The summer transfer window isn’t open yet in Europe, but teams are getting ready for it, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Kim attracts interest from Newcastle, Chelsea and PSG
Manchester United continue to see Napoli defender Kim Min-Jae as a priority this summer, but talks between the two parties have stalled amid Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Newcastle interest, per Foot Mercato.
Man United manager Erik ten Hag has identified defensive reinforcements as a priority, and Kim is a favourite for centre-back following an exceptional season in Italy where he helped Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years.
While it has been reported that Kim is keen on a move to Old Trafford, talks between the player and Man United are reported to be stuck, which has opened the door for other clubs in Europe to make an approach for the 26-year-old South Korea international. Kim has a release clause in his current contract at Napoli in the region of €50 million, which is valid for the first half of July and has garnered the interest of many top clubs in Europe.
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The report suggests that Newcastle are alert to the lack of progress in negotiations and are monitoring the situation. Manager Eddie Howe is set for a busy transfer window after the Magpies qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 2002-03.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have also shown interest in the Napoli standout. However, the lack of European football and instability at the club has the Blues lagging behind their Premier League rivals in the race.
PSG also hold an interest in the centre-back, with Sergio Ramos departing the French giants, alongside injuries to Presnel Kimpembe and Nordi Mukiele limiting the defensive options at the club last season. However, Les Parisiens’ chances of landing Kim are hampered by the defender’s reported desire for a Premier League move.
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11.11 BST: Barcelona will move for Atletico Madrid winger Yannick Carrasco if Ferran Torres leaves the Catalan club this summer, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Barca maintain an option to sign Carrasco for around €20m as part of the deal which saw Memphis Depay move to Atletico in January. However, Mundo Deportivo says they will only execute it if Torres moves on first.
Torres only joined Barca from Manchester City at the start of 2021, but the Spain international has lost his place in the team this season, with Xavi Hernandez preferring Raphinha or Ousmane Dembele alongside Robert Lewandowski.
Therefore, the Catalan club are said to be ready to cut their losses on a player they paid €55m to sign, with the report claiming they will listen to offers of around €40m.
If the find a suitor for Torres — Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Aston Villa have both been linked — Barca will then activate the option they have to sign Belgium international Carrasco, who would offer another option on the left-side of their attack.
10.18 BST: Espanyol forward Joselu has said he “can’t say anything right now” about joining Real Madrid this summer, but added that “it’s always positive to be linked with the world’s best teams.”
ESPN has reported that the 33-year-old — who scored 16 goals in LaLiga this season as his team headed for relegation — is close to joining Madrid on loan.
The Spain international is a former Real Madrid youth product, who is also Dani Carvajal‘s brother-in-law, and was spotted with fans in Paris last year watching Madrid win the 2022 Champions League final.
“Right now I can’t say anything,” Joselu told AS on Monday, in an interview carried out with Spain, who face Italy in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday. “But it’s always flattering that it’s in the press. I hope that good things come in the future but right now I’m focused on the national team and the Nations League.”
09.57 BST: Bild names Toni Kroos among a list of top German players who were asked about a move to Saudi Arabia this summer, saying that the Real Madrid midfielder turned the approach down in favour of staying at the Santiago Bernabeu for another season.
Kroos, 33, confirmed last month that contract talks with Madrid were “on the right track” and that he was set to stay, having earlier weighed up whether to continue playing or take an early retirement.
According to Bild, Kroos, Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze all received enquiries from Saudi Arabia in the hope that they might join Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the Saudi Pro League, but all three turned them down.
09.16 BST: Alvaro Morata has agreed to extend his contract with Atletico Madrid until June 2026, according to El Larguero.
Morata, 30, is under contract with Atletico until June 2024. The Spain international returned to Atletico last summer after spending two seasons on loan at Juventus.
He had offers from AC Milan, Juventus as well as clubs from Saudi Arabia and from Major League Soccer, but has opted to stay with Atletico.
08.55 BST: Inter Milan are on the verge of signing Denmark U18 international goalkeeper Theo Sander from Aalborg BK, according to Sky Italia.
Sander, 18, will join Inter for an undisclosed fee and will sign a contract with the Nerazzurri until June 2027.
08.30 BST: Sevilla president Jose Castro is hopeful club sporting director Monchi will reconsider his decision to leave this summer.
Under contract with Sevilla, Monchi, 54, has told the Europa League winners of his wish to step down from his post and is a target of Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa.
“After winning a European title a few days ago, it [Monchi’s decision] is unexpected,” Castro said. “We hope and expect that Monchi will reconsider and that he continues with us, which is what we all want.
“We’ve worked together many years and we can’t forget he already left Sevilla once [to join Roma] and it was me that told him that Sevilla’s doors were open for him to return.”
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PAPER GOSSIP (by Rajan Hothi)
– Midfielder Luka Modric will be allowed to depart Real Madrid for Saudi Arabia, per CalcioMercato. Despite reports suggesting the Croatia international was close to signing an extension with Los Blancos, the 37-year-old looks unlikely to stay at the Bernabeu, with manager Carlo Ancelotti able to boast a stacked midfield following the €103m signing of Jude Bellingham. The report indicates that there has been a substantial offer from Saudi Arabia, which could lead Modric to join former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema in the Middle East.
– Aymeric Laporte is set to leave Manchester City in the summer, however Barcelona are unlikely to sign the defender, per Football Insider. While the 29-year-old is reportedly admired by Barcelona, the cash-strapped Catalan giants are not in a position to bring the Spain international to Spotify Camp Nou because of the financial restrictions the club face from LaLiga. Laporte has struggled for first-team action this season, making just four starts in all competitions for the Citizens, leading to the centre-back to look elsewhere this summer.
– Arsenal have reached a full agreement with Reiss Nelson over a new deal that will keep the winger at the club until 2027, reports Fabrizio Romano. The Hale End graduate featured 18 times for the Gunners last season, and sees his contract expire at the end of the month. Despite being linked away from North London, the 23-year-old looks set to commit his long-term future to the club, with Romano revealing that there is an option of extending the deal to 2028, as Arsenal are keen to secure Nelson’s signature as quickly as possible to avoid bids from rivals.
– Barcelona are keen to offload Ansu Fati, however the forward is reluctant to leave the Spanish champions, reports Mundo Deportivo. The Catalan club are eager to allow several players to leave Camp Nou this summer as they try to raise funds for transfer targets of their own, and while Fati has been identified as one player free to leave, the 20-year-old believes he still has a future at the club. The report suggests Fati has informed his agent, Jorge Mendes, that he has no intention of leaving the LaLiga outfit this summer despite significant Premier League interest.
-Al-Ahli Saudi are preparing to offer winger Riyad Mahrez a contract going until 2026, according to Foot Mercato. The 32-year-old had a stellar campaign with the Citizens, contributing 15 goals and 13 assists to the club’s treble-winning season, and while the Algeria international is under contract at the Etihad until 2025, there is significant interest from Al-Ahli Saudi. The report indicates the club are willing to offer Mahrez a three-year deal, however, there have been no discussions between the club and Manchester City, with no official bid as of yet for Mahrez.