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LIVE Transfer Talk: Liverpool ready Mbappe move if Real Madrid steal Mane away

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: Liverpool eye Mbappe with Mane linked to Madrid

Liverpool are bracing themselves for a bid from Real Madrid for striker Sadio Mane, and they’re already looking at his replacement in PSG’s Kylian Mbappe, reports The Sun.

Zinedine Zidane is said to be a huge fan of Senegal star Mane, and the Sun believes his representatives have already been approached for informal talks on a potential move.

Bad news for Liverpool, though the Merseysiders are keen to keep Madrid at bay, just as they did when Los Blancos came calling for Mohamed Salah last year. A price tag of £150 million could be enough to scare off the Spanish giants over Mane.

However, should Liverpool lose one part of their feared attacking triumvirate, they’ve already identified Mbappe as their first choice to replace the 28-year-old, though the Reds might have to cough up around £250m to even get PSG to the table.

Liverpool might try and convince new kit sponsors Nike to help them fund part of Mbappe’s salary to protect the club’s wage structure.

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LIVE BLOG

20.21 BST: Man United have been linked with seemingly every player under the sun and the latest to be linked with a move to Old Trafford in none other than Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez.

The Sun suggests that United have been scouting the 25-year-old Spaniard and are considering a move for the midfield lynchpin as a replacement for Paul Pogba. While Saul has a £132 million buyout clause, the report states that United would only be willing to pay £70m for Saul.

If Atleti were willing to let Saul leave though, United could give the Spain international a major pay rise, which could see Saul make up to £200,000-a-week.

19.39 BST: Jesus “Tecatito” Corona has flashed massive potential at various points of his career but this season the Mexican winger looks to have finally put it altogether.

Corona, now 27, has amassed two goals and 17 assists this season for Porto and thus is attracting interest from clubs in Europe’s Big Five leagues. A Bola understands that Everton and West Ham are two English clubs interested in the Mexico international, with Inter Milan, Roma, Schalke 04, Valencia and Sevilla also all listed by the publication.

Corona has a contract at Porto through 2022 and reportedly has a €50 million release clause.

19.03 BST: Newcastle looks as if they will soon have new owners. 

Reports in England suggest Mike Ashley has agreed in principle to sell the club to the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia for £300 million. The deal could be finalised in the next month, which would end Ashley’s 13-year reign in charge of the club.

The relationship between Ashley and the fans — and previously Rafa Bentiez — had soured in recent years, resulting in repeated protests by supporters and calls for Ashley to sell the club. It looks as if the fans are close to having their wishes granted.

18.32 BST: Victor Wanyama recently joined MLS’ Montreal Impact but could the Kenyan have his next move planned out?

Speaking with The Athletic, the ex-Tottenham midfielder said he hopes to one day return to Celtic, the club he played for between 2011-13.

Speaking about leaving the club for Southampton in 2013, Waynama said:

“They need to let you grow and achieve what you want. But I want to play for Celtic again before I finish. I have unfinished business there. I love that club.”

High praise from Wanyama.

17.59 BST: With Borussia Dortmund facing the very real possibility of losing Jadon Sancho this summer, they are circling potential alternatives for the Englishman.

German outlet Bild is reporting that BVB have bid £35 million for Valencia and Spain Under-21 winger Ferran Torres. The 20-year-old, who has seven goals and six assists this season, has a release clause of £87 million, but Dortmund are unwilling to pay that and have instead started the bidding at £35m.

Torres, who is also reportedly on Man United’s radar, will surely be paying close attention to what happens with Sancho once the transfer market re-opens.

17.11 BST: Could Man City striker Sergio Aguero, the Premier League’s most successful import in terms of goals (180), have already played his last game in England?

With the status of the 2019-20 Premier League season in limbo due to the coronavirus, rumours that Aguero could return to boyhood club Independiente this summer are strengthening. According to reports in South America, as reported by The Mirror, the Argentine club are ramping up their efforts to bring Aguero home this summer, rather than waiting until his contract expires in 2021.

Aguero’s former teammate and current Independiente manager Lucas Pusineri isn’t making any secret about his desire to bring his friend back to Argentina either:

“We are saving him [Aguero] the No.10 shirt.

“I have a beautiful friendship with Kun and hopefully I can be his coach tomorrow.

“Hopefully I can meet him again at the club.

“He must be encouraged by a good project that will surround him well.

“I am excited to see him at Independiente again.

“I was once his team-mate and now I want to be his coach.

