Chelsea will hire Maurizio Sarri to replace Antonio Conte.

The club has been in a state of flux with Conte expected to be fired but talks over compensation delayed the process.

The playing staff have been in the dark over the managerial situation.

Negotiations have been ongoing between intermediaries seeking to secure Sarri’s release from his contract at Napoli.

Javier Mascherano has announced his retirement from international soccer.

"This story has ended. We gave it our everything until the end," said Mascherano.

"It was a crazy match, in which we didn't start well but we recovered and we turned it around. But their tying goal did so much damage to us.

"It cost us so much to lift ourselves up again. From this point on I will be just another fan of the Argentina national team. It is over. The illusion is shattered."

Real Madrid has reportedly decreased the release clause of Cristiano Ronaldo from €1 billion to just €120 million ($140 million).

This clause, however, would not allow Ronaldo to join any club in La Liga or Paris Saint-Germain. This could setup a return to the Premier League as several clubs in England could afford to pay Ronaldo's release clause.

Ronaldo appears to continue to seek his exit from Real Madrid this summer.

Antoine Griezmann would like to someday finish his career in the MLS.

Griezmann is well-known for his love for the NBA and frequently makes trips to the United States to watch games.

Griezmann is 27 and committed long-term to Atletico Madrid this summer.

"World champion, win a Champions League and then I can go and quietly play in the USA. That's my ideal itinerary. It's not bad, is it?" he said.

"If the plan goes like that, I'd sign for that now. I don't know at which age I want to play in MLS, it'll all depend on the trophies I'll have won beforehand. When I'm nearer 32 or 33, I want to be there. I still have to be presentable on the pitch."

Chelsea is holding talks with CSKA Moscow on buying Aleksandr Golovin as their first signing of the summer.

Juventus had been close to securing the player earlier in the summer, with Arsenal having also been in the picture.

Wayne Rooney has agreed to join D.C. United on a permanent transfer from Everton.

Rooney will complete the formalities of his move when the MLS transfer window opens on July 10. 

Rooney spent last season returning to his boyhood club of Everton.

Arsenal is close to signing Sokratis Papastathopoulos from Borussia Dortmund for €20 million.

Papastathopoulos becomes the third signing for Unai Emery.

Papastathopoulos made 28 Bundesliga appearances last season having established himself as mainstay of Dortmund’s defence since joining from Werder Bremen in 2013. 

Marouane Fellaini is set to sign a new contract to remain with Manchester United.

Fellaini has received interest from AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Marseille.

Fellaini turned down an extension in September, preferring to hold out for a longer deal.

Chelsea will not consider offers for the permanent transfer of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, but they could loan him again.

Loftus-Cheek spent last season with Crystal Palace on loan.

Loftus-Cheek is playing in the World Cup with England.

Borussia Dortmund cannot afford to sign Alvaro Morata from Chelsea as they look to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

There had been reports that Christian Pulisic could go to Chelsea as part of a deal for Morata.

"I'd still say that Morata is too expensive," sporting director Michael Zorc said, and added with a smile: "Without knowing the exact sums involved."

Dortmund qualified for the Champions League but they are in the middle of a squad rebuild.