The winter transfer window is closed, but now it’s time to look ahead to the summer! Here are the new rumours floating around Europe’s big leagues and beyond.
TOP STORY: Chelsea interested in Neuer
Chelsea are interested signing Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Bild reports.
There is growing speculation that the Germany No. 1 will not be able to agree terms on a new contract with Bayern, despite the two parties being in discussions for quite some time. Neuer’s deal is set to expire in the summer of 2021, but the club clearly want to resolve the situation before his contract runs down.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard could be tempted to put in an offer if they’re able to offload Kepa Arrizabalaga.
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12.29 GMT: Inter Milan CEO Beppe Marotta has told Tuttosport that the era of inflated transfer fees is over, as the coronavirus hits the finances of every single football club around the world. “Beyond the dates that are still to be determined, I think it will inevitably be a poorer market so there could be more swap deals,” he said. “We’ll see a general drop in prices because the problem is global. It’ll be important to be able to exploit the resources of our academies.”
11.52 GMT: Gabriel Magalhaes is attracting interest from a number of clubs, according to Sky Sports. The Lille defender, valued at around £30m, has represented Brazil at under-20 level and has impressed with his performances in Ligue 1. The report says that Everton are very interested in bringing him to the Premier League, while another English club and two Italian sides are linked.
11.11 GMT: Sky Sports reports that Shanghai Shenhua are desperate to tie Odion Ighalo down to a new contract after his goal-scoring exploits on loan at Manchester United. Ighalo, who as it stands will see his loan at Old Trafford expire on May 31 if a new arrangement cannot be reached, will be offered a deal worth more than £400,000-a-week by the Chinese Super League outfit.
10.38 GMT: Martin Braithwaite has played just 128 minutes of football for Barcelona since signing from Leganes for €18m, and a report in Diario SPORT suggests he may not play any more — with Everton and West Ham among his possible destinations.
Barca signed Braithwaite as a stopgap to cover for the injured Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez in February. He came on against Eibar and Real Madrid and then started against Real Sociedad, but he may not feature for the club again if Barca receive an offer that would allow them to make their money back.
SPORT claim Premier League duo Everton and West Ham are keen on the Danish striker, with Barca open to offers for a number of players this summer as they try to minimise the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the club’s finances. However, with so much uncertainty about how football will look once it resumes, Braithwaite could yet remain a Barca player heading into the new season — whenever that may be. Sources close to the player tell ESPN that is his first choice.
10.05 GMT: AS reports that Atletico Madrid want Thomas Partey to renew his contract and double his release clause from €50m to €100m. The new deal could be confirmed in the coming weeks.
09.31 GMT: Swiss side FC Sion have sacked nine first-team players after they refused to take a pay cut due to the coronavirus outbreak, with the head of the Swiss players’ union (SAFP) calling the club’s the decision “outrageous”.
09.00 GMT: Former Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has said football will never be the same following the coronavirus crisis and suggested there will be no transfers in excess of €100m in the near future.
PAPER ROUND
Tottenham go after Godin
Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho wants to sign Inter Milan defender Diego Godin, the Mirror reports.
Two years ago, the Uruguay international snubbed an offer from Manchester United when Mourinho was in charge at Old Trafford. In fact, Godin used the potential move to navigate his way toward an improved contract with Atletico Madrid.
Despite that, Mourinho wants to try to use Godin’s experience, consistency and leadership to spur a defensive renaissance at the club.
Whether Godin wants to leave Serie A for the Premier League, though, is a different matter altogether.
Immobile staying at Lazio?
Lazio forward Ciro Immobile might end up staying at the Italian club after all, Calciomercato reports.
With a price tag of around €60 million, it was always going to take a big effort to lure him away from the title challengers. Now Immobile is preparing to continue life with Lazio as the club gear up to offer him a brand-new contract.
While he is currently contracted to stay with them until 2023, the new deal will still come in the next few months. Elsewhere, though, Lazio are waiting alongside the rest of Europe to see how the summer transfer window plays out amid the coronavirus.
Tap-ins
– As reported by the Mirror, Liverpool are keeping an eye on the progress of Valencia star Ferran Torres. The rising star had been on fire in La Liga, but the Reds are said to be facing stiff competition from around Europe for his signature, with Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid both in the mix.
– Arsenal are interested in trying to sign Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler, according to Sky Sports. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is a big admirer of Soler, and if the summer transfer window goes ahead as planned, he’ll be located toward the top of Arteta’s wish list. Soler recently signed a new contract through to 2023, ensuring a high price tag.
– The future of AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is still uncertain, Calciomercato reports. While he is attempting to negotiate some kind of new deal with the Italian giants, multiple clubs have entered the race to try to sign him — including Chelsea. For now, however, due to the uncertainty surrounding the summer transfer window, it appears he has time to make a decision.