Products You May Like
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: Chelsea’s Ter Stegen chase to force Kepa to Real Madrid
Chelsea are on the lookout for a new goalkeeper after growing increasingly frustrated with the performances of Kepa Arrizabalaga, and the Express claims Frank Lampard’s side could be set to make a shock move for Barcelona stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Reports claim the 27-year-old German keeper has fallen out with Barca superstar Lionel Messi, and the relationship is so strained that the ex-Borussia Monchengladbach man could be forced to leave Camp Nou.
Kepa, meanwhile, has been sounded out over the possibility of joining Real Madrid, with the Los Blancos hierarchy unsure over whether current keeper Thibaut Courtois is the right choice between the sticks at the Bernabeu.
Chelsea have also been linked with a move for Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana, but may face competition for the Cameroonian’s signature from his former club Barca.
LIVE BLOG
09.50 GMT: Borussia Dortmund midfielder Emre Can has said that he rejected the chance to sign for Manchester United in the January transfer window due to his loyalty with rivals Liverpool.
“I don’t think about this [joining United] for a second because of my Liverpool past,” he told kicker. “I had three offers from Premier League alone. There was one from Manchester United. But I did not think about this for one second because of my Liverpool past.”
09.16 GMT: Arsenal let youth team striker Donyell Malen leave for PSV back in 2017 and it could be an expensive mistake as Le10 Sport reports they are ready to spend €56m to bring him back.
Malen, 22, has 17 goals in 25 games this season and is being tipped to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has yet to sign a new contract.
08.42 GMT: PSG are still keen on signing Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic for around €100m, says Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Serbian has been leading Lazio’s title chase this season but could move on in the summer after years of transfer speculation linking him to almost every top club in Europe.
08.00 GMT: Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud has admitted that he pushed hard for a move away from Chelsea this winter due to a lack of playing time and remains hopeful of a Euro 2020 squad role with France after embracing his new lease of life under Frank Lampard.
The 33-year-old has scored two goals in six appearances across all competitions since coming back into the side in February and told TF1’s Telefoot that he tried his best to quit Stamford Bridge in January, but Chelsea stopped him from leaving.
“I saw myself elsewhere after experiencing a complicated six months. I did everything I could to leave Chelsea, but they did not want to let me go unless they could get a replacement,” he said. “Inter Milan was my priority, as well with Lazio and Tottenham Hotspur. However, the circumstances brought Chelsea to block me [from leaving]. It was not my choice.
“Aside from that, either you sulk or you come back fighting to win your place back. The coach promised me more playing time, and he has kept his word. I simply took my chance. I knew that it was unwise to go on strike, or to try and mess with the atmosphere in the dressing room. That is not me, and I also knew that there was a large chance that I would stay at Chelsea.
“[Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas] did call me. I told him that I was flattered but that my priority, at the time, was Inter Milan. Didier Deschamps warned me. We briefly spoke about Major League Soccer, and no, that was not an option for me if I wanted to be at the Euros.”
PAPER TALK (by James Capps)
Henderson set for Sheffield return?
The Daily Mail claims goalkeeper Dean Henderson has promised his Sheffield United teammates he will return to the club next season if he is not guaranteed a starting berth at parent club Manchester United next year.
The 22-year-old has had a fantastic season on loan at the Blades, leading them to within five points of a Champions League spot with nine games to go.
His form has caught the attention of Chelsea, but with news emerging in recent days that David de Gea could be subject of renewed interest from Real Madrid, United could well be tempted to cash in on their No. 1 and install Henderson as his long-term replacement.
Should that not happen, however, Henderson has told colleagues that a return to Bramall Lane would be his choice.
Italian giants set for Tonali tug-of-war
Brescia have placed a €55m price tag on highly-rated midfielder Sandro Tonali, which is set to spark a major transfer tussle between Inter Milan and Juventus, according to Calciomercato.
The 19-year-old has been a standout figure for Brescia on their return to the top flight this season, with his performances drawing comparisons to Italian legend Andrea Pirlo.
The Italy international has been tracked by Maurizio Sarri’s Juventus since January of last season, but Inter’s interest has gathered momentum, while Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United are also believed to be keeping tabs on the youngster.
The move by Brescia owner Massimo Cellino to reveal an asking price is said to have been made in order to accelerate negotiations and get a deal done early in the summer transfer window.
Tap ins
– Reports in the Italian press claim Napoli are on the lookout for a new forward, with boss Gennaro Gattuso keeping tabs on Luka Jovic‘s progress at Real Madrid, along with Andrea Belotti of Torino and Sassuolo winger Jeremie Boga.
- The Sun claims Burnley and Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem are to go head-to-head for the loan signing of Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher for next season. The 20-year-old has shone in loan spells at Championship duo Charlton Athletic and Swansea City this year, netting six goals across the campaign.
– Rangers defender Borna Barisic is attracting attention from Serie A side Napoli, according to Corriere dello Sport, and will launch a bid for the Croatian at the end of the season. The 27-year-old has impressed at left-back since signing from Osijek in 2018, and Napoli boss Gattuso was reportedly keen to make a move for the player in January, before deciding to hold off until the summer.