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: Real Madrid and Barcelona to fight for Alaba
Bayern Munich are more to used to buying top players from other clubs than selling to them, but their hand might be forced by full-back David Alaba‘s desire to leave Germany, says Sport Bild.
Alaba, 27, is arguably one of the best left-sided defenders in the world and has been at Bayern since 2008, but now he wants to try a new challenge.
Clearly many of Europe’s top clubs are going to be interested in the Austria international if he becomes available for a reported €70m, but Sport states that Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are leading the way. Though Chelsea also showed an interest in the January transfer window.
As luck would have it, Alaba went on record about his future destination when he told Bild last year about the countries he wants to play in: “Spain, England. In Spain, it would be the two big clubs, I guess, Real or Barcelona. Also the big clubs in England.”
There we go then.
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08.26 GMT: Daily Pog-date …
The Sun claims that Manchester United are willing to accept offers of £100m for midfielder Paul Pogba in the summer.
Obviously Juventus and Real Madrid are very keen on signing the Frenchman and now they have a more realistic figure to aim at.
08.00 GMT: Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez is a man in demand, with Barcelona set to spend his €111m release clause to sign him this summer.
But Sport reports that Inter won’t accept anything less than the full cash amount. No players, no extra incentives. Nothing.
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Milan to offer €40m for ex-Liverpool target Fekir
Nabil Fekir‘s curious career finds him at Spanish side Real Betis, but Italian side AC Milan are said to be preparing a €40m bid, according to Calciomercato.
The report states that Milan are preparing a serious bid for the enigmatic attacking midfielder, who was seemingly set to join Liverpool last year before a failed medical scuppered the deal.
The France international and World Cup winner has impressed, having scored seven goals and adding six assists in 22 La Liga appearances this season.
The only potential sticking point could be Fekir’s sell-on fee, with Betis having to give French side Lyon 20% of any money raised. There is also the small matter of Fekir’s seemingly ludicrous buyout clause, which is rumoured to be as high as €100m.
PSG to also go for Aubameyang
Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been linked with a move to Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Manchester United, but Tuttosport suggests Paris Saint-Germain are also in the hunt.
The French champions-elect are already preparing for life after Inter loanee Mauro Icardi, who is looking increasingly likely to return to Italy rather than stay at PSG.
And if that’s the case, Tuttopsort says PSG sporting director Leonardo will turn his attentions to the Gunners’ Gabonese striker. In fact, PSG are rumoured to have already made contact with Arsenal in the winter transfer window as they prepared themselves for Edinson Cavani‘s possible exit, and so have a head start on United and others.
If Icardi does return to Italy as predicted in the summer, expect PSG to ramp up their interest in Aubameyang, and to offer more than United’s reported £50m, namely somewhere close to £70m.
Barca target upstart Upamecano
Barcelona are preparing to strengthen their back line this summer and French outlet Le10 Sport reports that RB Leipzig’s Dayot Upamecano is at the top of Quique Setien’s wishlist.
Upamecano has become one of the best defenders in the German top flight in the last three seasons and as such he’s developed a growing list of admirers that includes Arsenal as well as Barca. His performance against Robert Lewandowski in Leipzig’s goalless draw with Bayern Munich in February only served to further enhance his reputation.
However, Le10 Sport believe Barca are in a stronger position to sign Upamecano. Arsenal had a bid for the 21-year-old Frenchman rejected last summer, but Barca have more chance of meeting the player’s £72m release clause.
Tap-ins
– Everton are spending the enforced break plotting their summer transfer moves and the Liverpool Echo suggests that Carlo Ancelotti and director of football Marcel Brands are targeting Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes. The 22-year-old has been a key player for the French side as they chase Champions League qualification for next season.
– Juventus and Napoli are in the race to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Corentin Tolisso. The France international is contracted to the Bavarian club until 2022 but is believed to be on his way out of the club this summer. Le10 Sport says that the Serie A rivals are both interested in the former Lyon man, and are both prepared to pay €35m to get him.