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Paper Talk: Higuain become's Europe's most wanted man; Zabaleta to leave City after eight years; De Biasi in the frame for England job
Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain has caused a flurry of activity on the transfer market after his agent (and brother) declared that he will not sign a contract renewal at the club. Corriere dello Sport claims that the Argentine hit-man will not stay at the San Paolo beyond 2018 when his current deal expires. The journal now suggests that this could leave to premature departure and with Europe’s heavyweight clubs queuing up to sign him, he could be the hottest name on the transfer market this summer.
His brother did state however, that they would honour their current contract but Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis, who has placed a €98 million buy-out clause on the 28 year-old, may now have to review his strategy. It’s this clause that has caused the apparent friction between player and club with Higuain unhappy at what he sees as being held to ransom by the Southern Italian side. His agent was also keen to state that they had not been negotiating with any other clubs at the moment despite reports suggesting that PSG had entered into talks.
OTHER HEADLINES
Manchester City full-back Pablo Zabaleta will shortly become a new player of AS Roma (Corriere dello Sport). The 31-year-old Argentine has played 301 games for the club since his arrival in 2008.
Roma will also commence talks with Arsenal about extending goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny’s stay in the Italian capital. The 26-year-old Polish international is keen to continue his association with the Italian club after impressing last season (Corriere dello Sport)
New Milan boss Vincenzo Montella is about to add two names to his squad for next season. La Gazzetta dello Sport reveals that striker Leonardo Pavoletti (Genoa) and Croatian midfielder Marko Pjaca (Dynamo Zagreb) are the two players being targeted.
Juventus have made Portuguese midfielder Andre Gomes there priority summer target (Tuttosport). The 22-year-old has also been linked with a move to Manchester United.
Albanian national team coach Gianni De Biasi has been linked with the vacancy at the Football Association for new Head Coach of England (Tuttosport). The 60-year-old is one of a host of names in the frame to pick up the pieces after a disastrous Euro 2016 campaign.
Newcastle United midfielder Florian Thauvin is desperate to link up with Marcelo Bielsa if he takes over the reins at Lazio (Corriere dello Sport). The two men were together at Marseille and could be re-united in the Eternal City.
Steve Mitchell @barafundler
With Vincenzo Montella now in place at Milan, Stefano Pioli is the front-runner to replace him at Sampdoria. Corriere dello Sport claims the former Lazio tactician will be preferred to ex Empoli boss Marco Giampaolo.
Italian international midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini has stated that if new Chelsea boss Antonio Conte wants him at Stamford Bridge next season, he will drop everything to join up with him (Tuttosport). The 31-year-old former Sunderland player has been one of the revelations for his country at Euro 2016 under the guidance of Conte.
Steve Mitchell @barafundler
