The coronavirus pandemic has made the transfer market uncertain — and you can find out when the windows open here — but here are the rumours floating around Europe’s big leagues and beyond.
TOP STORY: Liverpool weighing move for Norwich’s Lewis
The Independent reports that Liverpool are interested in signing Norwich City left-back Jamal Lewis as Jurgen Klopp seeks more cover for Andy Robertson.
The Reds are said to be prepared to part with £10 million to make the deal happen, but they will likely face competition for the 22-year-old Northern Ireland international.
Klopp is said to be impressed by Lewis’ “elite” attitude and believes the player will thrive if offered the chance to develop alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Perhaps not coincidentally, Alexander-Arnold and Lewis are both represented by sports agency PLG, as is Robertson, and that connection has put the Premier League champions on the front foot in the race to secure the 22-year-old’s signature.
Lewis can also operate on the left of midfield, so he will bring even more versatility to the Reds’ already attacking-minded backline if an agreement can be reached.
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10.02 BST: Barcelona will not buy Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez this summer unless Luis Suarez leaves the club, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Suarez, who is tied to Barca until June 2021, is reportedly a target of MLS side Inter Miami CF. And Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu recently said that his club and Inter Milan had mutually agreed to halt talks regarding the €111m-rated Martinez, who is considered a potential successor to Suarez.
Barca will wait until next summer to acquire Martinez unless Suarez decides to leave Camp Nou. Suarez, 33, has scored 196 goals for Barca across all competitions since arriving from Liverpool in 2014 and is the club’s third all-time goalscorer.
However, the Uruguay international’s contract with Barca will be automatically renewed until June 2022 if he plays 60% of Barca’s games in the 2020-21 campaign.
09.35 BST: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Christian Fruchtl is set to join Nurnberg on loan, say Bild, Kicker, and Sky.
Fruchtl, 20, is highly rated and was considered the long-term replacement for Manuel Neuer before Bayern signed Alexander Nubel from Schalke on a free transfer this summer.
As his route to the first team is now blocked at the Allianz Arena, Fruchtl will get a chance to prove himself in 2.Bundesliga.
Meanwhile, Schalke’s efforts to replace Nubel have taken a blow as Hertha Berlin hijacked their move for Alexander Schwolow. The Freiburg keeper was set to join Schalke, but the Royal Blues struggled to come up with the money in time and instead Schwolow now had a change of heart and joined the capital club.
09.21 BST: Manchester City landed Ferran Torres from Valencia for €23m, plus add-ons, last night. Here’s why City deserve an A grade for the signing.
2:05
Julien Laurens sees exactly why Pep Guardiola and Man City have brought in 20-year-old Ferran Torres.
08.55 BST: ICYMI – Manchester United’s move for Jadon Sancho is in danger of stalling with Borussia Dortmund refusing to lower their €120m asking price, sources have told ESPN’s Rob Dawson.
Talks over a deal for Sancho remain at an early stage with the two clubs said to be apart in their valuation of the England winger, particularly in the first transfer window following the coronavirus pandemic.
Sancho remains United’s principal target this summer but they are prepared to walk away from negotiations and pursue other targets if a compromise cannot be found over the fee.
08.26 BST: Sky Italia reports that Tottenham right-back Serge Aurier has agreed to join AC Milan but the two clubs have yet to reach an agreement on his transfer.
The Ivory Coast defender is tied to Spurs until June 2022 but, according to reports, Milan are optimistic that a deal can be reached despite the Italian club being only willing to offer €15m, while Tottenham want €20m.
The 27-year-old had been keen to leave Spurs last summer but remained and made 42 appearances in all competitions this season.
08.00 BST: Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will sign a five-year contract extension with the club, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The Germany international is tied to Barca until June 2022 and club president Josep Maria Bartomeu stressed that the player’s contract renewal is a priority this summer.
Barca left Ter Stegen’s contract talks to one side due to the coronavirus pandemic but the negotiations have now restarted. According to Mundo Deportivo, Barca and Ter Stegen are in agreement regarding the length of contract. However, the two sides are still discussing financial terms.
The 28-year-old will see an improvement in his wages but not a substantial increase due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ter Stegen, who signed for Barca in the summer of 2014 from Borussia Monchengladbach, has kept 15 clean sheets in 44 appearances for Barca this season.
1:12
Craig Burley tries to put himself in Chelsea’s shoes over whether or not to give Willian a contract extension.
PAPER TALK (by Liam Wheeler)
It looks like Willian will be staying in London next season, but not with Chelsea, as the Brazilian is reported to be holding out for a three-year deal with bitter rivals Arsenal, says The Mirror.
The Blues are willing to offer him only a two-year contract and Willian, who turns 32 next week, has lucrative offers to move abroad, notably from David Beckham‘s Inter Miami, but he has made no secret of his desire to stay in London and the Premier League.
According to both the Mirror and the Star, that has put the Gunners, who secured their first trophy under Mikel Arteta by beating Chelsea 2-1 in Sunday’s FA Cup final, in the driver’s seat to secure the winger’s services.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein adds that the club will now make a formal offer at Arteta’s request, with Willian ready to snub the chance to earn more elsewhere in favour of a longer contract.
However, sources have told ESPN’s James Olley he will wait until after Saturday’s Champions League round-of-16 second leg at Bayern Munich before deciding his future.
Saints to sign Spurs defender Walker-Peters
Southampton have negotiated a deal to sign Tottenham Hotspur defender Kyle Walker-Peters on a permanent basis, Sky Sports reports.
The two clubs are said to have negotiated a fee in the region of £12m for the transfer of Walker-Peters, who will make his switch to St. Mary’s Stadium permanent following a successful loan spell on the south coast.
Earlier reports suggested that Denmark midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is set to head the opposite direction in a separate £15m deal, and while both transfers are still subject to the two clubs agreeing to personal terms, both players are said to be keen to complete their respective moves.
The 23-year-old Walker-Peters made 10 appearances for Saints this season after joining the club in a temporary deal for the second half of the campaign.
Tap-ins
– Leicester City are keen to sign Burnley defender James Tarkowski, but the Clarets are adamant that the England defender will not leave Turf Moor unless his £50m release clause is met. That would mean a big profit for Sean Dyche’s side, who paid just £3.5m to lure Tarkowski from Brentford in 2016.
– Elsewhere, the Mail also says winger Ryan Fraser is considering an offer to join Crystal Palace in a deal that would double his Bournemouth salary. Fraser, 26, is a free agent after opting to run down his contract with the Cherries and has been offered £50,000-a-week in a bid to tempt him to Selhurst Park.