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: De Bruyne pondering Madrid move?
Belgian magazine Sport/Foot reports that Kevin De Bruyne is considering his future at Manchester City and is in fact exploring a move to Real Madrid.
With City facing a potential suspension from European football after having been adjudged to have violated Financial Fair Play rules, the Belgian title suggests that De Bruyne isn’t keen on waiting for European nights to return to the Etihad, and instead fancies a move, with the Bernabeu his preferred destination.
De Bruyne would cost Real around €150 million.
City are objecting to UEFA’s suspension and if they can get it overturned, or at least delayed for another year, it might have a knock-on effect on De Bruyne’s long-term plans and keep him in Manchester.
De Bruyne’s attacking capabilities would certainly make him a welcome addition to Real Madrid’s midfield.
Europe’s top clubs chasing Melamed
Bayern Munich have joined Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea in the race to sign Espanyol’s 18-year-old midfielder Nico Melamed, according to Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio.
The youngster has played only once for the Spanish side this season, who themselves have endured a torrid time in La Liga, but it’s his performances for the B team that have put him on the radar of Bayern and co.
Melamed has scored seven goals in 26 appearances and while his existing contract runs until 2023, he would be a bargain at just over £7m. Espanyol are desperately — and understandably — trying to offer him a new deal containing a higher release clause, as they want a bigger return on their prodigy.
Melamed has been called up to the Spanish U19 squad but can also still represent Argentina because of his grandparents.
Bayern step up Ter Stegen talks
Bayern Munich have stepped up talks to sign Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, according to Sport in Spain.
Earlier this week we revealed rumours suggesting that the German giants were considering a move for the Barcelona stopper as a result of stalling talks with existing keeper Manuel Neuer, but Sport are now suggesting that Munich have gone as far as telling him not to sign a contract extension at Camp Nou.
Ter Stegen has been stalling on extending his stay with the Blaugrana and this week’s wage-cut discussions, in which the whole squad has been asked to take a sizeable pay cut as a result of the coronavirus, probably haven’t helped to ease the situation.
All of this is good news for Bayern, who are keen to land Ter Stegen in 2021, which would be a year before his current deal is due to run out. Bayern believe that if they can get Ter Stegen to stall, they’ll be able to get him as a result of Barca fearing he’ll leave on a free in 2022.
The knock-on effect could be a goalkeeping merry-go-round that sees Ter Stegen return to his homeland, and Neuer leave Bayern after an admirable nine-year stint.
Tap-ins
– Inter Milan are considering a move for German full-back Benjamin Henrichs, according to Calciomercato. The Monaco defender can play on either side and even in an advanced position, and as well as Inter, the 23-year-old has also been attracting admiring glances from Bayern Munich. The former Bayer Leverkusen defender would cost Inter boss Antonio Conte around €25-30m.
– More on this morning’s suggestion that Everton are interested in Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes, with Le10Sport suggesting that Carlo Ancelotti has “everything in place” to sign the 22-year-old defender. PSG are also said to be interested, but Ancelotti is confident he can seal the deal for around £30m in the next 10 days.