“The steps are being taken and hopefully he can return with good effect and give joy to the fans of the reds.”

Stay tuned…

16.25 BST: Everyone sort of assumed Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek would be joining Real Madrid for €55m this summer, despite interest from Manchester United.

But the Dutchman’s agent Guido Albers has been speaking to Voetbal International as if the 22-year-old is still assessing his options.

“There is interest — and that is also known — for a long time and from several clubs. We will see what will eventually come out of that in the coming weeks,” Albers said.

“I do not dare say anything about that at the moment. I can’t say anything about it because some things are just confidential. The situation will have changed in each club and we have to look at that.”

“The positive thing for Donny is that he is still very good everywhere. For Donny, the most important thing is – and he has always said – a choice based on his feeling. That which he thinks suits him best and which he thinks will be the most successful.

“He did that last year and will continue to do so this summer. Don’t forget that Ajax is still the club where he came to as a young player. It is not a punishment to play for Ajax. He will also include that in his consideration.”

15.32 BST: Manchester United could be the ones to land Jadon Sancho this summer. Here’s why.

14.55 BST: Barcelona signed Ousmane Dembele from Dortmund for €124m back in 2017 but are now unable to find a buyer for just €60m, says Marca.

Dembele, 22, has struggled with injury since making the move to Spain and has been deemed surplus to requirements going forward at Camp Nou.

The problem is that no other club is willing to take a gamble on him. And, as a result, it looks like Dembele will be staying at Barca once he returns from his latest long-term injury setback.

14.14 BST: Both Manchester clubs want RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano, says Sky Sports.

Upamecano, 21, is one of the top young defenders in Europe and has been linked with Arsenal, Bayern, Real Madrid and many more. However, Manchester United and City are now entering the race and could spent €60m on his release clause this summer.

13.40 BST: Wolves striker Raul Jimenez has been speaking on an Instagram Live with Sin Cara about his future.

Linked with a £40m move to Arsenal the Mexico international said: “If I stay here I’m happy. I don’t have any reason to move. But you never close the door to anything. If it is good for me and for the club, if it is good for everyone, we will see what we can do.”

12.48 BST: Manchester United should sign Harry Kane from Tottenham if they can, as he would be pretty perfect for them. But do they need even more?

Read what Mark Ogden thinks they should do about signing Kane or Jadon Sancho here.

12.02 BST: Manchester City are keeping tabs on Ajax’s 17-year-old Sontje Hansen, despite the forward only having played twice for the senior team, says the Guardian.

Hansen, a Netherlands U18 international, drew attention after winning the Golden Boot at last year’s Under-17 World Cup in Brazil after netting six times in seven matches.

His Ajax contract expires in 2021 and that means the youngster is reportedly available for as little as €8m.

11.23 BST: Atletico Madrid are the latest club to have been linked with Mauro IcardiThe Argentina international is on loan with PSG from Inter Milan and the French champions are yet to activate their €70m option to buy the 27-year-old permanently.

According to Mundo Deportivo, should PSG not take up their clause, Atleti could be a possible landing spot — instead of Edinson Cavani on a free transfer.

The report claims that Diego Simeone wants to strengthen his squad in every position this summer — in goal, as well as defence, midfield and attack. On top of a substitute for goalkeeper Jan Oblak, a new left-back, potentially a centre-back as well, and an attacking midfielder, Atleti are looking at options to replace Diego Costa.

Icardi has only been sounded out for now, says the article, while Cavani represents the most cost-effective option.

10.58 BST: Any interested club will have to wait for a while before they can trigger Erling Haaland‘s release clause, says Bild.

The Borussia Dortmund striker has been strongly linked with a summer transfer to Real Madrid and Manchester United, but Bild reports that the Norwegian wunderkind will only be able to leave the club for €75m from 2022 on.

10.19 BST: It’s one of those Real Madrid-heavy transfer days today. Here’s why 17-year-old Eduardo Camavinga could move to Spain.

09.31 BST: France Football reports that Real Madrid have made an opening enquiry regarding Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gabon international is approaching the final 12 months of his contract and no extension has materialised. According to an intermediary contacted by France Football, Aubameyang’s value is around €50m.

“In this market, a serial scorer like him is valued at €50m going into the final year of his contract,” they said. “However, I think that Arsenal will do everything that they can to keep him. They are more likely to sell [Alexandre] Lacazette to take another major striker.”

