Manchester United have been offered the chance to add some more talent from Real Madrid, with Marco Asensio reportedly being put on the table.
The two teams recently agreed to a deal that sent Casemiro to Old Trafford, and their discussions must not have finished with the 30-year-old defensive midfielder, with 26-year-old Asensio also being made available.
Asensio is coming off a season where he netted 10 goals in 31 LaLiga appearances, but has found himself relegated to a bench role this campaign, playing a total of seven minutes from Madrid's first two league fixtures.
TOP STORY – UNITED LOOK TO MADRID FOR FURTHER REINFORCEMENTS
According to the Telegraph, United have been told Asensio will cost €30million, and Arsenal are also interested in the Spanish international as he searches for playing time ahead of the World Cup.
However, further reporting from ESPN claims United will not pull the trigger on any move for Asensio until they figure out if Ajax winger Antony is attainable, with that move being their priority, and a price tag said to be in the range of €100m.
Ajax have been firm on their desire to retain the services of their 22-year-old Brazilian up until this point, and if they remain that way, Asensio would be a more-than-adequate contingency plan – if he wants to go there.
ROUND-UP
– The Times is reporting Paris Saint-Germain had a £59m bid for Bernardo Silva turned down by Manchester City.
– According to AS Roma Live, Jose Mourinho views Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga as a potential replacement at Roma for Georginio Wijnaldum.
– Cristiano Ronaldo's agent has reportedly made contact with Napoli, who would only be able to bring in the 37-year-old if they part ways with promising young striker Victor Osimhen, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
– Foot Mercato is reporting Nottingham Forest have secured yet another signing, with former Villarreal fullback Serge Aurier agreeing to terms on a free transfer.
– According to the Telegraph, Newcastle United have moved on from their chase of Watford forward Joao Pedro, and are now hoping to bring in Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher on loan.
Alex Sandro leaves Juventus cherishing Bianconeri connection after Monza win
Alex Sandro celebrated trophies and finals with Juventus but says he will cherish his bond with the Bianconeri supporters the most after an emotional farewell on Saturday.
The Brazil international waved goodbye in Turin for one final time against Monza, signing off with a goal in a 2-0 victory at Allianz Stadium.
Alex Sandro made a record-equalling 327 appearances for Juve, matching Pavel Nedved's record for the most by a foreign player in the club's history.
Yet the versatile defender will be moving onto new beginnings after Juve ended the season third in Serie A.
"It was emotional for me, I have never cried so much in my life," he told DAZN, having joined the club in 2015.
"I am proud of myself and what I achieved. Over the last few days, I told everyone that the trophies and finals were lovely, but what I take away is the bond with the people."
Paolo Montero was in interim charge once more for the clash with Monza, in which Federico Chiesa was also on target.
The Juventus caretaker also oversaw a 3-3 draw with Bologna after Massimiliano Allegri was dismissed, and Montero acknowledged he has not changed much in terms of tactics.
"I honestly did not come here to transform anything, but to collaborate and I am proud to be with these players," Montero told DAZN.
"Every time they play, I sit in the stands to watch them, so it was an honour to be here with them."
Montero referenced Chiesa as one of Juve's key players going forward.
"We evaluated the players in the best shape," Montero added. "Chiesa has the quality to play on the right like at Fiorentina or the left like for Italy.
"He is a champion with a very positive mentality and is prepared for the Euros this summer.
"Chiesa makes the difference, I saw that at the stadium. If he continues to play at this tempo, he creates spaces and becomes deadly in one-on-one situations.
"These players can play wide, central, left or right, the important thing is that they have space to take men on."
'We cannot replace him' – Mbappe departs PSG 'filled with joy'
Kylian Mbappe says he is leaving Paris Saint-Germain with his head held high but Luis Enrique does not expect to replace his star forward.
Mbappe announced this month he would leave the French capital at the end of the season after a seven-year stay during which he became their all-time top scorer, with 256 goals.
His last game for Luis Enrique's side came in Saturday's Coupe de France final at Lille's Stade Pierre-Mauroy, with first-half strikes from Ousmane Dembele and Fabian Ruiz securing a 2-1 win against Lyon.
"It was both difficult and enjoyable because it's a final, and in the end, we won. It's filled with joy," Mbappe told reporters.
"It's all good memories, many years, both at PSG and of course in this league. We leave with our heads held high, especially with a trophy, and we only keep the positives."
Mbappe has been heavily linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Asked why he had not announced his next club yet, the 25-year-old said: "Because I think that the best thing to do is to finish these goodbyes.
"I think all I wanted was to finish well with my club. There's a trophy. I think there's a time for everything.
"I'll announce my new club in due course. I think we're just a few days away, so there's no problem."
PSG head coach Luis Enrique says there will be no single replacement for Mbappe, placing the focus on the entire team.
"I have had the good fortune to coach Kylian this season, it has been a difficult one for him after seven years at his club and all that he has achieved, it is difficult to say goodbye," Enrique told a news conference.
"There is no substitute for Mbappe, we cannot replace him, we will do it through the team and four, five or six signings we can make.
"Kylian's replacement will be the team that, along with the fans and our ambition, will try to win everything in the following seasons."
Ancelotti lauds retiring Kroos as Madrid midfielder bows out of Bernabeu
Real Madrid were fortunate to call upon Toni Kroos for a decade, said Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti, after the Germany midfielder bade farewell to a sold-out Santiago Bernabeu.
Veteran Kroos played his final league game for Madrid on Saturday, with a goalless draw against Real Betis hardly befitting of his illustrious time with the LaLiga champions.
The 34-year-old will still have one more appearance to come for Los Blancos in next Saturday's Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium.
Yet having played for a final occasion at Madrid's storied home ground, Ancelotti was quick to praise Kroos.
"One of the greatest, obviously," Ancelotti told a press conference. "A very high-quality midfielder, with a fantastic character, with a small ego, very humble and always at the service of the team, very altruistic. What luck to have had him for 10 years.
"To do better than Kroos has done, in this team, is very complicated. He has made a very strong decision [to retire], because nobody could have imagined it, but he has shown a lot of character and to say goodbye like that is great.
"It is the farewell of a great football character and, I repeat, we have been lucky to have him here. Football has enjoyed a great player."
On his 306th LaLiga appearance, a tally bettered by only one other German (Bernd Schuster, with 316), Kroos bowed out in typical style, having the most touches (122), creating the most chances (three), playing the most passes (110) and completing the most passes (107) of any player on the pitch.
"I can only say thank you to all the Madridismo, to the club, to my team mates, to the stadium," Kroos told reporters after his Madrid farewell.
"I've always felt at home during these 10 years. I couldn't ask for more. They have been 10 unforgettable years.
"I was pretty strong until I saw my children, that moment killed me."
Kroos will end his playing days with the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament, where he will hope to guide hosts Germany to glory on home soil.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
