The summer transfer window is approaching, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings and goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Barca planning Salah swoop
Barcelona are looking to make Liverpool star Mohamed Salah their priority for the summer after landing a sponsorship deal with Spotify, writes The Mirror.
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The Blaugrana are keen to make an impact signing in a bid to get back into contention for the LaLiga title against Real Madrid next season, and they have moved the 29-year-old winger to the top of their shortlist.
Salah will have just one year left on his deal at Anfield in the summer, and despite recent reports that his intention was to stay with Jurgen Klopp’s side, there has still been no announcement over a new deal. The sticking point thus far is that Liverpool have not been able to agree on personal terms with the Egypt international’s representatives.
Salah has remained one of Klopp’s best players this season, contributing to 35 goals in 31 Premier League appearances, but it looks as though Barcelona will try to persuade him to Camp Nou if an agreement is not reached by the end of the season.
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16.22 BST: Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan says he is open to a move to Turkey or MLS in the future.
Gundogan, 31, joined City from Borussia Dortmund in 2016 for around €25m, but his contract expires in the summer of 2023. The Germany international, who is of Turkish descent, is keeping his options open with regards to his next move.
“Because of my roots, Turkey is naturally interesting,” he told Sport1. “I also like the USA, I’ve been there on vacation several times.
“However, I’m not worried about that at the moment. I still have a contract in Manchester until 2023, I’m very happy there, both in sporting and private terms, and I can theoretically imagine ending my career at City.”
15.50 BST: Borussia Monchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram could leave the club and has a host of Premier League sides interested, according to The Athletic.
Thuram, 24, has three goals in 20 Bundesliga appearances so far this season but can leave as a free agent in 2023.
As a result, Gladbach are willing to accept around €17m this summer to move him on.
15.03 BST: The Mirror reports that Man United are fully aware they won’t be able to offload defender Harry Maguire for the same £80m fee they signed him for from Leicester.
Maguire, 29, moved to Old Trafford in 2019 but has struggled with his form this season.
United made him club captain but are now exploring the possibility of letting him go his summer if they get a reasonable offer. But that offer won’t be anywhere near £80m.
14.20 BST: Should Christian Pulisic start considering his future at Chelsea?
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Janusz Michallik speaks after Christian Pulisic’s late winner for Chelsea against West Ham.
13.34 BST: Manchester United have told Erik ten Hag he will have to oversee an evolution rather than revolution of the squad when he takes over with club chiefs distancing themselves from Ralf Rangnick’s suggestion that as many as 10 players could arrive in the summer, sources have told ESPN’s Rob Dawson.
Ten Hag will be allowed significant funds to shape the squad ahead of his first season in charge but sources have told ESPN the recruitment department are working to a plan of bringing in three new players.
The Dutchman will get a veto on any signings and has also been given scope to influence shortlists of targets for key positions he believes he strengthened. Rangnick said after the 4-0 defeat to Liverpool last week that 10 new players could arrive in the summer window but sources have told ESPN that remains highly unlikely.
Ten Hag’s summer budget — set at between £100m and £150m — will be bolstered by any outgoings and the club are willing to listen to offers for Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Anthony Martial, Alex Telles and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Nemanja Matic, Edinson Cavani and Juan Mata are set to leave on free transfers.
Dean Henderson also wants to move but so far the club have insisted their preference is to organise a season-long loan for the England goalkeeper.
13.02 BST: Manchester City are closing on the signing of Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, but the Daily Telegraph reports that the club are also keen to bring in West Ham midfielder Declan Rice to replace Fernandinho.
Rice, 23, is considered one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe and has reportedly rejected three contract offers from West Ham as he wants to play in the Champions League.
West Ham might yet be able to offer this to the England international if they win the Europa League, but have to get through a semifinal against Eintracht Frankfurt first.
The Hammers also seemingly want to land around £150m for Rice, which is likely to dissuade any bids, but Chelsea and Manchester United have an interest in the midfielder.
12.11 BST: Real Madrid will sign 16-year-old goalkeeper Ferran Quetglas from Real Mallorca on a free transfer this summer, according to Marca.
Despite his age, Quetglas has already been called up to Mallorca’s first-team squad three times this season in LaLiga, sitting on the bench against Granada, Barcelona and Levante.
Quetglas — who had also attracted interest from Barca — is rated as one of Spain’s top young keepers.
He has agreed a two-year contract until 2024 and will initially play for Madrid’s under-19s with an eye to progressing to B-team Castilla, and beyond that, the chance to become an eventual successor to Thibaut Courtois.
11.28 BST: Real Madrid know that Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe won’t make any announcements on his future until the Ligue 1 season ends on May 21, Marca reports.
PSG wrapped up the league title on Saturday with a 1-1 draw with Lens, but according to Marca, Mbappe will maintain “silence and respect” to the French club until he plays his last game of the season.
