The transfer window may be closed around Europe, but teams are looking ahead to the summer and there’s plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Man City, Liverpool interested in Chelsea’s Mount
Liverpool and Manchester City are considering a move for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, according to a report by Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.
There has been plenty of talk around the 24-year-old’s future, fuelled by his contract coming to an end in the summer of 2024. Discussions regarding an extension for Mount are complicated, with the England international’s wage demands serving as the biggest obstacle. Mount is reportedly asking to double his salary.
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Mount came through the Blues’ academy and has largely been a popular figure at Stamford Bridge, although he hasn’t started any of Chelsea’s last 11 matches across all competitions — a run that has seen the management of both Graham Potter and Frank Lampard.
He has managed a total of three goals and six assists in 35 matches this term in what has been a rocky campaign for Chelsea as a club, but he has been part of previous success for Chelsea, in the Champions League, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
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15.07 BST: Real Madrid are leading the way to sign Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga, reports Sport.
Veiga is set to be one of the most in-demand players in the summer transfer market, with several Premier League clubs also reported to be interested.
Los Blancos got a first-hand look at the 20-year-old on Sunday night in their 2-0 home win over Celta.
The report says Madrid president Florentino Perez and his Celta counterpart, Carlos Mourino, agreed terms on Veiga, who has scored nine goals this season.
Madrid will pay the €40m release clause in his contract, and he would be loaned back to Celta for 2023-24.
– How Gabri Veiga burst onto the scene with Celta Vigo
14.20 BST: Record in Portugal reports that Tottenham Hotspur are already in contact with Sporting CP over the transfer of Pedro Goncalves.
The 24-year-old was at Wolves earlier in his career but moved to Portugal with Famalicao in 2019, before being picked up by Sporting a year later.
The attacking midfielder has 14 league goals and nine assists to his name this season, leading to rumours of a return to the Premier League.
13.33 BST: Kosovan centre-back Amir Rrahmani has agreed to extend his contract with Napoli until June 2027, according to Sky Sport Italia.
Rrahmani, whose deal expires in June 2024, will soon pen a three-year contract extension, with an option to extend it for a further season. The 29-year-old has made 30 appearances for the runaway Serie A leaders this season.
12.45 BST: RMC Sport reports that Paris Saint-Germain are weighing up a move for Randal Kolo Muani of Eintracht Frankfurt.
Kolo Muani, 24, has enjoyed a breakthrough season and was a late callup to the France squad which reached the World Cup final. He has scored 20 goals in 39 games in all competitions for Frankfurt.
PSG are reported to have been in contact with the Bundesliga club, but a transfer fee of €60m could put off the Ligue 1 leaders. Bayern Munich and Manchester United are also listed as suitors.
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is, however, PSG’s No. 1 target.
11.54 BST: Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku has said he would “gladly stay” at Inter Milan next season, but the decision is not his hands. He is expected to return to Chelsea at the end of the campaign after a season-long loan.
The striker told Sky Sport Italia after Sunday’s 3-0 win at Empoli: “I would gladly stay [at Inter], but you have to pay attention to these things because the others [Chelsea] are there too … Now I have to stay focused on Inter. Inter has given me everything and I have to try to give everything to Inter.”
Lukaku has endured a difficult season due to injuries but appears to have rediscovered his best form. After scoring twice against Empoli, Lukaku was asked if he was back to his best and he said :”I think so. I’m gaining confidence in individual actions.”
Lukaku, 29, is under contract with Chelsea until June 2026.
11.00 BST: Marco Asensio‘s Real Madrid future depends on whether the club decide to bring Brahim Diaz back from AC Milan, Diario AS reports, with no room in the squad for both.
Asensio, 27, scored and provided an assist in Madrid’s 2-0 LaLiga win over Celta Vigo on Saturday to make it eight league goals this season, but he’s out of contract in June.
According to AS, his prospects depend on Madrid’s verdict on Diaz, 23, who has spent the last three years on loan at Milan and has impressed in their run to this season’s Champions League semifinals.
The only way to make space for both, AS says, would be if an exit can be found for Madrid’s best-paid player Eden Hazard, who still has a year to run on his deal.
10.09 BST: Veteran centre-back Pepe, approaching the end of his 23rd season in senior football, has extended his contract with FC Porto until June 2024.
“Pepe is an example to everyone,” FC Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa said.
The former Real Madrid player, who has made 28 appearances for Porto this season, said: “I’m very nervous because this contract means a lot to me. As a player and person, I usually say I’m very honest. I’m 40 years old but I owe a lot to Porto and I don’t want to defraud the president or the people at the club.
“I want to thank everyone at the club for making me better every day as a player, a person and a father.”
Pepe returned to Porto in January 2019 for a second spell at the club.
Pedaços de uma história que nos orgulha 💙#L3NDA pic.twitter.com/z6WKphUymC
— FC Porto (@FCPorto) April 23, 2023
09.20 BST: Juventus are lining up a move for Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly, reports Gazzetta dello Sport.
Koulibaly, 31, signed for Chelsea last summer, making the move from Napoli, but he has struggled to adapt to the Premier League as the Blues find themselves languishing in midtable.
Chelsea need to offload players before June 30 to help comply with financial fair play, after paying out £600m in transfer fees over the last year.
The report says that Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri has already made contact with the Senegal international, who would need to take a pay cut to return to Italy.
08.30 BST: AC Milan are lining up a move for Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker, reports The Times.
Last week, City boss Pep Guardiola said that he couldn’t find a place for the 32-year-old in his system, sparking rumours that he could leave the Etihad in the summer.
The report says that Milan could step up their interest at the end of the season, when the England international will move into the final year of his contract.
The reigning Serie A champions want to add competition for Davide Calabria.
PAPER GOSSIP
– Manchester City are planning to make a move for Brentford‘s Aaron Hickey, claims The Sun, with manager Pep Guardiola wanting fresh players in the right-back position. While City are still interested in Fulham‘s Antonee Robinson, they are putting the transfer on hold due to the large transfer fee.
– Chelsea are pushing ahead with their efforts to sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, according to Football Insider, which adds that the Blues have already made contact with the 19-year-old’s representatives in an effort to get ahead of the competition. Manchester City have a clause to sign him that doesn’t come into play until 2024, while Liverpool and Arsenal have both been scouting him.
– Arsenal are interested in signing Athletico Paranaense forward Vitor Roque, according to Football Insider, adding that Barcelona and Chelsea are both closely monitoring the 18-year-old. With a number of big clubs watching on, the Brazilian club have stated that they want between £35m and £40m.
– Internazionale are interested in Empoli left-back Fabiano Parisi and midfielder Tommaso Baldanzi, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. This comes a year after they signed Kristjan Asllani on loan from the same club with the view to making the deal permanent, although departures in their respective positions could be required for Inter to make a move.
– Real Madrid will prepare a new contract proposal for Eduardo Camavinga with an improved salary, reports Fabrizio Romano, as the 20-year-old has impressed in midfield and at left-back. While the Frenchman’s deal lasts until 2027, Los Blancos want to increase his release clause and potentially take it up to €1bn, and the player wants to stay despite links to the Premier League.
