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: Werner makes Liverpool his No. 1 choice
RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner has been linked with a switch across Germany to Bayern Munich for a few seasons, with the 24-year-old expected to make the well-trodden path to the country’s biggest club.
But on Thursday a report in Bild states that Werner, who has scored 27 goals in all competitions for RB Leipzig this season, will snub interest from Bayern and any other German club and wants to join Liverpool.
The Germany international is eager to play under Jurgen Klopp, putting Liverpool at the front of the queue of clubs hoping to sign him.
With Bayern Munich ready to re-open talks to sign Leroy Sane from Manchester City, they may not put up a fight.
Liverpool have been linked with Werner since January and have been busy in the past 12 months completing a range of contract extensions, but their transfer plans are on hold at the moment while the full effect of the coronavirus crisis is known.
– Stream new episodes of ESPN FC Monday-Friday on ESPN+
– Stream every episode of 30 for 30: Soccer Stories on ESPN+
LIVE BLOG
09.11 BST: Real Madrid’s interest in Eduardo Camavinga has been left “up in the air” by the cancellation of the Ligue 1 season, Diario AS reports.
France’s Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced on Tuesday that no sporting events — even behind closed doors — would take place in the country until September.
That leaves the 17-year-old midfielder’s club Rennes third in the table, occupying the final Champions League qualifying spot.
Reports in France have suggested that Camavinga, who has been valued at €50m, could stay at the club to play Champions League football in 2020-21.
A final decision is yet to be made on what the Ligue 1 season’s cancellation means for promotion, relegation and European qualification.
08.30 BST: Could Tanguy Ndombele really move to Barcelona? Sky Sports News is reporting that the France international is unhappy at Tottenham Hotspur, following criticism from coach Jose Mourinho. He has struggled to live up to his club-record £54m transfer from Lyon. But could he really end up at the Camp Nou?
PAPER TALK (by Shaun Reynolds): Man United tempt Sancho with No. 7 shirt
Jadon Sancho‘s proposed move to Manchester United continues to gather momentum, despite Ed Woodward’s warning that the club is “not immune from the financial impact of coronavirus.”
#TBT
Everyone is talking, but nobody knows…?
MISS MY TEAM ❤️?… @PSG_inside pic.twitter.com/OgPHnfXYeZ— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) April 29, 2020
The Daily Mirror is reporting that the Red Devils are reserving the fabled No. 7 shirt for Sancho in an effort to convince him to put pen to paper.
Borussia Dortmund are still desperate to keep the 20-year-old at the club and have offered Sancho an extended deal, but United are hoping the famous jersey — worn by players such as George Best, Bryan Robson and Cristiano Ronaldo — alongside a lucrative contract, can help persuade Sancho to swap Germany for a return to Manchester.
Sancho remains hot property and United aren’t the only club trying to buy him, with Chelsea also said to be interested.
However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made no secret of his desire to not only bring Sancho to Old Trafford, but build a new-look side around him.
Man City to swap Cancelo for Barca’s Semedo
Manchester City are in advanced talks to bring in Barcelona right-back Nelson Semedo, with Joao Cancelo heading in the other direction.
City are looking to pay Barca a fee as well as include Cancelo in the deal, and Sport is suggesting that an agreement is likely to be reached in the next few weeks.
Barca have given Jorge Mendes, Semedo’s agent, the green light to negotiate the deal and while a fee of €45m has been mooted, the Blaugrana are open to a swap deal.
Talks with Semedo over a possible new deal have ended and so the club are keen to recoup as much money for him as possible, with his existing deal ending in 2022.
City believe Semedo will fit perfectly into the Premier League while the deal also enables them to offload Cancelo, who has struggled to find his feet in England,
More clubs join the queue for Partey
Thomas Partey is one of the most sought-after players in Europe right now and Spanish publication El Desmarque believe Bayern Munich have joined clubs such as Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain in the hunt for the Atletico Madrid star’s signature.
Bayern are looking to replace Javi Martinez and have listed Partey as one player who could do the job. The German giants will have to get in line, however, as the Gunners and PSG have been chasing the Ghanaian for some time.
Partey is yet to commit his future to the Rojiblancos despite the best efforts of Atletico’s representatives, and PSG could certainly afford his €50m release clause, particularly if they sell Neymar to Barcelona.
That fee could test Arsenal’s limited funds, though they may be able to throw a player into the equation to help sweeten the deal, while selling stars such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil could free up some much-needed spending money.
Tap-ins
– Further to the Daily Mail’s claims that Chelsea are keen to sign Napoli‘s Dries Mertens, Calciomercato report that Inter Milan are not only in the hunt for his signature too, they’ve been laying the groundwork for a move for some time. Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta has been in regular contact with Mertens, and it is believed the Nerazzurri will try and sign him regardless of whether or not Lautaro Martinez moves to Barcelona.
– Juventus and Barcelona are in advanced negotiations involving a swap deal between Arthur and Miralem Pjanic, reports Tuttosport. The move now sits with the individual players, with sources telling ESPN that Arthur is keen to stay at Camp Nou. However, the 23-year-old is well aware of the club’s plans to move him, and he is said to prefer a move to Juve rather than Inter Milan, who are also interested.