Serie B hotshot Gianluca Lapa-dula can imagine himself playing alongside newly crowned Premier League champion Jamie Vardy in Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester team.
Before yesterday’s last match of the regular season, the 26-year-old from Turin had scored 26 goals for Pescara who qualified for the play-offs.
Left-footed Lapadula, who was released by Parma last summer following their collapse into bankruptcy, has been linked with Leicester, Tottenham and Serie A high-flyers Napoli.
He said: “Vardy and I can both blast the ball. We’re very similar and are both determined, even if he is right-footed.”
Kaka highest paid MLS player
Brazilian veteran Kaka is the highest paid player in Major League Soccer, with a 2016 guaranteed salary of $7.167 million, according to figures released by the Players’ Union.
Orlando City’s Kaka tops the list for the second successive year. Toronto striker Sebastian Giovinco is the second highest paid player on $7.115 million.
American national team captain Michael Bradley is the highest paid local player at third on the list with a $6.5 million salary from Toronto, followed by former England midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
Leverkusen boost their frontline
Bayer Leverkusen signed 23-year-old forward Kevin Volland from Hoffenheim for a reported €15 million as they look to boost their attack for next season’s Champions League.
The lightning-quick striker, who has earned six caps for Germany and has scored 33 goals in 132 Bundesliga games, signed a five-year deal to 2021 after four seasons at Hoffenheim.
“I had to use the chance to play for a top club and compete in the Champions League,” Volland said in a statement.
“Bayer is the ideal club for me to develop further.”
Benteke seeks talks with Klopp
Striker Christian Benteke will talk to manager Juergen Klopp to find out if he has a future at Liverpool.
The Belgian played second fiddle to forwards Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi for most of the campaign since his £32.5 million move from Aston Villa in the close season.
Klopp has preferred starting attacking midfielder Roberto Firmino up front when Sturridge and Origi were out injured, pushing Benteke further down the pecking order at Anfield.
“I signed for five years and now I have to speak with Klopp and see his plans for me. It has been a tough season,” Benteke said.
“I’m now going to focus on the Euros and see what happens next season.”
Ginola is ‘fine’ after heart bypass op
David Ginola declared himself “fine” yesterday after regaining consciousness following a quadruple heart bypass operation overnight.
A tweet from Ginola’s account said he had “never slept better” after his dramatic collapse while playing football on Thursday.
The 49-year-old former Newcastle and Tottenham winger was attending a celebrity golf tournament in Mandelieu.
He was taken to the Monaco Cardio-Thoracic Centre, where he was operated on by Professor Gilles Dreyfus.
Professor Dreyfus clarified Ginola had not suffered a heart attack but said the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart had been affected.
Bayern’s Goetze ruled out of cup final
Bayern Munich’s attacking midfielder Mario Goetze will miss today’s German Cup final against former club Borussia Dortmund having suffered a broken rib in their final league game.
Goetze scored twice but also broke a rib and fractured another in their 3-1 season-ending league win over Hanover on Saturday.
He received daily treatment and yesterday travelled with the team to Berlin for the cup final before being ruled out ahead of Bayern’s final training session.
Bayern are already without winger Arjen Robben and defender Holger Badstuber as they look to secure a domestic double following their record fourth straight Bundesliga title.
Zidane support
David Beckham believes Real Madrid should give his former team-mate at the club, Zinedine Zidane, time to succeed.
Zidane fell just short of steering the club to La Liga glory but can claim his first title since replacing Rafa Benitez earlier this year in today week’s Champions League final against city rivals Atletico in Milan.
“Real Madrid needs stability and continuity,” Beckham said.
“It would be good if Zidane continues for some time and that they maintain the players they have today. Even if they don’t win the Champions League, it would be good to let Zidane work.
“Stability is key here, not just in every aspect of life but in business.”