Transfer Rumours And Paper Review - Sunday, May 17

Here's the top transfer-related stories in Sunday's newspapers...

Chelsea are planning a shock move for Manchester City's 29-year-old striker Edin Dzeko, with City ready to listen to offers. (Sunday Mirror)

Meanwhile, the Stamford Bridge club's manager Jose Mourinho is also interested in Manchester City's unsettled midfielder Yaya Toure, 32. (Sunday Express)

Everton and Southampton are favourites to sign £10m-rated Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk, 23. (Mail on Sunday)

The Saints are also looking at Burnley defender Kieran Trippier, 24, as a replacement for their Manchester United-bound England international Nathaniel Clyne, 24. (Mail on Sunday)

Former West Ham defender Slaven Bilic is on their managerial shortlist alongside favourite Rafael Benitez in anticipation of Sam Allardyce's expected departure at the end of the season. (Mail on Sunday)

Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller, 25, and Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, 32 have emerged as transfer targets for Manchester United. (London Evening Standard)

Manchester United's 24-year-old goalkeeper David de Gea will hold a family meeting at the end of the season to decide his future. (Daily Star Sunday)

However, United will struggle to get their money back on De Gea after being warned that Real Madrid are ready to play hardball over the Spanish keeper who they signed for nearly £18m from Atletico Madrid in 2011. (Sunday Mirror)

Manchester United are also looking at Lazio's Brazilian winger Felipe Anderson, 22. (Sunday People)

Portuguese midfielder Nani is reportedly returning to Manchester United after Sporting Lisbon refused to meet the 28-year-old's £15m price tag following a season-long loan in Portugal. (the Sun -subscription required)

Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has cast doubt on whether £60m record signing Angel Di Maria can turn his form around after a disappointing first season for the winger, 27, at Old Trafford. (Mail on Sunday)

Louis van Gaal wants to bring back Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba to Old Trafford. The France international, 22, left Manchester United to join the Serie A club in 2012 after failing to secure a regular first-team place under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson. (Observer)

Manchester City hope to scupper United's hopes of signing Gareth Bale, 25, from Real Madrid by tabling an £80m bid for the Welshman. (The Sun)

Welshman Bale wants to leave Real Madrid after two seasons in Spain, and the European champions will allow him to depart if they receive a bid of more than £85m. (Sunday Times)

Liverpool are stepping up their pursuit of Asier Illarramendi after Real Madrid officially put the 25-year-old midfielder up for sale. (Sunday People)

Swansea manager Garry Monk hopes to add "five or six quality players" to his squad during the summer transfer window. (Observer)

Maduabuchi, Bashir Begin Lobi Era

Wecan reveal that Lobi Stars will give debuts to a posse of new players, led by former Enyimba skipper and Warri Wolves midfielder, Josiah Maduabuchi as well as ABS legend, Abdulrahman Bashir, during Sunday's match day nine trip at high-flying Wikki Tourists.

The duo were headline acquisitions as Lobi seek to boost their fortunes this term.

Fellow new signings Akleche Enokela from ABS and former Abia Warriors player, Ogu Michael, are also in line to make their debut.

Lobi's need for reinforcements was emphasized by a slow start to the season in which they have failed to record a win in their first eight league games.

Maduabuchi has been assigned number 18, while Bashir will wear 24.

The duo of Enokela and Michael will use 28 and 7, respectively.

"Lobi has good players and I'm here to do my best for the club," Bashir told supersport.com.

With players such as Moses Bunde, Anthony Agbaji, John Huan, Felix Osia, Douglas Arhiv and Obioma Arinze, also at his disposal, manager Justin Tenger, now faces a challenge to accommodate all of his star names in his preferred 4-4-2 formation.

Fans expect a favourable result as Bauchi remains a favourable ground for Lobi.

Arsenal Thwart Man Utd As De Gea Departs

Tyler Blackett's late own goal compromised Manchester United's hopes of automatic Champions League qualification as Arsenal drew 1-1 at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.

