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: Liverpool eye move for Brozovic
Liverpool are looking to sign Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, according to Libero.
Brozovic, 27, has been a key part of Inter’s season before the coronavirus outbreak. The Croatian midfielder reportedly has a €60m release clause in his contract and Inter turned down a bid of around €40m from Tottenham for him back in 2018.
Liverpool are looking for midfield reinforcements as Adam Lallana will leave Anfield this summer and Georginio Wijnaldum has yet to agree a new contract.
Reports have linked Barcelona‘s Ivan Rakitic with a move to Inter, where he could replace his fellow countryman.
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20.01 BST: Earlier in the week there was news of Real Madrid and Barcelona fighting for the right to sign 29-year-old midfielder N’Golo Kante from Chelsea, but Le10 Sport writes that the West London club has no intention of listening to offers for the World Cup winner, and that the 29-year-old is settled in the English capital and is inclined to stay.
18.44 BST: Inter are beginning to prepare for life after Lautaro Martinez, should the 22-year-old striker leave for Barcelona this summer, with Gazzetta dello Sport reporting that the Nerazzurri have drawn up a four-man shortlist of replacements consisting of RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner, Manchester United’s Anthony Martial, Real Madrid’s Luka Jovic — said to be the most attainable target, who could be had on loan with an option to buy – and Lille’s Victor Osimhen.
17.27 BST: Lionel Messi, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Frenkie de Jong are the only players safe at Barcelona this summer as the Catalan club predict less spending and more player exchanges as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, sources have told ESPN.
16.10 BST: Roma have been sniffing around plenty of Premier League centre-backs, namely Chris Smalling (who they already have on loan from Man United), Liverpool‘s Dejan Lovren and Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen.
Now Gazzetta dello Sport says that Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos is also on their list.
With William Saliba arriving after his loan spell ends this summer, and interest in Reims’ Axel Disasi, the Gunners are looking to lower the age of their defence and that means the 31-year-old Greek is available.
15.03 BST: Brescia president Massimo Cellino been talking to Tuttosport about 19-year-old midfield sensation Sandro Tonali, who has been linked to all the top clubs in Europe and notably Juventus and Inter Milan in Serie A.
“My dream would be to keep Sandro Tonali,” Cellino said. “I would be ready to do somersaults if he stays. However, I have a deal with Sandro — a golden lad. He knows that when he asks me to leave, that I will let him go. It is not a question of the price, the important thing is that Sandro chooses with his heart — only he can decide. I would like to see him in Rome, or Naples. I think that will be difficult, though. Anyway, I would prefer that he stays in Italy.”
14.41 BST: Foot Mercato says that Hertha Berlin have submitted a provisional contract offer to PSG’s Julian Draxler. Arsenal and another unnamed English side are tracking the Germany international, who looks set to leave Paris this summer.
PSG sporting director Leonardo has also tentatively opened contract extension talks with Thiago Silva and Layvin Kurzawa, says Foot Mercato.
14.13 BST: Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan says he could see himself in MLS in the coming years.
13.28 BST: Chelsea and Arsenal are battling to sign promising Lille centre-back Gabriel, while Everton are pushing hard to reach an agreement, sources have told ESPN.
The 22-year-old was having a great season in Ligue 1 before the suspension of the league due to coronavirus and is in high demand all over Europe, with particular interest coming from the Premier League.
Chelsea were the first one to start talks with the player’s agent and Lille sporting director Luis Campos, who has close ties to his Stamford Bridge counterpart Marina Granovskaia.
12.35 BST: Tuttosport reports that Gianluigi Buffon will remain at Juventus for the 2020-21 campaign.
According to the Turin-based sports paper, the 42-year-old, whose deal expires this summer, has agreed to sign a one-year contract extension with the Bianconeri under the same terms.
Buffon returned to Juve after one season at Paris Saint-Germain. Prior to that, the World Cup winning goalkeeper had played 17 years at Juve.
11.56 BST: TyC Sports reports that Carlos Tevez is in advanced talks to sign a one-year contract extension with Boca Juniors.
Tevez, 36, scored nine goals in 17 league appearances for Boca this season and will be awarded a new deal, with his contract ending in June. The former Manchester United and Manchester City star returned to Boca for a third stint in January 2018.
