Atletico Madrid defender Toby Alderweireld will hold talks with the club regarding his long-term future next week.
The Belgium international, who joined Atletico from Ajax in a deal worth €7 million in the summer of 2013, enjoyed a successful loan spell at Southampton last term.
According to Sky Sports, Southampton have the first option to buy Alderweireld, but Atletico can pay the Saints a fee to create a bidding war for the player, who is reportedly attracting interest from several other English Premier League clubs, including the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
“I will go back to Spain next week and we will talk,” Alderweireld told Sky Sports HQ.
“We will see what happens. I hope a decision will be made quickly, otherwise it will be all summer.
“I don’t know if Chelsea are interested but I have read a little bit in the press. Let’s see what comes up and I will make a decision. We will see what clubs come in.”
Alderweireld scored one goal in 26 Premier League appearances for the Saints last season.
Ronaldinho set to leave Queretaro
Queretaro manager Victor Manuel Vucetich has revealed the Liga MX side will cut ties with Brazilian legend Ronaldinho after just one season.
“It will depend on various factors and things, but the idea is that he [Ronaldinho] no longer participates for us,” Vucetich told reporters on Tuesday.
“Marketing-wise it was an enormous success, he’s got great quality, but we need players that contribute in all aspects. Mexican soccer needs people that are on the up, not on the slide, and that is very important for the league.”
Ronaldinho, who joined Queretaro from Atlético Mineiro on a free transfer last summer, bagged eight goals in 25 appearances for Los Gallos Blancos.
Mourinho hoping to add three players
Chelsea F.C. manager Jose Mourinho is hoping to keep the Blues’ best players at Stamford Bridge and add in three new signings this summer.
The Blues (26-9-3) won the Premier League title with ease in 2014/15, and Mourinho expects some extra competition to motivate his players to repeat as champions next term.
“In other seasons, I was very happy to sell a few players — even good ones — but this year I’m not happy to sell my best players so the real challenge is to keep them,” Mourinho said. “If I keep [Eden] Hazard, [Nemanja] Matic, [Branislav] Ivanovic, Diego Costa and [Cesc] Fabregas, that’s the first target.
“I think we need three players — a striker, because we lost our legend [Drogba], a defender and a midfielder to give a little more competitiveness to the squad, bring some new blood in and put some of the team a little bit under pressure.
“They need to know there is someone waiting to take their place — now they are the champions, I need that to sustain my way of working.
“But basically, I want to keep the same players, the same squad, the same manager, and bring stability to the club.”
Chelsea are priced at 6/4 to win the Premier League title in 2015/16.
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