The summer transfer window may not be open yet in Europe, but teams are getting ready for it, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Real Madrid, Man City eye Davies
Real Madrid and Manchester City are interested in signing Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies, according to Sky Sports Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg.
The 22-year-old Canada international is reported to be a transfer target for the LaLiga side, but City director of football Txiki Begiristain is keen to bring Davies to the Etihad Stadium.
City manager Pep Guardiola has been without a permanent left-back this season, having used Bernardo Silva in that position after Joao Cancelo was sent out on loan to Bayern.
Any move for Davies could be difficult, though, with the Bundesliga side looking to keep hold of him. He has has been a key player for them since joining from MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps in 2018, while contributing to nine goals across all competitions this season
Amid interest from across Europe, the Allianz Arena hierarchy are planning to hold contract talks that would extend his stay in Germany beyond the summer of 2025.
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21.49 BST: Strasbourg forward Habib Diallo will demand a fee of £20m this summer with West Ham, Fulham and Crystal Palace interested, as per Football Insider. The Senegal international has been in sparkling form for the Ligue 1 outfit, netting 20 goals in all competitions this season, and attracting attention from across the Premier League in the process.
The report indicates that Strasbourg are hoping for a bidding war in the summer, with the French club under no financial pressure to sell their talisman as Diallo’s contract does not expire until 2025. West Ham, in particular, are understood to be keen on attacking reinforcements in the summer with Michail Antonio possibly departing the Hammers, following the end of the season.
21.07 BST: Brighton are set to complete a deal for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud, report the Mirror. The 27-year-old is available on a free transfer with his deal at Dortmund expiring this summer. Roberto De Zerbi is understood to be keen to bolster his side with players that have played in Europe, with Brighton set to feature in European competition next season.
Dahoud was a mainstay for the Bundesliga outfit last season, making 30 appearances in all competitions, but the midfielder has featured just 10 times this season, with the German international finding minutes hard to come by in his final year at the Signal Iduna Park.
20.33 BST: Al Hilal have entered discussions with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris over a potential move, according to Foot Mercato. The France international has just one year remaining on his contract with Tottenham and he looks unlikely to stay with the North London outfit who are understood to be eager to find a new, long-term shot-stopper in the summer.
The report suggests that Al Hilal are prepared to nearly triple Lloris’ salary with the 36-year-old open to the potential transfer.
20.01 BST: Napoli have identified defender Giorgio Scalvini as a replacement for Kim Min-Jae, should the Italian champions part ways with the South Korea international, as per Calciomercato. Min-Jae has been strongly linked with a move away from Naples, with a move to Manchester United being widely reported.
The report states Atalanta’s Scalvini is on the radar of Napoli, with a fee between €35-40m believed to be enough to sign the 19-year-old. The Italy international has featured 31 times in all competitions for Atalanta this season and has emerged as one of the country’s most promising prospects.
19.27 BST: West Ham could part ways with forward Gianluca Scamacca, after just one season at the club, report Football Insider. The 24-year-old has struggled to impress since his £35.5m move from Sassuolo last summer, netting just three goals in the Premier League this season, which has left the Hammers open to offers for the Italy international.
It is believed that several Serie A clubs are keeping tabs on Scamacca, with West Ham willing to cut their losses in a bid to fund summer reinforcements ahead of next season.
18.50 BST: Franck Kessie is keen to stay at Barcelona, despite the Spanish champions’ eagerness to offload the midfielder, report Sport. The 26-year-old has been identified as a player that can depart the Nou Camp in the summer as Barcelona look to trim their wage bill to ensure they comply with LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play rules.
However, the report suggests that despite interest from two Premier League clubs, alongside Inter Milan and Juventus, Kessie wants to stay and prove himself to manager Xavi. It is believed that the Ivory Coast international turned down a chance to sign for Inter in January as part of a deal that would have seen Marcelo Brozovic sign for the Catalan club.
18.08 BST: Manchester City are confident of securing a new deal for captain Ilkay Gundogan, amid Barcelona interest in the midfielder, according to Ekrem Konur.
Despite the German international being linked away with a move to the Nou Camp in recent months, it is believed the Citizens are eager to keep the 32-year-old, who is understood to be wanting a long-term deal that will see out his career. Gundogan’s contract expires at the end of the season, meaning he will be available for a free transfer if he does not extend his stay at the Etihad.
