The coronavirus pandemic has made the summer transfer window uncertain, but here are the rumours floating around Europe’s big leagues and beyond.
TOP STORY: Arsenal to include Guendouzi in summer swap?
Arsenal are reported to be entertaining the idea of including midfielder Matteo Guendouzi in a swap deal during the summer transfer window.
Sources told ESPN last week that a meeting between Guendouzi and boss Mikel Arteta ironed out any differences the young France international had with the club, but now the Daily Mail says that a transfer could be on the cards.
Arsenal officials have reportedly begun putting out feelers to clubs in order to see what kind of players they could get in return for the controversial youngster. The Gunners are set to have a limited transfer budget and, as such, they’re willing to explore all possibilities in the name of strengthening their squad.
Guendouzi has missed Arsenal’s past two games after a poor disciplinary showing against Brighton, with the club hoping that there’s still substantial interest in the 21-year-old across Europe.
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11.28 BST: Philippe Coutinho has extended his stay at Bayern Munich until August, a source close to the player has told ESPN. The Brazilian will be available for this weekend’s German cup final against Bayer Leverkusen and the Champions League in August.
A report in German newspaper Bild says Coutinho, on loan from Barcelona, will take a 50% pay cut to be able to finish the season with Bayern. However, the source was not willing to confirm the financial aspects of the extension.
Bayern signed Coutinho on a season-long loan last August, with the German club paying Barca €8m. They have an option to make the deal permanent for €120m this summer but will not take it up. Instead, Barca are looking for suitors elsewhere, with the player’s preference a return to England, where he previously played for Liverpool.
Coutinho, 28, made his return from an ankle injury against Wolfsburg last weekend as the Bundesliga reached its conclusion. He will hope to now play a part against Leverkusen on Saturday and against Chelsea when the Champions League resumes next month. Bayern have a 3-0 from the first leg of their last 16 tie and are big favourites to reach the quarterfinals, which will be held in Lisbon and as one-off games in August.
10.57 BST: ICYMI – Manchester City winger Leroy Sane is set for a €49m move to Bayern Munich.
1:09
Craig Burley say there’s no guarantee Leroy Sane will walk straight into Bayern Munich’s front line.
10.16 BST: Tuttosport says that Lazio have set a €100m price for midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
PSG made a €60m bid for the Serbian midfielder last month, which was rejected, while Juventus, Man United and Chelsea have also been linked
09.45 BST: Even though the transfer window across Europe is in flux because of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s still July 1 so some clubs are able to unveil their new signings. You can read our Transfer Grades for the biggest deals here.
One of them is Bayern Munich landing PSG youngster Tanguy Kouassi on a free transfer and the 18-year-old revealed: “I am delighted to be able to play for Bayern. It’s a big club, rich in tradition. I hope I can make a name for myself here and get lots of appearances. I will work hard to achieve that.”
Club chief Hasan Salihamidzic added: “We’re very happy that we’ve been able to bring Tanguy Kouassi to Bayern. In our opinion he’s one of the biggest talents in Europe.”
09.35 BST: Some good news for Arsenal fans from the Athletic’s David Ornstein:
He writes: “Arsenal are putting the finishing touches to a new long-term contract for Bukayo Saka that will settle the future of one of Europe’s most highly-rated young players, with the club expected to make an announcement this week.”
09.14 BST: Fans of Vasco de Gama have reacted to an appeal made by Joe Hart, inviting the England goalkeeper to come and play for the Brazilian club.
The former England and Manchester City player became a free agent after partying company with Burnley and said in a BBC interview: “I just need someone to believe in me and I will repay that faith.”
The 33-year-old, who made just three appearances this season, has struggled for regular game time since leaving the Etihad in 2016 and is eager to be given an opportunity to prove his worth.
And now Vasco fans have invaded Hart’s Instagram post with messages asking the player to join their club. Watch this space.
08.41 BST: AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli believes goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma will remain at the club next season.
The Italy international has yet to sign a contract extension with the Rossoneri, with his deal expiring in June 2021. Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea are reportedly keen to sign the 21-year-old, who has made 34 starts for Milan this season.
“I think [Milan director Paolo] Maldini explained it well what the wish of the club is,” Pioli said. “I see Gigio [Donnarumma] very serene and focused. Seeing him so happy at Milanello, I see him at Milan.”
Regarding Donnarumma, Maldini recently said that it was Milan’s “duty to try and keep hold of the best goalkeeper in the world.”
08.00 BST: Saint-Etienne have been left frustrated by Arsenal’s demands over a loan extension for defender William Saliba, who will now miss out on the Coupe de France final.
On Tuesday, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta expressed his desire to see the France under-21 international stay at Saint-Etienne and take part in the final against Paris Saint-Germain. Talks between the two clubs, however, appear to have broken down.
In a statement published late on Tuesday night, the Ligue 1 club cited “unacceptable sporting and financial conditions” that Arsenal tried to impose for Saliba to stay in France and play one final game for Claude Puel’s side.
1:05
Stewart Robson dissects why Paulo Dybala may be playing some of his best football so far at Juventus.
PAPER TALK (by Harry Kettle)
Juventus to beat Man Utd to Torres?
Ferran Torres has been linked with moves to Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund in recent months, but Italian giants Juventus now appear to be in pole position to sign the Valencia starlet.
Reports in Spain suggest that talks between Torres and Maurizio Sarri’s side are “entering a genuinely intensive stage.”
Currently languishing eighth in La Liga, Valencia fired their sixth coach in six years, Albert Celades, on Monday, with sporting director Cesar Sanchez also following the manager out the door.
Now, it appears their most valued young star Torres may soon be headed for the exit, too, which would cap off a rather rough season for Los Che.
Tottenham confident over Hojbjerg deal
Tottenham Hotspur are growing increasingly confident they’ll be able to sign Southampton midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer, the Telegraph reports.
The 24-year-old has been at the heart of growing speculation in recent months, with North London being tipped as his destination during the upcoming transfer window. If they want to get a deal done, though, Spurs may have to go down the swap route.
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho will have to raise the funds for the move by selling members of his own squad, with one possibility being the sale of Kyle Walker-Peters who is currently out on loan with the south coast club.
Tap-ins
– Australia‘s Daniel Arzani is on his way to the Eredivisie, according to SBS. On the books at Manchester City, the 21-year-old has spent the past two seasons at Celtic — mostly on the treatment table after rupturing a ligament in his knee. Now, the young Socceroo is looking to get back to fitness with an “unnamed” mid-table Dutch club.
– AC Milan and Napoli could both be interested in a move for Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic, Le10 Sport reports. La Viola are hoping to make the 22-year-old the main man in their defence next season and would require a fee of at least €30m to agree to sell him. As it turns out, Milan could be looking to make him one of their priority signings, whereas Napoli see him as a possible replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly.
– Tuttosport is reporting that Lazio would require a huge fee of around €100m in order to agree to the sale of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer. Paris Saint-Germain had previously put forward an offer of €60m and, while Lazio president Claudio Lotito initially wanted at least €85m, that figure has reportedly risen to nine figures.