Chelsea linked with Croatian starlet

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The Express say Chelsea are interested in Inter Milan midfielder Mateo Kovacic, 19, along with Arsenal and Manchester United.

All three clubs are said to be willing to pay £9m for the Croatia international, who has been tipped to leave the San Siro at the end of the season.

The Express also claim Tottenham could beat Chelsea to the signing of Hulk from Zenit St Petersburg by appointing the Russian club’s former manager Luciano Spalletti.

Spalletti was sacked by Zenit last week and reports in Russia suggest he has subsequently contacted Spurs’ technical director Franco Baldini to express an interest in taking over at White Hart Lane.

And as Spalletti has already worked with Hulk, appointing him would supposedly boost Tottenham’s chances of signing the player.

Much of the speculation has been based on Shandor Varg, an agent, telling a Russian newspaper that he “would not be at all surprised” if Spalletti ended up at Spurs.

Meanwhile, Chelsea and Liverpool could be set to battle it out for the signing of Hoffenheim’s Roberto Firmino, according to Metro.

German newspaper Bild reported that scouts from both clubs watched him against Mainz at the weekend and were impressed.

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