17.35 BST: Chelsea will offload Mason Mount in the summer if the Blues cannot agree a new deal with the midfielder, as per Football Insider. The report suggests that incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino will have no say over the financial package offered to the Cobham graduate, and despite the West London outfit keen to retain the 24-year-old, they are willing to part ways with the England international if a deal cannot be reached.
With Mount’s deal expiring next June, Chelsea are reportedly desperate to not let the playmaker leave on a free transfer next summer, and with Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich all reportedly showing interest, Mount will have no lack of potential suitors in the upcoming transfer window.
16.59 BST: Arsenal are set to offer midfielder Martin Odegaard a new deal as the Gunners look to secure the long-term future of their captain, report the Evening Standard. The 24-year-old has two years left on his current contract, with the North London outfit having the option of extending this for a further year until 2026, however, it is understood that Arsenal want to tie Odegaard down to a long-term deal.
The report suggests that the midfielder is in line for a new deal that will reflect his position as one of the best playmakers in the Premier League, having netted 15 goals alongside seven assists this season. With the Gunners likely to fall just short of the Premier League title this season, they view Odegaard as instrumental if they are to compete again in the near future.
15.57 BST: Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani has made an improved bid to buy Manchester United, sources have told ESPN.
Amid speculation that current owners the Glazer Family are favouring an offer made by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Sheikh Jassim has returned with another bid more than two weeks after Raine Group, the merchant bank handling the process, asked for final proposals to be submitted.
An offer made by Ratcliffe, chairman of chemical company INEOS, in the third round of bidding placed a higher value on United than the previous bid from Sheikh Jassim and also included plans for siblings Joel and Avram Glazer to remain as shareholders.
Sources told ESPN it had made Ratcliffe the favourite to complete a takeover before Sheikh Jassim upped his offer.
His proposal is for 100% of the club and includes a separate fund to redevelop Old Trafford and improve the playing squad. The Qatari offer also promises to remove all debt racked up over 18 years of Glazer ownership.
15.22 BST: Chelsea are looking to sign a central striker and have a shortlist of three, according to the Evening Standard. Brentford’s Ivan Toney, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez are reportedly on the Blues’ radar, though any move for Toney will depend on the punishment he gets for breaking English Football Association rules relating to betting. Osimhen is likely to fetch a transfer fee in excess of €120m, while Martinez is valued in a similar range. The club have already agreed to sign RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku for around €60m, though he is more of a No. 10 or forward than a striker. 14.41 BST: Jordi Alba met with Barcelona president Joan Laporta on Wednesday amid continued speculation over the left-back’s future at the club, according to Jijantes and Relevo. Alba, 34, has one year to run on his contract, which expires in 2024, but Barca are said to be keen to move him on at the end of the season after he lost his place in the side to 19-year-old Alejandro Balde. In the event that Alba does stay, Barca would like him to take a pay cut. Reports suggest he is due to earn over €30m in the final year of his deal due to various wage deferrals agreed during the pandemic and later to help the club financially. However, Alba is thought to be reluctant to leave and would like to fulfil his contract at Spotify Camp Nou. The meeting with Laporta lasted several hours and, according to a report in Sport on Tuesday, Alba will be one of the players Barca coach Xavi Hernandez meets with later this week to communicate that he is not part of his plans for next season. Alemany, 60, announced his departure from Barca two weeks ago, with sources confirming he was in advanced talks to join Premier League side Villa after receiving an offer that was “too good to turn down.” However, following talks with the Barcelona hierarchy this week, he has decided he wants to remain at Spotify Camp Nou to continue building on the work he has done over the last two years. Sporting director Jordi Cruyff will still depart at the end of the season when his contract expires, though, having officially announced his desire to “embark on new professional endeavours” on Tuesday. Sources said that former Barca and Portugal midfielder Deco will join the Catalan club to work alongside Alemany, who has a contract until 2024, on recruitment. 