The coronavirus pandemic has made the summer transfer window uncertain, but here are the new rumours floating around Europe’s big leagues and beyond.
TOP STORY: De Ligt open to Barcelona switch
Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt is open to the possibility of a move to Barcelona, Mundo Deportivo reports.
De Ligt has long since been viewed as a target for Barca, but now, he’s more open to the idea of a switch to the Camp Nou than he has been in the past.
Juve will want to recoup most of the €85 million they paid to acquire his services from Ajax last summer, the Old Lady will not be giving up on him that easily.
If Barca want to make this deal happen, they need to make it worth Juventus’ time.
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11.34 BST: Lyon star Memphis Depay is yet to commit his future to the club, according to president Jean-Michel Aulas.
The Netherlands international has been injured since December and was returning to fitness faster than expected ahead of Euro 2020 until the coronavirus crisis forced its postponement.
Speaking with OL TV about the 26-year-old’s future, Aulas said: “We are working hard on it. We made a number of proposals, which Memphis has not accepted. He was waiting to get back to action.
“He had imagined playing for his country. There was this injury and he recovered faster than expected. For the moment, there is no agreement. However, that does not mean that things have broken down.
“We are in touch with his agents. I also chat with him. We will meet gain. We will do all that we can to extend his deal. Everybody at Lyon is in favour of a new deal.”
10.59 BST: The agent of Brazilian midfielder Igor Gomes has said he “dreams of taking him to Real Madrid one day.”
Wagner Ribeiro has previously been involved in the deals that brought Neymar, Kaka and Robinho to Europe. Gomes, 21, has a contract at Sao Paulo until 2023 and a €50m release clause.
“I’ve worked with Igor since he was 12, he’s on the radar of all the big European clubs. He’s a complete player,” Ribeiro told Fox Sports. “There was talk that Madrid wanted him and I said it wasn’t the moment to speak. I dream of taking him to Real Madrid one day. I like Real. If there was an opportunity, I’d do it with pleasure.”
Real Madrid have been active in the Brazilian market in recent years, bringing in teenagers Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes and Reinier Jesus.
Diario AS reports that Barcelona, Sevilla and Ajax have also expressed an interest in the playmaker.
10.22 BST: Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic believes the “mole has moved on” and talks with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer can now continue without the details being leaked to the media. Neuer, 34, said he was irritated to see information of the negotiations reported, but added that he still wants to stay at Bayern beyond June 2021 when his current deal expires.
“I am an optimist and therefore I hope that Manuel will extend his contract here,” Salihamidzic told Die Welt, adding that he was confident no more details would leak to media: “I’d like to think the mole has moved on.”
Last week, Neuer’s agent Thomas Kroth said only three people — Kroth, Bayern executive Oliver Kahn and Salihamidzic — were involved in the talks and left little room that he believed the sporting director was responsible for the leaks.
Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness, meanwhile, has told kicker he would welcome a new contract for Manuel Neuer because “he remains one of the best keepers in the world.”
09.43 BST: Juventus are considering signing Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani this summer in the event that Gonzalo Higuain does not come back to the club, Sky Italia reports.
Higuain was allowed to return to his native Argentina during the lockdown in Italy to be close to his cancer-stricken mother. According to reports, the 32-year-old forward, who is tied to Juventus until June 2021, is considering a move back to Argentina.
According to Sky Italia, while Juve would like to sign a young player to replace Higuain, the club will not rule out signing Cavani. The Uruguay forward, 33, becomes a free agent this summer and is keen to continue playing for a top club in Europe.
Juve sporting director Fabio Paratici is a big fan of Cavani, who was a target of Juventus in the summer of 2016 and would reportedly be open to a return to Italy, where he played for Palermo and Napoli before he joined PSG.
09.09 BST: Barcelona and Manchester City are in the race to sign Benfica defender Ruben Dias, according to Record,
Dias’ agent, Jorge Mendes, has offered the Portugal international to Barca as a possible replacement for Samuel Umtiti, who is expected to be sold this summer.
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola is an admirer of Dias and is considering adding the defender to his squad to strengthen his back line this summer.
Dias made 24 league appearances for Benfica this season and is tied to the Portuguese outfit until June 2024. The 22-year-old has a €100m release clause and is considered one of the most promising defenders in Europe.
08.30 BST: Manchester United are being linked with a move for Real Valladolid defender Mohammed Salisu. The 21-year old has a €12m release clause and Diario AS believes he could be a value signing in a depressed transfer market. His agent is Juan Mata, not the United player, but his father.
PAPER ROUND (by Nick Judd): Barcelona go after Onana
Barcelona are ready and willing to make a move for Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana, Sport reports.
The former Barca star will not be playing out the remainder of the season with the Dutch giants after it was revealed that the Eredivisie has been cancelled following the coronavirus pandemic.
The belief is that Barcelona’s ideal candidate when it comes to bringing in a new keeper is their former Cameroonian youth prospect.
Now, it’s reported that Onana will return move to Barca once the transfer window finally opens.
Onana spent five years as a Barca youth player before moving to Ajax in 2015.
Donnarumma to stay at AC Milan?
According to Tuttosport, AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is on the verge of renewing his contract with the club.
The 21-year-old, who has been with Milan since the age of 14, has been weighing up his options over the course of the last few weeks.
Chelsea have led the race to secure his signature, but now Donnarumma has reconsidered what he wants to do.
With his contract being set to expire next summer, his primary wish is that he doesn’t have to take a pay cut.
Tap-ins
– Newcastle United have made contact with Napoli regarding a sensational move for defender Kalidou Koulibaly, Foot Mercato reports. The Magpies, who are on the verge of a huge takeover, are willing to make a substantial offer in order to get a deal over the finish line — with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis being willing to sell for around £70m.
– According to a report from Calciomercato, Franck Kessie looks set to stay with AC Milan. The midfielder’s future has been up in the air for quite some time now, but at this moment in time, his agent has stated that his tenure at the club is being viewed as a project under development — and therefore, it seems likely that he’ll remain at the San Siro.