Rumour Reel: Bayern Munich eye Ibrahimovic as Chelsea go for Gomes

The Spanish side are reportedly holding out for £42m as Benfica, Gomes’ former club, have a buy-on clause that entitles them to 25 per cent of any transfer fee Valencia received for the player, who only arrived arrived on the east coast of Spain 12 months ago.

This is the second time the Stamford Bridge side have been linked to a midfielder in recent days, with Roma’s Radja Nainggolan understood to be a target.

Both Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic were poor for Chelsea last term, in a season that saw them finish 10th. Conte chasing Gomes and Nainggolan could see the start of a new midfield partnership.

City set sights on Stones after Laporte snub

Manchester City aren’t used to getting knocked back in pursuit of a player, but that is exactly what appears to have happened in their negotiations with Athletic Bilbao and Aymeric Laporte. The ball playing centre back rejected a move to Manchester in favour of staying in Spain, snubbing a purported €8m-a-year deal at City to sign a new deal at Athletic – becoming the Basque side’s highest ever paid player, collecting mooted €5m-a-season with a €65m release clause.

So, now Pep Guardiola has set his sights on John Stones, as he looks to instill a ball-playing, passing style. Stones, whose consistent errors don’t seem to have put off big club interest, will command a fee of around £40m, as Everton look to get the most out of a player that joined the Merseyside club for £3m in January of 2013.

According to reports, City see Stones as better value for money than Laporte and his arrival would see both Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala take smaller roles.

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