The transfer window for Europe’s biggest clubs is closed, but click here for all the deals and keep track of who has joined the big boys. And Transfer Talk will continue to scour the world’s media and set correspondents loose to see what’s on the agenda for the summer.
TOP STORY: Pochettino to swoop for Perisic and Sturridge?
Tottenham are reported to be leading the race for Inter Milan star Ivan Perisic, according to the Sun.
Perisic had been linked with Arsenal in January and even handed in a transfer request in an effort to push the deal through, but the Gunners’ decision to try to sign him on loan, rather than on a permanent deal, scuppered the move.
Now, Spurs are said to be interested in the 30-year-old ex-Wolfsburg man, despite Mauricio Pochettino’s propensity for signing younger players.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror reports that Daniel Sturridge could head to White Hart Lane to bolster Tottenham’s forward line on a free transfer. Sturridge is down the pecking order at Liverpool, and Pochettino is keen to add options to his attack.
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09.15 GMT: Barcelona chiefs may soon come to a head over the future of midfielder Ivan Rakitic, if reports in Sport are to be believed.
The Catalan daily suggests the midfielder rejected a mega offer from PSG and has asked Barcelona for a new contract, with his deal running until 2021. However, the club “shut the door” on any suggestion of a salary increase for the 30-year-old.
Rakitic has been one of the most used players under Ernesto Valverde, but Barca have made a huge €75m outlay on Frenkie de Jong, who will arrive in the summer.
08.50 GMT: The Portland Timbers’ pursuit of a Designated Player forward has led them to Tigres’ Eduardo Vargas, league sources have confirmed to ESPN FC.
Univision Deportes was the first to report Portland’s interest in Vargas. Portland declined to comment on the story.
08.27 GMT: Alarm bells are ringing at Real Madrid, according to Marca, because of an injury suffered by one of their summer targets, River Plate star Exequiel Palacios. The midfielder fractured his right fibula while playing in a 2-0 league win over Racing on Sunday and is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
08.00 GMT: FC Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas believes teammate Eder Militao has a “big future ahead of him.” The Brazilian defender, who only joined Porto last summer, has attracted the attention of top European clubs, including Casillas’ former side Real Madrid.
Reports in Spain have linked the 20-year-old to Real, with a possible move there this summer. Asked about Miltao, Casillas told Onda Cero radio: “He is a young player, who has a lot of quality. He is very eager to do things well. He only joined us this summer and has adapted really well to the team. He is a versatile player. He can play as a centre, he can play as a right back, which is in the position he is playing now since Pepe joined the team in the winter transfer window. He is a good chap, he adapts well and he has lot of margin for improvement. I think we are talking about a player who has a big future.”
PAPER ROUND (By Nick Judd)
Inter monitoring Sissoko
Italian giants Inter are reportedly keeping tabs on Tottenham midfielder Moussa Sissoko as they prepare to make a move in the summer, says Calcio Mercato.
Sissoko has been a key man for Spurs this season and has formed an impressive partnership with Harry Winks in recent weeks, but with Pochettino linked with a string of midfielders this summer, Sissoko’s future is unclear.
Tottenham have shown interest in Paris Saint-Germain outcast Adrien Rabiot and Valencia dynamo Carlos Soler, among others, and Inter see Sissoko as the perfect midfield partner for Nicolo Barella.
Hazard out, Higuain in?
Chelsea are still reeling after their 6-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City at the weekend, and there’s good and bad news as the Blues prepare to lock horns with Pep Guardiola’s men again, this time at Wembley.
First the bad news, as rumours from Spain say that boss Maurizio Sarri is losing the confidence of some of his “heavyweight” players, according to the Mirror. The paper reports that senior players are feeling “overloaded by tactics” and increasingly disenfranchised.
Spanish giants Real Madrid believe that augurs well for their pursuit of Eden Hazard. The Belgian star only has one year left on his contract and has repeated his desire to one day join the current Champions League holders.
However, in better news for the Blues, loan star Gonzalo Higuain could make his move permanent in a cut-price deal, thanks to Juve’s acquisition of Aaron Ramsey. The Serie A league leaders are said to be keen to trim their wage bill when Ramsey arrives in the summer, but any move would be reliant on Sarri remaining in the Chelsea hot seat.
Farke in for the long haul
Sometimes, signing your existing star man can be as important as landing a new name and, in boss Daniel Farke, Norwich City look set to tie down their biggest asset, says the Telegraph.
The Championship league leaders are said to be in talks over a new 2½-year deal with the coach whose contract runs out in June.
Farke has been in the job less than two years yet has taken the Canaries from 14th in his first season to the summit of the table in his second, with a recent win over rivals Leeds cementing their position in the automatic promotion places.
The extension would provide a huge boost for the club as they enter the business end of the season.
Tap-ins
– Marcelo has admitted he’ll leave Real Madrid this summer if they no longer want his services. Marcelo has had a disappointing season by his standards and AS are suggesting he could be on the move, with Juventus a likely destination.
– The Express are reporting that “middle men” are already attempting to engineer Mesut Ozil’s departure from Arsenal this summer, with China and Italy likely destinations. Then 30-year-old is on the periphery under Unai Emery and looks set to move on at the end of the current campaign.
– With numerous papers reporting a mass exodus from Chelsea this summer, the Daily Star has linked the Blues with AC Milan star Franck Kessie in a possible swap deal with Tiemoue Bakayoko. Bakayoko is at the San Siro on a two-year loan deal with a return to London unlikely, and a swap deal could suit all parties.