With most of the major European seasons now complete, the rumour mill has been sent into overdrive as clubs ponder their moves ahead of what will be a busy transfer window. Check out the latest gossip below, and see all official deals here.
TOP STORY: Man United, Barca both in for Kounde
Manchester United are facing competition for the signature of Sevilla FC‘s Jules Kounde, according to Mundo Deportivo. The French centre-back is now on the shortlist of Barcelona as Ronald Koeman continues Barca’s rebuild since finishing third in La Liga this season.
With Gerard Pique now at 34-years-old, Kounde is seen as a potential future replacement and a player that can dominate aerially.
Barcelona are reported to have been monitoring the 22-year-old since his standout performance in the Europa League final against Internazionale in 2020, but Kounde’s stock has since continued to rise, featuring 34 times at the heart of Sevilla’s defence in the club’s record-setting season of 77 points in the league.
The Frenchman has recently been linked with a move to the Premier League with reported interest from Old Trafford, but Barca could now make it difficult for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to negotiate a deal, with the defender contracted until 2024 and a release clause of €80 million.
Sevilla, for their part, are reportedly “calm” and even “satisfied” with all the transfer talk surrounding Kounde, according to Marca. Sporting director Monchi rejected a €55m offer from Manchester City last summer in the hope of attracting an even higher bid this year.
Marca says that Kounde “has put himself on the market” with his recent comments in favour of a move while on national team duty “and now Monchi only has to pick up the phone and wait for the most interesting offer.” Despite Kounde’s release clause, the newspaper reports that Sevilla would accept a “slightly lower” transfer fee.
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11.30 BST: Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti is interested in bringing AS Roma forward Pedro to Goodison Park, Calciomercato reports.
Pedro joined Roma on a free transfer from Chelsea last summer. After initially getting off to a good start in the Italian capital, scoring four goals in his first nine games, the 33-year-old only netted twice more as Roma finished seventh in Serie A.
Calciomercato reports that there is has been no formal approach yet for Pedro, who has two years left on his contract, but that Ancelotti has “always respected” the former Barcelona player.
10.49 BST: Tottenham Hotspur right-back Serge Aurier has told L’Equipe that he has “reached the end of a cycle” with the club and is hopeful for a return to Paris Saint-Germain.
Aurier joined Spurs form PSG in 2017 and has gone on to make more than 100 appearances for the London club.
However, after a tumultuous 2020-21 season, in which manager Jose Mourinho was sacked and the club finished seventh in the Premier League, Aurier says he is ready to leave.
“Everyone knows that if I wanted to extend my contract at Tottenham, I’d have already done so,” he said. “I’m not going to do that in six months’ time. I’ve experienced the Premier League and a Champions League final. I’ve reached the end of a cycle and it’s time to look elsewhere. Both parties, the board and my agents are in agreement in terms of the conditions, so we will see.
“I’ve never hidden my desire to go back to PSG one day. It’s my boyhood club and I’m still a PSG supporter, so I feel free to talk about it, but I don’t want people to think I’m just issuing a come-and-get-me plea and I’m not closing the door on anyone. If the club does make an offer this summer, PSG will certainly be among my top choices.”
10.06 BST: Eden Hazard insists he is not thinking of leaving Real Madrid despite enduring a difficult two seasons at the Spanish club.
Hazard has struggled with injuries and form since moving to the Bernabeu in 2019, starting just 21 times in La Liga and scoring five goals for the club in all competitions in that time.
He has attracted plenty of criticism in Spain, which came to a head recently when one TV presenter declared that the forward “cannot continue at Real Madrid for one second more” after he was seen smiling and congratulating a few of his ex-teammates following Real’s Champions League loss to Chelsea.
The 30-year-old told a news conference while with the Belgium squad: “I don’t see myself leaving Madrid with my contractual situation. I know myself, what I have to do, I know when I’m in form, and when I am, I can bring a lot to Real Madrid next season.”
When Hazard, whose transfer fee could rise to as much as €150m, was asked specifically about a return to the Premier League, to which he replied: “I still have three years of contract at Real Madrid so returning to England isn’t up for discussion. Everyone knows my first two years weren’t good so first I have to show my worth at Real Madrid.”
09.18 BST: Sporting Lisbon left- back Nuno Mendes has played down talk of a summer move following his breakout season.
Mendes, 18, made 29 league appearances for champions Sporting and was rewarded with a place in Portugal’s Euro 2020 squad.
His performances have led to links with European giants like Real Madrid, Juventus, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.
“I’m a Sporting player and I will continue to be,” he told a news conference. “I’m not thinking about that right now. I’m focused on the European Championship and helping the national team.”
08.30 BST: Barcelona have completed the signing of Eric Garcia on a free transfer from Manchester City, the Spanish club announced on Tuesday.
Garcia, 20, will join Barca on a contract until 2026 on July 1 when his deal with City expires. He will be presented on Tuesday and his buyout clause has been fixed at €400 million.
The defender first joined Barca’s La Masia academy in 2008 and came through the club’s youth system at the same time as Ansu Fati. However, he left for City in 2017 and has since made 35 appearances for the first team under Pep Guardiola.
Garcia has been restricted to just 12 games this season, though, after telling City last summer that he did not intend to renew his contract.
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PAPER GOSSIP
– Real Madrid have made contact with Everton‘s
– Leeds United are beginning preparations for a second season in the Premier League and are reported to be interested in Cagliari‘s Nahitan Nandez. That’s according to Tuttomercato, which reports that there is “concrete interest” from Marcelo Bielsa’s side. The midfielder started 31 matches in the Serie A last season for Cagliari.
– Negotiations between Aston Villa and Chelsea over striker Tammy Abraham are stalling with the West London club looking for a fee of around £40m. The Birmingham Mail claims that Villa feel the demand is unrealistic given the 23-year-old’s lack of game time since the arrival of Blues boss Thomas Tuchel.
– Everton
– AC Milan are close to finalising a permanent deal for Fikayo Tomori, reports Fabrizio Romano. The fee is reportedly set at €28m on a five-year contract for the 23-year-old who impressed during a loan spell at the San Siro last season in 17 appearances for the centre-back.
– The Daily Mail reports that Brighton & Hove Albion have returned to the table for Stuttgart’s Nicolas Gonzalez. The two clubs were unable to agree a deal last season with the German club wanting around £16m, though Graham Potter’s side could now be prepared to meet those demands after the 23-year-old scored six goals and registered two assists from 15 appearances last season.