The January transfer window is closed around Europe, but teams are looking ahead to the summer and there’s plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
Juventus are closely monitoring United States winger Timothy Weah, according to Calciomercato.
Weah, 23, is of contract with Lille in the summer of 2024 and the Turin giants are expected to push to sign the USMNT star at the end of this season when his transfer fee will have lowered.
Since joining Les Dogues from Paris Saint-Germain in July 2019 for a fee of €10 million, the son of former Ballon d’Or winner George Weah has recorded eight goals and eight assists in all competitions. However, Weah is yet to score for the Ligue 1 side this season, with two assists in 24 appearances.
Still, his versatility is reportedly admired by the Bianconeri, as the natural right winger has been starting at left-back under the orders of coach Paulo Fonseca following an injury to Ismaily.
It is reported that Juve will continue to observe Weah, who has interest from clubs across France, and could swoop in the summer transfer window.
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20.55 GMT: A race is heating up to sign Hajduk Split defender Luka Vuskovic, according to Fabrizio Romano. While Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City have both been linked with interest in the 16-year-old, it is reported that more Premier League clubs are set to join the competition for his signature. Vuskovic has scored six goals in 13 league games for Hajduk Split U19s this season, and he has also established himself as a starter for the Croatia U17 national team after making his debut last October against Wales.
20.22 GMT: AS Monaco wing-back Vanderson is set to meet with his representatives in the coming days to discuss recent interest from Barcelona, reports Sport. The Blaugrana are keen to land a player in his position this summer, having already shown interest in a number of options across Europe, and they believe they could acquire the 21-year-old Brazilian on a lower salary compared to other alternatives while also being able to develop him into a key player among the squad.
19.49 GMT: Burnley want to make the move of on-loan Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen permanent, writes Ekrem Konur. The 21-year-old Netherlands youth international has been a standout performer for Vincent Kompany’s side this season, having contributed to 10 goals from 31 appearances in the Championship, with his displays helping the Clarets into a 13-point lead at the top of the league table.
19.16 GMT: AS Roma want midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum to reduce his salary before agreeing to sign him on a permanent deal, reports Gazzetta dello Sport. The 32-year-old Netherlands international is on loan at the Serie A club from Paris Saint-Germain, and there is an option to make the move permanent for a transfer fee of €8m, but the Giallorossi want Wijnaldum to reduce his salary of €7m plus €3m in bonuses per season before committing to a long-term arrangement.
18.43 GMT: Atletico Madrid are pushing to sign Athletic Club centre-back Inigo Martinez, according to Sport. The 31-year-old Spain international is out of contract in the summer, and despite Barcelona being heavily linked with his signature, it is said that Diego Simeone’s side believe they still have a chance to acquire him, and will push hard to get the deal over the line.
18.10 GMT: Juventus remain interested in extending the stay of wing-back Alex Sandro at the club, according to Calciomercato. The 32-year-old Brazil international was previously reported to be available on a free transfer, but his displays at centre-back as well as on the left flank this season have seen the Bianconeri change their mind. Sandro is now closing in on an automatic extension clause, although the club would prefer to sign him to a new deal that would lower his salary.
17.37 GMT: Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets could see his decision over a new contract at the Spotify Camp Nou influenced by whether the club re-signs Lionel Messi, writes Mundo Deportivo. Both players’ contracts expire in the summer — Busquets’s with Barca, Messi’s with Paris Saint-Germain — and both have been linked with summer switches to MLS outfit Inter Miami CF, and it is reported that the 34-year-old midfielder would lean toward signing a new deal if the Blaugrana bring the Argentina captain back to the club.
17.00 GMT: Former Real Madrid attacking midfielder Isco is set to wait until the summer before making a decision over his next club, reports Estadio Deportivo. The 30-year-old Spain international, who left Sevilla in December after less than five months at the club, is said to have interest from clubs in MLS, Turkey as well as Brasileiro Serie A side Flamengo, but it’s said he will take his time before deciding his new team ahead of the 2023-24 preseason.
16.20 GMT: Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen looks set to leave the club in the summer.
Steffen, 27, has been on loan at Middlesbrough where he has let in 45 goals in 35 games this season. But, despite having a contract until 2025, the United States international (who was left out of the Word Cup squad) doesn’t want to return to City and sit on the bench behind No. 1 Ederson.
“I don’t think I’ll go back,” he told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “No, I want to be playing, although I had a great time at City, and I love those guys. Obviously [it’s] an amazing club. I don’t really have any plans to go back.”
