Lille head coach Davide Ancelotti has confirmed Manchester City are in discussions to sign midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, although he hopes the Premier League club’s move for the France international does not go through this summer.
The talks are among the leading stories and transfer rumours reported in Sunday’s newspapers, with Ancelotti making clear his preference for Bouaddi to remain at Lille.
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo is understood to have agreed personal terms over a move to Tottenham, according to the Daily Mirror. Liverpool are continuing to prepare for a significant reshaping of their attack, but the proposed transfer would see Gakpo leave Anfield.
The same newspaper reports that Liverpool have discreetly reduced their asking price for midfielder Curtis Jones after extended negotiations with Inter Milan.
Arsenal target Victor Osimhen has offered a “wait and see” response when asked about speculation linking him with the Premier League champions. The Nigeria striker’s future remains the subject of transfer interest, with the Daily Mirror reporting his cautious reaction to the claims.
In Scotland, Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate is wanted by Greek club Panathinaikos. The Scottish Sun says the club are hoping to persuade Hatate to move by offering him a substantial increase in wages.
Beyond the transfer market, Europe’s leading clubs reportedly threatened to boycott future editions of the Club World Cup unless FIFA president Gianni Infantino withdrew his FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme.
The Guardian says the ultimatum was issued only hours before the plan was withdrawn. The report concerns a dispute between the continent’s major clubs and FIFA over the proposed scheme and their participation in future Club World Cups.
Former England manager Harry Redknapp is also expected to make a cameo appearance in a film about the West Ham fan he helped pull from the stands in 1994, according to The Sun.
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk, meanwhile, says he trained “like a mad man” to make sure he remained permanently ready for a return to the club. His comments come as he continues to prepare for the possibility of resuming his Chelsea career.
In rugby union, Alun Wyn Jones is set to take up a position on the Ospreys board. The former Wales captain, who is the most-capped international in rugby union, is joining the Welsh region as it continues its battle for survival, reports The Times.
There are also questions over the attendance at the European Athletics Championships. Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, has played down suggestions that empty seats at the event could damage London’s bid to host the 2029 World Championships, according to The Guardian.
The Guardian also reports that concern is growing over the whereabouts of British Athletics coach Leon Baptiste, who has not been heard from since travelling to Morocco about two months ago. The highly regarded coach’s disappearance has led to a mystery surrounding his current situation.
