Chelsea Transfer News: Falcao, Cavani, Modric And Courtois Involved In Latest Speculation

Reported Chelsea target Edinson Cavani has brushed off speculation about his future, saying that he is happy at Napoli but will discuss any major offers if and when they arrive. The Uruguayan is one of the most in-demand strikers this summer with Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea all said to be in pursuit. Cavani, though, is not troubling himself with all the attention.
 
"Real Madrid, Chelsea and (Manchester) City are interested in me? I just think about Napoli,” he told Uruguayan outlet Ovacion Digital. "If an important offer were to come in, I will talk with president [Aurelio] De Laurentiis. I'm fine in Italy, I have grown as a man there and as a player with the Serie A experience." 

It is likely to take an enormous offer to secure Cavani, however, with the player having a buyout clause of €63 million (£53m) and Napoli rejecting a bid of €55 million (£46m) last summer. Such figures have seen big-spending Monaco come into the equation in recent days.

But Monaco may have turned their attentions elsewhere with claims that another Chelsea target, Radamel Falcao, is on the verge of moving to the principality. Indeed, French news agency AFP has reported that the Colombia international was in Monaco on Tuesday to discuss a deal, with the newly promoted Ligue 1 club having met his €60 million (£51.3m) buyout clause. Falcao, 27, has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge last summer and was seen as Chelsea’s leading target to spearhead their attack next season.

With Rafael Benitez having taken charge of Chelsea for the final time in Saturday’s friendly against Chelsea in New York, the club is currently without a manager. It is widely believed, though, that former boss Jose Mourinho will be returning. And, according to the Sun, the Real Madrid coach is keen to bring Luka Modric with him to west London.

The Croatian playmaker only arrived from Tottenham in a deal worth around £30 million last summer. But he has not enjoyed the greatest of seasons at the Bernabeu and was voted as the worst signing of the campaign by readers of Marca newspaper. Yet Modric has been more of a regular in Mourinho’s side in recent weeks and the Sun quotes a “Chelsea insider” claiming that the Portuguese is determined to reunite with the midfielder. There could well be competition for the 27-year-old’s signature, with another former suitor, Manchester United, trailing Modric, reports the Sunday People.
Another decision that Mourinho will have to make if and when he takes charge is over the future of Thibaut Courtois. The 21-year-old has again excelled in his second season on loan at Atletico Madrid, yet with Petr Cech ensconced between the posts at Stamford Bridge, the club is faced with something of a dilemma.

Courtois recently revealed that Chelsea want him to go on loan to a Premier League club to get experience of the different demands placed on a goalkeeper in England, however the Belgium international has left no doubt about where he wants his immediate future to lie.
“Thank you very much to all Atletico fans for this season!” he wrote on Twitter. “Your support in every game has been amazing! I want to stay here one more year to continue sharing joy with you!”

Florentino Perez: Bale was born to play for Real Madrid

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has further increased speculation linking Tottenham star Gareth Bale with a move to the Spanish giants, insisting he "was born to play" for the club.

The 23-year-old scored 21 Premier League goals during a stellar personal season that saw Spurs narrowly miss out on Champions League qualification, and he is expected to sign a new contract worth £130,000 at White Hart Lane this summer.

However, Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett, admitted on Wednesday that the attacker would consider any offer from the nine times European champions.

"Gareth Bale was born to play in Real Madrid," Perez told Cadena Cope.

Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, meanwhile, has hailed Bale as "one of the best players in the world" and backed him to be a success if he joins the club.

"He would be a good signing for the club," he told Marca. Bale is one of the best players in the world and at Real Madrid we always have the best. I am convinced that if the club want him he would be a great signing."
Last week, Real Madrid director of football Zinedine Zidane ranked the Wales international alongside La Liga legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

"I have been watching Tottenham for the very reason that Bale has been playing," he said.

"Aside from Ronaldo and Messi, who are the top players, I must admit that he is the footballer who impressed me most."

Transfer News: Abidal announces Barcelona exit

The Frenchman will bid farewell to the Primera Division champions this summer as his expiring contract will not be renewed

Eric Abidal has announced that he will leave Barcelona this summer after a six-year spell at Camp Nou.

The 33-year-old joined the club from Olympique Lyonnais in the summer of 2007 and had since made nearly 200 official appearances for the Blaugrana, winning four Liga titles and two Champions Leagues in the process.

However, health problems largely kept Abidal out of action in the past two seasons as he was diagnosed with a tumour in his liver in March 2011 and underwent a transplant last year.

"This is a difficult day for me. I have spent six years at Barcelona and it has been a very intense period together with my team-mates," Abidal said at a press conference.

"I was keen to continue at Barcelona, but the club have different plans and I have to respect that. I am leaving the club this summer, but I will be back here."

Club president Sandro Rosell, meanwhile, stressed that he hopes Abidal will return to Barcelona once he hangs up his boots.

"Abidal has been at Barcelona for six years and he's part of our history. This is not a goodbye. The doors will always be open for Eric.

"When Eric retires, he will become the director of Barcelona's schools around the world."

Abidal has been linked with a return to Lyon this summer, while Monaco have also shown an interest in signing the left-back, but he has yet to make a final decision on where he will continue his career.

"I have a number of offers, but I need more time to think about them," the Frenchman stated.