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: Spurs, Chelsea eye Real Madrid’s Jovic
The Daily Star is reporting that Real Madrid will offload Luka Jovic after he broke the rules on self-isolation while in Serbia, and that the striker will be offered to a number of interested English clubs.
The report claims Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are among those who might be given first dibs on the 22-year-old. Madrid bosses are said to be furious with the striker who has since been asked to apologise after he was criticised for breaking quarantine rules.
The Real Madrid squad have been in isolation since March 12, when one of the club’s basketball players tested positive for the coronavirus.
Jovic was supposed to observe 28 days of isolation upon return to his homeland, but he was the spotted outside his Belgrade apartment. It has caused such a stir that the country’s president even threatened arrest if Jovic broke the rule again.
Despite Jovic’s apology, it looks as though the striker has given his Bernabeu employers a reason to offload him, which could benefit those aforementioned London sides.
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09.30 GMT: The Sun reports that Manchester United are to open talks with Nemanja Matic over an extended contract. This comes after the midfielder had a one-year extension to his deal triggered this week, and now United want to tie the 31-year-old down to 2022.
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Coutinho move to Inter could spark domino effect
Another day, another development in Philippe Coutinho‘s future as Tuttusport are suggesting that the Brazilian could join Inter Milan this summer, which in turn could confirm Lautaro Martinez‘s move to Barcelona.
Ex-Liverpool star Coutinho is currently on loan from Barcelona at Bayern Munich, but with the German side is unlikely to spend the £120 million required to secure Coutinho’s services in the long term. Barca could therefore agree to let him join Inter on loan, perhaps even for two years, if it means they can secure the services of Martinez.
Barca are desperate to partner the Argentine striker with compatriot Lionel Messi, but they’re not willing — or able — to pay the €150m asking price nor the €111m release clause. Sources have told ESPN that Barca face bleak financial times amid the coronavirus crisis, and have discussed cutting the salaries of their first-team squad.
Nonethless, the deal would appear to benefit all parties with Barca landing their man and Inter gaining a player with Champions League experience and who has played at the top level in three countries.
Barca, Real to battle it out for Ruiz
Barcelona and Real Madrid are preparing to go to battle this summer over Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz, according to Calciomercato.
The two Spanish giants are reportedly preparing to lock horns over the signature of Bayern Munich defender David Alaba, and now they both want Spain international Ruiz too.
Napoli have endured something of a challenging season and while a contract renewal is on the table for the 23-year-old, his agent has suggested that he’ll mull over several potential moves and make a decision at the end of the season.
Ruiz’s agent has suggested that both Barca and Real Madrid have enquired about his client, who joined Napoli from Real Betis in 2018.
Both clubs have been boosted by the fact that there’s no release clause in Ruiz’s contract.
Tap-ins
– Milan rivals Inter and AC will battle it out for Udinese goalkeeper Juan Musso in the summer, reports Calciomercato. The Argentine goalkeeper has impressed this season and Inter are said to have been tracking him for some time. Meanwhile, the Rossoneri are unsure about the future of current keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, and are preparing potential replacements in case he decides to leave.
– Arsenal are said to have opened talks with Feyenoord over the signing of Orkun Kokcu for £23m, according to Football.London. The 19-year-old is hot property and while his contract runs out in 2023, the Dutch club are said to be open to negotiations for the right price.