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: Barca eye Wolves’ Portuguese wonderkid
Wolves may have lost their FA Cup semifinal against Watford at Wembley on Sunday, but Barcelona won’t be deterred in chasing one of Nuno Espirito Santo’s top prospects. The Spanish giants have sent an army of scouts to watch youthful left-back whiz-kid Ruben Vinagre, who has been little short of sensational for the Black Country side this season.
He arrived at Molineux for £10 million last summer after impressing on a loan deal from Monaco in the Championship and now Portuguese rumour mongers O Jogo report that Barcelona wouldn’t be averse to spending considerably more than that to bring him to La Liga.
The former Sporting Lisbon academy graduate has caught Barca’s eye before and their interest in him is apparently still as strong as ever — which is hardly surprising given that Vinagre has been absolutely top drawer for Wolves since August.
Pogba to Madrid? Mais oui
The latest edition of France Football has published today and Manchester United might not like the front cover. Courtesy of Marca, Paul Pogba, complete with shushing finger, is pictured along with the caption “Pogba: Route to Real.” All of which should be enough to have Ole Gunnar Solskjaer coughing into his corn flakes before meeting up with the Frenchman for morning training in the run-up to their Champions League clash with Barcelona on Wednesday.
Pogba’s future has been a source of almost constant speculation since he come back to Old Trafford in the summer of 2016 for a then world record fee of £93.2m — that’s right, players used to be that cheap. And the rumours concerning a move away from Manchester United haven’t been quieted by his improved form under his new Norwegian boss.
Now France Football appears convinced that he will be off again, probably this summer, with Real Madrid the most likely destination. Don’t expect too many editions of the magazine to be available for browsing at the United training ground, though.
Tap-ins
– The rumour mill has been swirling around a possible Stamford Bridge departure for David Luiz, but the Brazil international poured cold water on those suggestions on Monday, telling ESPN FC that it is his “priority” to stay at Chelsea and is currently in talks with the club regarding a new deal. Asked if his teammate Eden Hazard, who scored two brilliant goals in a masterclass for Chelsea against West Ham at Stamford Bridge, Luiz was less sure, saying only: “We will see.”
– Speaking of the Hazards, Eden’s brother Thorgan Hazard has told Borussia Monchengladbach of his intention to leave the club…sooner rather than later. The Evening Standard reports comments made by the club’s sporting director Max Eberl, that Thorgan — who is still under contract with the club until 2020 — has no intention of sticking around after this season, which might be music to the ears of Liverpool, who have been linked with a move for the player in the past.
– Toronto FC held “exploratory” talks with Arjen Robben but is not actively pursuing a move for the Bayern Munich winger, a source has told ESPN FC. A report from Calciomercato over the weekend indicated that Toronto was interested in signing Robben, whose contract with Bayern expires at the end of the current campaign. Robben, who has already indicated he won’t return to Bayern after this season, has also reportedly drawn interest from Serie A side Inter Milan.