Inter eyeing Filipe Luis; Otamendi talks up summer exit

Inter eyeing Filipe Luis

Italian giants Inter Milan are being linked with a summer move for Chelsea full-back Filipe Luis, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Nerazzurri are expected to offload Yuto Nagatomo this summer and in turn aim to recruit a new left-sided defender.

And while they are looking at a number of high-profile footballers, the latest reports suggest that Filipe Luis has emerged as their top target.

The Brazilian full-back has largely struggled for playing time at Stamford Bridge, having played second fiddle to Cesar Azpilicueta throughout the previous campaign.

He could, therefore, request to leave the Blues in the summer transfer window, with a return to Atletico Madrid also a possibility.

Filipe Luis, 29, was also on the radar of Real Madrid, but he informed los Blancos he was not interested in moving to the Bernabeu due to his affection for their local rivals.

Otamendi talks up summer exit

Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi has all but confirmed that he hopes to leave Mestalla in the summer transfer window.

The Argentina hotshot has been linked with the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid of late, while his agent said back in May that his client had an offer to join a top European club.

Otamendi has now moved to confirm that he is not against moving clubs in the summer even if he is currently focused on Argentina’s Copa America campaign.

“The truth is that I am enjoying being with the national team, at the Copa America, where there is a lot of responsibility to wear the jersey,” Otamendi told ESPN. “I spoke at the time with my agent, and Valencia know very well what I want.

“I had a chat with the president (Salvo) and my agent, and he knows very well what I want. But now I have told my agent that my head is here (in Chile) and I will leave it in his hands to do what he must do.”

Nicolas Otamendi enjoyed a great debut season with Valencia, helping the team concede mere 32 goals in 38 matches while also netting six times in La Liga.

Villarreal announce double swoop

Villarreal have announced on their official website that they have completed a deal to sign Malaga starlets Samu Castillejo and Samuel Garcia.

The Yellow Submarine are believed to have splashed out €16 million for two of the Spain’s hottest prospects, both of whom signed deals until June 2020 at El Madrigal.

Villarreal have been pretty active in the early days of the summer transfer window, having also recruited goalkeeper Alphonse Areola on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.

Samu Castillejo, 20, came through the youth ranks at Malaga and he largely impressed in his first ever senior season last term.

The youngster went on to make 34 league appearances for los Boquerones, scoring 1 goal and producing 5 assists for his teammates.

Meanwhile, Samu Garcia, 24, has also spent his entire career up to date at Malaga, scoring 9 goals in 66 La Liga outings.

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