13.55 BST: Montreal Impact have contacted Eden Hazard about a possible move to MLS, Marca reports, but the player would prefer to see out his contract at Real Madrid, which expires in June 2024. Despite making a minimal impact in his four years at the Santiago Bernabeu — with Vinicius Junior becoming undisputed first choice in his preferred left-wing position in recent seasons — Hazard remains the best-paid player in the Real Madrid squad. The Belgian played for an hour — to little effect — in Madrid’s 1-0 LaLiga win over Getafe on Saturday, with coach Carlo Ancelotti resting a number of senior players ahead of their Champions League semifinal second leg at Manchester City. According to Marca, Hazard has received calls from Montreal and Saudi Arabia about a move, but is settled in Madrid and a transfer is unlikely. 13.04 BST: Barcelona could make a move for Joshua Kimmich this summer if the midfielder pushes to leave Bayern Munich, according to Mundo Deportivo. Kimmich, 28, has two years to run on his contract with Bayern but is reported to be considering a move away after eight years with the German champions. If he were to become available, Barca would be among the clubs keen to sign him as they seek a replacement for Sergio Busquets, who will leave the Catalan side when his contract expires next month. Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is another target to replace Busquets, but Mundo Deportivo says his €60m release clause is prohibitive and that Kimmich could be available for less. ESPN have previously reported that Wolves’ Ruben Neves and Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat are also options, although Barca’s business this summer will depend on first making €150m in savings to ensure the comply with LaLiga’s spending limits. 12.30 BST: Man City have built an incredible defence. 1:58 How Man City’s defence has evolved under Pep Guardiola Gab Marcotti & Julien Laurens discuss the benefits of Pep Guardiola’s use of four centre-backs for Man City. 11.42 BST: Palmeiras attacking midfielder Raphael Veiga has emerged as a “low cost” option for Barcelona this summer, according to Sport. Veiga, 27, could be available for around €15m, per the report, and his salary would be relatively low in comparison to the top earners at Spotify Camp Nou. Barca are in the market for more creativity in the final third next season, with Ilkay Gundogan and Lionel Messi, both out of contract in the summer, among their targets. However, while both could arrive for nothing, they would command big salaries, which could make Veiga a cheaper alternative. Veiga has played a central role in a Palmeiras side that has won the Copa Libertadores twice since 2020, scoring more than 18 goals from midfield in each of the last three seasons. He has scored eight in 18 appearances this year and his form led to a first Brazil cap in March, when he featured in a 2-1 defeat to Morocco. 11.03 BST: Newcastle United could be “the solution to the Joao Felix problem,” Marca reports, with no chance of a reconciliation between the forward and coach Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid. Felix, 23, joined Chelsea on loan in January but, according to Marca, “a half-season full of inconsistency and substitute appearances” has left doubts over whether the Portugal forward will stay at Stamford Bridge long-term. After interest from Arsenal and Aston Villa in January, the newspaper says Newcastle could be the latest club to move for Felix, with their potential Champions League qualification being a crucial factor and Atletico expecting to receive over €100m for a player they signed for €126m from Benfica back in 2019. 10.32 BST: Spanish winger Bryan Gil says he would like to have “a quiet summer” even if he doesn’t know where he will play next season. Under contract with Tottenham until June 2026, the 22-year-old joined Sevilla on loan from Spurs in January, having spent last season on loan at Valencia. Asked about his future, Bryan said: “It is too soon to know what will happen. What I do want is to have a quiet summer, because I’ve already had a couple of very busy years with whether I stay or leave. If I have to leave or stay, let it be something clear. I will go back (to Spurs) with the mentality of staying because I have a contract and if I leave, it will be what they have decided. A lot has happened to Tottenham this year but I’m sure they’ll fix everything in the summer and next season will go well.” Bryan has scored two goals and set up two more in 14 league appearances for Sevilla. He has made five Europa League appearances for the Andalusian club to help them reach the semifinals of the competition. 09.47 BST: Atletico Madrid are on the verge of signing Uruguay defender Santiago Mourino on a permanent transfer from Racing Club de Montevideo, according to Marca. Mourino, 21, is expected to undergo a medical in Madrid on Wednesday before signing a contract with the Rojiblancos. Atletico had already reached an agreement with Racing to sign the promising centre-back for an undisclosed fee. Under contract with Racing until December 2024, Mourino has made 14 league appearances this season. However, his stay at Atletico will only be temporary as the club are set to loan him out to a European side next season to gain experience. 