The summer transfer window won’t reopen in Europe for another month, but there are plenty of moves in the works and gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
Top story: Sancho ready for United return — if Ten Hag leaves
Borussia Dortmund loan winger Jadon Sancho has admitted that he’s ready to return to parent club Manchester United this summer, but only if boss Erik Ten Hag isn’t in the dugout, according to the Mirror.
Sancho returned to Dortmund for a second spell earlier this season after being ostracised at United, and he found some of his old form during his six-month loan spell. He scored three goals and added two assists in 21 games, helping the Germán side reach the UEFA Champions League final.
Dortmund would like to recruit the 24-year-old on a permanent basis but are unlikely to be able to meet the necessary transfer fee, which would likely be in excess of £50 million.
Sancho doesn’t want to give up on his United career but knows his future remains uncertain under Ten Hag. Outgoing Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel, Brentford‘s Thomas Frank and former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur coach Mauricio Pochettino have all been linked with the job at Old Trafford in recent weeks.
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Paper round
– Napoli are expecting a bid from Arsenal for striker Victor Osimhen, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The Italian side are hoping to recoup as much of the Nigeria international’s €120m exit clause contract as possible, even if that means receiving it in installments, in order to strengthen their team for the season ahead. Twenty-five-year-old Osimhen is wanted by the Gunners as well as a number of clubs in Saudi Arabia. Napoli’s new boss Antonio Conte is considering players such as Victor Boniface from Bayer Leverkusen, Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting CP and Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig as potential replacements.
- The LA Galaxy are hoping they can tempt Borussia Dortmund legend Marco Reus to the club, according to Cesar Luis Merlo, and to do so they sent an entourage to meet him after Saturday’s Champions League final. The 35-year-old attacker is a free agent but Charlotte FC, the first club linked with him, hold his discovery rights in MLS. However, the Galaxy are said to have agreed a fee with Charlotte over these and are now in advanced talks with the former Germany international. Personal terms are yet to be agreed but negotiations are reportedly moving swiftly.
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Memphis Depay has revealed that he’s now a free agent, in an interview with Dutch outlet NOS, after leaving Atletico Madrid at the end of the season. The 30-year-old spent two years with Atletico and scored 13 goals in 40 appearances, adding a further two assists in a tricky spell under Diego Simeone. Depay said he has the pick of a number of clubs in Europe this summer, with teams in Spain, France and England all said to be interested, but also that he’s mainly focussing on playing for the Netherlands at Euro 2024 for now. PSV Eindhoven, where he started his career, are also keen to bring Depay home.
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Champions League winners Real Madrid are this week set to be boosted by new contract extensions for both Luka Modric and Lucas Vázquez. The Mirror reports that 38-year-old Modric will sign a one-year extension after having become one of the most decorated players in club history by winning his 26th trophy with Los Blancos. Vazquez, meanwhile, is set to agree a new contract himself, according to the Athletic. The 32-year-old’s existing deal runs out this summer, but he will also extend for 12 months, with both parties set to agree terms this week.
– Schalke wunderkind Assan Ouedraogo is attracting interest from Liverpool, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Newcastle United, according to the Mirror. The 18-year-old midfielder was set for a move to Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich, but the German giants have pulled out of the deal, paving the way for a sensational move to England. The central midfielder has a £12m release clause on his contract that needs to be activated by mid-June.
