Joao Cancelo and Pep Guardiola’s bust-up, Chelsea offer £10m more than Enzo Fernandez’s release clause - Paper Round

ByMichael Hincks

Updated 31/01/2023 at 08:31 GMT

It’s deadline day on Tuesday, so it’s going to be busy. Paper Round leads on the reasons behind Joao Cancelo’s shock loan move from Manchester City to Bayern Munich, which is set to be finalised today, while Chelsea’s offer for Enzo Fernandez is said to be more than his release clause at Benfica. There’s also talk of Hakim Ziyech to PSG and a world-record bid in the WSL.

The Cancelo-Guardiola bust-up

Joao Cancelo’s prospective loan move to Bayern Munich from Manchester City comes after the full-back fell out with manager Pep Guardiola, the Daily Mail reports. Details emerged on Monday of a shock move for the Portugal international, with Bayern reportedly having a £61m option to buy Cancelo in the summer, and it’s all down to a bust-up after a run of games out of the side.

“His relationship with Guardiola has been strained but reached breaking point ahead of the clash with the Gunners, which City won 1-0,” the Mail reports.

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“City are now seeking a replacement, and losing a key squad member as the window closes is not ideal, but club insiders have disclosed they were left with little option.”

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Chelsea go above and beyond

Chelsea look set to sign midfielder Enzo Fernandez on Tuesday, with The Times reporting that the Premier League club will pay Benfica £10m more than the player’s release clause. Amid reports Chelsea agreed to pay the expected £105m, the Times claims the Blues are actually offering £115m in instalments for the World Cup winner.

“The west London club have remained in talks with Benfica for the 22-year-old midfielder, despite his manager Roger Schmidt insisting any deal was dead,” The Times report reads.

“After an initial offer was rejected, Chelsea have today increased their bid to a level that would surpass the £100m record Manchester City paid for Jack Grealish in 2021, and which would be paid in instalments.”

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Ziyech wants PSG move

Paris Saint-Germain are close to signing Hakim Ziyech from Chelsea, L’Equipe reports. The Morocco forward has been linked with a move away from Chelsea amid all their incomings this month, and despite reported interest from Newcastle, Everton and Manchester United, the 29-year-old favours a move to the French capital.

“He would be a welcome arrival for Paris, even if no agreement between the two clubs has yet been concluded,” says L’Equipe.

“Nevertheless: the discussions are progressing very quickly and, according to a source close to the semi-finalist of the last World Cup, Ziyech, under contract until June 2025 in London, who was also courted by Manchester United, has given his preference to the club of the [French] capital.

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Arsenal go for Russo

Manchester United have turned down a world-record bid from Women’s Super League rivals Arsenal for England striker Alessia Russo, the Telegraph reports. The offer surpassed the £400,000 spent by Barcelona for Keira Walsh in the summer, and while the WSL leaders are reluctant to sell to Arsenal – who are three points behind with a game in hand – the deal is not completely off the table given Russo’s contract expires at the end of the season.

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“Manchester United have been in contract negotiations with Russo for many months but without significant progress. But they still hold hope of her extending her contract later this year, especially if they can secure Women's Champions League qualification,” the Telegraph reports.

“Russo has been with Manchester United since signing from North Carolina Tar Heels in 2020. Having moved to the WSL club straight from a US college set up, she will be set for a major increase to her salary this summer one way or another, having starred for the Lionesses at last summer's Euros.”

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