Transfer news LATEST: Mario Balotelli, Toni Kroos, Robert Lewandowski and more

West Ham consider dropping Alexandre Lacazette interest to keep Dimitri Payet onside

SIMON JONES: West Ham may consider shelving their expensive pursuit of Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette to ensure Dimitri Payet remains their star man.
Lyon are continuing to demand £40m for striker Lacazette as they wait for Paris St Germain to firm up their interest with a bid. West Ham have offered a deal worth up to £32m but are now wondering whether to divert their focus elsewhere and protect Payet as the most important player at the club.
The 29-year-old Payet grabbed more headlines on Wednesday as he scored France's second goal in their 2-0 win over Albania. It was his second goal of Euro 2016 and served to alert even more clubs to his ability.

 

 Dimitri Payet's stock is rising after scoring in both of France's opening 2016 games

Real Madrid should re-sign Alvaro Morata, says Lucas Vazquez

RHODRI CANNON: Real Madrid winger Lucas Vazquez wants Juventus striker and Spanish national team-mate Alvaro Morata to return to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.

Real sold Morata to Juve in 2014 for 20million euros but did insert buy-back clauses in the deal that took the 23-year-old to the Juventus Stadium.

They are now expected to activate their £23m clause but it remains to be seen if he is in Zinedine Zidane's plans or if the club hierarchy want to sell him to the highest bidder.

 

 Real Madrid have an option to buy back Spain's Alvaro Morata from Juventus for £23m

Mario Balotelli on verge of joining Turkish club Besiktas

ANTHONY HAY: Mario Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola has revealed his client is closing in on a move to Turkish outfit Besiktas.

Balotelli's future has been up in the air during the past few months as AC Milan are not interested in re-signing the Italian forward on a permanent deal.

Liverpool are also keen to recoup some of the £16million they paid AC Milan for him in August 2014 following his disastrous spell at Anfield.

 

 Mario Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola claims the striker is close to joining Besiktas

Robert Lewandowski open to Premier League after becoming unsettled at Bayern

IAN LADYMAN: Poland centre-forward Robert Lewandowski is growing increasingly unsettled at Bayern Munich and would now consider a move to the Premier League.

The Bayern striker lines up against familiar faces when his country face Germany in an eagerly awaited Group C clash in Paris on Thursday.

He has always resisted interest from the likes of Manchester United, preferring to make his name first at Borussia Dortmund and for the last two years at Munich. 

 

Poland's Robert Lewandowski has previously been linked with Manchester United

Roberto Martinez in talks to become next Anderlecht boss

SIMON JONES: Roberto Martinez is in talks with Belgian side Anderlecht over becoming their next manager.

The 42-year-old former Everton manager held discussions with Anderlecht officials at Brussels' Steigenberger Hotel on Wednesday.

Anderlecht are in the Champions League qualifiers after finishing second last season and are keen to appoint Martinez due to his football style.

 

Roberto Martinez is looking to get back to work after being replaced by Ronald Koeman at Everton

Toni Kroos is worth £95m PLUS Paul Pogba... says his brother

JOHN DOWNES: Toni Kroos' brother, Felix, has claimed that Real Madrid's deep-lying playmaker is worth £95million (€120m) plus Juventus ace Paul Pogba, and is the greatest player on the planet in his position.

Felix, 25, - who plays for Union Berlin as an attacking midfielder - was responding to reports that Los Blancos were planning on offering his older sibling plus cash to land 23-year-old Pogba.

Toni, 26, made 44 appearances in all competitions for Real last season, scoring one goal, while Pogba played 49 times, netting 10 goals as the Old Lady won a domestic double.

 

Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Toni Kroos has no peers, claims his brother

Fenerbahce primed to win race for £5.5m Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel

SIMON JONES: Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel is joining Fenerbahce in a £5.5million deal.

The Slovakia international has interest from Wolfsburg, Besiktas and China, as confirmed by his agent on Tuesday, but he is ready to join Fenerbahce after the European Championships after they agreed a fee with Liverpool.

The 31-year-old centre-back has fallen down the pecking order at Anfield following an injury in January which allowed Jurgen Klopp to settle on a defence of Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho.

 

 Slovakia defender Martin Skrtel had interest from Wolfsburg, Besiktas and China

Tottenham set to offload Nabil Bentaleb to Napoli

SIMON JONES: Napoli have expressed interest in Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb.

Tottenham are willing to sell the 21-year-old to make way for new additions such as Victor Wanyama from Southampton. 

Crystal Palace have also shown interest in Algeria international Bentaleb. If he is sold, Spurs will need to fill the void left by him. 

 

Nabil Bentaleb has fallen out of favour under Mauricio Pochettino at White Hart Lane