Chelsea mentioned in Inter Milan’s hotshot Lautaro Martinez summer move as Barcelona pull out in Aubameyang race

Arsenal have been boosted by reports Barcelona have cooled their interest in Manchestr United target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Daily Star claim the Catalans will not make a move for the Gunners skipper and Gabon striker unless they fail to Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez, who has also been linked with Chelsea.

Barca are said to have already had a £65million bid rejected by the Serie A side, despite their willingness to include Arturo Vidal and Nelson Semedo in the deal.

Inter boss Antonio Conte has insisted Martinez is not going anywhere this summer, but is braced for a follow-up bid for their star man.

United are among seeal clubs thought to be monitoring the Argentine ace, 22, who has a release clause of £100million.

Meanwhile, Aubameyang has continued to stall on a new deal.

The Sun exclusively revealed on Thursday how United are eyeing up a £50m swoop for the Gabon star as he nears the end of his contract at the Emirates.

Photo Credit: premierleague.com

Coronavirus: AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini, son infected

AC Milan have announced that their director Paolo Maldini and his son Daniel have both tested positive for the Coronavirus.

“AC Milan confirms that Paolo Maldini, the club’s Technical Director, became aware of contact with a person who subsequently tested positive for Coronavirus and began to display symptoms of the virus himself,” read a statement from AC Milan as cited by Football Italia.

“He was administered with a swab test yesterday, the result of which was positive. His son Daniel, a forward in AC Milan’s youth team who had previously been training with the First Team, also tested positive.

“Paolo and Daniel are both well and have already completed two weeks at home without contact with others. They will now remain in quarantine until clinically recovered, as per the medical protocols outlined by the health authorities.”

Daniel is 18 years old and last month became the third generation of the Maldini family to wear the Milan jersey in Serie A.

Paolo is 51 years old and was a club legend as a defender, returning to become their technical director in 2018.

They are the first figures from Milan to test positive for Coronavirus.

This news comes just hours after Juventus confirmed Paulo Dybala is the third player to test positive, after Daniel Rugani and Blaise Matuidi.

Photo Credit: The Strait Times

Former Real Madrid President dies after coronavirus infection

Former Real Madrid club president Lorenzo Sanz has died aged 76, after testing positive for the Covid-19 virus earlier this week.

According to reports from Diario AS, Sanz, who has struggled with health problems in recent years, and he was admitted to an IC unit after suffering respiratory issues on March 17.

Football Espana reports that the sad news was confirmed by Sanz’s son, Lorenzo Jnr via an emotional message on Twitter.

“My father has just passed away.

“He did not deserve this ending.

“He is one of the best, bravest and hard working people I have ever seen.”

Sanz became club president in November 1995, and remained at the helm at the Santiago Bernabeu until July 2000, before being replaced by Florentino Perez.

During his time in charge, Los Blancos he was personally involved in key arrivals at the club, including Davor Suker and Predrag Mijatovic.

Real Madrid also picked up their first European Cup in 1998, under Sanz, ending a 32-year wait for the famous trophy to return the club.

Sanz remained a popular figure amongst the Real Madrid fan base after his tenure as president, and remained heavily involved in La Liga football, after his purchase of Malaga in 2006.

REVEALED: How Inter Milan could beat Chelsea to Barcelona star’s summer move

Reports in Italy claim Inter Milan could re-sign Chelsea’s target Philippe Coutinho on a two-year loan deal.

Martinez has been linked with a move to Barcelona for a number of months, with the player reportedly looking to play alongside Lionel Messi.

According to Tuttosport, Coutinho, who started his career in Europe with Inter a decade ago, could re-join the club.

The Turin daily reports that Coutinho, currently on loan at Bayern Munich, could be inserted into the Martinez deal, or the Nerazzurri may attempt to sign him on a two-year loan deal, separate of the Martinez discussion.

Tuttosport also suggests that Coutinho’s arrival could force Antonio Conte into a tactical reshuffle.

The Turin newspaper states that should Coutinho return to Inter, Conte would move to a 3-4-2-1 system.

Football Italia reports that Romelu Lukaku would remain as the focal point of the attack, but he would be supported by Christian Eriksen, who is yet to find his feet at San Siro, and Coutinho.

Earlier reports stated that Inter would like to sign Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Olivier Giroud from Chelsea should Martinez leave.

Gonzalo Higuain “escapes” Coronavirus quarantine in Italy, moves family to Argentina

Reports in Italy claim Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain has fled Italy in a bid to escape quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to La Repubblica and La Gazzetta dello Sport, Gonzalo Higuain ‘escaped’ quarantine and flew to Argentina, despite two Juventus teammates testing positive for coronavirus.

