Paulo Dybala is likely to get a boost in his wages as Juventus will be trying to keep their prized asset in Turin and stop him from leaving to foreign clubs.
Calciomercato.com said the Argentine, who only joined Juve from Palermo last summer, will be having talks with the club as the Bianconeri chiefs seek to speed up negotiations.
It is being reported that striker Dybala, whose contract runs to June 2020, could be earning €4m as from next term.
The wage cap at Juventus is €5.5m per year, currently earned by Paul Pogba.
Gers boss hints at summer arrivals
Rangers manager Mark Warburton admits he is aware of the need to strengthen ahead of a potential return to the Premiership next season.
Warburton’s men defeated Queen of the South 4-3 at Ibrox on Saturday to move themselves one step closer to the Championship title.
Despite perceived defensive frailties, Warburton is keen to add across all areas of the squad, not just in the backline.
He said: “In defence, Rob Kiernan has been outstanding, as has Danny Wilson. We will add one more because we’ll need more numbers next year but we’ll look for quality to add to the group.
“We’ll add four or five players to the group overall.”
Ireland injuries
Ireland boss Martin O’Neill has been left with just one fit striker for tomorrow’s friendly against Slovakia after his injury toll took a turn for the worse.
Having already ruled out skipper Robbie Keane because of a niggling knee problem and Kevin Doyle after he underwent surgery to repair an horrific gash to his shin, O’Neill has now sent Jonathan Walters and Daryl Murphy back to their clubs.
Southampton’s Shane Long is O’Neill’s only fit front man.
Romelu Lukaku eyes CLeague move
Romelu Lukaku has cast doubt on his Everton future by expressing a desire to play in the Champions League next season.
The Belgium striker, a £28 million signing from Chelsea two summers ago, has scored 25 goals in all competitions this term.
Lukaku said: “I’m 23 next summer and it would be nice to play in the Champions League next season.”
That will not be possible with the Toffees, who lie 12th in the Premier League and are 13 points adrift of the top four with nine games remaining.
Lukaku’s father earlier urged his son to join Manchester United – themselves currently outside the Champions League places, albeit only by a point – or German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Inter join race for Lazio’s Candreva
Midfielder Antonio Candreva is on Inter’s radar as the 29-year-old midfielder is ex-pected to leave Lazio at the end of the season.
Milan and Juventus are also showing interest but reports in Italy yesterday said Inter are ready to table a €22 million offer which makes them favourites to land the 29-year-old Candreva.
According to the Corriere della Sera newspaper, Inter will pay the transfer fee to Lazio in two €11m instalments although the offer is lower than the €28m Lazio had demanded for Candreva in January.
Juventus, meanwhile, see Candreva as a suitable replacement if Juan Guillermo Cuadrado goes back to Chelsea.
English FA plan Cruyff tribute
England fans will be invited to celebrate the life of Johan Cruyff in the 14th minute of tomorrow’s international friendly with Holland.
The FA will promote a minute’s applause by showing an image of the player who wore the number 14 on the stadium’s big screen.
There are no plans for a total stoppage of play like that seen in Holland’s friendly against France at the Amsterdam ArenA on Friday.
England will again wear black armbands, as they did against Germany in memory of Cruyff and the victims of the Brussels terror attacks.
Dier won’t get carried away
Eric Dier’s last-gasp winner in Germany’s backyard understandably ranks as a career highlight, but the midfielder is not getting carried away.
“That is one of the best feelings I’ve felt in football so far,” said Dier, one of four Tottenham players in the starting line-up in Saturday’s 3-2 win.
“It was amazing. To be able to score for England is great, let alone in Germany.
“It’s always better to win than to lose and that’s always more optimistic, but we have to keep our feet grounded.
“It was a great win, but it’s a friendly and there will be a lot harder tests to come.”