TRANSFER: Do Chelsea really need Emmanuel Adebayor?

The Daily Express claims Jose Mourinho wants Emmanuel Adebayor to replace Didier Drogba at Stamford Bridge this summer.

Adebayor still has another year to run on his contract, and Chelsea would be willing to cover his £100,000-a-week wages to take him on loan from Spurs.

OPINION:
It sounds weird, but this actually makes a lot of sense.

Mourinho wants an experienced third-choice striker behind Diego Costa and Loic Remy, and Chelsea are just about the only side willing and able to pay Adebayor's wages.

The striker has worked with Mourinho before, and as an additional squad option he appears a low-risk, high-upside signing. We don't always put much faith in Daily Express rumours but this one sounds like it just might work.

UNITED TO DITCH JONES AND SMALLING:
With that in mind, the Daily Mail reckons Phil Jones and Chris Smalling could be on their way our as Manchester United have yet to open contract talks with them.

The pair will be free agents at the end of next season.

The Mail says United are "relaxed about the situation but will be reluctant to lose the pair for nothing".

It adds Athletic Bilbao's Aymeric Laporte to the pile of defenders United have been linked with.

PAPER ROUND'S VIEW:
Despite a recent upturn in form, both players have largely disappointed at Old Trafford - particularly Jones, whom Sir Alex Ferguson was touted as potentially the greatest player in the club's history.

While Van Gaal will not want to lose England internationals, he must doubt whether either player has the class to shine at the highest level - and letting the pair stew over their contracts could be his way of telling them so.

JUVENTUS PLAN £15M SWOOP FOR DZEKO 
Edin Dzeko could be on his way out of Manchester City, with Juventus prepared to drop £15m on the striker.

The Daily Mirror reports that Dzeko, who signed a new four-year contract earlier this season, is Juve's number one target and could be persuaded to leave by the promise of guaranteed first-team football.

OPINION:
This will surely depend on whether coach Manuel Pellegrini stays. If he goes, the new man may see a £15m return for a 29-year-old as decent business, particularly given City's struggles to meet Financial Fair Play regulations.

Don't buy into this until we know what's happening with the manager.