BAYERN IN PAULINHO TALKS

Bayern Munich have held talks with Guangzhou Evergrande midfielder Paulinho regarding a summer move, according to RMC.

The Brazil international has been in great form recently, and Carlo Ancelotti has been impressed with the former Tottenham man's versatility.

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KEY DUO TO LEAVE CHELSEA

Both Eden Hazard and Diego Costa are set to leave Chelsea this summer, according to The Sun.

Real Madrid are increasingly confident of completing a £100 million move for Hazard while Costa wants to leave England and is set to join a Chinese Super League side.

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CITY LEADING ALEXIS CHASE

Manchester City have pulled out in front in the race to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal, established Chilean daily Cooperativa reports.

Until recently, reports had placed Chelsea at the head of the queue in the attacker's ongoing transfer saga, but it is claimed that Pep Guardiola's side are prepared to shell out £50 million for Sanchez's services, with the 28-year-old set to bank upwards of £200,000 per week in the prime years of his career.

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MADRID TO SELL ONE OF BBC

Real Madrid are prepared to sell one of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale or Karim Benzema this summer, reports Don Balon.

The Santiago Bernabeu board are said to have been unimpressed by recent showings and are ready to freshen up their forward line.

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Jesus start at Manchester City evokes Messi for Guardiola

The City boss could delve into the transfer market to give the club some extra attacking cutting edge alongside their young starv

Gabriel Jesus' seamless adaptation to life in the Premier League puts Pep Guardiola in mind of Lionel Messi but the Manchester City manager suggested he will need further attacking reinforcements to address his team's shortcoming in front of goal.

Brazil striker Jesus has four goals in as many top-flight starts for City – a streak punctuated by more than two months on the sidelines with a broken metatarsal suffered at Bournemouth in February.

Kompany: Stats can't show City progress

Sergio Aguero's absence with a groin problem means the 20-year-old is expected to lead the line when Crystal Palace visit the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and Guardiola is impressed by how quickly he has settled.

"Before we got him we expected a lot of things but not that impact as soon as possible," the former Barcelona boss said. "He will be the future striker of the club for the next years."

Asked for an example of players who had adapted so well to a new challenge, Guardiola responded: "There are many, especially the good ones. Messi, for example – he was 18 or 19 years old and scored 40 league goals in a year.

"The big players, the top players are top players. Sometimes we talk about needing more time and you have to give that time.

"Some players came here to the Premier League, in the first year and the second season it was difficult and then… wow, explosion.

"But the other ones, if mentally they are strong, if they are positive, they are skilled – they arrive and, wow, it is done."

City completed the deal for Jesus with Palmeiras last year, with the forward completing the Campeonato Brasileiro season and winning the league title before arriving in Manchester in January.

Guardiola accepts that if City had waited to get the deal done, their man might have headed to one of Europe's heavyweight clubs.

"When we decided to buy Gabriel, he had a lot, a lot of 'girlfriends' – a lot of teams to go to," he explained.

"And he decided to come here. We were so pleased. I am very pleased that Gabriel wanted to take that step.

"Maybe if he had waited one more year, or half a year in Brazil, maybe the big clubs in Europe, the big clubs in terms of playing in the Champions League every year, with a long history [would sign him].

"And he decided to come with us. When that happens, all we can do is help him. I love that."

Aguero is responsible for 31 of City's goals this season, with wingers Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane producing the next best return on nine apiece.

Guardiola maintained he would persist with his intricate passing style next season, as City find themselves still battling to secure a top-four spot, and insisted a sharper edge in front of goal is needed – with the recourse to the transfer market seeming likely.

"The reason why at home we didn't win?" said Guardiola, when addressing a record of eight wins, seven draws and a defeat to Chelsea in the league. "Lack of goals. As simple as that.

"In football, the most difficult thing by far is to put the ball in the net, score goals. In golf the most difficult thing is putting; in basketball the most difficult is when you shoot.

"When you want a guy who is fast, you have to buy a player who is fast. Goals, you have to buy. It is what it is."

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HOFFENHEIM TO SPEAK WITH IHEANACHO

Manchester City have granted German side Hoffenheim permission to speak with Kelechi Iheanacho, reports OwnGoal Nigeria.

The 20-year-old does is not in Pep Guardiola's plans because he doesn't suit the playing style the manager likes, despite his goalscoring ability.

The German club are ready to pounce but will face competition from around Europe for the young forward. 

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