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: A Sporting chance?
Another day, another transfer rumour involving a young star in Portugal. This time, instead of speculating over the possible future of young Benfica magician Joao Felix, there’s a debate raging over where Sporting CP captain Bruno Fernandes will be lacing up his boots at the start of next season.
According to Portuguese daily Correio de Manha, the Liverpool target is set to be let loose on the European transfer market after Sporting finally came to the conclusion that they needed to cash in on him as soon as the transfer window swings open this summer.
Fernandes won’t be short of suitors, with the 24-year-old midfielder having wowed in a Sporting side that has otherwise failed to live up to expectations. Both the red and blue halves of Merseyside were linked with a swoop for Fernandes in January, and Sporting’s apparent readiness to sell could spark a bidding war between Liverpool and Everton.
Like Benfica, Sporting are canny operators — ensuring that their players are on long contracts so the club are able to cash in when the time inevitably arrives for their biggest stars to head to loaded giants in Spain, Italy and England.
But Sporting’s parlous financial position could force their hand when the bids come flying in. Bloomberg has reported that the Lisbon giants were €281 million in debt back in November and although Fernandes has a release clause of €100m in a contract that doesn’t expire until 2023, they are likely to accept a far lower bid in an attempt to ease the furrowed brow of the club’s concerned bank manager.
LIVE BLOG
09.30 GMT: Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt may yet be headed to Bayern Munich this summer rather than Barcelona.
German outlet Sport Bild reports that the 19-year-old central defender is yet to agree on a deal with Barca, who will already be welcoming De Ligt’s teammate Frenkie de Jong to the Camp Nou at the end of the season.
De Ligt, the reigning holder of the prestigious Golden Boy award as Europe’s best young player, is valued at €60m by Ajax.
– Hamilton: Inside the Ajax talent factory
08.45 GMT: Real Madrid are keen to make a summer move for Benfica starlet Jota, another young player dubbed “the new Cristiano Ronaldo,” according to AS.
The Spanish sports daily reports that Benfica turned down an €18m offer from Real Madrid for the Portuguese winger in the winter transfer window. The 19-year-old is tied to the Lisbon club until June 2022, and has a €30m release clause in his contract. Benfica are reportedly in talks to extend Jota’s contract and increase his release clause to €120m.
Jota — who is represented by Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes — does not want to sign a new contract as he intends to join a top club in the summer.
The Lisbon-born player attracted the attention of top clubs after scoring five goals to help Portugal win the Euro Under-19 Championship last summer. He finished as the tournament´s joint-top scorer. Two years before that, Jota lifted the European title with the U17 side.
– Manchester United, Real Madrid tracking ‘new Ronaldo’ Joao Felix – source
08.00 GMT: Manchester City have held talks with Aymeric Laporte‘s representatives and are preparing to offer the defender a new contract, according to The Times.
Laporte has established himself as on of the club’s key players at the back since he joined the club in January of last year for a club-record £57m. The former Athletic Bilbao player has made 35 Premier League starts since his debut on Jan. 31, 2018.
The 24-year-old is still yet to win a first senior cap for France.
PAPER TALK (by Richard Edwards): From Palace to kings of Germany?
Could Aaron Wan-Bissaka be lining up along Callum Hudson-Odoi at Bayern Munich next season? It’s certainly possible, according to The Sun. The paper reports that the Bundesliga giants are preparing a substantial transfer to Crystal Palace’s bank account in a bid to lure the full-back to Bavaria in the summer.
Bayern’s interest in Wan-Bissaka follows their chase for Chelsea starlet Hudson-Odoi, which remains ongoing despite failing to bring him to the Bundesliga in January.
The Croydon-born Wan-Bissaka has been exceptional for the Eagles this season and his progress could see him soar into the Champions League next season.
Although whether that’s with Bayern or Manchester City remains to be seen. The Sun also reports that Wan-Bissaka could be one of three English talents on City’s radar as the club look to increase their English contingent before the start of next season, with Leicester’s Ben Chilwell and Declan Rice of West Ham also rumoured to be on Pep Guardiola’s hit list.
Anfield target insists he’s in Naples for the long haul
Piotr Zielinski is another player who has been linked with a move to Italy, but Napoli’s Polish midfielder has poured cold water on the suggestion that he’s about to make the switch from Serie A to the Premier League.
Speaking to Tuttomercato, Zielinski said that he had not held talks with Jurgen Klopp and that he planned to sign a contract extension at Naples. Zielinski said that there was once a time when he let these rumours affect his performance, but all that has changed. “Now I leave these things to my agent,” he said.
Tap-ins
– Real Madrid have finally set a price for any club interested in buying Gareth Bale. And according to Spanish TV network Telemadrid (via the Sun), clubs had better have been saving hard. An apparent £131m is the magic number as Los Blancos look to off-load the out-of-favour Welshman.
– Meanwhile, back at Old Trafford, Manchester United will need to finish in the top four to ensure that Jadon Sancho returns home this summer. That’s the Mirror’s take on rumours that a bid of £100m could just be too good for Borussia Dortmund to turn down if the player’s Ole Gunnar Solksjaer-inspired up-turn continues.