The January transfer window may be closed around Europe, but teams are looking ahead to the summer and there’s plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Arsenal try again to woo Eric Garcia from Barcelona
Arsenal are interested in signing Barcelona defender Eric Garcia, writes Mundo Deportivo.
Mikel Arteta’s side previously made an approach to sign the 22-year-old centre-back during the January transfer window, but Garcia dismissed a switch to Emirates Stadium. The Gunners are hopeful that they can persuade him in the summer.
As revealed by ESPN sources Wednesday, Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement to sign Athletic Club centre-back Inigo Martinez, and with this set to create more competition for first-team minutes, the Premier League side believe Garcia could be tempted this time around.
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Garcia, a Spain international, wants to feature more regularly than the 11 LaLiga starts handed to him by coach Xavi Hernandez, and he doesn’t want to face a repeat next season.
This comes amid reports in Spain that say Xavi has been experimenting in training with Garcia in midfield as a pivot, which could create a new role.
Garcia signed a five-year contract at Spotify Camp Nou after arriving from Manchester City in 2021 on a free transfer.
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22.00 BST: Benfica are preparing to make a €40m opening bid for Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kokcu, according to Ekrem Konur.
Kokcu has netted 12 goals in all competitions this season, which has seen the Feyenoord captain’s stock rise. The Turkey international has previously been linked with a move to Arsenal and Liverpool, after emerging as one of the brightest talents in the Eredivisie.
Benfica are believed to be in the market for a midfielder as they look to replace Enzo Fernandez, who they lost to Chelsea in January.
21.30 BST: Real Madrid are preparing a huge bid for Chelsea defender Reece James, report Football Insider. Los Blancos are believed to be huge admirers of the England international and are interested in a summer move, despite the 23-year-old signing a new deal keeping him at Stamford Bridge until 2028, last September.
The report reveals that while Chelsea are aware of the interest, they are confident of keeping the right-back, who has spent all of his senior career with the Blues.
21.00 BST: AC Milan are undecided on whether to sign Aster Vranckx permanently, with the on-loan midfielder struggling to impress in Italy, report Calciomercato.
The 20-year-old has made just seven appearances for Milan, since his loan switch from Wolfsburg last September. However, the report reveals the Rossoneri could still activate the option to sign the Belgian permanently, despite Vranckx not featuring in the Serie A since January.
20.30 BST: Barcelona are looking to secure a contract extension for Alex Balde, with Chelsea showing interest in the defender, as per Sport. Balde is under contract until 2024 with Barcelona and the LaLiga leaders have been attempting to extend the 19-year-old’s deal until 2027.
The report reveals that Chelsea are monitoring the situation, as the Blues look to secure a long-term option at left-back. Whilst Barcelona may be forced to sell important players in the summer to comply with LaLiga Financial Fair Play rules, Chelsea are expected to undergo a quiet summer, after spending heavily in January.
20.00 BST: Royal Antwerp are set to beat AZ Alkmaar and Club Brugge to the signature of Swedish forward Jacob Ondrejka, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Elfsborg winger will reportedly sign for a fee of €1.7m, after emerging as a sought-after talent across Europe. Ondrejka scored on his senior debut for Sweden in January, bagging the winner in a 2-1 win against Iceland.
19:25 BST: Lazio are eyeing up a move for Scottish midfielder Lewis Ferguson, report Calciomercato. The 23-year-old has impressed for Bologna this season, establishing himself as a vital player for the Rossoblu, netting four goals.
Ferguson has previously been linked with moves to AC Milan and Juventus, with the Scotsman attracting attention from across the continent, following an impressive debut season in Italy.
19:00 BST: AC Milan will listen to offers for forward Divock Origi, according to Ekrem Konur. The Belgium international is under contract at the San Siro until 2026, however, after a lacklustre season, in which the 27-year-old has managed just two goals in all competitions, Origi could be offloaded in the summer to make way for another striker.
Konur reports the Serie A giants hold an interest in AS Roma’s Tammy Abraham, who is a target for the summer transfer window.
18:30 BST: Arsenal are plotting a move for Barcelona winger Raphinha, as per Football Insider. The 26-year-old has played a pivotal role for the Catalan side this season, making 38 appearances and scoring nine goals in the process, however the report states the Brazilian could be up for sale in the summer, as Barcelona look to balance the books.
