The summer transfer window is approaching, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings and goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Barcelona could swap De Jong for Silva
Barcelona want to sign Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva, reports Mundo Deportivo.
The 27-year-old was linked with the Blaugrana last summer, and it now looks as though they are preparing to make another bid to sign him.
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The report says that coach Xavi Hernandez is eager to increase competition and level of the squad ahead of next season. It is felt that too much is expected of the 19-year-old Pedri and Barca need a more experienced midfielder to take some of the load.
However, a deal for Silva would be complicated and expensive. The player still has three years remaining on his City contract, and Pep Guardiola will be eager to get full transfer value.
It is reported that a player exchange involving Frenkie de Jong could be proposed. City may lose Fernandinho in the summer, and will need another player in central midfield. De Jong, 24, could be the perfect solution if Silva makes it clear he wants to play in LaLiga.
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11.11 BST: Manchester City are weighing up a move for Paul Pogba when his contract at Manchester United expires in the summer, sources have told ESPN’s Rob Dawson.
Pogba will be available on a free transfer at the end of the season and although Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus are leading the chase for his signature, sources close to City are not ruling out making an offer themselves.
Sources have told ESPN that Pogba would be open to joining City, who believe the World Cup winner is a viable option because of his contract situation at Old Trafford.
Pogba would likely become one of the highest paid players at the Etihad but the overall cost of the deal would be made more manageable without a sizeable transfer fee added on top.
10.24 BST: Chelsea are frustrated that restrictions arising from the sanctions against owner Roman Abramovich halted their pursuit of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund, sources told ESPN.
The Blues are unable to sign players as per the special licence granted to continue fulfilling fixtures following Abramovich’s identification as a key figure with ties to Russia President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
On Friday, a consortium led by Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly and backed by Clearlake Capital has won the bid to acquire Premier League club Chelsea.
There is a strong expectation that Manchester City will land the Norway striker, largely because they have been laying the foundations of a deal for several weeks. But City will not break their wage structure to land Haaland, sources told ESPN. The framework of the deal — including agent fees — is already in place and City have until June to formally trigger the €75m release clause in Haaland’s contract at Borussia Dortmund.
09.41 BST: The Daily Telegraph reports that new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag wants Cristiano Ronaldo to stay at the club.
Ronaldo, 37, has one year remaining on his contract at Old Trafford but there had been doubts about his future.
Despite United suffering a poor season, Ronaldo has still scored 24 goals in 37 appearances.
The report says that Ten Hag sees Ronaldo as a key player next season as he begins a massive overhaul of the squad.
09.00 BST: Antonio Conte has warned Tottenham Hotspur need to spend big this summer or pray for a “miracle” to catch Liverpool.
Spurs travel to Anfield on Saturday aiming to boost their hopes of Champions League qualification by securing a result against Premier League title-chasing Liverpool, who have not lost at home to Tottenham since May 2011.
Asked if he could see comparisons with Liverpool, who took four seasons under Klopp to win the Champions League and five to win the Premier League, finishing eighth in his first season in charge, Conte said: “I don’t know but if I was sure this type of situation can happen, I sign, you understand?
“To reduce this gap, you need to spend a lot of money because you need to buy important players. You have to know this otherwise you cannot reduce this gap and hope always for a miracle.
“It is not simple because you have a master in front of you, you need time, you need a big investment because you have to spend a lot of money if you want to be competitive and try to reduce this gap otherwise you have to accept to stay in the middle and finish.”
PAPER GOSSIP
– Luis Suarez is prepared to take a pay-cut to re-join Barcelona, writes Ekrem Konur. The 35-year-old striker will be out of contract at Atletico Madrid at the end of June, and he is already looking to set up a return to Camp Nou. Recent reports have suggested that the Uruguay star wants to continue his career at the top level ahead of the World Cup later this year. He has scored 11 goals from 32 LaLiga appearances this season.
- AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho is weighing up a move for Bodo/Glimt forward Ola Solbakken, according to Sport. The Serie A club are preparing a list of replacements should Carles Perez leave in the summer, and it looks as though I Giallorossi have identified the 23-year-old Norway international as an option. Salbakken impressed during his Europa Conference League appearances against Roma this season.
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AS Monaco won’t accept less than €70m for Aurelien Tchouameni, writes Fabrizio Romano. The highly sought-after 22-year-old midfielder scored twice on Friday evening as Monaco secured a 2-1 victory against Lille in Ligue 1. It was reported recently that he was prioritising a move to Real Madrid, but there is expected to be a number of suitors for his signature once the transfer window officially opens.
– Club America star Richard Sanchez has been offered to Lille and Monaco, reveals Foot Mercato. The 26-year-old midfielder could be of interest to both clubs, who are expected to lose key players in the summer in Renato Sanches and the aforementioned Tchouameni, respectively. The Paraguay international is known for his set-piece delivery, and has made 95 appearances for the Liga MX club.