15.35 GMT: When Barcelona came knocking, Keira Walsh could have chosen the familiar path, one of certainty and comfort.
It happened a few days after England had won the 2022 European Championship. She was settled at Manchester City, the team she and her father had supported all their lives. Regarded as one of the world’s best players, the environment she’d established was all attuned to her improving her upward trajectory.
But that’s not her way. The lure of the Champions League proved too much, and as she told ESPN’s Tom Hamilton: when Barcelona comes knocking, it’s tough to turn them down.
14.47 GMT: Celta Vigo president Carlos Mourino admits it will be “very difficult” for his club to keep midfielder Gabri Veiga, a target of Manchester United and Liverpool, at the end of the season.
Veiga, 20, has attracted the attention of top European clubs after scoring eight goals in 24 league games since gaining promotion to the first team last summer.
“We would love for Gabri to stay with us next season at Celta,” Mourino said. “It would be beautiful that he would be with us in our centenary year [August 2023.] But it’s going to be very difficult. We are competing with clubs that want him and that are bigger than us. Of the 10 top teams in the Premier League, four have asked about him. There are several teams after him.”
Mourino denied that Real Madrid had asked Celta about Veiga. “Real Madrid have not asked us, but we don’t know if they have contacted the player,” he said.
Veiga is under contract with Celta until June 2026 and Mourino insists the Spaniard will only leave this summer if his €40m release clause is met.
“We will refer to his release clause,” he said. “We have nothing to negotiate with anyone. We are not considering his departure, but we know that we can’t retain him. We would be lying to ourselves if we believe that there are some options that he will stay. Gabri will decide where he wants to go but only if his release clause is met. It’s as simple as that.”
Mourino says Veiga will have the final say.
“It’s Gabri’s decision,” he said. “He will play where he wants to. We are proud to have a player like Gabri with us. We can’t criticise him because he is looking for what he believes is the best for him. We would be sad to see him go but we are very happy to say that our players reach a certain level.”
14.22 GMT: Former USWNT star Ali Krieger confirmed on Thursday that she will retire at the end of this season after a professional football career that has stretched some 16 years.
Krieger, 38, who won two World Cups with the United States in 2015 and 2019, said she will finish out the season with Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League.
The opening stop on the farewell tour comes on Sunday, when Gotham starts the season at Angel City FC.
14.00 GMT: Could Liverpool sign Adrien Rabiot on a free transfer?
13.04 GMT: Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Leeds United youngster Wilfried Gnonto has Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City on his trail.
Gnonto, 19, shot to fame as a teenager when handed a call-up to the Italy squad in may 2022. Leeds picked him up on transfer deadline day in the summer for around €5m from Swiss side FC Zurich and there is reportedly a €20m clause in his contract if the Yorkshire club are relegated.
He has four goals from 20 games in all competitions this season.
12.15 GMT: Paris Saint-Germain are ready to move on midfielder Renato Sanches, despite only signing him in the summer, says 90min.
Sanches, 25, joined PSG from Lille for €10m but has managed just two goals in 16 Ligue 1 games this season.
Liverpool, Newcastle, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Wolves are reported to be interested in bringing the Portugal international to the Premier League, while AC Milan are also monitoring the situation.
11.38 GMT: Watford left-back Harry Amass is in talks with Manchester United, according to the Evening Standard.
Amass, 16, is highly rated and has been tracked by Chelsea. However, United have reportedly had a breakthrough in negotiations and the England U16 defender is keen to move to a top academy to continue his development,
11.00 GMT: Wrexham have signed former England goalkeeper Ben Foster, 39, on a free transfer after he came out of retirement.
10.45 GMT: Adrien Rabiot has not ruled out remaining at Juventus beyond this summer.
The France international becomes a free agent in June and has not signed a contract extension with the Bianconeri. Juve are hoping to convince the midfielder to remain in Turin, but he has interest from plenty of top clubs around Europe.
“For the time being there’s nothing new,” Rabiot told Tuttosport. “But we will probably speak soon as in less than two months, the season will be over. We will discuss it. I’m calm. There’s the possibiliity to leave but also the chance to sign another contract with Juve. I feel well in Turin and I have a good rapport with everyone.”
Rabiot, 27, in his fourth year at Juve, has scored nine goals and set up four more in 33 appearances across all competitions this season.
Juve were deducted 15 points by Italy’s FA for “financial irregularities” and “false accounting” and are looking to qualify for European football next season. They are seventh in Serie A with 11 games remaining.
“We are having a complicated season for all known reasons, but I think we are capable of winning the Europa League and also the Coppa Italia,” Rabiot said.
