Rumour reel: Chelsea to give Barkley a new challenge

Jose Mourinho making moves

Manchester United have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic to Old Trafford, and it looks like they may have finally made the breakthrough.

San Siro boss Luciano Spalletti spoke to the Italian press recently, saying he wants the Croatian to stay, but can’t be sure what will happen before the transfer window closes. Reading between the lines, that sounds like a challenge to Jose Mourinho to cough up the cash and let the player decide.

Perisic isn’t the only name being liked to last season’s Europa League winners. Rumours connecting them with Chelsea’s defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic refuse to go away, but Argentine target Paulo Dybala won’t be on his way, the 23-year-old choosing to remain at Juventus for the foreseeable future.

Pennant to drop down to semi-pro football

Remember Jermaine Pennant? The former Liverpool star may only be 34 years old, but the winger has been forced abroad in recent times, turning out for the likes of Indian side FC Pune City and Singapore League outfit Tampines Rovers.

He’s currently a free-agent, but that hasn’t caught the attention of too many managers, and he has been handed a straight choice between joining Neil Lennon at newly promoted Scottish Premiership side Hibs, or playing semi-pro football in Essex for Billericay Town. Ricay, who finished eighth in the Isthmian League last season, have money to spend, and fancy climbing through the ranks of English football.

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