The hosts took the lead when Ashley Young crossed for Ander Herrera to volley home, but Arsene Wenger's side earned a point in the 82nd minute when Theo Walcott's shot nicked off Blackett and looped over United substitute goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

The result kept Arsenal two points above United in third place in the table and the FA Cup finalists can secure a Champions League group-stage berth by winning at home to Sunderland in their game in hand on Wednesday.

Liverpool's 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday meant that United were already guaranteed at least a place in the Champions League play-off round, which was the minimum requirement when Louis van Gaal took up his post as manager last year.

But of more pressing concern is the future of goalkeeper David de Gea, heavily linked with Real Madrid and who may have already made his final United appearance after being forced off by injury in the second half.

Arsenal were unchanged for the sixth game running – the first time that has happened since January 1994 – and as has been their approach in recent major showdowns, they were content to let their opponents attack them.

It led to a number of half-chances for United, with Young, Radamel Falcao, Chris Smalling – captain in Wayne Rooney's absence – and Juan Mata all threatening.

A slip at the other end by Phil Jones gave Arsenal a sight of goal, but despite being flat on his front, the United centre-back improvised brilliantly by swiping the ball away from Olivier Giroud with his head.

It was United, though, who were making the running, and they took the lead on the half hour.

Young stood up a cross from the left flank and with two defenders drawn to the giant Marouane Fellaini, Herrera met the ball flush on the volley at the back post to claim his eighth goal of the season.

Exit Falcao

Arsenal failed to muster a single shot on target in the first half and when Giroud's knock-down fell kindly for Alexis Sanchez early in the second, the Chilean shanked a shot high into the East Stand.

The game was a last chance for Falcao to impress the United fans after a frustrating loan spell from Monaco, but he spent much of the first half on his backside, the victim of a slippery pitch, and gave way for former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie on the hour.

The apologetic wave Falcao gave as he left the pitch suggested he will not be seen at Old Trafford again in a United shirt.

Giroud, Van Persie's successor as Arsenal's attacking figurehead, belatedly got in behind the United defence moments later, but after neatly beating Marcos Rojo to Mesut Ozil's cross, he was thwarted by De Gea.

"David de Gea, we want you to stay!" chorused the Stretford End, betraying their fear that the Spain international is destined for Madrid.

When Arsenal did find a way past De Gea, Aaron Ramsey lobbing a shot over him from Sanchez's pass, Rojo was on hand to hook clear.

De Gea had to depart the fray moments later after an awkward landing, enabling the shaven-headed former Barcelona goalkeeper Valdes to come on for his United debut, four months after joining the club.

Valdes had not played a first-team game for over a year and his first task was to pick the ball out of the net after Walcott's shot nicked off fellow substitute Blackett and looped over him.

Both sides had chances to win it, but Giroud could only shoot into the side-netting and Van Persie then ballooned over from Fellaini's knock-down.

Reports - Man United Star David De Gea Agrees Five-Year Real Madrid Contract

David De Gea has agreed a five-year contract with Real Madrid, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.

The Red Devils No.1 has long been admired by Real Madrid and it appears they have finally got their man.

All that needs to be completed, according to the report, is a transfer fee between the two clubs, with United wanting as much as £40million, while Real are keen to keep the figure around £30m.

Louis van Gaal admitted on Friday the club had drawn up a list of possible replacements for the Spanish shot stopper, with Tottenham star Hugo Lloris, Chelsea's Petr Cech and Stoke's Asmir Begovic all of interest.

It's unknown whether the move will open the door to a possible Premier League return for Gareth Bale.

Transfer Rumours And Paper Review - Saturday, May 16

Here's the top transfer-related stories in Saturday's newspapers...

