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: Grealish set for big payday with Man United switch
He’ll be running out at Wembley on Sunday afternoon against the blue half of Manchester — but if Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gets his way then Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish could soon be playing in red rather than claret and blue. And he’ll be rewarded handsomely if he does make the switch.
The Sun reports that Grealish — who could be part of England’s squad for this summer’s European Championships — would land a monumental £150,000-a-week if he decides that his future lies at Old Trafford rather than Villa Park.
According to the paper, Villa are still to agree a transfer fee for a player who has shone for the club in an otherwise difficult season in the top flight. But senior officials are already finalising Grealish’s mega-bucks contract with United.
Manchester City — another interested club — will get a close up of Grealish at the Carabao Cup final on Sunday (stream on ESPN+ in the U.S.), as relegation-threatend Villa fans fear the worst if the player decides that his future no longer resides in the Midlands.
The stage is set for him to press his case for a move at Wembley.
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09.55 GMT: Norwich City forward Todd Cantwell has caught the eye of Man United, Man City and Tottenham this season, but The Athletic reports he’s being lined up as a potential replacement for Adam Lallana at Liverpool.
Cantwell, 22, is versatile enough to fill in across the frontline or even in midfield and Lallana’s contract won’t be extended once it expires this summer.
The England U21 international has six goals in 22 Premier League games this season and is reportedly valued at around £30m.
09.00 GMT: Atletico Madrid might be about to lose their manager, as Paris Saint-Germain are targeting Diego Simeone.
However, if Simeone leaves the Spanish capital for France then Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo is Atletico’s No.1 target, says The Sun.
PAPER TALK (by Rich Edwards)
Zidane draws up striker short-list for Madrid
Still smarting from their Champions League first-leg loss to Manchester City, Zinedine Zidane has apparently drawn up a shortlist of three strikers in readiness for the summer transfer window.
According to Marca, the three names on that list are Leipzig hitman Timo Werner, Lautaro Martinez of Inter and Erling Haaland, recently signed by Borussia Dortmund.
They’re three names to quicken the pulse of any Los Blancos fan but getting any of them to the Bernabeu by the start of next season will be no simple task. Barcelona are also interested in Martinez, while Haaland has only been at Dortmund a matter of months. Liverpool, meanwhile, are long-term admirers of Werner.
It’s little surprise that Madrid are looking to extend their options up front, though. After all, they can’t continue to rely almost entirely on Karim Benzema to deliver their goals with €60m man Luka Jovic a flop.
Barca set to launch Aubameyang bid
Spanish giant Barcelona are gearing up for El Clasico on Sunday — and if they have their way then Arsenal skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be playing in one of football’s greatest clashes as early as next season.
That’s according to the Sunday Express, which claims that both Barca and Inter Milan are interested in snapping up the Arsenal striker.
Shorn of Champions League football, Arsenal recently posted a loss of £27.1m for the 2018-19 season and that’s money they need to claw back sooner rather than later, particularly as the chances of them returning to the competition next season look unlikely. All of which could open the door for their star man to head elsewhere.
Tap-ins
– David Beckham has made it clear that he would love to see some of the world’s best players commit to playing for his new MLS franchise in Miami — but Cristiano Ronaldo believes he still has unfinished business at Juventus. The Portuguese legend, though, told Sky Sports News that he had no intention of joining former Manchester United teammate Beckham’s project in the U.S. any time soon. “I’m happy,” he said. “I’m in the best club in Italy, I’m playing alongside the best players. As an individual I am happy. I went to Juventus to score goals and do my best and I am very happy.”
– The Sunday Express claim that Gent striker Jonathan David has made his way onto Chelsea’s transfer wishlist this summer. That said, Frank Lampard will have his work cut out to lure a player valued at £20m from Belgium to Stamford Bridge, with Liverpool, Manchester United and Spurs also interested in snapping him up.