between the players… Sunderland are ready to bid for Toulouse’s Danish forward Martin Braithwaite, 24, in the summer… Antonio Conte is set to bring long-term assistants Angelo Alessio and Massimo Carrera with him to Chelsea but his backroom staff will not be officially signed off until the summer.