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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: Barcelona and Real Madrid battle for Kante
As well as a new proven goal scorer, Barcelona are also on the hunt for a new “leggy midfielder” and, according to Mundo Deportivo, their search has focused on Chelsea‘s N’Golo Kante.
The Blaugrana are in need of a powerful and physical player who can not only get around the pitch, but also add some aggression to the centre of the park in the absence of Arturo Vidal, who is predicted to leave this summer.
With Ivan Rakitic also leaving, the Barca hierarchy believe Kante fits the bill perfectly, and would slot seamlessly into the club’s way of playing. In order to get the 29-year-old, they feel a possible swap deal might work better than a simple purchase, which is where Philippe Coutinho could come in. Chelsea are believed to be interested in the attacking midfielder, and so a deal that works for both parties could be on the cards.
However, AS claims Real Madrid are also keen on Kante as competition for Casemiro, though Rennes’ 17-year-old wonderkid Eduardo Camavinga is their main target, while Lille’s Boubakary Soumare is also being considered.
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LIVE BLOG
11.34 BST: Manchester United, Juventus and Inter Milan target Federico Chiesa could leave Fiorentina for the right price, according to club president Rocco Commisso.
Chiesa, 22, is tied to the club until June 2022 but could leave after the season is completed. The Italy winger has attracted the attention of several clubs after scoring six goals and setting up five more in 23 league appearances.
“I want players that are happy to remain,” Commisso said as reported in Sky Italia. “Regarding Chiesa, I have promised him that if the right offer comes along and he wants to leave, we can make him happy. In the past few months we haven’t spoken. The aim is to have a strong squad next season, having a better campaign.”
10.48 BST: AC Milan midfielder Lucas Biglia says he still plans to play for a few more years before focusing on a coaching career, despite becoming a free agent this summer.
“I have a contract with the club until June and we will see what we do,” the 34-year-old told Radio del Plata. “I honestly want to give priority to what my wife and children want. The financial aspect is not a priority. I believe I can still play for a few more years. I’m looking at information regarding coaching coaches in Spain and I can do an online one in Argentina. That’s my idea but I still have a few more years left to play.”
10.30 BST: Manchester United are reportedly keen on Tottenham striker Harry Kane, but would Wolves’ Raul Jimenez be a cheaper option?
09.52 BST: Neymar‘s father and agent says his son is the one that decides where he wants to play.
The Brazilian forward is tied to Paris Saint-Germain through June 2022. He was keen to return to Barcelona last summer but the deal never materialised and, speaking to Brazilian journalist Beeto Saad during an Instagram live chat, Neymar’s father, Neymar Santos Sr, said: “To play at Barcelona was a childhood dream of his. Neymar always chooses his path, and it’s he who will decide. People only work on the administrative side to make him have the best contract, getting him in the best place and having the best career management possible.”
09.31 BST: Arsenal are reportedly in talks to sign defender Axel Disasi from Reims, says the Daily Mail.
Disasi, 22, has impressed in a Reims defence that has conceded just 21 goals in 28 Ligue 1 games before the coronavirus lockdown. The France U20 international is valued at £15m because his contract expires in the summer of 2021.
Arsenal have been looking at RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano, who would cost upwards of £60m, so view Disasi as a cheaper option to pair with 19-year-old William Saliba when he returns from loan.
08.34 BST: Corinthians’ Duilio Monteiro Alves has been speaking about the prospect of the Brazilian club landing PSG striker Edinson Cavani when he becomes a free agent in the summer: “We have to think big. If we had not done so in the past, we would not have landed the likes of Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos.”
However, Sao Paulo CFO Elias Barquete Albarello all but ended speculation of the possible arrival of the Uruguay forward at his club.
Albarello told Globo Esporte: “We can’t do it [the transfer] now. There aren’t the resources to deal with what we are facing [the coronavirus pandemic]. It would be irresponsible to conclude a transfer of this calibre, given the figures that this would imply. We can no longer work this way. It is also because we have a budget approved by the board of directors and the council, and this must be respected. To answer objectively: understand that this is not part of our plans, at least for the next few months. Sao Paulo already made an unprecedented move by bringing Dani Alves.”
08.00 BST: Arsenal are closing in on PSG left-back Layvin Kurzawa, says the Daily Star.
Kurzawa, 27, is a free agent in the summer and has reportedly made the decision to move on from PSG after falling out of favour this season. Arsenal have Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac already, but both have struggled with injury this season and the Gunners can’t pass up a good free transfer.
PAPER TALK (by Nick Judd)
Sane edges closer to dream Bayern move
The Mirror is reporting that Manchester City flyer Leroy Sane is closing in on a switch to Bayern Munich this summer.
The protracted transfer — with Bayern having chased Sane for more than a year — appears to be nearing completion, with the City winger’s representatives stepping up their efforts to secure the 24-year-old a dream move.
Bayern are reportedly ready to offer £70m for Sane, which is half the amount City were looking for last summer before he picked up his knee ligament injury in August. Sane has missed the whole 2019-20 season so far which might have put off some suitors from signing him at all, but which has simply enabled Bayern to get him at a lower price.
Sane had refused to sign a new deal at City and, with just 12 months left on his existing contract, it’s believed that Man City manager Pep Guardiola would rather cash in than lose him on a free in 2021.
Sane’s falling price could also be a consequence of the coronavirus, which is expected to see players’ market values drop significantly this summer.
Martinez must ask to leave, Inter owners say
The latest on Barcelona’s hunt for Lautaro Martinez finds Inter Milan‘s Chinese owners declaring he must ask to leave, or clubs must pay his buy-out clause, reports both Sport and Gazzetta dello Sport.
Inter are resigned to losing their star man but are hoping to maximise the deal amidst the threat of falling transfer fees.
Inter are intent on winning Serie A next season if they fail to overtake Juventus this time around and if they are to sell Martinez, they’re hoping to get as much as they can so they can start planning for next season with a healthy transfer kitty.
They have now told the player’s representatives that he must ask to leave or risk losing out on his dream move to Barcelona, where he’ll line-up alongside compatriot Lionel Messi.
Inter are contemplating a swap deal involving Antoine Griezmann or a move for Arsenal striker Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang.
Tap-ins
— West Ham are contemplating a move for Napoli‘s Mexico international Hirving Lozano, according to Marca.
Lozano has been a disappointment since joining the Italians from PSV Eindhoven last summer and he could now be used as part of a deal that takes Hammer Felipe Anderson in the opposite direction. Anderson has failed to set the Premier League alight since joining from Lazio, which means the deal could work for both clubs and players involved.
— Chelsea are keen to sign AC Milan skipper Alessio Romagnoli, but their hopes could be dented by the Rossoneri’s latest attempts to keep their talisman at the San Siro. Calciomercato reports that Milan officials are making a concerted effort to get him to sign a new contract that would take him past 2022.
— Napoli are keen to sign Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic, according to Calciomercato. Napoli are preparing to welcome new signing Andrea Petagna to the club in the summer but are looking for a high-profile name to help fire them above their Serie A rivals. Jovic has scored just one goal since his big move to Madrid from Eintracht Frankfurt, but Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane is said to be considering giving him more game time when the season restarts.