TOUCHLINES

BELGIUM striker Romelu Lukaku has no interest in signing for AC Milan or Newcastle this summer, despite the 28-year-old’s growing frustration at a lack of opportunities at Chelsea.

BARCELONA will listen to big-money offers for Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong. Manchester United have been linked with the 24-year-old with Erik ten Hag, who coached De Jong at Ajax, taking over as Old Trafford boss this summer.

TEN HAG, meanwhile, has identified eight players he can trust when he begins his United reign. The Dutchman, 52, hopes to sign a leftsided centreback to help England’s Harry Maguire, 29, recapture his best form and is weighing up whether England striker Marcus Rashford can resurrect his career at the club.

NEWCASTLE have been scouting Benfica striker Darwin Nunez, the 22year-old Uruguay international linked to Manchester United and Liverpool, as they look to bolster their striking options. Everton’s England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, 25, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Czech Republic forward Patrick Schick, 26, are other options.

TOTTENHAM boss Antonio Conte is keen on bolstering his squad with the summer signings of Southampton’s England midfielder James Ward-Prowse, 27, and Brighton’s Spain-left-back Marc Cucurella, 23.

ASTON VILLA have been told by Barcelona they have until the end of May to decide whether they want to sign 29-year-old Brazil attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho on a permanent deal this summer.

MANCHESTER UNITED have failed in an attempt to hijack Red Bull Salzburg striker Karim Adeyemi’s move to Borussia Dortmund, with the 20-year-old German set on a move to the Bundesliga side.