Song: Alex Song is being linked with a move to Chelsea even though West Ham are trying to convince Barcelona to let them sign the midfielder on a free transfer this summer. Barca are believed to have valued Song at around £5m but West Ham want to sign the player for free and take on his entire £70,000-a-week wages. Chelsea are also showing interest in Song due to his status as a homegrown player, but it is unclear whether the Blues are willing to pay a fee.
In Spain: Las Palmas forward Sergio Araujo struck a late volley to snatch a thrilling 2-0 victory over Real Zaragoza in their second-division play-off final yesterday and secure a La Liga berth for next season after a 13-year absence. The Canary Islands club won on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate draw. Champions Real Betis and second-placed Sporting Gijon secured the automatic promotion places in the second division.
Defrel: Cesena striker Gregoire Defrel is attracting the interest of Everton who have tabled a €5m offer for the 24-year-old who scored nine goals in 31 Serie A matches last season. Cesena want to offload Defrel after relegation to the Serie B but they are also considering the offers of QPR, West Brom and Fiorentina. La Gazzetta dello Sport said Everton are favourites to sign Defrel after matching Cesena’s asking fee.
McClean: West Brom have agreed a fee in the region of £1.5m with Wigan for Ireland winger James McClean, BBC reported yesterday. McClean has scored 11 goals in 87 appearances for the Latics and was voted player of the year last season as they were relegated to League One. The 26-year-old played for Derry City in Northern Ireland and signed for Sunderland in August 2011, before joining Wigan in August 2013.
Rangers: New Rangers boss Mark Warburton will hope to put the Ibrox club on a path to promotion when his side open their Scottish Championship campaign at home to relegated St Mirren on August 8. The former Brentford boss has been hired by chairman Dave King to pick up the pieces after last year’s campaign ended in humiliation. Despite having the second biggest budget in Scotland, the Gers could only finish third in the second tier and were then swatted aside by a rampant Motherwell in the play-off final.