11.14 BST: Mauro Icardi‘s future at PSG is unclear, as the Inter Milan striker could stay or move on this summer.
10.23 BST: Spanish outlet AS claims Real Madrid are leading the chase to sign Erling Haaland, despite the striker only moving to Borussia Dortmund in January.
Haaland, 19, has a release clause of €75m in his contract which comes into force next year, with the report claiming Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joaquim Watzke is “close” with Real president Florentino Perez and that Mino Raiola, Haaland’s agent, wants him to move to Madrid.
Real are looking for a new striker as Karim Benzema is getting older and €60m summer signing Luka Jovic hasn’t settled.
09.28 BST: Despite having a contract at Barcelona until 2021, Lionel Messi is available on a free transfer this summer, but he wouldn’t leave … would he?
09.00 BST: ESPN’s Insider notebook is live and has plenty of gems, including:
– Jose Mourinho had an agreement to join Liverpool in 2004 before he ended up moving to Chelsea.
– The Portuguese boss also once saved a teammate from a burning car.
– Man United’s interest in Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho is well documented, but what might come as a surprise is that the Germany side wanted Mason Greenwood in return when they tried to buy him in the summer.
– Signing a goal-scoring forward at Real Madrid is “a priority” for next season, but the players are well aware there are no guarantees any newcomer will be able to deliver.
“All the names being talked about are really good, but Real Madrid is something else,” one senior player said.
08.23 BST: Bayern Munich are looking to snap up midfielder Charles Aranguiz from Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer, says Chilean radio station Futuro FM.
Aranguiz, 30, is out of contract this summer and is reportedly set to sign a two-year contract.
The Chilean has been linked with a move to Turkey, with Fenerbahce and Galatasaray interested, but will sign for Bayern. He joined Leverkusen for €13m from Internacional back in 2015.
08.00 BST: It’s fair to say it hasn’t really worked out for Patrick Roberts since he moved from Fulham to Man City in 2015.
The young winger has been shipped out on loan plenty of times and has barely impacted the first team at City, but TEAMtalk reckons that Celtic are keen to take their former loanee on a permanent deal.
Celtic have made a £3m bid — though City paid £12m for him so will probably want a bit more.
PAPER TALK (by Harry Kettle)
Man United lead Bellingham race
Manchester United are leading the charge to sign Birmingham City starlet Jude Bellingham, The Sun reports.
The Red Devils have been after the 16-year-old midfielder for quite some time now, with the report suggesting that the club blew him away when he visited their Carrington training ground last month.
Borussia Dortmund were initially thought to be the favourites, with Chelsea also being in the running, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is determined to secure a deal worth £35m — potentially even rising to £50m with future add-ons.
Coutinho staying at Barca?
Philippe Coutinho could wind up staying at Barcelona, the Evening Standard reports.
The news comes from Barca manager Quique Setien who has been singing the Brazilian’s praises as of late, noting that he is counting on him to be at Camp Nou at the start of next season.
The former Liverpool star is on loan at Bayern Munich, with a €120m buyout clause in that deal, but the expectation is that he will not be staying in Germany once his spell comes to an end.
If he were to stay in Catalonia, the Brazil international’s ongoing transfer saga may conclude after being linked with several Premier League sides such as Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Leicester City.
Militao to stay at Madrid
Real Madrid defender Eder Militao has been reassured that he will not be sold this summer, Marca reports.
The 22-year-old officially signed for Real from Porto back in July 2019, and as the third-choice centre-back in the eyes of many, the expectation was that he may start to look elsewhere for more first team opportunities once the season finishes.
However, Real took the youngster to one side in February and let him know that they wouldn’t be looking to sell him during the upcoming transfer window.
Tap-ins
– Everton are interested in signing Torino forward Andrea Belotti, Tuttosport reports. The popular Italian has a release clause of around £78m to clubs outside the country and, with both Manchester United and Napoli being in the running, Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti faces a battle to sign the man he’s been after since his days as both Napoli and Bayern Munich manager.
– Juventus are planning on keeping hold of defender Merih Demiral, Calciomercato reports. The Turkey international made the jump over from Sassuolo in 2019 yet, despite his high transfer value and a series of clubs being interested in his services, the Old Lady hopes to keep hold of him as his five-year contract continues.
