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The coronavirus pandemic has made the summer transfer window uncertain, but here are the rumours floating around Europe’s big leagues and beyond.

TOP STORY: Man United edging closer to Grealish?

The Daily Express is reporting that Manchester United are edging closer and closer towards signing Aston Villa sensation Jack Grealish during the summer transfer window.

Grealish has been heavily linked with a move away from Villa Park for a few years now, with the report suggesting that he has been searching for a house in the North West since earlier this year.

The Express also says that he’s informed those close to him that he has found one, with fans now waiting to see whether or not a formal offer comes in.

Either way, it looks set to be a busy few months for both United and Villa.

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22.03 BST: Werder Bremen midfielder Milot Rashica is reportedly ready to “say goodbye” to the club.

Rashica, who has a £33 million release clause, has been linked with various Premier League clubs including Aston Villa, Wolves, Brighton, and West Ham.

Speaking with Weser Kurier, Werder sporting director Frank Baumann said: “He is very interested in saying goodbye here and the Werder fans have positive memories of him. Milot has aroused the interest of other clubs through his performances, which he has shown for a long time.

“Basically, it is absolutely okay that he also wants to take the next step at some point. If a competitor has a specific interest, we have to sit down and find a solution.”

21.11 BST: It sounds as if Barcelona and Juventus are getting close to the finish line on the long rumoured Arthur/Miralem Pjanic swap.

The two sides had already agreed to terms and now Globo Esporte are reporting that Arthur has agreed to join the Italian giants on a five-year contract. Barcelona will receive an additional €10 million in the deal. The Brazilian midfielder reportedly wanted to stay with the Catalan club but has now agreed to join Juventus for €70m.

Barcelona on paper are reportedly paying €60 for 30-year-old Pjanic.

20.23 BST: Achraf Hakimi to Inter?

The Real Madrid right-back/winger has been on loan at Dortmund the past two seasons but is expected to join the Serie A side, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano. Romano says a “total agreement” between the two clubs has been reached, with Hakimi expected to join Inter for an initial €40 million plus €5m in add ons.

One of the fastest players in world football, Hakimi has blossomed this season in a more advanced role with Dortmund to the tune of nine goals and 10 assists.

19.02 BST: Goalkeeper Craig Gordon has turned down a contract extension at Celtic amid interest from Hearts.

The 37-year-old, who was displaced as Celtic’s No. 1 by loanee Fraser Forster, wants to play regularly so that he can try and earn a spot with Scotland at international level. Hearts, where Gordon started his career, have offered him a two-year deal, and reportedly are not the only club interested in the goalkeeper.

18.09 BST: Manchester City are set to sign Juventus teenager Pablo Moreno for £9 million, according to a report in the Daily Mail.

City will swap winger 19-year-old wingerk Felix Correia in the deal for the Spain Under-18 international, who will subsequently be loaned out to City satellite club Girona.

17.19 BST: According to Spanish radio station Onda Cero, Arsenal have lodged an offer for Levante midfielder Enis Bardhi.

The North Macedonia international, 24, has played three season in Spain with Levante, since arriving from Hungarian outfit Ujpest in 2017. The report add that Fiorentina and an unnamed Bundesliga club are also in for the midfielder, who is best known for his dribbling and long-range shooting prowess.

16.41 BST: American teenager Konrad de la Fuente has inked a new extension at Barcelona that will keep him at the club through 2022.

The 18-year-old has been at Barcelona since 2014, first coming through the club’s academy and now playing with Barcelona B. An Under-20 international for the United States, De la Fuente impressed last summer at the 2019 U20 World Cup in Poland.

15.52 BST: Arjen Robben has been speaking about his decision to do a u-turn on his decision to retire from football, and sign for boyhood club FC Groningen on a one-year contract.

“I want to make clear: it is not a comeback yet, it is an attempt to come back,” he said. “It can be zero games, it can be a lot of games.

“I have been in training for five or six weeks now. Getting fitter and fitter. I am on the right course to get fit enough to play again. And I have to become fitter before I can play but I feel good about it. It can grow to something very good here.”

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Arjen Robben says that FC Groningen weren’t the only team to make him an offer but he’s glad to be “home”.

15.01 BST: Ajax defender Nicolas Tagliafico looks to be on the market this summer — and could become a target for Leicester City. It’s the move that could set off a chain reaction that sees Ben Chilwell leave the King Power Stadium and head to Chelsea. Ajax boss Erik Ten Hag has already hinted he is planning for lift without the Argentine left-back.

