The coronavirus outbreak has made the summer transfer window uncertain, but here are the new rumours floating around Europe’s big leagues and beyond.
TOP STORY: Barca target Felipe to replace Pique
Barcelona have been one of the busiest clubs during the coronavirus when it comes to making plans for next season, and Sport have linked them with Lazio defender Luiz Felipe.
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The Spanish newspaper believes the Blaugrana have been tracking the 23-year-old defender for some time, and are willing to pay €40 million to obtain his services.
Felipe cost Lazio just €1m three years ago but the Brazilian’s form has seen him become hot property. He has been integral to Lazio’s form as they’ve challenged Juventus and Inter Milan at the top of the Serie A table. Lazio are currently just one point behind Juve with 12 games to go, and their defensive line has been a major factor behind their form.
Barcelona are looking for a new centre-back. Gerard Pique is 33 and so at some stage will need replacing, while Samuel Umtiti has suffered from various fitness issues.
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09.47 BST: Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona will have to pay £35m if any of them want to sign Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Onana, 24, made a name for himself across Europe last season as he helped the Dutch club to reach the Champions League semifinals as well as claim a domestic league and cup double.
The Cameroon international has two years remaining on his contract, enabling Ajax to demand a sizable fee for a goalkeeper they signed as a 15-year-old from Barca’s youth set-up.
09.00 BST: Lionel Messi, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Frenkie de Jong are the only players safe at Barcelona this summer as the Catalan club predict less spending and more player exchanges as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, sources have told ESPN.
Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu insisted last month that the club would still be “capable” of landing the game’s best players, but he warned deals could be structured in a very different way after the crisis.
Barcelona have already committed to two transfers that will be completed in the summer. Forward Francisco Trincao will move to Camp Nou from Braga in a €30 million deal and Las Palmas midfielder Pedri will join for an initial €5m.
However, sources have told ESPN that the club continue to target another attacker and an internal debate has developed over whether it will still be possible to sign Lautaro Martinez or Neymar — or even both — when the window opens.
There is also a desire to sign a right-back, a centre-back to replace Gerard Pique in the long term and a physical midfielder.
PAPER TALK (by Nick Judd): Neto up for grabs to help Barca bolster coffers
Sticking with Barcelona, they’re not just looking at signing players, they’re also hoping to trim their squad. To that end, goalkeeper Neto is up for grabs, reports Mundo Deportivo.
Neto joined the club from Valencia only last summer for €26m — with Jasper Cillessen heading to the Mestalla in the opposite direction — but has had few opportunities to shine, such has been the form and reliance on Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
And now Neto faces fresh competition for back up from Inaki Pena, a 21-year-old former Alicante player who has often featured on the bench for Barca and who has grown up at the club playing in Barca’s style.
Barcelona have been rumoured to be looking at former player and current Ajax keeper Andre Onana, who is expected to leave the Dutch club this summer.
However, with Barca’s sights set on either Lautaro Martinez or Neymar, and the coronavirus situation placing them under financial pressure, they’re looking to replenish their transfer kitty.
Barca, Madrid to lose Torres to Dortmund?
Borussia Dortmund are looking to sign Ferran Torres from Valencia, reports Le10sport.
The 20-year-old winger has been one of Valencia’s top stars this season and he has been a target for some of Europe’s top clubs, including Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Torres has one year left on his contract and so Dortmund, along with many others, will be looking to get him for a cut-price deal, with Valencia keen to avoid losing him on a free in 12 months time.
Tap-ins
– Young central defender Tanguy Kouassi could be on the verge of leaving Paris Saint-Germain to join RB Leipzig, reports RMC Sport journalist Loic Tanzi. A PSG graduate, he has been given his first chance by Thomas Tuchel this season but is yet to sign his first professional contract. And with Leipzig looking for replacements ahead of the expected departure of Dayot Upamecano this summer, Louassi has emerged as their top target.
- RB Leipzig also lead the chase for Werder Bremen‘s Milot Rashica, according to the Weser-Kurier. Rashica is looking to play Champions League football next season and reports suggest that he could stay in Germany, with talks with Leipzig believed to be advanced to the extent that a move could be announced in April. Rashica has been linked with Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, but the 23-year-old is said to favour Leipzig, where he’ll replace the outgoing Timo Werner.