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: Man United favourites to land Barcelona’s Umtiti

Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester United are set to battle for the signature of Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti, with the Red Devils favourites to sign the defender.

That’s according to Sport, which reports that the Catalan side are keen to offload the defender who has struggled for regular playing time this season, while United are in the market for a new centre-back, particularly with Chris Smalling‘s future still unclear with the England international on loan at AS Roma. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have been linked with Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly for some time, but ex-Lyon man Umtiti — who joined Barca for around €30 million in 2016 — would likely prove to be a cheaper alternative with coach Quique Setien said to be willing to sanction Umtiti’s departure to raise funds.

United are expected to face competition from Arsenal, who are heading into their first summer window under Mikel Arteta, but the Gunners await the arrival William Saliba from Saint-Etienne — who was signed last summer but loaned back to the Ligue 1 club for 2019-20.

LIVE BLOG

23.10 GMT: That will do it for the latest edition of our LIVE Transfer Talk blog. We hoped you enjoyed following along with us and remind you to check back shortly for the latest transfer rumours, reports and completed deals. Goodnight!

22.35 GMT: It is no secret that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could leave Arsenal this summer but has a new potential landing spot for the striker emerged?

A report in SportWitness claims that PSG could now be in play for the France-born, Gabon international. With PSG set to lose Edinson Cavani (expiring contract) and Mauro Icardi (loan), the thought of pairing Aubameyang with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar up front is salivating for PSG supporters to even think about. Aubameyang to PSG also has added substance when you consider PSG boss Thomas Tuchel coached the striker between 2015-18 at Borussia Dortmund.

Since leaving Dortmund, the Gabon international has remained one of the top strikers in Europe, having scored 61 goals in 97 games so far with the Gunners. “Auba” is widely expected to leave the Emirates this summer, with Arsenal set to miss out on Champions League football for the fourth-straight season. Barcelona, Inter and Real Madrid have all been linked with a move for the striker in recent months.

21.42: Bayern are still holding out hope they can pry Leroy Sane from Man City but if they can’t, they could have an alternative target identified.

Brazilian broadcaster Globo Esporte understands that Gremio winger Pepe, 23, is in the crosshairs of both the German record champions and Dutch giants Ajax. Gremio are reportedly looking for around €20 million for Pepe, who scored eight goals in 33 league games last season.

Bayern do have a history with Brazilian players (Ze Roberto, Lucio, Rafinha, Douglas Costa, Philippe Coutinho, etc.), could Pepe be next?

20.59 GMT: Shifting to a former Tottenham player, Kieran Trippier has revealed plans for his future.

The 29-year-old right-back, who joined Atletico Madrid last summer from Spurs, recently told the Burnley Express that he still talks frequently with Clarets manager Sean Dyche and that he hopes one day to return to Turf Moor. 

“We have a great relationship. We’re in contact all the time about family, football — he still mithers me about taking me back one day. It’ll happen one day for sure, I’ll 100 percent be back playing for them.

“I would love to retire there. That’s my aim, to retire at Burnley. I want to play as high as I can for as long as I can but I’ll know when the time is right. If I’m at Atleti for another two years, that’ll take me to 32, and Burnley’s the only club that I’d come back to England for.”

We’re sure Burnley fans would welcome him home with open arms.

20.12 GMT: Tottenham may well be looking for a Harry Kane replacement come the summer and the latest name linked is Real Betis’ Loren Moron.

Spanish outlet AS understands that Spurs and AC Milan are both interested in the 26-year-old forward. Moron, who has nine goals in 26 games this season with Betis, reportedly has a release clause between €40 and 50 million.

The Spaniard was available for a fraction of that last season but reportedly still has some interest from the Premier League and clubs such as AC Milan and Napoli.

19.33 GMT: With the Premier League suspended for the time being, Man City are reportedly focussed on trying to tie down a couple of their biggest stars.

The Sun claims that City are planning on using this extended break to work on deals for both Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling. The duo are both signed through 2023, but with a potential European ban pending, the club are keen to sign De Bruyne and Sterling to improved terms now to keep them happy.

18.57 GMT: Chelsea are reportedly set to prioritise trying to sign Lyon striker Moussa Dembele over RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner.

A report in The Athletic claims that the Blues are ready to concede that Werner is Liverpool-bound and thus turn their attention to Dembele. The 23-year-old, who came through the ranks at Fulham and also spent time in Scotland at Celtic, has 22 goals in 42 games this season with Lyon and has also been linked with Manchester United.

Dembele, who is contracted to Lyon through 2022, won’t come cheap as Sky Sports reported last month that Lyon would only let him leave if their £83 million valuation is met. With Chelsea set to lose Olivier Giroud on a free transfer and likely to sell Michy Batshuayi, Frank Lampard is expected to bring in a striker this summer to replace or push Tammy Abraham.

18.08 GMT: Everton and Inter Milan are among the suitors for Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini, according to Calciomercato.

The 23-year-old midfielder has a very affordable £27 million release clause, with the Roman club yet to agree to a new contract with the player. Everton and Inter are two clubs who could look to exploit the youngster’s modest release clause, with Man City, Juventus and Chelsea all clubs linked with the midfielder in the past.

Pellegrini, who has three goals and 11 assists in 24 games this season, reportedly wants a pay rise that would see him earn £3.2m a season, or £1.4m more than he currently earns.

17.23 GMT: Leicester City and Watford eyeing Ecuadorian teen?

According to a report in The Sun (via the ​Leicester Mercury, the two English clubs are monitoring Sporting Lisbon winger Gonzalo Plata. The 19-year-old, who joined Sporting from Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle in Jan. 2019, has recently broken into Sporting’s first team, scoring a goal and an assist in his first four starts.

