Footbal Paper Round: Alessio Romagnoli key to Conte's Chelsea puzzle, Rooney to MLS?

Chelsea step up defender search
With their hopes of signing Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli fading, Chelsea have turned their attentions to AC Milan's Alessio Romagnoli, Sky Italia reports. It says Blues manager Antonio Conte has offered £30 million for the 21-year-old but Milan are determined to keep him and have rejected that initial bid.

According to Daily Mail, another alternative could be Torino's Nikola Maksimovic. The 24-year-old Serbia international is also interesting Napoli, and the paper says that although they would offer £21.5 million for him "Chelsea have made it clear they are ready to offer more."

Sakho set to leave Liverpool on loan
Things have been turbulent for Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho of late banned for failing a drugs test, suspended, cleared and then sent home early from Liverpool's preseason U.S. tour for disciplinary reasons.
Now the Daily Telegraph says the Merseysiders are ready to let the France international defender go out on loan "in an effort to enable him to regain fitness and form."
It stresses that they are not interested in any permanent move, with "a short-term arrangement seen as beneficial to the player and the club, allowing him to get back to the levels required to compete for a first-team place."
Earlier this month, Sakho was linked with Roma, but agent Niakate Hosseini said: "I don't think Roma have any chance" and denied "any argument with [manager] Jurgen Klopp."

Talk of Rooney moving to the MLS?
Current England captain Rooney, 30, has found his performances for club and country under scrutiny in recent months, and Jose Mourinho's Old Trafford revolution could leave him vulnerable.
Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson has said that Rooney "has some good soccer ahead of him" and added: "You are not talking about a 34 or 35-year-old.
"I get excited about the impact he would have. The MLS is offering significant money."

Everton chase Valencia defender
Valencia defender Aymen Abdennour is wanted by both Everton and Porto. According to the Mirror, Everton are "long-time admirers" of the Tunisia international and want to add another defensive option to their ranks following the sale of John Stones to Manchester City.
But Porto are also keen and have proposed taking Abdennour on a season-long loan with an option for a full-time deal next summer.

Hammers want Bony to ease striker crisis
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic, deprived of the injured Andre Ayew and Andy Carroll, is a man in need of attacking reinforcements.
The Daily Star reports Bilic, who could be without Ayew for up to four months and Carroll for up to six weeks, will turn to Manchester City's Wilfried Bony. It says the Hammers have asked City about the possibility of signing the 27-year-old on loan.
Speaking after the 1-0 win over Bournemouth on Sunday, Bilic said: "The chairman will get one if we find the proper one. If we get one, it has to be a good one."

Spurs keen to ward off Lamela interest
Erik Lamela, 24 who arrived in North London from Roma for a club record £30 million in 2013 struggled to adapt, with a return to Italy looking likely last summer. Since then, however, the Argentine has been a man transformed under the management of Mauricio Pochettino.
The Mirror says although his White Hart Lane deal still has three years left, Tottenham's powers that be "want to secure his long-term future."

Other News
- Didier Drogba won't be making a surprise move to the Championship anytime soon. The Montreal Impact striker took to Twitter to deny reports that he was spotted in Birmingham and about to sign with Aston Villa.
Villans owner Dr. Tony Xia also brushed off the speculation Tweeting: "Come on. It's not the China Villa club."

- Livingston's teenage striker Matthew Knox could be on his way to Manchester United, according to the Mail. It reports that negotiations are taking place over a £150,000 deal for the 16-year-old, who is the youngest player ever to play for the Scottish club and has also interested Rangers, Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham.

- Tottenham's Nabil Bentaleb -- who has been told by Pochettino that he is not in his plans -- is interesting Bundesliga club Schalke, and the Mirror reports that they have tabled an offer of around £10 million. That might not be enough, but Spurs are thought to want nearer to £15 million to agree a deal for the Algeria international.
Source: ESPN Soccernet