Gossip: Enrique to 'take Suarez to Chelsea', Conte 'refusing to quit', Courtois 'want Madrid move'
Andy Carroll, Peter Crouch, Christian Benteke, Ashley Barnes… Luis Suarez?
Chelsea’s results may be getting steadily more terrible, but the strikers they are being tipped to sign are suddenly getting much, much better.
It’s being claimed today that, after missing out a series of lumbering target men during the January transfer window, the Blues are now aiming for one of the world’s best forwards instead. And it’s all because of Luis Enrique.
The former Barcelona coach has emerged as a clear front-runner to replace beleaguered title winner Antonio Conte, and the Spaniard apparently wants to bring one of his old Nou Camp superstars with him.
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The Express says Suarez will be Enrique’s number one target if he takes over at Stamford Bridge. At least, that’s according to a Spanish journalist named Eduardo Inda, who you may or may not trust.
Whether Suarez wants to quit the Catalan giants for west London is another matter. The closest the Uruguayan has ever come to showing an appetite for Chelsea is when he bit a chunk out of Branislav Ivanovic a few years back.
In any case, he can rest assured that Blues fans will be more than willing to forgive that indiscretion. John Terry did far worse things and they still liked him.
Conte won’t give up Chelsea pay-off
As for Conte, it seems increasingly clear his days at the Bridge are numbered but he is proving difficult to shift.
The Mirror says the Italian is “refusing to quit” despite the club’s ailing form, which is understandable given that he stands to make at least £9m if Roman Abramovich sacks him.
According to Goal, Enrique has ruled out joining Chelsea mid-season because he is enjoying having a year off watching Netflix and eating crisps. Therefore, Conte could yet amble on until the summer.
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But when he finally does leave, Thibaut Courtois might follow him out the exit door. The Belgian goalkeeper has yet again expressed his interest in a move to Real Madrid, saying “his heart is in” the Spanish capital (Mail).
Unfortunately for him, the European champions would still prefer to sign David de Gea from Manchester United (Sport). However, the Red Devils have put a £115m price tag on the keeper’s head and opened talks over a new contract.
Elsewhere, Arsenal and Liverpool have been handed a boost after long-term target Thomas Lemar turned down a new contract at Monaco (Express), the Reds have been warned that goalkeeper target Alisson, of Roma, will cost them “far more than” £44m (Goal) and ex-Anfield, Bolton and Sunderland forward El Hadji Diouf is considering running to be president of Senegal (Mirror). Well if Trump could do it in America…