The Ecuador international is thought to be worth £20 million, a hefty fee for a player with limited experience in Europe.

16.40 GMT: Aston Villa are being linked with a move for highly-rated Wolves youngster Dion Sanderson.

The 20-year-old centre-back has impressed since arriving at Cardiff City on loan in January, and according to Football Insider, is on the radar of Aston Villa. Villa, who are currently in the Premier League relegation zone and have the division’s worst defence, are reportedly keen on bringing Sanderson in on loan next season.

15.59 GMT: Everton veteran Leighton Baines is set to sign a one-year contract extension at the club, snubbing offers to move to MLS. The Athletic says that Baines, 35, was a target for both LA Galaxy and LAFC last summer.

15.19 GMT: AS Roma, Fiorentina and Inter Milan are all reported to be tracking Udinese midfielder Rodrigo De Paul.The 25-year-old Argentina international is contracted to Udinese until the summer of 2024 but Tuttosport reckons the trio of Serie A rivals are ready to make their move in the summer. 

14.50 GMT: Confirmation now from ESPN sources that Belgium international defender Thomas Meunier has agreed to join Borussia Dortmund next season, as reported earlier. 

Meunier, 28, is out of contract at PSG in June and will sign a four-year deal worth around €50 million, including a signing-on fee. He wanted to stay in Paris, where he arrived from Club Brugge in the summer of 2016, but could not reach an agreement for a new contract with the French champions.

14.19 GMT: Fascinating story here coming from Tuttosport in Italy, which reports that Juventus could be ready to offer Tottenham Paulo Dybala in part-exchange for Harry Kane in a €150m-package. Spurs wanted Dybala in the summer but a move fell through, but it seems fanciful that the North London club would entertain selling their talismanic striker.

13.45 GMT: Morocco international Hicham Boussefiane has signed a new contract with Malaga that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2021.

12.30 GMT: Barcelona fear the after-effects of the Covid-19 outbreak across the globe will have huge consequences on their transfer plans, including moves for Neymar and Lautaro Martinez, sources have told ESPN.

Sources at Barca have explained to ESPN that, whatever the outcome of this week’s top-level meetings about how football resumes, the club now expects to lose a significant amount of money this season and that will dictate how much they can spend on potential signings

11.35 GMT: Manchester United have extended the contract of midfielder Nemanja Matic until 2021. Matic, 31, had entered the final 12 months of his existing deal but the club have triggered an option in his contract to keep him at Old Trafford for another year.

10.49 GMT: Frank Lampard is yet to spend a penny as Chelsea boss, but A Bola in Portugal reports that he could enter the market in the summer for FC Porto wing-back Alex Telles, who is rated at £36m. Marcos Alonso looked certain to be on his way out of Chelsea, but he rediscovered some form before football was halted – so maybe Frank will have second thoughts.

10.03 GMT: Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez has won the Premier League title with both Leicester City and Manchester City, and he could be in line to win the Ligue 1 crown too. Reports in The Sun say City will not stand in his way if he wants to move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer. 

09.00 GMT: Football might be in lockdown, but we already have some news this morning! Thomas Meunier‘s move to Borussia Dortmund from Paris Saint-Germain is now being described as “only a formality,” by German outlet Bild. The Belgium international will move on a free transfer when his contract expires.

PAPER ROUND

Dembele out as Barca eye five new additions

Barcelona appear to have finally run out of patience with winger Ousmane Dembele set to be made available for transfer, AS reports. 

The forward joined Barca from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £135.5m, but has been plagued by injuries and has been unable to repay the club’s substantial investment during his time at Camp Nou.

Dembele, 22, has made just nine appearances in all competitions this season and that has caused frustrations amongst the Barca hierarchy, with the player still facing an additional six months on the sidelines.

While AS says Dembele’s time at the club is coming to an end, it is reported that Barca are eyeing five new faces. Neymar, Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan and RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner are all options, while the club could also opt to bring new full-backs on both sides as well as a central midfielder, depending on the future of Carlos Alena.

Real Madrid eye Rennes youngster as Casemiro cover 

Amidst seemingly endless transfer speculation dominated by the likes of Paul Pogba, Harry Kane and Neymar, Real Madrid are said to be turning their attention to youth as the club look to secure some much-needed depth at the heart of midfield.

The 28-year-old Casemiro has already made 35 appearances for Los Blancos this season and Spanish publication Marca reports that the Spanish giants are keen to add some vital cover with boss Zinedine Zidane seemingly mindful that the Brazilian may burn out.

Zidane has already tried Federico Valverde and Toni Kroos in a more defensive role, but both have struggled to adapt and now the Real boss has said to be considering a swoop for Rennes’ 17-year-old sensation Eduardo Camavinga.

The youngster has already played 33 times for the Ligue 1 club this season, scoring once, and arguably has the potential to succeed Casemiro in the coming years.

Tap-ins

– The coronavirus pandemic could cause chaos for a whole host of players whose contracts are set to expire at the end of the season, according to the Athletic. That includes Liverpool’s Adam Lallana who may be offered fresh terms that would cover any extension to current campaign, while the Star reports that Chelsea may be forced to wait on the arrival of Hakim Ziyech from Ajax, who could essentially be cup-tied and unable to play for either side until a conclusion is reached.

– Napoli are keen on signing Getafe’s versatile left-sided player Marc Cucurella as a replacement for full-back Faouzi Ghoulam who is expected to depart at the end of the season, despite the fact that Getafe have only just exercised their permanent option on Cucurella. According to Marca, Cucurella has a €25m buyout clause in his contract that could net Barca €10m upon the completion of any deal as a result of the club inserting a 40% sell-on fee.