The winter transfer window is closed, but now it’s time to look ahead to the summer! Here are the new rumours floating around Europe’s big leagues and beyond.
TOP STORY: Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona eye Diego Carlos
Jurgen Klopp’s quest to source a solid defensive partner for Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool continues, with Brazilian-born defender Diego Carlos now one of his main targets, according to Spanish outlet Marca.
The report says that the Sevilla centre-back has attracted interest from the runaway Premier League leaders — as they will sell likely Dejan Lovren and already have Joel Matip and Joe Gomez – with a deal possible during the next transfer window. Though Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are also said to be keeping a close eye on the 27-year-old, who has made 31 appearances for Sevilla this season after joining for €18m from Nantes last May.
Carlos reportedly has a €70m (£64m) release clause in his contract but, asked about the latest links by Estadio Deportivo, he replied: “So far, my agent has not spoken to me about those situations. I am not interested to know about other teams. I always tell him that, if he is going to tell me something, that it be something firm, that he does not come to me with stories, because I must have my head focused on Sevilla. I don’t want those things to cause me a distraction.
“I’m very happy at Sevilla … If I ever leave Sevilla, it would be to go to a much bigger club, because Sevilla is already great.”
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11.24 BST: PSG’s Eric Junior Dina-Ebimbe has spent this season on loan in Ligue 2 with Havre AC, where he has caught the eye.
Linked with the likes of Manchester United in the recent past, the 19-year-old has admitted to Foot Mercato that wherever he plays next, he wants regular game time.
“I belong to PSG,” he said. “The coach will decide. Today, I need to be at a club where playing time is substantial — where I play as much as I do with Le Havre. I need to feel important. PSG are my club, though, so I will give my all — if called. My idea is to play as much as possible, no matter where.”
Dina-Ebimbe has scored three goals during his loan spell and is under contract with PSG until 2023.
11.01 BST: PSG star Neymar has been linked with a move back to Barcelona, but the Brazilian has to show he’s more mature.
10.09 BST: Cadena Ser says that Barcelona are in permanent contact with their former goalkeeper Andre Onana, who’s done well at Ajax.
Onana, 24, is likely to leave Ajax in the coming year and has been linked with Chelsea, but he wouldn’t move back to Camp Nou to sit on the bench behind first-choice Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
09.53 BST: Bayern Munich continue their summer planning and, having been linked with Germany trio Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Leroy Sane for months, according to Sport Bild, the club’s bosses have now agreed that at least one of them will be signed this summer.
While Bayern won’t trigger Barcelona loanee Philippe Coutinho‘s €120m buyout option, they are also interested in bringing in two full-backs and one centre-back to continue the revamp of their defence they started by replacing Mats Hummels with Lucas Hernandez last summer.
09.22 BST: Former Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel has confirmed to ESPN that he is in discussions with Brazilian club Botafogo with a view to joining them after the coronavirus pandemic is over.
A decision is still some way from being reached, though, with Mikel saying: “Yes there has been interest and yes there has been negotiations.But I don’t know yet. I am still thinking about it. Not sure yet.”
Mikel, 32, left Turkish club Trabzonspor by mutual consent in February after declaring that he did not feel comfortable playing during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is reported to be in regular contact with Botafogo boss Ricardo Rotenberg. A 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner, Mikel led Nigeria to a third place finish at the tournament in 2019 before announcing his international retirement. He also represented Nigeria at two World Cup tournaments.
08.47 BST: James Rodriguez has attracted interest from Manchester United and Everton in the Premier League and Serie A sides Juventus and Napoli as he looks to secure a move away from Real Madrid this summer, Diario AS reports.
The Colombia midfielder’s contract expires in 2021 and he has barely featured in coach Zinedine Zidane’s plans this season, making just four starts and three substitute appearances in La Liga. With James keen to leave and Real Madrid willing to let him go, AS says that the Premier League and Serie A are both possible destinations for the 28-year-old.
The Spanish newspaper reports that Manchester United have expressed an interest, while Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti would like to be reunited with a player with whom he enjoyed an excellent relationship in their time together at the Bernabeu.
In Italy, Napoli were close to signing James last summer before the move broke down over Madrid’s refusal to accept another loan deal for a player who had just spent two years on loan at Bayern Munich.
08.00 BST: Dortmund captain Marco Reus has said there is “currently no better place” for Jadon Sancho other than the Westfalenstadion. England winger Sancho has been linked with a return to Premier League and sources have told ESPN that Manchester United are leading the race for the 20-year-old, who has also wanted by Chelsea and Liverpool.
Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has said they would respect Sancho’s wish to leave the club if he felt the desire to leave BVB after three impressive seasons, but Borussia captain Marco Reus told Sport Bild that he hopes for at least one more year from his teammate.
“Jadon is an incredible player and it’s most certainly that still several clubs want him. That’s a fact,” Reus said. “He plays at a higher level than the previous year. And he’d be enormously important for us to reach our goals.”
“I’d tell him to stay at Dortmund for one or maybe two more years. From my point of view there could be no better place for him currently. He can make the real big step after that. As even more complete player who had the chance to develop further here as a mainstay.”
“He’d need to find his place first at a new club, it’s not always easy for a 20-year-old. What do you believe how interesting Jadon will be for the biggest clubs in the world after one, two, three more seasons with us?”
PAPER TALK (by Shaun Reynolds)
AC Milan look for experience in David Silva
Midfielder David Silva has attracted the attention of many top clubs in Europe with his contract at Manchester City set to expire in the summer. And AC Milan appear to be a step ahead concerning the 34-year-old after the club reportedly met with the Spaniard’s agents.
Italian outlet Calciomercato has reported that, after 10 years at the Etihad Stadium, Silva will leave the Premier League this summer. The report states that while AC Milan are keen to reduce the average age in the club’s first-team squad next season, Silva would be welcomed as an experienced campaigner given that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to depart for a fresh challenge in the summer.
David Beckham’s Inter Miami are also said to be interested in Silva’s signature.
Blues will swoop for Bird this summer
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard and his assistant Jody Morris will swoop for Derby County ace Max Bird this summer, according to Football Insider.
The 19-year-old midfielder made eight first-team appearances for the Rams under Lampard last season and now the Blues manager is reportedly keen to transfer the youngster’s Championship talents into the Premier League.
Bird was handed his Championship debut by Lampard in December 2018 against Swansea at Pride Park. The report states that Lampard and Morris see Bird as a young player with enormous potential that is capable of shining at Premier League level.
Bird’s involvement in Derby County’s squad this season has increased, with the teenager often linking up with England legend Wayne Rooney in the heart of the Rams’ midfield.
Tap ins
– Preparations for Pau Torres to complete a move to Arsenal from Villarreal appear to be making strides, with the defender now learning to speak English. The report from The Sun will encourage Gunners fans after the north London club eventually sided for a loan move for Flamengo’s Pablo Mari in December.
- Islam Slimani has little more than a year remaining on his contract at Leicester City, and Portuguese publication A Bola reports that Sporting Lisbon are interested in bringing the 31-year-old striker back to his former club, and could acquire the Algeria international for €10m.