The transfer window for Europe’s biggest clubs is closed, but click here for all the deals. 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: Arsenal, Spurs to battle for Everton’s Keane
Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are keeping tabs on Everton centre-back Michael Keane.
Both sides are looking to add a ball-playing defender to their ranks, and Spurs sent scouts to watch the 26-year-old in the Toffees’ comfortable 2-0 victory over West Ham at the weekend. Toby Alderweireld‘s future is the subject of continued speculation at White Hart Lane, while his Belgian compatriot Jan Vertonghen turns 32 at the end of April, leaving boss Mauricio Pochettino determined to add some youth to his back line.
Arsenal have been watching the former Manchester United man for a number of months, but with the The Mirror claiming a fee for the England regular could be as high as £50 million, Gunners boss Unai Emery might be forced to look for more prudent purchases this summer.
United refusing to blink in Herrera contract saga
Manchester United are refusing to give in to Ander Herrera‘s contract demands, despite reports in The Telegraph linking the Spaniard with a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.
The 29-year-old is looking for a deal in excess of £200,000 a week, which is more than double the £80,000 weekly salary he is currently picking up at Old Trafford, and the former Athletic Bilbao man is attempting to use interest from France to leverage a lucrative pay rise.
But United remain confident of securing an agreement at a much lower rate, albeit one that will still exceed his current earnings.
Herrera is not the only Spanish international locked in a contract battle at Old Trafford, with goalkeeper David De Gea holding out for a deal worth an eye-watering £500,000 a week.
Madrid could move for Atleti’s Gimenez
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is attempting to persuade manager Zinedine Zidane to move for Atletico Madrid centre-back Jose Gimenez this summer.
Zidane’s preferred option at the back is Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, but AS claims Perez fears being priced out of a move for the Senegal international. Koulibaly is tied down to a contract in Serie A for another four years, putting Carlo Ancelotti’s side in an extremely strong negotiating position.
A move for Uruguayan international Gimenez is a complicated one, too, however. Diego Simeone’s Atletico have already agreed a deal to sell left-back Lucas Hernandez to Bayern Munich, while Gimenez’s central defensive partner Diego Godin looks set to leave for Inter Milan in the summer.
That isn’t putting off Perez, though, with the 72-year-old rumoured to have already held discussions with his target back in December.
Tap Ins
– Spurs boss Pochettino has no plans to sell under-fire goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, despite the Frenchman’s glaring error in his side’s 2-1 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday. The Daily Mail claims Tottenham are instead looking to strengthen in other areas as they prepare to enter the transfer market for the first time in two windows.
– Arsenal are in the hunt for Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser and are set to make a move for the Scotland international in the summer, according to reports in The Mirror. The Cherries wide man has been in tremendous form for Eddie Howe’s side this season, and Gunners scouts have given glowing reports after watching the 25-year-old in action.
– Tuttosport claims Tottenham have joined the race for Juventus winger Douglas Costa. The Brazilian hasn’t featured for the Serie A champions since early February, putting a string of Europe’s top clubs on red alert. A fee of £60m should be enough to secure the 28-year-old’s signature.