The Gunners are one of the clubs reported to be interested in Raphinha, as they look to add to their side to compete for the Champions League next season.
18.00 BST: If Leeds United are relegated, Rodrigo won’t be sticking around, reports Football Insider.
Leeds’ top scorer has enjoyed his best season yet, and he will search for greener pastures should the Whites drop out of the Premier League.
He’ll have a year left on his contract in June after joining from Valencia in 2020, and he hasn’t renewed his deal to date.
17.18 BST: Bayern Munich are not interested in signing West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, according to Florian Pettenberg.
Despite rumours surrounding where the England international could end up next, there has not been any meetings between Bayern and Rice’s father, who is his manager.
Rice has been at West ham since 2017.
16.05 BST: Liverpool could make a summer move for Chelsea defender Levi Colwill, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The England under-21 international is on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion this season, though he has only made eight Premier League appearances.
The 20-year-old struggled for chances when Graham Potter was the Brighton boss, but has been given a run of games since Potter headed to Chelsea and Roberto De Zerbi took charge on the south coast.
However, there is doubt over the future of Colwill when he goes back to Stamford Bridge in the summer. The centre-back has never played a competitive game for Chelsea.
The report says that Jurgen Klopp wants to freshen his defence with young and promising talent, and Colwill is on his list.
15.33 BST: AC Milan are closely monitoring Marco Asensio with a view to signing the forward this summer, reports TMW in Italy.
Asensio’s contract with Real Madrid expires in June and there is no sign of an agreement over a new deal. Rumours have circulated that Asensio, 27, is a potential target of Arsenal.
Milan have tried to lure Asensio to the San Siro in previous transfer windows without success. The biggest hurdle for Milan is the player’s high wages, which are €5m net per season.
14.50 BST: The Evening Standard reports that Chelsea will be serious contenders for the signing of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen, 24, is set to be one of the most in-demand strikers in the transfer market this summer, with Manchester United believed to be at the front of the queue for his signature.
But the latest reports states that Chelsea should not be discounted in the race for the Nigeria international, who has scored 25 goals in 29 games as Napoli have run away with Serie A.
Napoli will look for a transfer fee in the region of €150m if they cannot keep hold of Osimhen.
14.07 BST: Barcelona have acknowledged they are in contact with Lionel Messi about bringing him back to the club when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires in June.
Vice president Rafa Yuste confirmed Friday the club are looking into the possibility of re-signing Messi, who left for PSG in 2021, with coach Xavi Hernandez later adding he hopes to see the Argentine back at Camp Nou.
“I am still gutted he couldn’t continue here,” Yuste said at a news conference. “Of course I would like him to come back, because of what he represents on a sporting, social and economic level.
“We are in contact with [Messi’s camp], yes. Beautiful stories should have happy endings and there is a mutual love between the two parties.”
13.25 BST: Luke Shaw is close to agreeing a new contract with Manchester United, sources have told ESPN.
Shaw extended his deal by a year in December but the club have moved to tie the left-back down to a longer contract. His deal was set to expire in 2024 but is now set to run until 2027.
The England international is approaching 250 appearances for United since arriving from Southampton in 2014. After being dropped earlier this season, he has established himself as Erik ten Hag’s first-choice left-back at Old Trafford and was part of the team which lifted the Carabao Cup in February.
12.42 BST: The Guardian reports that Mason Mount is open to a reunion with Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich.
Tuchel, fired by Chelsea earlier this season, was appointed as the replacement for the sacked Julian Nagelsmann at Bayern over the international break.
Mount is about to move into the final year of his Chelsea contract, and it is unlikely there will be any agreement over fresh terms. That means the England international will be moved on to a new club this summer, and Bayern could make a move.
The Athletic reckons that Liverpool are still favourites to sign the 24-year-old.
12.00 BST: Sergio Ramos has been offered a lucrative deal to join Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal, according to reports. The veteran Spanish defender is in his second season at Paris Saint-Germain and becomes a free agent this summer.
Ramos, 37, has not signed a contract extension with PSG. Al-Hilal are looking to lure Ramos to the Saudi Pro League and have offered the former Real Madrid star a two-year deal, worth €30m per season. Ramos struggled with injuries in his first season at PSG but has made 36 appearances in all competitions this campaign.