09.24 BST: Benfica are closely monitoring Getafe striker Enes Unai, according to AS. The Turkey international, who is keen to leave the club this summer, has scored 15 goals for the Madrid club this season. Benfica are looking for a striker at a time when Portugal international Goncalo Ramos is being linked with interest from clubs in Europe’s top leagues. Getafe want Unai to stay but are prepared to listen to offers for the player. Unai is under contract with Getafe until June 2025 and has a €40m release clause, but Getafe are willing to listen to offers in the region of €20m. Real Betis and Benfica have already expressed an interest in the player, who joined Getafe from Villarreal in the summer of 2020. 08.41 BST: Barcelona sporting director Jordi Cruyff will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of June, it was confirmed on Tuesday. Cruyff’s decision comes two weeks after director of football Mateu Alemany announced that he would depart Barca when the season finishes, with sources telling ESPN he has accepted a similar role at Aston Villa. Sources have told ESPN’s Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens that former Barca and Portugal midfielder Deco is set to return to Spotify Camp Nou in an executive role as the Catalan club’s recruitment team undergoes a reshuffle in the coming months. The Cruyff family is synonymous with Barcelona. Jordi’s father, Johan, played for and managed the club and is widely credited for embedding the attacking style of football they are associated with. During two years at the LaLiga champions, working closely with Alemany, Jordi has helped the club remain competitive on the pitch during a difficult financial period for the entity. Last summer, Barca sold club assets and future television revenue to fund the arrivals of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Raphinha, Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie. Those signings helped pave the way for this season’s title charge, with Xavi Hernandez’s team sealing the title this past weekend with four games to spare. – Marsden: How Barcelona won LaLiga amid financial issues 08.00 BST: Kyle Walker has admitted criticism from Pep Guardiola “hurt” during his spell out of the Manchester City team earlier this season. Guardiola said in April that Walker was not equipped to play in the inverted full-back role and instead picked natural centre-back John Stones for the position. Walker was restricted to just three starts in two months between February and April but is back in the team ahead of his side’s Champions League semifinal second leg against Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. “Did it hurt? Of course it did,” Walker said on Tuesday when asked about Guardiola’s claim he didn’t have the “educated movements” of Stones. “I can’t sit here and lie to you and say it didn’t hurt. Of course it did, You start to doubt yourself but you have to go back to basics to what you are good at, what he bought you for and prove him wrong and that is what I have done. “I have to react as a professional, he is my manager, my boss, sometimes certain opinions in football, you don’t always agree with, but for what he has done for me and for Man City in the last six years, has been nothing short of tremendous.” 1:38 Why Lionel Messi might not fit Barcelona right now Gab & Juls debate what would happen to Barcelona if they can make a Lionel Messi move work financially. – Multiple players have been made available for transfer by Barcelona this summer, reveals Sport. The Blaugrana are prepared to part ways with Jordi Alba, Franck Kessie, Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres, with the club’s hierarchy looking to move on players who didn’t play among the highest minutes this season. It is reported that manager Xavi Hernandez will hold talks with them over the club’s plans. – Talks have been held between Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Luis Campos and the representatives of Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, says Foot Mercato. PSG remain on the lookout for a striker this summer, and the report indicates that their shortlist is down to Kane and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen. It is reported that there is interest from both sides regarding a potential deal. Kane, 29, has also been linked with Manchester United. – Barcelona aren’t considering a move to re-sign PSG forward Neymar, despite his interest in a return, according to Relevo. The 31-year-old is reported to be looking for a move away from Paris, but there is concern over his injury record, as well as whether he would be focused on helping the team in the long-term. He has contributed to 24 goals in 20 Ligue 1 games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in February. – Juventus are close to reaching a new agreement with winger Angel Di Maria, says Calciomercato. The Bianconeri are said to be in the final stages of the negotiation process with the 35-year-old, but there remains interest from Barcelona and clubs in his native Argentina. He has made 36 appearances across all competitions this season. – West Ham United forward Danny Ings is likely to remain with the club, reports Football Insider. While the Hammers are keen to land a striker, the 30-year-old Ings won’t be replaced after joining from Aston Villa in January. David Moyes’ side are linked with a move for Strasbourg striker Habib Diallo.
14.02 BST: Barcelona director of football Mateu Alemany has made a U-turn on his decision to leave for Aston Villa and will stay at the club, sources have confirmed to ESPN.PAPER GOSSIP (by Adam Brown)