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea will leave Old Trafford at the end of the season after the 24-year-old agreed personal terms with Real Madrid, with only a transfer fee to be negotiated. (Marca)

Real Madrid are looking to re-sign Juventus Champions League hero Alvaro Morata. That switch could see Karim Benzema move to Arsenal, Manchester United or Liverpool. (Daily Star)

Stoke plan further contract talks with Asmir Begovic next month — but Mark Hughes admits the keeper now holds all the aces. (The Sun)

Paris Saint-Germain have made a move to sign Chelsea keeper Petr Cech. The Czech star has been linked with Arsenal. (Daily Mirror)

West Ham are to step up their bid to land Rafa Benitez after deciding he is their first choice to replace manager Sam Allardyce. (Daily Mail)

Christian Benteke has been told: Don’t blow your Euro 2016 chances by leaving Aston Villa this summer by manager Tim Sherwood. (Birmingham Mail)

James Milner will quit Manchester City to join Liverpool, instead of Arsenal, on a free transfer. (Daily Mirror)

Tottenham Hotspur have not given up hope of landing Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin this summer with Arsenal having widened their midfielder search. (Daily Telegraph)

Bayern Suffer Fifth Defeat In Six Games

Bayern Munich suffered their fifth loss in six games on Saturday as their ex-striker Nils Petersen scored an 89th-minute winner as relegation-threatened Freiburg claimed a shock 2-1 victory.

Having been knocked out of the Champions League's semifinals by Barcelona 5-3 on aggregate, despite a 3-2 home win against Barca on Tuesday, Bayern's bad week continued.

The loss at Freiburg followed their cup defeat at Dortmund and league losses against Leverkusen and Augsburg, plus the away defeat at Barca in Bayern's nightmare three-week period since winning their 25th German league title.

"Freiburg wanted to win it more and showed more fight," admitted Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, whose side will be presented with the Bundesliga trophy at home to Mainz next Saturday.

"It's not been easy for us since winning the title.

"We have one last game - then we can go on holiday and look at the future."

Bayern took the lead at Freiburg when Bastian Schweinsteiger marked his 500th Bundesliga appearance drove home a cross with 11 minutes gone.

But to the delight of the Freiburg crowd, the hosts drew level when midfielder Admir Mehmedi hit the bottom left-hand corner on 33 minutes.

Freiburg were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after Bayern defender Rafinha fouled Mehmedi in the area early in the second half, while Schweinsteiger hit the crossbar with a free-kick with 20 minutes left.

But ex-Bayern striker Petersen hit Freiburg's winner just three minutes after coming off the bench to seal their first win over his former employers in 19 years when he converted Karim Guede's pin-point accurate cross on 89 minutes.

The result lifted Freiburg out of the relegation places to 14th.

- Relegation fight goes to wire -With one match left, things remain tight at the bottom with just four points separating bottom six sides of Paderborn, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Hanover, Freiburg and Hertha Berlin.

Hamburg dropped back to 17th with a 2-1 defeat at VfB Stuttgart who climbed off the bottom to 16th as Hamburg's midfielder Gojko Kacar scored his third goal in three games with an early header, but Stuttgart roared as Christian Gentner and Martin Harnik netted first-half goals.

Paderborn defender Uwe Huenemeier suffered the nightmare of heading into his own net to seal his side's 1-0 defeat at Schalke which put them bottom of the table.

Ten-man Hanover 96 boosted their survival chances with a first win since December with a 2-1 victory at Augsburg, captain Lars Stindl scoring twice to hoist his team up to 15th on 34 points.

Hertha Berlin have 35 points after being held to a goalless draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, and are hovering just above the bottom three.

Third-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach's 2-0 win at Werder Bremen confirmed Lucien Favre's side direct qualification into the Champions League thanks to Raffael's second-half goals.

Bayer Leverkusen will finish fourth, and go into the qualifier for a place in the Champions League's group-stage, after their 2-0 home win against Hoffenheim as free-kick specialist Hakan Calhanoglu curled one in just before the halftime whistle before Stefan Kiessling added Bayer's second.

Wolfsburg enjoyed a 2-1 win at home to Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup final dress rehearsal.

Wolves' took the lead on 41 seconds when midfielder Daniel Caligiuri tapped home, but Borussia drew level when Kevin Kampl was fouled in the area by home goalkeeper Diego Benaglio and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang converted the resulting penalty with 11 minutes gone.

The hosts restored their lead when Brazil defender Naldo took a speculative swing at a Ivan Perisic header and the shot beat Dortmund goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak four minutes into the second half for the winning goal.

The two sides will meet again at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on May 30 in the cup final.

