Football transfer news

We run through the latest talking points in world football, and which stars could be on the move this summer

So the departing Sir Alex Ferguson confirms that Wayne Rooney wants to leave Old Trafford, Roberto Mancini has been sacked by rivals City, and Radamel Falcao could yet end up joining AS Monaco? Quite the week in football.

To discuss these and all the other whispers, James Richardson is joined by Goal.com‘s Greg Stobart and former Tottenham and England striker Les Ferdinand as we go through the latest talk from the transfer market.

Speculation is rife that Rossoneri supremo Silvio Berlusconi wants rid of the 45-year-old tactician, who is now being linked with a summer switch to Roma

Stephan El Shaarawy is hoping that Massimiliano Allegri will still be at San Siro next season, admitting that he is extremely grateful to the AC Milan coach for his continued support during his ongoing goal drought.

The Italy international is the joint-third highest scorer in Serie A but he has not netted since the Rossoneri‘s 1-1 draw with city rivals Inter on February 24.

Allegri has stood by El Shaarawy, though, and the 20-year-old is therefore perturbed by reports that his boss could be sacked this summer, arguing that should Milan beat Siena on Sunday to seal third place in Serie A their season should be deemed a success.

“We have a good bunch of lads here, led by a great coach, and I hope that we all stick together for next season,” the striker told Milan Channel.

“We had the chance to clinch third place on Sunday [against Roma] but didn’t manage to. Roma are a great team and we couldn’t beat them. It was a decent performance but the result we were looking for didn’t arrive.

“Now we have to think about Siena, a decisive game which will decide whether we finish third or not.

“If we manage to finish in the top three, it will have been a great season especially after the start we made.

“It won’t be an easy encounter, even if they are already relegated. Teams always up their game when they play us, and they’ll be no different: they’ll want to show what they can do.”

El Shaarawy is primarily focused on victory, but he openly admits that he would dearly love to end his barren run of 11 league games without a goal by scoring against the Tuscans.

“Personally, scoring a goal on the last day would cap off a great season for me,” the former Genoa forward enthused. “It’s been a crazy season, especially the first part of it.

“I was top scorer in the league at one point, so it’s been very satisfying indeed. Goals haven’t been going in for me recently but the coach has said he is happy with my work anyway.”

Milan currently sit one point above fourth-placed Fiorentina, who face Pescara in their final game.

The ex-Barca winger has encouraged the reigning Spanish champions to make a move for the Brazil international this summer

Former Barcelona coach Carles Rexach believes that Neymar would offer the Camp Nou side a good alternative to Lionel Messi if he were to leave Santos for the Liga champions this summer.

The 66-year-old feels Barca rely too much on Messi at the moment and has stressed that it would benefit the team if they had another player who can make the difference such as Neymar.

“Neymar is a different kind of player. We can’t be too reliant on a single player, which is the case with Messi,” Rexach told Marca.

“The solution is to look for another decisive player, because it looks like Barca gets into trouble when Messi’s injured.

“Signing him might get more expensive, because [Real Madrid president] Florentino Perez wants him as well.”

The 21-year-old has a contract with Santos until after the 2014 World Cup, but will travel to Barcelona after the Confederations Cup to discuss a potential transfer this summer.

Ex-Santos official Vicente Cascione claimed on Tuesday that the Brazil international has already signed for Bayern Munich but the Bundesliga immediately issued an official denial.

The Merseysiders are among the favourites to sign the Belgian striker on loan should the Europa League finalists deem him not ready to compete for a first team place next season

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | Correspondent

Romelu Lukaku will hold showdown talks with Chelsea next week about his destination next season amid a stampede of interest from Premier League clubs, Goal understands.

Every top-flight club outside of the Champions League chasers have expressed an interest in taking the Belgian striker on loan next season, but Everton, Fulham and West Ham are in pole position should the west Londoners conclude that Lukaku is not yet ready to challenge for a first-team place at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are believed to want Lukaku to fight for a first-team position following a successful loan spell at West Brom, where his 14 league goals have steered the Baggies to eighth in the Premier League.

The Stamford Bridge hierarchy will meet with Lukaku after the domestic season finishes on Sunday to discuss their plans for the 20-year-old.

Lukaku is believed to be keen to play regular football as he eyes a starting place for Belgium at the 2014 World Cup.

His temporary employers West Brom are among more than a dozen Premier League clubs who have enquired about taking the powerful forward on loan, with Chelsea dismissing the possibility of him being loaned out to a rival Champions League-calibre club.

However, the likelihood is growing that Lukaku will travel with Chelsea on their pre-season tour, where incoming manager Jose Mourinho will have the chance to run the rule over his new charge at close quarters.

The Belgian has yet to score for the Blues in 12 appearances, only four of which were starts, but he has blossomed in the Midlands and enhanced his reputation as one of the most exciting young strikers in Europe.

A representative for the Champions League finalists watched the 22-year-old score against Chelsea on Saturday, as they look for a replacement for the outgoing Robert Lewandowski

Borussia Dortmund are chasing Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke, according to the player’s agent.

The 22-year-old, who arrived in the Premier League from Genk in a €8 million move last summer, has notched 23 goals in his debut season in England including a strike in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Chelsea at Villa Park.

Dortmund’s chief transfer negotiator Michael Zorc was in attendance at the weekend, with the Champions League finalists thought to be scouting potential replacements from Robert Lewandowski, who is expected to link up with Mario Gotze at Bayern Munich.

“I am aware of the Dortmund representation at Villa Park for the Chelsea match, but Christian is still a Villa player and nothing has changed on that point,” Eris Kismet told ESPN.

“There were a lot of scouts from many teams who have an interest in Christian. Now Aston Villa’s future in the Premier League is decided we will know more.

“It is natural for many teams to show an interest when Christian has had such a good season and scored many goals, but it is his first season in the Premier League.”

Benteke will not play for Villa again this season after being sent off against Chelsea and Lambert has hinted at a new deal for the Belgium international after his fine form this term.