10.06 GMT: Real Madrid have reactivated “Operation Haaland,” to sign Manchester City forward Erling Haaland in the summer of 2024, Diario AS reports.
Haaland, 22, is under contract with City until June 2027 but reportedly has a €200m clause in his contract that could see him leave earlier — though that has been denied by manager Pep Guardiola.
Either way, Los Blancos are ready to make a move for Haaland regardless of whether they sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe.
Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema will become a free agent this summer but Madrid are set to offer the veteran France international a one-year contract extension.
Madrid are looking to Haaland as Benzema’s replacement for the 2024-25 campaign, though have already agreed a €72m deal to bring in 16-year-old Endrick from Palmeiras in 2024 when he turns 18.
The dream, however, is to have a star-studded attack made up of Vinicius Jr., Haaland and Mbappe for the 2024-25 season at the Bernabeu.
09.16 GMT: Paris Saint-Germain are ready to make an offer to sign Benfica midfielder Cher Ndour, according to Record.
Ndour, 18, made his first-team debut with Benfica in Saturday’s 5-1 win against Vitoria SC. He is a free agent in June and has been scouted by Juventus already this season.
Benfica coach Roger Schmidt is keen to keep Ndour in his team next season and has asked the club to begin contract extension talks with the player’s agent.
08.52 GMT: Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the summer if Manchester United decide to let him leave, sources have told ESPN.
Henderson is on loan at Nottingham Forest until the end of the season and is set for talks with United about his future.
The 26-year-old has a contract at Old Trafford until 2025 with the option of another year but he’s keen to play regular football in an effort to force his way into the England squad ahead of the Euros in Germany in 2024 and the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
United refused to include an option to sign permanently in Henderson’s loan agreement with Forest last summer.
08.30 GMT: Cristiano Ronaldo said on Wednesday that his exit from Manchester United following a second stint at Old Trafford represented a “bad phase of his career.”
The Portugal international, who is back playing for his country in a pair of Euro 2024 qualifiers, moved to Saudi club Al Nassr in January after becoming a pariah at United following an interview with Piers Morgan in which he was highly critical of the club and manager Erik ten Hag.
“There is no time for regrets in this life. Even if we don’t do so well, it’s part of our life,” Ronaldo told a news conference before Thursday’s match with Liechtenstein. “When we are at the top of the mountain, it’s hard to see what’s down here and many times I couldn’t. I feel like I’m better prepared now because I can see some things. I’m a better man now.
“I think that everything in life happens for a reason. I’m often grateful to go through some difficult things so I can see who is really on my side. At the tough times, you see who is on your side. It wasn’t a very good phase in my life, in my career, first on a personal level and then professionally.”
– Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are all considering a move for Andre Onana, reports Gazzetta dello Sport. The 26-year-old goalkeeper has kept 14 clean sheets in 23 appearances for Internazionale since arriving on a free transfer from Ajax Amsterdam last June. The Nerazzurri are not keen to part ways with the Cameroon international but have reportedly lined up Juventus transfer target Guglielmo Vicario of Empoli as a potential replacement.
– Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United are set to battle for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Randal Kolo Muani, according to Ekrem Konur. The 24-year-old has impressed in the Bundesliga this season with 11 goals and 10 assists. The German side are reportedly holding out for an offer in excess of €100m for the France international.
– Juventus are eyeing a new deal for Alex Sandro, reports Tuttosport. Sandro, 32, previously looked set to leave Turin, but if the Brazil international features in 10 of the 15 remaining games this season his contract is automatically extended until 2024. The defender is an important part of Allegri’s side and, despite recovering from injury, he is expected to return to the starting XI after the international break.
– Chelsea are reluctant to hand Kepa Arrizabalaga a contract extension, says Football Insider. The 28-year-old is currently the No. 1 at Stamford Bridge ahead of Edouard Mendy, but the Blues are reportedly looking for a new first-choice goalkeeper this summer. The Spain international is expected to see out the remaining two years of his contract, which reportedly sees him earn £150,000-a-week, but with the west London side looking to balance their books, it is unlikely he will be offered a new deal.
– The future of Dejan Kulusevski is uncertain, according to Calciomercato. Spurs boss Antonio Conte is expected to depart following his recent outburst, but was influential in bringing the 22-year-old to North London after their time together at Juventus. The Sweden international is nearing the end of his 18-month loan spell, and an obligation for him to sign permanently is in doubt, as the conditions to play in at least 20 Premier League games and for Spurs to qualify for the Champions League might not be met.