While France Football could not confirm any interest from Barcelona in Aubameyang, they did confirm that Real have enquired about the 30-year-old. Zinedine Zidane is looking for a playing who could combine with Karim Benzema, while Inter Milan were also mentioned.

09.13 BST: Atletico Madrid and a number of other Spanish clubs have expressed an interest in Galatasary youngster Mustafa Kapi, Diario AS reports.

The 17-year-old midfielder’s contract expires in June after refusing to sign an extension — leading to him not making a first team appearance this season.

“We can sign with any club this summer. There’s only a compensation fee which has to be paid,” Kapi’s agent Necdet Ergezer told the newspaper. “Spanish clubs have contacted us for Kapi. Atletico appeared to be really interested before the coronavirus pandemic. Valencia, Villarreal, Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad have also called us.”

Kapi is the youngest player to feature for Galatasary in a competitive game, having made his Turkish league debut at 16 in December 2018.

08.38 BST: Sao Paulo coach Fernando Diniz says it’s not “a utopia” to see Edinson Cavani join the Brazilian club. Cavani’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires this summer and Sao Paulo are among the clubs keen to land the Uruguay international.

“There’s no utopia regarding Cavani to Sao Paulo,” said Diniz as reported in Globo Esporte. “Brazilian clubs have in the past gathered the conditions to bring big-name players to Brazilian football. Who would have thought that Ronaldo would play at Corinthians or that Daniel Alves would go to Sao Paulo? Daniel also has clubs in Europe following him, still. There is always the possibility.

“I don’t know if Sao Paulo will bring him or not, the financial aspect is always difficult, but sometimes things happen. If he could come, of course, we would be very happy.”

Cavani has also been linked with interest from Argentine club Boca Juniors. The striker had been close to joining Atletico Madrid in January, only for the Spanish club to back out of the deal just before the deadline of the winter transfer window.

08.00 BST: Bayern Munich and Manuel Neuer continue to be miles apart in their talks over a new contract for the Germany and club captain, kicker reports.

Neuer, 34, is tied to the club until 2021 and wants to stay on until 2025. He reportedly demands an annual salary of €20m, and kicker says he is not happy this figure leaked last week.

While Neuer does not plan to leave the Allianz Arena this summer, he could see out his current contract and then leave the club he joined from Schalke in 2011 next year. Manchester City and Chelsea are closely monitoring the situation, kicker reports.

PAPER TALK (by Nick Judd): Ndombele focuses on Barca move

Further to L’Equipe’s suggestion earlier on Monday that Tanguy Ndombele is unhappy at Tottenham, Spanish title Mundo Deportivo believes that Barcelona are keen to sign him.

The Catalan giants are looking to reinforce their midfield as a result of the impending departures of Ivan Rakitic and Arturo Vidal, and to do so, they could capitalise on the midfielder’s alleged deteriorating relationship with boss Jose Mourinho.

Ndombele’s contract runs until 2025, and while Spurs appear unwilling to entertain any form of discussion around the Frenchman’s future, they could be persuaded as they look to balance the books as they continue to pay off the loan for the new stadium.

Ndombele could cost Barca around €60m.

Tottenham and Chelsea join the race for Ajax keeper Onana

Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are monitoring Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana ahead of a potential move in the summer, according to the Mirror.

The highly rated Onana could become the latest in a long line of stars to exit the Dutch club, after Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong joined Juventus and Barcelona, respectively last summer.

Onana, who has played against both Spurs and Chelsea in European action over the past two seasons, is expected to cost around £25m, but the two London rivals can expect to face competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.

Chelsea are looking for a potential long-term replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has failed to impress this season. Spurs, meanwhile, are unsure about the future of keeper Hugo Lloris.

Onana is rumoured to prefer PSG, though he also has ties with Barcelona, who could be on the lookout for a new goalkeeper if talks with Marc-Andre ter Stegen continue to falter.

Tap-ins

– It’s likely to be all change in attack at Inter Milan this summer. Romelu Lukaku could be the last man standing should Alexis Sanchez return to parent club Manchester United and Lautaro Martinez leave for Barcelona as expected. Calciomercato is reporting that Inter are drawing up a wishlist of replacements including Olivier Giroud and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with their preferred choice being Napoli‘s Dries Mertens

– Barcelona have made no secret of their top targets this summer, but if they fail to sign one or both of Neymar or the aforementioned Martinez, they then could opt for Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, reports Bild. Coman’s contract runs until 2023, and he would cost Barca around €40m, significantly less than their other targets.

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