Soccer Paper Round: Chelsea line up double striker swoop for Alvaro Morata and Romelu Lukaku

Chelsea step up interest in Morata and Lukaku

Chelsea are keen to improve their firepower up front for next season and have stepped up their interest in Juventus striker Alvaro Morata and Everton forward Romelu Lukaku, according to The Guardian. Morata, who excelled for Serie A champions Juventus last season, has long been a

favourite of new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, and the current Italian national team coach has urged his Stamford Bridge employers to make sure they succeed in outbidding Real Madrid (who have a £23m buy-back clause) in the scrap for Morata's signature. Lukaku has excelled since leaving Chelsea, but Conte believes that the Belgium international is perfect for his style of play and is keen to bring the youngster back to west London from Merseyside.

Palace pounce for Andros Townsend

Andros Townsend could escape a season in the Championship thanks to the interest of Crystal Palace - according to a report in The Telegraph. Former Tottenham Hotspur winger Townsend has a £10.5m buy-out fee and Alan Pardew's Palace are keen to take advantage of that clause in the player's contract. Townsend is currently on holiday after being cut from the England squad for Euro 2016, but he is expected to enter talks about a move upon his return. 

England have arrived... but aren't happy about it

'Glum on England' says The Sun as they highlight the lack of smiles in the England squad as the players jetted off to France for the summer's European Championship. Roy Hodgson and his boys took off from Luton Airport on Monday, but looked like they had the weight of the nation on their shoulders as they boarded the aircraft. England boss Hodgson was also forced to answer more questions about his defence after picking just three out-and-out centre-backs for the tournament, but the coach admitted that his defenders do need to up their game if England are to reach the latter stages of the tournament.

Source: Eurosport