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The summer transfer window is approaching, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings and goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Man City join Leao race
AC Milan star Rafael Leao has been attracting attention from some of the biggest clubs across Europe recently, but Foot Mercato indicates that Manchester City now plan to join the race for his signature.
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Pep Guardiola’s side reportedly see the 22-year-old forward as a potential replacement for Raheem Sterling.
Leao was involved in a number of important goals for the Rossoneri last season, with 19 total goal contributions across 34 games in the Serie A title winning campaign. That has seen him linked with Real Madrid, with Gazzetta dello Sport reporting last week that the Santiago Bernabeu hierarchy were prepared to part ways with €120 million to secure the Portugal international’s services.
But with Man City and Paris Saint-Germain keeping tabs on Leao, a transfer battle could soon be triggered if an official approach is made from either one of the three European giants keen to land one of Milan’s best prospects.
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10.43 BST: Aurelien Tchouameni is on the verge of joining Real Madrid, according to the frontpages in Spain on Tuesday, with Marca saying the club are in the “final sprint” to land the player, while AS describe his signing as “imminent.”
ESPN reported last week that Madrid had moved ahead of rivals Liverpool in the race to sign the France international midfielder, although negotiations with his club AS Monaco had been held up by a tax issue.
According to Marca, the deal “could be done in a question of days.” The 22-year-old wants to join Madrid and has agreed a five-year contract, and all that remains is to reach an agreement with Monaco, who expect to receive an €80m transfer fee.
Madrid have been tracking Tchouameni for some time, and the decision of Kylian Mbappe to stay at Paris Saint-Germain means the LaLiga club have significant funds available to spend this summer.
10.17 BST: Neymar has said he expects to remain at Paris Saint-Germain next season and has set his sights on winning the club’s first Champions League title.
Sources have told ESPN that the French champions have made Neymar available for transfer this summer but are aware that his salary, which costs PSG around €35 million a year, might prove a stumbling block for clubs interested in a potential deal.
Neymar has three more years remaining on his existing contract and said he is focused on winning more trophies in the French capital next season.
“My ambition is always the same: to win every title possible,” he told Canal Plus. “Play well and win the World Cup and the Champions League. These are my ambitions for next season.
“It has to be with Paris. I have a contract with PSG, so there is no choice. Yes, it will be with PSG.”
10.00 BST: PSG have agreed to sign Sporting CP left-back Nuno Mendes for €40m.
Mendes, 19, was on loan at the French club last season but there was an option to make the deal permanent, which has now been triggered.
The Portugal international made 37 appearances, providing two assists, and was nominated for the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award.
09.24 BST: Newcastle United have announced the appointment of Dan Ashworth as their new sporting director.
Ashworth, is finally able to join the Magpies and head up their transfer operations after he resigned as Brighton & Hove Albion’s technical director in February and was put on gardening leave.
The 51-year-old had previously worked as the English FA’s technical director for six years, during which time the national team reached the FIFA World Cup semifinals and won three tournaments at various youth levels.
With Eddie Howe securing a mid-table finish last term the manager, the club’s Saudi-backed owners and Ashworth will now make plans for this summer’s transfer window.
08.41 BST: Inter Milan CEO Giuseppe Marotta says he is hopeful Paulo Dybala will play for them next season.
Dybala, 28, was not offered a contract extension at Juventus and will leave the Turin giants after seven campaigns at the club. The Argentina international is a target of top European clubs.
“I don’t know where he will play next season,” Marotta said. “But the hope is that he can play for us.”
Dybala scored nine goals and set up five more in 26 league appearances for Juve this past season.
08.00 BST: Striker Robert Lewandowski says that his Bayern Munich career is over and that he could not imagine staying on with the German champions.
“One thing is certain today — my story with Bayern is over. After everything that has happened in recent months, I cannot imagine further good cooperation,” Lewandowski said on Monday during a news conference on international duty with Poland. “I realise a transfer will be the best solution for both sides.”
Bayern sports director Hasan Salihamidzic said earlier this month that Lewandowski informed the club’s boss that he wanted to leave, confirming reports the Bundesliga’s second-highest career scorer could be on his way out despite having a contract until 2023.
Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez said the club are interested in signing Lewandowski and confirmed negotiations had begun.
“Yes, Lewandowski is an option,” Xavi told a news conference earlier this month. “He has already said he wants to leave, there are negotiations, but he still has a contract at his club. It won’t be easy, being Bayern, but it’s an option.”
PAPER GOSSIP (by Adam Brown)
– Bayern Munich are leading the race for RB Leipzig star Konrad Laimer, writes Fabrizio Romano. The Bundesliga champions are reported to have already placed a bid in the region of €20m for his services, but the latest indicates that Leipzig are reluctant to part ways with the 25-year-old midfielder who was a standout performer for them last season.
– Wolfsburg are interested in acquiring AC Milan forward Ante Rebic, according to Calciomercato. The 28-year-old has recently been linked with an exit from the San Siro, having scored just two goals in 24 appearances across the Rossoneri’s Serie A title-winning season. Having coached him before, it is reported that Wolfsburg manager Nico Kovac would like to welcome Rebic back to the Bundesliga.
– Barcelona are set to part ways with their B team captain Arnau Comas, writes Sport. The 22-year-old defender has been at the club for 12 years, and after not being able to find a path to Xavi Hernandez’s first team, he has decided to move on in search of regular first team football. It is reported that he has a number of offers already from teams in Spain, as well as a number of teams across Europe.
– Manchester City look to have decided their next plans after signing Erling Haaland, with a double swoop planned for Marc Cucurella and Kalvin Phillips, reports the Mirror. Pep Guardiola is looking to acquire the two Premier League stars this summer, with 26-year-old Leeds United midfielder Phillips understood to be available for around £50m. For Cucurella, 23, Brighton are believed to be looking for around £30m for the left wing-back who enjoyed an impressive campaign at the Amex Stadium last season.
