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LIVE Transfer Talk: Kane’s Man United move clearer as Real Madrid end chase

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

TOP STORY: Real Madrid pull out of Kane race

Real Madrid have pulled out of the race to sign Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane, the Mail on Sunday reports.

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It’s been well known that the Spanish juggernauts are interested in the Englishman, but now, they’ve decided that they’re going to be focusing their efforts to sign a top goalscorer elsewhere.

The belief is that Spurs are looking for around £200 million for Kane, mainly due to outstanding stadium payments. Regardless of whether or not that’s the case, this news opens the door for Manchester United to swoop in and make a move. 

LIVE BLOG

15.10 BST: Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho has refused to rule out a move to MLS, the Manchester Evening News have reported.

During a Q&A session with Philadelphia Union coach Kleberson: “I’ve thought about [MLS]. It’s some offer I would consider for the future for sure. Me and my family are settled [in Manchester].

The 34-year-old was replaced at defensive midfield by Rodri, but he has made 23 appearances in the Premier League this season in the side’s injury-hit campaign.

14.04 BST: Every team needs a star midfielder to control the middle of the pitch, but who would you rather: Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard or Michael Ballack?

ESPN’s Frank Leboeuf and Shaka Hislop weigh in on who they would sign if they were in the boss’ chair.

13.35 BST: Arsenal are ready to offer striker Alexandre Lacazette to Atletico Madrid in order to get a deal for midfielder Thomas Partey across the line, according to the Sun.

Partey is reportedly high up on the north London club’s wish list in the summer transfer market and Lacazette could be the key in a potential deal.

The Ghanaian still has three years remaining on his contract at Atletico and is reportedly set to be offered a new long-term deal.

Atletico are reportedly looking to sign a striker after failing to land Paris Saint-Germain striker Ederson Cavani in January, while Arsenal believe the emergence of young strikers Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli means that the club can do without Lacazette.

12.28 BST: The transfer market is often full of mega-money deals, but there are also some great players who cost absolutely nothing. (You can thank little-known Belgian player Jean-Marc Bosman for allowing players to move for free after 1995.)

ESPN has ranked the top 10 free transfer in football history, including Andrea PirloRoberto Baggio and Ruud Gullit.

11.37 BST: James Maddison, a long-term target for Manchester United, has said he is “very, very happy” at Leicester City and that he feels like “part of the furniture.”

Sources told ESPN last week that, while United are still interested in the Leicester midfielder, there is a feeling that Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish is more attainable and it is unlikely the club will sanction moves for both in the same window.

“If I think back four years ago, I was on loan at Aberdeen from Norwich and now I’m playing every week in the Premier League and that’s all I always wanted to do,” he told Leicester’s official website.

“It’s been a whirlwind two years and I’ve loved every second of it. I feel right at home at Leicester. I feel like part of the furniture already and I love it here.

“I love the lads, I love the fans, [we’ve got] a great manager, so I’m very, very happy.”

10.44 BST: Chelsea manager Frank Lampard wants to sign Freiburg forward Luca Waldschmidt to bolster his attacking options, The Sun on Sunday reports.

Waldschmidt, 23, has scored six goals in 16 appearances for the Bundesliga club this season, while he has also won three senior caps for Germany since he started on his debut against Argentina in October.

According to The Sun on Sunday, Lampard has been following Waldschmidt’s progress since he scored seven goals in four games at last year’s European Under-21 Championship, seeing him finish as top scorer as Germany ended as runners-up.

09.49 BST: Spanish defender Pablo Mari, currently on loan at Arsenal, has told Sky Sports that he would like to join the Gunners on a permanent basis.

Mari is on loan at the Emirates Stadium from Brazilian club Flamengo, where he won the Copa Libertadores in November.

Mari, who spent three seasons on Manchester City’s books but never made a senior appearance for them, now hopes to take his second chance at a career in England after making his Premier League debut in Arsenal’s final game before football shut down, a 1-0 win over West Ham.

“We played well. I have a lot of things to learn but I think my football can be really good with the Arsenal,” he said.

“I hope the club and I can go at the end [of the season] with good things to do the permanent transfer. We will see what happens because at the moment with the virus it is difficult.”

09.00 BST: Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has told ESPN that he would understand if Jadon Sancho joined bitter rivals Manchester United.

Sources told ESPN last month that United are leading the chase for England winger Sancho, but Borussia Dortmund are still anticipating competition from Premier League rivals Liverpool and Chelsea. Sancho, 20, left Manchester City to join Dortmund in 2017, and has since become one of Europe’s most exciting young talents.

City have the right to match any bid accepted by Dortmund, according to a clause in the deal that saw him leave the Etihad Stadium. But City did not include a United stipulation in the deal as they did when Brahim Diaz moved to Real Madrid in 2019. City are entitled to 15% of the fee if Brahim leaves Real Madrid but would earn 40% if he were to sign for another “Manchester-based club.” No such clause exists in Sancho’s Dortmund contract.

PAPER TALK (by Harry Kettle): Man United prefer Grealish to Rodriguez

Manchester United would much prefer to go after the signing of Jack Grealish than James Rodriguez, Sky Sports reports

Colombia captain James has been heavily linked with a move away from Real Madrid in recent years, but after a turbulent tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu, the belief is that the Red Devils would much rather bring in a bonafide English star like Grealish.

If they do go after a midfielder, Aston Villa sensation Grealish is said to be at the top of their list following his impressive Premier League campaign with the Midlands side. 

New Borussia Dortmund deal for Sancho?

Borussia Dortmund youngster Jadon Sancho could be in line for a new deal with the German giants if he stays at the club, Bild reports. The 20-year-old has been attracting a great deal of interest from all corners of world football, with the Premier League being a particular hotspot.

Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have all made their interest known in the last few months. However, if Dortmund are somehow able to keep hold of their man, they are willing to take the terms of his contract from €6m (£5.2m) per season to €10m (£8.7m) per season. 

Tap-ins

– Barcelona may be interested in trying to sign Ajax defender Nicolas Tagliafico as a potential replacement if Junior Firpo leaves the club, Mundo Deportivo reports. After avoiding a switch to Atletico Madrid last summer, it appears as if Ajax are now willing to sell him if the price is right — and if the summer transfer window actually opens and Firpo leaves. 

– Arsenal have made an enquiry regarding the potential signing of Valencia striker Rodrigo Moreno, the Mirror reports. The future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continues to be unknown, and with Alexandre Lacazette also being linked with a move away from North London, Mikel Arteta is preparing for a shake-up this summer. 

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