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Gossip: Sarri 'will bring Higuain to Chelsea', Allegri 'rules out Arsenal', Pochettino 'makes Tottenham exit hint'

Could Gonzalo Higuain and Maurizio Sarri be set for an emotional reunion at Chelsea?
Could Gonzalo Higuain and Maurizio Sarri be set for an emotional reunion at Chelsea?

So that’s the end of that. Yesterday’s rather underwhelming Premier League season finale will also mark an underwhelming end to some Premier League managerial tenures. Wenger. Conte? Allardyce? Puel? Carvalhal? Moyes? Hughes? Benitez? Wagner? Pochettino?

It’s not clear precisely how many gaffers will hit the road this summer, but if yesterday’s potential goodbye displays are anything to go by then Chelsea’s will certainly be one of them.

Last season’s champions went out with a whimper at Newcastle and the Mail predicts it will be Antonio Conte’s final league match in a England for a while. Maurizio Sarri is reportedly being lined up as his replacement – and he plans to bring Gonzalo Higuain to Stamford Bridge with him.

READ MORE: Pochettino’s transfer warning to Spurs chiefs

READ MORE: Allegri distances himself from Arsenal job

The Napoli coach has a £7m release clause that has to be activated before the end of the this month and has been “instructing his staff to study English”. This supposedly means he is plotting his move to the Blues, although it could just be because he wants them to all sit down together at the end of the season and binge-watch all seven seasons of Game of Thrones.

Sarri intends to bring Juventus striker Higuain to west London, possibly in a swap deal with Alvaro Morata who remains popular in Turin after playing there between 2014 and 2016. It’s not clear if anyone has told Higuain about this plan though.

Allegri out of Arsenal race as Arteta hopes grow

Another man who may be understandably reluctant to leave the Italian champions, who wrapped up a seventh successive Serie A title yesterday, is Massimiliano Allegri.

The Mirror says the Italian has “ruled himself out” of the running to succeed Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, preferring instead to remain with Juve and continue winning the league every single year.

This leaves the Manchester City assistant coach Mikel Arteta in prime position for the role, especially after Pep Guardiola gave his blessing to the move by saying he “wants the best” for his fellow Spaniard (Metro).


Mauricio Pochettino has hinted his future at Tottenham depends on chairman Daniel Levy’s willingness to invest in the squad, reports the Guardian. The Argentine’s comment that Levy should “be brave and take risks” sounded, in the paper’s view, “suspiciously like an ultimatum”.

This article also pulls out the frankly astounding stat that Pochettino has been permitted to spend £40.25m in net terms on permanent transfer deals across his four seasons at Tottenham. That’s what Chelsea spent on Tiemoue Bakyoko in one day.

Everton and West Ham chase Silva

Meanwhile, grizzled duo Sam Allardyce and David Moyes face another summer of uncertainty, with the Mirror claiming both men face the prospect of having their job nicked by dashing Portuguese upstart Marco Silva.

READ MORE: Salah would win an award for getting out of his car – Klopp hails mighty Mo

Everton and West Ham are said to be in a “tug of war” for the former Hull and Watford boss, whose stock appears undimmed by a Premier League career consisting of one relegation and one implosion.

Elsewhere, Swansea will ask Carlos Carvalhal to stay with the club next season despite their relegation to the Championship (Independent), Claude Puel has pledged to honour his Leicester contract amid alleged interest from Saint Etienne, although the Foxes might not want him to (Leicester Mercury) and Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has vowed to give Rafa Benitez “every penny the club generates” to keep him on Tyneside (Sun). As long as he spends it all on tracksuits from Sports Direct.

@darlingkevin