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 eye Mbappe with Mane linked to Madrid
Liverpool are bracing themselves for a bid from Real Madrid for striker Sadio Mane, and they’re already looking at his replacement in PSG’s Kylian Mbappe, reports The Sun.
Zinedine Zidane is said to be a huge fan of Senegal star Mane, and the Sun believes his representatives have already been approached for informal talks on a potential move.
Bad news for Liverpool, though the Merseysiders are keen to keep Madrid at bay, just as they did when Los Blancos came calling for Mohamed Salah last year. A price tag of £150 million could be enough to scare off the Spanish giants over Mane.
However, should Liverpool lose one part of their feared attacking triumvirate, they’ve already identified Mbappe as their first choice to replace the 28-year-old, though the Reds might have to cough up around £250m to even get PSG to the table.
Liverpool might try and convince new kit sponsors Nike to help them fund part of Mbappe’s salary to protect the club’s wage structure.
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09.31 BST: France Football reports that Real Madrid have made an opening enquiry regarding Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gabon international is approaching the final 12 months of his contract and no extension has materialised. According to an intermediary contacted by France Football, Aubameyang’s value is around €50m.
“In this market, a serial scorer like him is valued at €50m going into the final year of his contract,” they said. “However, I think that Arsenal will do everything that they can to keep him. They are more likely to sell [Alexandre] Lacazette to take another major striker.”
While France Football could not confirm any interest from Barcelona in Aubameyang, they did confirm that Real have enquired about the 30-year-old. Zinedine Zidane is looking for a playing who could combine with Karim Benzema, while Inter Milan were also mentioned.
09.13 BST: Atletico Madrid and a number of other Spanish clubs have expressed an interest in Galatasary youngster Mustafa Kapi, Diario AS reports.
The 17-year-old midfielder’s contract expires in June after refusing to sign an extension — leading to him not making a first team appearance this season.
“We can sign with any club this summer. There’s only a compensation fee which has to be paid,” Kapi’s agent Necdet Ergezer told the newspaper. “Spanish clubs have contacted us for Kapi. Atletico appeared to be really interested before the coronavirus pandemic. Valencia, Villarreal, Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad have also called us.”
Kapi is the youngest player to feature for Galatasary in a competitive game, having made his Turkish league debut at 16 in December 2018.
08.38 BST: Sao Paulo coach Fernando Diniz says it’s not “a utopia” to see Edinson Cavani join the Brazilian club. Cavani’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires this summer and Sao Paulo are among the clubs keen to land the Uruguay international.
“There’s no utopia regarding Cavani to Sao Paulo,” said Diniz as reported in Globo Esporte. “Brazilian clubs have in the past gathered the conditions to bring big-name players to Brazilian football. Who would have thought that Ronaldo would play at Corinthians or that Daniel Alves would go to Sao Paulo? Daniel also has clubs in Europe following him, still. There is always the possibility.
“I don’t know if Sao Paulo will bring him or not, the financial aspect is always difficult, but sometimes things happen. If he could come, of course, we would be very happy.”
Cavani has also been linked with interest from Argentine club Boca Juniors. The striker had been close to joining Atletico Madrid in January, only for the Spanish club to back out of the deal just before the deadline of the winter transfer window.
08.00 BST: Bayern Munich and Manuel Neuer continue to be miles apart in their talks over a new contract for the Germany and club captain, kicker reports.
Neuer, 34, is tied to the club until 2021 and wants to stay on until 2025. He reportedly demands an annual salary of €20m, and kicker says he is not happy this figure leaked last week.
While Neuer does not plan to leave the Allianz Arena this summer, he could see out his current contract and then leave the club he joined from Schalke in 2011 next year. Manchester City and Chelsea are closely monitoring the situation, kicker reports.
PAPER TALK (by Nick Judd): Ndombele focuses on Barca move
Further to L’Equipe’s suggestion earlier on Monday that Tanguy Ndombele is unhappy at Tottenham, Spanish title Mundo Deportivo believes that Barcelona are keen to sign him.
The Catalan giants are looking to reinforce their midfield as a result of the impending departures of Ivan Rakitic and Arturo Vidal, and to do so, they could capitalise on the midfielder’s alleged deteriorating relationship with boss Jose Mourinho.
Ndombele’s contract runs until 2025, and while Spurs appear unwilling to entertain any form of discussion around the Frenchman’s future, they could be persuaded as they look to balance the books as they continue to pay off the loan for the new stadium.
Ndombele could cost Barca around €60m.
Tottenham and Chelsea join the race for Ajax keeper Onana
Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are monitoring Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana ahead of a potential move in the summer, according to the Mirror.
The highly rated Onana could become the latest in a long line of stars to exit the Dutch club, after Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong joined Juventus and Barcelona, respectively last summer.
Onana, who has played against both Spurs and Chelsea in European action over the past two seasons, is expected to cost around £25m, but the two London rivals can expect to face competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.
Chelsea are looking for a potential long-term replacement for Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has failed to impress this season. Spurs, meanwhile, are unsure about the future of keeper Hugo Lloris.
Onana is rumoured to prefer PSG, though he also has ties with Barcelona, who could be on the lookout for a new goalkeeper if talks with Marc-Andre ter Stegen continue to falter.
Tap-ins
– It’s likely to be all change in attack at Inter Milan this summer. Romelu Lukaku could be the last man standing should Alexis Sanchez return to parent club Manchester United and Lautaro Martinez leave for Barcelona as expected. Calciomercato is reporting that Inter are drawing up a wishlist of replacements including Olivier Giroud and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with their preferred choice being Napoli‘s Dries Mertens.
– Barcelona have made no secret of their top targets this summer, but if they fail to sign one or both of Neymar or the aforementioned Martinez, they then could opt for Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, reports Bild. Coman’s contract runs until 2023, and he would cost Barca around €40m, significantly less than their other targets.