Over the weekend, sources told ESPN that positive talks had taken place in Qatar between PSG president Nasser al Khelaifi and Mbappe’s representatives over a contract extension.
Madrid remain “absolutely calm” about the situation, the newspaper says, and believe they have a deal with Mbappe regardless of the constant speculation and pressure on the forward to renew.
10.36 BST: Paul Pogba is injured, so does that mean he’s done at Man United now?
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Stewart Robson discusses Paul Pogba’s time with Manchester United after manager Ralf Rangnick confirmed a season-ending injury for Pogba.
09.55 BST: Real Madrid have reached a preliminary agreement with Antonio Rudiger for the Chelsea centre-back to move to the Bernabeu on a free transfer this summer, sources have told ESPN.
The club and the Germany international’s representatives are still working on aspects of the deal, but Rudiger, 29, is now on track to sign for Madrid on a four-year contract, sources said.
ESPN reported last week that Madrid were looking at the possibility of signing Rudiger — having distanced themselves from a deal earlier in the season — after club executives were impressed by his performances in their Champions League quarterfinal tie with Chelsea.
09.19 BST: Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Antonio Rudiger has informed him of his desire to leave the club at the end of the season.
ESPN reported on Saturday that the 29-year-old had rejected a new deal in excess of £200,000-a-week with Real Madrid keen to sign the defender this summer.
When asked about Rudiger’s situation on Sunday, Tuchel told Sky Sports: “Toni, the media is on it. The situation is that he wants to leave the club. He informed me of this is in a private talk.
“We gave everything — me and the club — but we could not fight anymore because of the actions. Without the sanctions we would at least be able to carry on fighting, but out hands are tied. We don’t take it personally. It is his decision.
“He is a key figure and will stay that way until the end of the season. But it is disappointing. We will miss him a lot. He gives courage in the dressing room. The kind everyone is afraid of, but the kind to play 50-55 games at an outstanding level. He is a top defender in the last one and a half years for me. We then need to find another solution.”
08.34 BST: Betis winger Joaquin has declared he will play for another season at the club after lifting the Copa del Rey title.
The Andalusian club beat Valencia on penalties on Saturday in Sevillle to win the Copa del Rey — Joaquin’s second Copa title with Betis and the third Copa of his career, having also won it with Valencia.
Joaquin, 40, has made 201 appearances since returning to Betis in 2015 but his deal expires this summer.
“I don’t know if I’m going to ruin other plans that I have but I’m sorry. I will continue playing for another year,” he said.
08.00 BST: Gabriel Jesus says it’s “not the time” to talk about his Manchester City future, but admits he would like to play more regularly.
The Brazil forward has been linked with summer moves to Arsenal and Juventus after finding opportunities hard to come by at the Etihad Stadium.
But asked about his plans after scoring four times in the 5-1 win over Watford on Saturday, the 25-year-old chose to remain tight-lipped.
“I think it’s not time to think about this,” said Jesus. “I think you expect me to say this, but it’s true, it is, this is no time to think about this. Now is the best moment of the season. I want to enjoy, to keep focused on my team, with my teammates to fight for the Premier League.”
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Shaka Hislop says Gabriel Jesus should swap Manchester City for Arsenal if Mikel Arteta’s rumoured interest is true.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Adam Brown)
– Manuel Neuer is set to extend his contract with Bayern Munich by two years, writes Nicolo Schira. The 36-year-old goalkeeper has been in talks with the Bundesliga in recent weeks, and the latest report suggests he has decided on signing an extension until the summer of 2024. He has made 37 appearances this season, having joined the club from Schalke 04 in 2011.
– Aston Villa are keen to complete a double swoop from Ligue 1 side Marseille, according to Ekrem Konur. The Premier League club are reported to be interested in Boubacar Kamara and Duje Caleta-Car, who have both been linked with exits following this season. Kamara, 22, will be out of contract at the end of the season, with the midfielder linked to Manchester United in January.
– The race for the signature of Paulo Dybala now looks to be between just two clubs, reports Calciomercato. The 28-year-old forward had been locked in contract negotiations with Juventus throughout this season, but after it was recently reported that he was set to leave the Bianconeri, his next destination looks to be either Internazionale or Atletico Madrid.
– AC Milan want to confirm the signing of Divock Origi by the end of the month, reports Gazzetta dello Sport. The 27-year-old striker scored after coming on as a substitute as Liverpool beat Everton 2-0 in the Premier League on Sunday. After advanced negotiations took place between his representatives and the Serie A side recently, it looks as though Milan are set to win the race for his signature. Origi will leave on a free transfer with his contract coming to an end at Anfield this summer.
– Real Betis are looking to secure a deal to sign Isco on a free transfer, writes Marca. The Verdiblancos are prepared to make the 30-year-old attacking midfielder one of the highest-paid players in the squad should he make the switch from the Santiago Bernabeu, with his contract set to expire in the summer. Isco has made just three starts in LaLiga this season for Carlo Ancelotti’s presumptive champions.