‘No Hiding Place For Taraba’

Giwa FC captain and central midfielder, Charles Henlong has said there will not be any hiding place for FC Taraba in Sunday’s league clash.

The Tin City side will host the Jalingo-based side in Glo Premier League match day 9 encounter at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos.

Henlong said after the Federation Cup round of 64 shocking exit in the hands of Kukuruku Dragons FC his side must restore confidence in their teeming supporters with a convincing win against FC Taraba.

“We’ve learnt the bitter way not to underrate any side that was our greatest undoing in the shocking defeat to Kukuruku Dragons FC in the Federation Cup round of 64 tie.

“We’ll never allow a repeat occurrence in future no matter the opposition as well as competition.

“Right now we’re paying 100% concentration on the league to get something substantial for ourselves.

“We must start winning matches again to restore confidence among our supporters after the Federation Cup loss to Kukuruku.

“And the take off point is the league clash against FC Taraba on our home ground in Jos on Sunday.

“The encounter is a must win game as we need the points to chance climbing back to the top of the log.

“Our dream is to remain in the top three brackets at every point in time while we continue the push to earn a ticket to Africa.

“Our chairman was disappointed over our defeat in the Federation Cup to relatively unknown side so we must give him something to cheer by winning big against Taraba.

“Taraba will come hard to challenge for decent result after a hard fought 3-3 home draw against Gabros last weekend but we won’t allow the luxury as we need the points more than the visitors,” said the Super Eagles playmaker to supersport.com.

The Jos-based side are second on the league log on 15 points one point adrift leaders, Sunshine Stars in the eight-week old Nigerian top flight.

Mane's Record-Breaking Treble Destroys Villa

Southampton's Sadio Mane scored the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history as the Senegal winger's astonishing spree condemned dismal Aston Villa to a 6-1 defeat on Saturday.

Mane took just two minutes and 56 seconds to demolish Villa at St Mary's and surpass the previous record of four minutes and 33 seconds set by Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler against Arsenal in 1994.

The 23-year-old also set a new mark for the quickest post-war English top-flight treble as Villa's defence parted with alarming ease.

Although Mane made Premier League history, he couldn't break the record for the fastest ever hat-trick in English football, which was set by James Hayter when he scored three times in two minutes and 20 seconds after coming on as an 84th-minute substitute for Bournemouth in their third-tier match against Wrexham in 2004.

Irish striker Shane Long netted twice after Mane's treble to leave shell-shocked Villa trailing by five goals only 38 minutes into the match.

Graziano Pelle made it six late on and Southampton's scintillating display keeps them firmly in the hunt for a place in next season's Europa League.

Christian Benteke got one back for Villa in first-half stoppage time, but it was no consolation for Tim Sherwood's players, whose woeful capitulation cost them a chance to guarantee their Premier League survival.

FA Cup finalists Villa remain four points above the bottom three and will have to rely on other results if they are to be certain of staying up before the season's final round of fixtures next weekend.

Ronald Koeman's team were on course for their first win in five matches from the moment Mane struck in the 13th minute.

Mane, a £10 million ($15.7m) signing from Red Bull Salzburg last year, latched onto Pelle's flick and held off the weak challenges from two Villa defenders before slotting into the net after a lucky rebound off goalkeeper Shay Given.

Just 84 seconds later he scored again after Ron Vlaar's sloppy backpass fell to Long, who helped the ball on for Mane to tap in.

Fittingly, Mane's hat-trick was completed in more eye-catching style as he curled home from just inside the penalty area in the 16th minute.

Mane was involved again when Long made it four in the 26th minute, playing a defence-splitting pass to Pelle, who fed his strike partner for an easy finish.

With Villa in complete disarray, the fifth goal arrived in the 38th minute as Ashley Westwood conceded possession to Long and he caught Given off his line with a brilliant long-range strike.

Belgian striker Benteke headed home from Leandro Bacuna's cross in first-half stoppage time, but there was hardly a sign of celebration from Sherwood and his embarrassed players.

Inevitably, the second half had far less drama, but Southampton put the seal on a memorable day in the 81st minute when Italian international Pelle fired into the roof of the net from Mane's cross.

