TOP STORY: Mou advises Balotelli on future

In one of the crazier rumours of this transfer window, Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli is being tipped to drop out of the Premier League and join Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship on the advice of Jose Mourinho.

Balotelli, who signed two summers ago for a reported £16 million, has no future at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp and is yet to find a club willing to hand him an escape route. But that could all be about to change.

The Express reckons Balotelli has spoken with Mourinho, who has advised him looking below the Premier League could be a good option in order to get his career back on track. And Wolves, who are managed by Inter Milan legend Walter Zenga, are lining up an audacious move for the Italian after recently being taken over by Chinese investors.

Liverpool already got some good news on Thursday, after Crystal Palace reportedly accepted a £32m bid for Christian Benteke, another striker that Klopp has no use for.

Chelsea will pony up for Rodriguez

Chelsea are willing to meet Wolfsburg's £22m valuation of left-back Ricardo Rodriguez, the Mirror reports, and hope to conclude a deal for the Switzerland international before the transfer window closes.

Rodriguez, who has previously been targeted by Arsenal, Real Madrid and Roma, is under contract in Germany until 2019 but wants to move on this summer.

Signing a new left full-back has not been Chelsea's priority, but a deal for Rodriguez would allow Antonio Conte greater flexibility in defence, with Cesar Azpilicueta able to go to right-back and Branislav Ivanovic then free to play at centre-half.

Joe Hart

Joe Hart is considering a loan move to La Liga with Sevilla, amid interest from Borussia Dortmund and Everton, but such a move could see Manchester City heavily subsidising the goalkeeper's reported £140,000-per-week wages.

The Daily Mail claims Hart has little option but to leave City after the club agreed to a deal to sign Claudio Bravo from Barcelona. He has been left out of Pep Guardiola's starting XI for the opening two games of the season and looks unlikely to fight his way back into contention under the former Bayern Munich manager.

A move to Everton is another option for the England No. 1, with Toffees boss Ronald Koeman admitting he is in the market for a goalkeeper, but having driven a hard bargain over the sale of John Stones to City, it could prove costly for Hart to move to Goodison Park.

Tap-ins

Like London buses, Crystal Palace have waited all summer to sign a striker, then two come along at once. Following a breakthrough in their pursuit of Benteke, L'Equipe reports a move for Chelsea's Loic Remy could be close too. Out of favour under Antonio Conte, Remy could be reunited with Alan Pardew, whom he played under at Newcastle.

More bad news for Arsenal fans: The club have failed in the transfer market, again. This time, it's a £16m move for West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans that has been knocked back, according to the Birmingham Mail, with an offer upwards of £20m needed to prise the former Manchester United man away from the Hawthorns.

Another option for the Gunners is 21-year-old Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez. However, Marca claims Arsenal would have to meet the Uruguay international's full buyout clause, which stands at €65m. There is no doubt Gimenez has the potential to develop into a top-class player, but his inexperience at the top level makes him a risky signing.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Juventus are among the clubs interested in signing France international Blaise Matuidi, following news he will hand in a transfer request at Paris Saint-Germain in the coming days. TalkSport reckons the 29-year-old midfielder will be put on the market for £35m.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by Michael Wade

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