💰💵 Sergio Ramos, tentado por una millonaria oferta del Al-Hilal
🇫🇷 @AndiOnrubia nos cuenta la última hora desde París
👀 Ganaría 60 millones limpios en Arabia Saudí, ni la cuarta parte le podría ofrecer el PSG 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/pHA1MI6MzG
— El Larguero (@ellarguero) March 30, 2023
11.14 BST: Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea says he is happy at Old Trafford as doubts continue over this future.
The 32-year-old is out of contract in the summer and the Red Devils will not take up the one-year option to extend his £375,000-a-week deal. United are eager to keep the Spain international, but on vastly reduced terms.
Despite the impasse over his future, De Gea has brushed off suggestions he now wants to leave — with The Athletic reporting he has rejected a first offer from the club.
“I’ve been here many many years, enjoying every moment in this club playing many games,” De Gea told Sky Sports. “Of course it’s great to be here, it’s a massive club and I love the club and I’m really happy here of course.”
10.30 BST: The agent of Ilkay Gundogan has insisted that no decision has been taken over the player’s future as Barcelona look to sign the midfielder on a free transfer.
The 32-year-old will be out of contract in three months, and while City are hopeful of persuading him to stay at the Etihad it seems more likely he will head to Spain.
“There’s definitely no agreement yet with any club,” said Ilhan Gundogan, the player’s uncle and agent, as quoted by The Guardian. “The focus of Ilkay in recent weeks was only on Manchester City and the birth of his son. Now he is in the final and crucial phase of the season and is completely focused on that. Where Ilkay plays next season is still open.”
09.28 BST: Real Madrid will only sign Kylian Mbappe if the player joins as a free agent in the summer of 2024, Diario AS reports.
Los Blancos have no intention of negotiating with Mbappe’s club, Paris Saint-Germain. The France international, who turned down a move to Madrid last summer to continue at PSG, has now informed the Spanish giants of his desire to join them after the 2023-24 campaign.
Mbappe reportedly has a clause in his contract that could see him leave PSG for free in July 2024 if his club doesn’t win the Champions League.
08.30 BST: L’Equipe reports that Paris Saint-Germain are considering not renewing Lionel Messi‘s contract over financial fair play concerns.
Messi, 35, joined PSG on a free transfer from Barcelona in the summer of 2021, but is on a mammoth wage reportedly worth £740,000-a-week. Previously, PSG had said they were determined to keep the Argentina star, but they do face competition for his contract from clubs in Saudi Arabia and Major League Soccer.
Messi’s deal expires in three months and is free to discuss a precontract agreement with any other club.
PAPER GOSSIP
– Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is looking to sign a defender in the summer, and he could be set to challenge Barcelona for the signature of Villarreal full-back Juan Foyth, writes Sport. Real Madrid have made an enquiry with the 25-year-old’s representatives, but the Yellow Submarine have indicated that they won’t accept any offers less than the €54m release clause. Foyth has made 15 appearances this LaLiga campaign.
– Barcelona are confident of reaching an agreement to sign Gavi to a new deal, reports Fabrizio Romano. The 18-year-old midfielder saw his previous contract reversed with the Blaugrana deemed to have gone in excess of their salary limits, but the latest indicates that the Spain international intends to stay at Camp Nou.
– Jose Mourinho is keen on a move for Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, according to Football Insider. Set to enter the final year of his contract, the Blues are reported to be willing to move the 27-year-old on in the summer. Both AS Roma and AC Milan are interested, though they are yet to make an official approach for his signature.
– Striker Diego Costa looks set to leave Wolves in the summer, Ekrem Konur reports. The Premier club have no plans to extend the contract of the 34-year-old, who will see his terms expire in June, with FC Porto and Benfica are among the clubs keen on acquiring him on a free transfer. Costa is without a goal in 16 appearances across all competitions this season.
– AC Milan could look to sign forward Rafael Leao to a short-term contract extension to prevent losing him as a free agent, Calciomercato reveals. Talks are continuing between the Rossoneri and the 23-year-old, with both parties keen to reach an agreement. Leao’s representatives are looking for a significant signing bonus which the Serie A club are unsure of, and they are considering a deal that would instead see his deal extended by one season.