Transfer Rumours And Paper Review

Here's the top transfer-related stories in Friday's newspapers...

Manchester United will off-load Robin van Persie and Angel Di Maria this summer - to make way for the marquee signing of Gareth Bale. (Daily Mirror)

The Red Devils are also considering an ambitious £40 million move for Harry Kane, the Tottenham Hotspur and England striker, this summer. (The Times)

Atlético Madrid are attempting to ward off Chelsea’s interest in their forwards Antoine Griezmann and Koke by raising the buy-out clauses to nearer £100m in the new contracts to be offered to both players this summer. (The Guardian)

Andre Ayew is likely to leave Marseille for the Premier League this summer, according to the club's president Vincent Labrune. (Daily Star)

Inter Milan president Erick Thohir has admitted the club will pursue the signing of Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure across the summer. (Daily Mail)

Manchester City have joined the £25million race for Monaco star Geoffrey Kondogbia. The France star has also been linked with Arsenal. (The Sun)

Leicester City’s Kasper Schmeichel has emerged as a transfer target for Arsenal should they fail to land Petr Cech this summer. (Daily Telegraph)

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson has admitted he would like to sign defender Robert Huth permanently, but said talks have not taken place with Stoke. (Leicester Mercury)

Nigel Pearson is set to make a £8million bid for Shinji Okazaki this summer after reopening talks with Mainz. (Daily Telegraph)

Money isn't everything: Juventus are worth €774m, Real Madrid valued at €3.1bn

The European Cup has had its surprise successes over the years and, as such, Juventus' progression to the Champions League final at the expense of Real Madrid should not have come as such a major shock.

The Old Lady is no penniless pauper, with her status as Italy's biggest club being bolstered by yet another Serie A title this season. It was hardly a David vs Goliath story. The trip to Berlin in June will mark their eighth final, not their first.

Yet the ever-widening gap between the richest and the rest in the modern game dictates that any failure for one of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid becomes a huge story. The phenomenal pulling power of the top trio has threatened not just to leave behind the minnows of the game, but also many of the traditional giants from elsewhere across the globe - Juventus included.

Not since 2008 has the Champions League final taken place without one of Barca, Bayern or Madrid, while all three have made the semi-finals in three of the last four campaigns. It is four years since the Germans didn't make the semis, with Madrid going one better. Barca, meanwhile, have only once failed to make the last four in eight attempts since a last-16 exit to Liverpool in 2007.

There can be no doubting that the financial conditions which have been put in place in recent years have been hugely beneficial to the traditional powerhouses, with the largely unchanged make-up of the Champions League each season speaking volumes about the way the natural order has been strengthened.

But just as the Premier League's financial might has not blown away European opposition, the top three have also found plenty of competition in the latter stages of the Champions League from those with far less muscle in the market.

In 2010, Inter upset the odds to win the trophy, while Schalke made the semi-finals 12 months later. Then there was Borussia Dortmund's run to the 2013 final and Atletico's similar achievement last year. The bigger the biggest clubs get, the more astonishing such achievements are.

While Juventus versus Real Madrid might have been a fairer fight back in 2003 when the Bianconeri last saw off the Blancos to reach a final, the same cannot be said now. Madrid had twice the income of Juve in 2013-14, and over the last three years alone they have coined in €835 million more than the Turin side in commercial, matchday and broadcasting revenues.

As a result, Real Madrid as a club now has an estimated value of €3.1 billion, four times as large as Juventus' €774m valuation. The first XI which took to the field at the Santiago Bernabeu cost €425.5m compared to Juve's €128.8m.

All common reason pointed to a Real Madrid win, but Juventus' success gives football hope. It shows why the sport still has a future. If the success of the rich was a foregone conclusion, the rest of us would have every reason to just pack up and go home.

But when Massimiliano Allegri and his Bianconeri take their pre-match walk around the field at the Olympiastadion on June 6, they will be playing not just for Juventus fans – not just for Italy – but for the vast majority of European football. They are proving that the game is not always about who has the most money.

Juve, like Atletico, Dortmund and Schalke before them, are keeping the dream alive.