La Repubblica’s online edition claims that police stopped Higuain at the Caselle Airport in Turin as he tried to board a private jet, where he showed them a test that confirmed he was negative for COVID-19.

However, as the disease has such a long incubation period and two teammates – Daniele Rugani and Blaise Matuidi – tested positive, Higuain should be ordered to stay in self-isolation for at least another week, report Football Italia.

La Gazzetta dello Sport then added to the story, suggesting Bentancur was on the flight with Higuain and their respective families, but adjusted it later to remove the Uruguay international.

They showed the certification confirming a negative status for coronavirus, so were allowed to fly out of Italy.

From there, they managed to get a regular flight to South America, it’s reported.

It’s claimed Higuain asked Juventus for permission to visit his mother, who is ill.

Tuttosport insist not only were Juve aware, but they provided the private jet.

David Luiz reveals how Chelsea staff begged him to return to Stamford Bridge after Arsenal move

David Luiz has revealed Chelsea staff begged him to return to Stamford Bridge just days after his shock transfer to Arsenal.

Luiz told OTRO: “I can be honest with you, the first three days or week was not easy to understand all the emotions or how I was feeling, because everybody knows my history with Chelsea.

“I had this connection with everyone at the club. It was so massive and big and I was missing every single one.

“Every text message I was receiving, people were saying: ‘Come back, come back, come back, come back, we are here for you’.”

Italy star’s agent reacts to Chelsea, Inter Milan links

Francesco Acerbi’s agent is not surprised at Chelsea and Inter links with the Lazio centre-back, saying: “He could play for any club in Europe.”

The Italy international has been a rock in the Biancocelesti defence as they challenge for the Scudetto, sitting one point behind leaders Juventus.

There were reports over the last couple of days suggesting that Inter and Chelsea were interested in a potential summer swoop.

“I read about Chelsea and Inter, but I don’t know much about it,” agent Federico Pastorello told FCInterNews.it as cited by Football Italia.

“What I can certainly say is that Francesco is a defender who could play for any club in Europe.”

The 32-year-old is under contract with Lazio until June 2023.

Chelsea ahead in race to sign Barcelona star at end of season

Reports in Spain claim that Chelsea are favourites to land Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho next season and have already made an approach.

The Brazil international is currently on a season-long loan deal at Bayern Munich while a report earlier in the day from Diario Sport claimed Blaugrana boss Quique Setien is open to welcoming him back into the first-team squad next season.

Football Espana claim that the most likely structure of the deal would be an upfront loan deal for one season, with a purchase option linked into the move.

Inter are also said to hold an interest, with the report suggesting that this could be linked into the Catalan giants attempting to land striker Lautaro Martinez from the Nerazzurri.

Bayern – where the player is currently on a season-long loan deal from the Blaugrana – have an option to buy the Brazil international for €120m at the end of the campaign but multiple reports suggest this will not be exercised.

A report in El Mundo Deportivo last month claimed the Catalan giants have lowered their asking price for the playmaker to €80m as they look to balance their books.

Inter Milan eyeing Manchester Utd star, Arsenal striker as replacements for Barcelona target Lautaro Martinez

There are reports in Italy that Inter Milan are looking at Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Manchester United star Anthony Martial amid Barcelona’s interest in Lautaro Martinez.

According to Calciomercato.com, the Nerazzurri are preparing for life after the Argentine hero, who reportedly has a release clause of €111m in his current deal at San Siro.

Football Italia report that Barca are ready to trigger the clause and the outlet claims Antonio Conte has already started looking for a replacement.

Gabon international Aubameyang will turn 31 in June and his current deal with Arsenal expires in 2021 but could be open for a return to Milan if the Gunners miss out on a place in the Champions League next term.

Aubameyang has been on hot form in London and has already scored 17 goals in 26 League games for the Gunners.

Calciomercato.com has pulled the French attacker Martial up from the hat, as he has been a previous target of the Nerazzurri, claiming that he would be back on the wish list at the Giuseppe Meazza and could potentially reunite with his old partner Romelu Lukaku.

Photo Credit: premierleague.com

(WATCH VIDEO FOOTAGE) Callum Hudson-Odoi at home on exercise bike

Callum Hudson-Odoi has been pedalling on his home exercise bike after Chelsea’s training was cancelled.

The Blues winger, 19, had missed their last six games due to injury.

But Hudson-Odoi looks back on the mend and smiled for the camera as he worked out at home on a Peloton.