Chelsea eye Liverpool target Youssouf Fofana – and a clear-out – as Man United look for a keeper

Chelsea already have more proverbial toppings than Domino’s but that won’t stop them looking at former pizza delivery boy Youssouf Fofana. 

The Monaco midfielder, who played for France in the World Cup, has been tracked by Liverpool and is emerging as an option for Chelsea this summer. 

Fofana has clearly got the appetite to make it big in the game as he chose to deliver pizza to make ends meet after suffering the blow of being dropped by France’s national academy in Clairefontaine as a 15-year-old. 

Strasbourg gave him a second chance after their scouts spotted him playing amateur football and he has gone on to establish himself at Monaco, even coming on in the World Cup final. 

Chelsea, who also admire Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, know Fofana well thanks to co-sporting director Laurence Stuart who joined from Monaco last October.  However, they will try to clear players out first to reduce squad size for incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino. 

Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana is a target for both Chelsea and Liverpool this summer

The former pizza delivery boy has become a regular in France and played in the World Cup final

£80million-rated Mason Mount remains a prime target for Liverpool in their search for a midfielder

Mason Mount, valued at £80m, remains a prime target for Liverpool while Mateo Kovacic is wanted at Bayern Munich. 

Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is another joining what could be a lengthy queue for the exit. Pochettino is understood to see striker and goalkeeper as the key areas to strengthen.

Pep wants to keep hold of McAtee 

He delighted Pep Guardiola by overcoming obstacles early on in his loan spell at Sheffield United and now Manchester City are preparing to offer a new contract to midfielder James McAtee. 

The 20-year-old not only prevailed to clinch promotion with Sheffield United but won their young player of the year award to boot. 

In his first loan away from City, McAtee struggled initially to adjust to the rigours of Championship football but stuck to the task and matured under the guidance of Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom. 

He has, so far, notched eight goals, established himself as a popular figure in the dressing room and earned plaudits from Guardiola for his mental resilience. In turn, that has drawn Premier League attention from Aston Villa, Leicester City, Brighton, Brentford, Leeds United and Bournemouth while Sheffield United would like another loan. 

Yet City, who could lose Ilkay Gundogan and Cole Palmer this summer, believe he can step up again and are ready to discuss new terms when he returns.

Sunderland join the battle for Jobe 

Sunderland are making a pitch for Birmingham City’s Jobe Bellingham. The 17-year-old midfielder is ready to depart St Andrew’s this summer and would cost compensation of around £300,000. 

Sunderland are making a pitch to sign Birmingham teenager Jobe Bellingham in the upcoming window

The midfielder has become a regular for Birmingham but is set to leave the club soon

Jobe’s big brother Jude, who is expected to make a decision on his own future soon, was in the stands alongside singer Tom Grennan to watch his sibling play 90 minutes in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Coventry City. 

As Mail Sport’s Craig Hope revealed last year, Sunderland have already put in the groundwork for young Jobe after they invited the Bellingham family to a home game last season. 

Their upward trajectory towards the play-offs will also help father Mark, who Transfer Confidential understands passed his agent’s exam last week, in making his decision.

Spurs an option for Ward-Prowse 

Tottenham scouts made a check on James Ward-Prowse during Southampton’s 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Sunday. 

At 28, the Southampton captain does not fit the profile for many of the elite clubs but his quality means he will still be on a number of checklists. 

Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowe is being watched by Tottenham scouts

Tottenham and Newcastle are among those waiting to see what Southampton will ask for Ward-Prowse should they go down. 

As Confidential revealed, Tottenham have another Newcastle target, Leicester City’s £50m-rated James Maddison as their priority for the creative midfield slot but they are also monitoring Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White for that role. 

His current team-mate keeper Dean Henderson is also on Spurs’ list along with Brentford’s David Raya. 

Wolves defender Max Kilman is another under consideration at Tottenham. They watched Lyon’s Castello Lukeba against Strasbourg on Friday also but are still to be convinced by the 20-year-old.

