Chelsea Transfer News: Pastore, De Rossi and M'Vila in Today's Press
Chelsea have turned their attention to Palermo midfielder Javier Pastore after growing frustrated in their pursuit of Tottenham's Luka Modric, according to weekend reports.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has already turned down two offers from the west Londoners for the Croatian playmaker, with the club determined to retain the 25-year-old ahead of the new season.
Reports suggest Chelsea have instead turned their attention to Argentina international Pastore, after Palermo vice-president Guglielmo Micciche confirmed the player would leave the club this summer. "There is no doubt that he [Pastore] should be sold for several reasons. He wants a big club and negociations are well advanced with a very important team.
"His agent [Marcelo Simonian] is working well and if someone pays the right amount we are happy to let him go.
"Very likely he will go to Chelsea but I think there are many other clubs of that level looking at the boy."
Manchester City and Roma are also interested in the 22-year old, but Micciche dismissed speculation of a cash plus player swap for Pastore. "We don't want any players in exchange, it would be impossible because it would mean taking players of a level that Palermo could not afford," he added.
Essien replacement
The Blues continue to be linked with a move for Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi, as manager Andre Villas-Boas searches for a replacement for the injured Michael Essien.
Manchester United and Manchester City are also interested in the 28-year-old Italian after contract talks collapsed between him and the club.
But Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini has reiterated his desire to keep De Rossi in Rome next season and dismissed speculation linking him with a move to the Premier League.
"We are in talks over the renewal and will not begin any process with other clubs. He is not for sale," he said.
"I'd prefer to have long negotiations over the contract renewal and risk losing him in a year than let him go today. The club will do everything possible to keep hold of De Rossi.
"Daniele is not subject to negotiations, as he has never and will never be on the market," he added.
With Essien expected to miss the first six months of the season after undergoing knee surgery, Villas-Boas is keen to find a replacement for the Ghanaian before the new season begins in a little under three weeks.
According to reports in The People, Villas-Boas will turn his attention to Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila if the club is unsuccessful in their pursuit of De Rossi.
The 21-year-old has previously been linked with Arsenal and Liverpool but Rennes are determined to keep hold of the promising youngster, despite the prospect of a £15m bid from Stamford Bridge.
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