Clubs are slowly turning their eyes toward the summer window, and Transfer Talk has the updates on all the latest rumours.
Milan eye up Herrera for summer switch
AC Milan spent a cool £150 million last summer, but that won’t stop them splashing the cash again when the transfer window reopens in July. And high on their list is providing some competition for midfielders Lucas Biglia and Riccardo Montolivo.
The Rossoneri have identified Manchester United’s Ander Herrera as the man to do just that, the Express cites Tuttosport as reporting. Jose Mourinho has no desire to sell the 28-year-old, but the manager’s reluctance to drop either Paul Pogba or Nemanja Matic has seen Herrera’s minutes dwindle.
A desire for more first-team minutes could see Herrera push through a move to the San Siro in a £32 million deal that would trigger a search for his replacement at Old Trafford. The report states that Monaco’s Fabinho could be one option at £45m, and Bayern Munich’s £50m-rated Arturo Vidal another.
City consider returning for Mahrez
Manchester City pulled out of a deal for Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez last month after Leicester City set the price at £95m, and the Manchester Evening News reports that Pep Guardiola could return for the player this summer.
Guardiola is said to have received assurances that he would be backed for a major acquisition this summer to help bolster the club’s forward line. And there is a sense that the 26-year-old could be had at a far more reasonable price than what was quoted in the inflated January market when players available for the Champions League were at a premium.
Of course, Mahrez is just one option available to Guardiola. Paulo Dybala and Antoine Griezmann are two other forward options the club is credited with interest in, according to the report.
City, United set to battle over Maguire
Manchester United and Manchester City are set for a tug-of-war this summer over Leicester City defender Harry Maguire, according to the Mirror.
The Foxes signed the 24-year-old just last summer in a £17m deal from Hull City. But in his maiden campaign at the King Power Stadium, Maguire has broken into the England squad and become among the Premier League’s most promising young defenders.
Inside a year after their investment, Leicester already feel the player’s value has trebled, the report states, and will demand £50m for the England international.
Tap-ins
– Besiktas could be the club to finally bring Al-Ain attacking midfielder Omar Abdulrahman to Europe, says Football London. Arsenal have also been linked with the 26-year-old, who has spent his entire career at Al-Ain, but now it seems the Turkish Super Lig side have the upper hand with a contract offer of €3m per season on a free transfer for the UAE international.
– According to Goal, Manchester City’s lengthy pursuit of Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred is nearing an end. A move to bring the 24-year-old to the Etihad in January never materialised, but the outlet says a £44.5m deal is already in place for the summer.
– West Ham defender Reece Oxford is back with Borussia Monchengladbach for another loan spell, and the Evening Standard suggests he could soon be a permanent member of the Bundesliga club if Gladbach sporting director Max Eberl has his way.
– The Portland Timbers signed forward Samuel Armenteros on loan from Serie A side Benevento on Friday. The MLS club also has an option to buy the 27-year-old on a permanent basis at the end of the season.
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