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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: Real Madrid want €150m Salah to replace Bale
European champions, world champions and now on the brink of becoming Premier League champions, you could be forgiven for thinking there’s no better place than Anfield to be playing your football right now. But Liverpool might yet face a battle to keep sensational pair Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah beyond the summer.
The duo’s desire to play in Spain was confirmed by journalist Duncan Castles on the Transfer Window Podcast and Real Madrid are looking to take full advantage by moving for Salah once they get rid of Gareth Bale. El Desmarque says that the Egyptian is top of their list, as they have been priced out of a €300m move for PSG’s Kylian Mbappe and could get Salah for half that fee.
Both Salah and Mane are tied to long-term contracts and the Mirror reports that it would cost Barcelona €250m if they wanted to sign Mane after a three-year agreement was made between the two clubs when Philippe Coutinho left Anfield for Camp Nou in 2018 that an extra €100m is added to any transfer fee.
Still, that agreement reportedly comes to an end in summer 2021, so Barca will just have to be patient.
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10.04 GMT: Bayern Munich want to extend Alphonso Davies‘ contract, according to Sport1.
Following his extraordinary display at Stamford Bridge in Bayern’s 3-0 win against Chelsea in midweek, the club are hoping to sign Davies to a new five-year deal to sync his salary and his new status at the club. Signed to the Bundesliga champions until 2023, the Canada international has impressed at left-back this season and has become a fan favourite at the Allianz Arena.
Having joined Bayern from Vancouver in late 2018 for €10m, Davies had previously been scouted by Manchester United, The Times reports. The Premier League club reportedly identified the player after he debuted in MLS at the age of 15, but Bayern beat them to the youngster’s signature.
09.03 GMT: Potentially better news for PSG fans here — Le Parisien reports that Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly has recently purchased an apartment in the French capital for €4m, ready to live in from early 2021.
Speculation continues that PSG will try to replace captain Thiago Silva with the Senegal international, who was born in France.
Koulibaly, 28, wants a change of scenery, while the Italians will want at least €75m. A Champions League ban could put Manchester City’s interest in danger.
08.31 GMT: Here’s one to get Paris Saint-Germain fans nervous and Real Madrid fans excited — Kylian Mbappe has shared a story with The Players’ Tribune about a trial he had with Real Madrid when he was young:
“I will never forget the moment that we arrived at the training centre … We said hello, and then he offered to drive me over to the field for training. He was pointing at the front seat, like, ‘Go on, get in.’ But I just froze and I asked, ‘Should I take off my shoes?’ Hahaha! I don’t know why I said that. But it was Zizou’s car! He thought that was really funny.”
“We are the crazy dreamers.”@PSG_Inside forward @KMbappe writes a letter to all the kids who are just like him.
📝: https://t.co/yDNSN4pbw2 pic.twitter.com/4OfGToeMzq
— The Players’ Tribune (@PlayersTribune) February 26, 2020
08.00 GMT: The race to sign Inter forward Lautaro Martinez will be a “war” between Barcelona and Real Madrid, report Mundo Deportivo.
The 22-year-old will be available this summer for €111m under a release clause in his contract.
Earlier this month sources close to Martinez told ESPN that Madrid have expressed an interest in his signing. Now the Barcelona-based newspaper claim that “Florentino Perez has decided to go all out for the Argentinian centre forward” as a response to Real Madrid’s lack of goals this season.
Karim Benzema, who is 32, has scored just two goals in his last 13 appearances in all competitions.
Mundo Deportivo also argue that “Madrid have an advantage” in the race for Martinez as “at an institutional level, things are calmer at the club. There are no internal divisions unlike at Barcelona.”
In Barca’s favour they have the influence of Lionel Messi, who described his compatriot as “spectacular” in an interview last week.
PAPER TALK (by Liam Wheeler)
Chelsea prepare for summer squad overhaul
In the wake of Chelsea’s 3-0 Champions League capitulation at the hands of Bayern Munich, the Blues are preparing a massive squad overhaul this summer, according to the Sun. The report suggests as many as eight first-team players could be moved on come the end of the season.
Ross Barkley, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Jorginho are all “in danger” of being sold. Kurt Zouma, Willian and Pedro – the latter two are out of contract this summer — are “under the microscope.” Meanwhile, Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri ”are not rated as good enough.”
The report also states that Chelsea would be keen to swap Kepa for Atletico Madrid No. 1 Jan Oblak, and that Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell is highly rated.
The Mirror echoes many of those names, but adds that RB Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano is the club’s priority this summer, with the Londoners desperate to improve their defence. The 21-year-old is in demand, however, with Arsenal having been linked with the France youth international for months.
Inter Milan eye swoop for Spurs defender
The Evening Standard reports that Serie A title challengers Inter Milan have made contact with Tottenham about the possibility of signing centre-back Jan Vertonghen, who has fallen out of favour at the North London club.
The versatile defender is out of contract at the end of the season, and Antonio Conte has set his sights on securing the Belgian on a free transfer should he fail to agree terms over a new deal with Spurs.
The Nerazzurri are said to be facing a battle to keep hold of highly rated centre-half Milan Skriniar, linked with Manchester City, and might see Vertonghen as the ideal replacement.
Vertonghen, 32, has been free to speak to overseas clubs since January and could follow ex-Spurs star Christian Eriksen to the San Siro, although Jose Mourinho remains keen to keep hold of the player.
Tap-ins
– Injury-hit forward Ousmane Dembele will be allowed to leave Barcelona this summer, but Liverpool should not pursue the 22-year-old, according to Spanish journalist Guillem Balague. As published in the Express, Balague said of Dembele: “He isn’t a player for Liverpool but Barcelona will be open for offers in the summer.”
– West Ham and Newcastle have been boosted in their attempts to keep hold of two of their star assets after it was revealed that Manchester United have moved onto fresh transfer targets. United were previously said to be keen on Hammers youngster Declan Rice and Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff, but the Manchester Evening News writes that the club have now turned their attentions elsewhere.