14.09 BST: Mundo Deportivo reports that Manchester City youngster Felix Correia is having a medical with Juventus on Sunday. The 19-year-old forward has spent this season on loan with Ajax in the Netherlands, playing for their youth team. He will swap clubs with Juve’s Pablo Moreno — who started his career at Barcelona, with the Catalan club wanting him back as part of the Pjanic-Arthur deal.

13.34 BST: The Sun reports that Arsenal are pondering a move for FC Salzburg‘s Dominik Szoboszlai. The 19-year-old Hungarian midfielder, who has 16 assists in 37 games in all competitions this season, has been tracked by the Gunners for some time. AC Milan are also watching a player who would cost around £25m.

12.58 BST: Bayer Leverkusen coach Peter Bosz is hoping Kai Havertz will stay at the club next season — but knows it could be out of his control. The midfielder is being coveted by a host of Europe’s top clubs, though Bayern Munich are favourites to land his signature. Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United have also been linked.

“I don’t feel that he is thinking too much about transferring. Neither are we,” Bosz said. “I certainly don’t have the impression that this [Saturday] will be his last game for the club. He is still under contract with us and I have to assume that he will be with us next season too.

“That will include the German Cup final next month [July 4, vs. Bayern] and the next Europa League game against Rangers in August. Of course, that’s all dependent on nothing happening before then.”

12.21 BST: Saturday’s top story was that Kalidou Koulibaly was closing in on a move to Manchester City, but the tune has changed today. Now Tuttomercato reports that Liverpool are back in for the Napoli central defender. It states that Liverpool are eyeing the Senegal international, who is valued at €100m, as a replacement for Dejan Lovren — who could head in the opposite direction,

11.44 BST: Chelsea are pulling out all the stops in the transfer market this summer after not spending a penny in the last year, and the latest name they have been linked with is West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice. The Sun on Sunday says Frank Lampard is willing to splash out £45m and will play him as a centre-back.

11.02 BST: The Daily Mirror reports that Manchester United will have to sell some players if they are to afford moves for the likes of Jack Grealish and Jadon Sancho this summer. The report says that Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard are top of the list of players to sell, while Andreas Pereira, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling may also leave Old Trafford.

10.11 BST: Another update on the future of Jadon Sancho, this time from Sebastian Kehl — Borussia Dortmund‘s head of professional football. Kehl appears confident that the England international will stay amid interest from clubs including Chelsea and Manchester United.

“It is true that Jadon has a long-term contract [to 2022],” Kehl told Sport Buzzer. “It is also true that there are no specific inquiries for him at the moment and that we all do not know how the transfer market will change amid the pandemic. We expect Jadon to play at BVB next season and we would all be happy about the quality he gives our team and the differences he makes.”

09.30 BST: Arthur Melo and Miralem Pjanic have arrived in Turin for their medicals as the pair edge closer to completing their “swap” deal. Arthur will move from Barcelona to Juventus, with Pjanic heading to the Camp Nou. It was decided that both players would undergo their medicals in Italy. Arthur will cost Juve €70m, with Barca paying €60m back.

The deal is expected to be finalised on Tuesday. Neither player will be able to play for their new club until next season.

PAPER ROUND

Chelsea aim for Kepa replacement

The Daily Express is reporting that Chelsea are planning on a three-club swap deal that would see Kepa Arrizabalaga leave Stamford Bridge.

The keeper first signed for the Blues back in 2018 for a world record fee of £71 million. Following a strong first campaign, his form has dipped during Frank Lampard‘s tenure as manager, with Chelsea’s preference for a replacement being Ajax star Andre Onana.

The club interested in signing Arrizabalaga is Valencia, with their current goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen favouring a move back to Ajax, thus completing the three-way move.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has refused to commit his long-term future to the club, the Mirror reports.

The Spaniard was recently asked about how he would try and combat the rising success of Liverpool in the next few years, prompting the following response.

“I’m incredibly excited for this part of the season, and the next one,” said the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona manager. “But I don’t want to think too far ahead. Now is not the time. I just think about today. We have a tough game away against Newcastle in the FA Cup and we have to be focused.”

The popular boss is set to enter the final year of his contract, and with a potential two-year UEFA Champions League ban on the horizon, it could mean the end of the road for him at the Etihad.

Tap-ins

Tottenham Hotspur are not planning on selling Tanguy Ndombele this summer, Football.London reports. The club is said to believe in the long-term impact that the midfielder could have in North London, despite rumblings that suggest a fall-out between him and manager Jose Mourinho. For now, though, they’re playing down the idea that he could move elsewhere.

The Liverpool Echo is reporting that Real Valladolid want to extend the loan spell of Everton forward Sandro, but they have yet to come to terms on a deal. The 24-year-old has been in Spain since last year, and with his current stint being set to end on Tuesday, Valladolid are desperately attempting to renegotiate the terms of his contract.



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