Can Palace get £163m down to £20m?! 

Talks are intensifying as Crystal Palace try to strike a deal for Flamengo flyer Matheus Franca. 

We told you last week that Palace had sent a delegation to Brazil to watch the boy with Maracana magic in his boots. They had first spoken about the 19-year-old in November and returned ten days ago to discuss a price. 

Franca may have an eye-watering £163m buy-out clause but Flamengo are looking at a rather more conservative £30m plus sell-on percentage. Palace are understood to be trying for around £20m plus add-ons.

Talks are intensifying between Flamengo and Crystal Palace over a deal for Matheus Franca

Palace had sent scouts to Brazil to watch the 19-year-old and are now negotiating a price

Saliba fears have Arsenal eyeing Guehi 

Arsenal are maintaining a watching brief on Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. The classy 22-year-old remains on Tottenham’s wishlist too. 

Arsenal want a centre-back amid concerns over William Saliba’s long-term fitness while Rob Holding’s contract is up next year. 

They also checked on Dinamo Zagreb’s Croatia international defender Josip Sutalo, 23, last week.

Arsenal are keeping tabs on Marc Guehi over a possible summer move, with Tottenham also interested

United to go for a goalkeeper – and superstars 

While Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice will be at the top of Manchester United’s new owner’s to-do list, club scouts are continuing to monitor potential new goalkeepers. 

Should David de Gea reach a compromise agreement over his incentive-laden new contract, Dean Henderson will not want to stay. Henderson’s season on loan at Nottingham Forest has been ended by a thigh injury and he has even greater motivation to play regularly next season rather than return as an understudy. 

They checked on Croatia number one Dominik Livakovic as Dinamo Zagreb drew 0-0 at Hajduk Split on Sunday. Livakovic, at around £10m, is attractive to a number of English clubs but is not the best with ball at his feet. 

United scout Tommy Moller Nielsen also watched Sweden international Leopold Wahlstedt keep a clean sheet for Odds Bk against Rosenborg on Sunday. Leeds United were also looking at the 23-year-old.

Manchester United have watched Croatia number one Dominik Livakovic ahead of a possible bid

The 16-year-old wanted by Villa, Leeds and City 

Aston Villa and Leeds were left disappointed last week when Hearts signed talented teenage forward James Wilson to a two-year contract. 

The 16-year-old had visited clubs in England and met Rangers but signed after being convinced by Hearts’ pathway to first team football. Even Celtic, Manchester United, Fulham and Brighton tried to lure him away.

It seems sporting director Joe Savage may yet pull off another coup by persuading Hearts’ highly-rated young midfielder Gus Stevenson to stay also. 

Premier League leaders Manchester City have taken a keen interest in Stevenson, as have Southampton and Rangers, but the indications are that the 16-year-old will commit to Hearts in the coming weeks. 

City hope to have better luck with 15-year-old goalkeeper Thorsten ‘Spike’ Brits who they are trying to sign from AFC Wimbledon.

Newcastle’s watching brief on Thuram’s other son 

Newcastle are keeping up reports on Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram. Named after an Egyptian pharaoh, Khephren is the 6ft 4ins son of former France World Cup winner Lilian. 

Newcastle are keeping up reports on Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram ahead of the summer

Whether he joins is in the lap of the Gods as Eddie Howe remains a fan of Manchester United’s Scott McTominay but the Old Trafford club are reluctant to sell at this stage. 

Newcastle and Liverpool scouts also watched Sporting Lisbon beat Famalicao on Sunday. Sporting midfielder Manuel Ugarte was another under scrutiny.

Bloxham’s big impression 

He went to the same Leicester high school as rock band Kasabian and has been called ‘Zlatan’ and ‘Crouchie’ by his teammates so 6ft 5ins Tom Bloxham is keen to make a big impression. 

The 19-year-old Shrewsbury Town striker is on the radar of Blackburn Rovers while Swansea City and Rotherham United are also aware of his towering potential. 

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