The summer transfer window is approaching, and there's plenty of gossip swirling about who's moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings and goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Kounde wants Barca move over Premier League
Mundo Deportivo reports that Jules Kounde has told Sevilla that he would prefer to join Barcelona this summer over a move to Premier League clubs Chelsea or Newcastle United.
That would come as a major blow for Chelsea, who were pursuing the 23-year-old defender after losing both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen on free transfers.
Kounde is reportedly Xavi Hernandez's first choice to reinforce the defensive line alongside the aforementioned Christensen, who is expected to be presented at Camp Nou in the coming weeks. Club legend Gerard Pique is apparently not part of the Barca manager's plans for next season.
Despite Chelsea and Newcastle being willing to pay Kounde's €90 million release clause, Sevilla would reportedly accept around €65m-€70m for the France international, as the Catalan side are preparing a swap proposal which includes 21-year-old USMNT full-back Sergino Dest.
However, any transfer could still be in doubt as Kounde recently underwent minor surgery following an injury while playing for France, which will keep him on the sidelines for at least a month.
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21.30 BST: Sassuolo have offered Giacomo Raspadori to AC Milan and want a transfer fee of €30m for the attacker, according to Calciomercato. While Milan's priority is still to sign Lille duo Renato Sanches and Sven Botman, they are interested in strengthening their attack and could look to include defender Matteo Gabbia in an effort to bring the cost of a move down. Elsewhere, Juventus could move for Raspadori if they can't come to an agreement with Atletico de Madrid for Alvaro Morata while West Ham United are also interested in the Italy international.
20.57 BST: Fulham have reached an agreement with Sporting CP for Joao Palhinha after having a bid including an €18m transfer fee accepted, according to Fabrizio Romano. Wolverhampton Wanderers have also made the midfielder an offer that is said to be tempting, with the decision now in the hands of the 26-year-old Portugal midfielder.
20.24 BST: Newcastle United are weighing up a move for Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope as they aim to bring in competition for Martin Dubravka, according to the Mail. The Magpies have also looked at Manchester United's Dean Henderson, Paris Saint-Germain's Alphonse Areola and Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga but that trio could be set to join Nottingham Forest, West Ham United and Lazio, respectively. Pope has had various offers but a move to Newcastle appeals to him due to investment in the club and the progress made so far under Eddie Howe.
19.51 BST: Gazzetta dello Sport reports that while Sassuolo's Davide Frattesi remains AS Roma's priority in midfield, they are also looking at Houssem Aouar of Lyon, although the Ligue 1 outfit want a transfer fee of €25m as opposed to the €15m the Giallorossi have offered so far. Regarding potential outgoings from the Italian capital, Jordan Veretout is wanted by Marseille and Lyon, while Nice are interested in a deal for Justin Kluivert, but not at the €14m transfer fee agreed when he joined them on loan, with Marseille and AS Monaco also interested.
19.18 BST: Nottingham Forest are in talks with Mainz defender Moussa Niakhate ahead of a possible move, reports L'Equipe. The 26-year-old former France youth international has one year left on his contract and would not be against leaving the Bundesliga, with Everton and West Ham United also having shown an interest in him.
18.45 BST: Stade Rennais, Nice and Schalke are all interested in Metz right-back Fabien Centonze, reports Foot Mercato. Les Grenats will seek a transfer fee of €3m for the 26-year-old following their relegation to Ligue 2.
18.12 BST: Juventus have renewed the contract of Mattia De Sciglio, who is now set to stay until 2025, the club announced on Thursday. The full-back first joined the Bianconeri in 2017 and played 29 times for them across all competitions during the 2021-22 campaign, the most he has ever managed in one season for the club.
17.39 BST: Despite a deal not yet being completed, Barcelona and Gavi are both confident that they will be able to agree on terms for a contract renewal, according to Sport. The 17-year-old midfielder's current deal runs until 2023 and includes a €50m release clause, and with ground having been made after an initial distance in expectations, it is reported that there is one small issue to overcome before a contract can be signed that will include a €1b release clause.
17.06 BST: The Athletic reports that Arsenal are close to signing FC Porto attacking midfielder Fabio Vieira for a transfer fee of €40m. The 22-year-old Portugal youth international is set to fly to London on Thursday to sign a five-year deal with the Gunners in a move that is said to be driven by manager Mikel Arteta.
16.33 BST: Are Argentine giants Boca Juniors about to sign Inter Milan midfielder Arturo Vidal and ex-Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani? The club's vice-president, Juan Roman Riquelme, sure thinks so.
"Vidal was born to play for Boca. Whether or not we can pay him is another story. The same is true for Cavani: he was born to play here," Riquelme told ESPN Argentina. "I hear so many things and what they say, people tell me. But we are very happy with the team we have. They are two star players, top level. One always dreams of having them on the squad, but from that to reality, it is more complicated."
16.00 BST: Wales forward Gareth Bale is a free agent after leaving Real Madrid and needs a new club ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
Bale, 32, has been linked with Championship side Cardiff but The Sun claims that Tottenham, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are among the Premier League clubs monitoring him.
The five-time Champions League winner has yet to say where his future lies, though he has said he will not sign for Madrid-based side Getafe this summer.
15.11 BST: Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has told El Chiringuito about Kylian Mbappe's decision to snub a move to the Bernabeu in order to sign a new contract at PSG.
Mbappe, 23, had been widely expected to move to Madrid this summer, with his PSG contract due to expire on June 30. But after a late change of heart, the France forward signed a three-year deal to stay in Paris until 2025
"His dream was to play at Real Madrid, we wanted to do it last August and they didn't let him leave, he kept saying he wanted to play at Madrid and like 15 days before he changed the situation," Perez said.
"This is not the Mbappe I wanted to bring; he is another one, who must have changed his dream.
"He changes, he is offered other things, he is pressured and he is already another footballer. There is no one at Real Madrid above the club. He is a great player, he can win more than others, but it is a collective sport and we have values and principles that we cannot change."
14.38 BST: Leeds United have offered around £20m to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Arnaud Kalimuendo, according to The Independent.
Kalimuendo has struggled to break into the PSG squad since graduating from the academy in 2020 and has spent the last two seasons on loan at Lens.
The 20-year-old showed promise in the 2021-22 season, notching 12 goals in 34 league games, and has been subject to interest from various clubs this season.
Kalimuendo has already rejected an offer made by newly promoted Premier League side Nottingham Forest, according to Foot Mercato, but may be more tempted by Leeds.
14.00 BST: Who could replace Mauricio Pochettino at PSG?
13.06 BST: Liverpool have agreed a £4m fee with Aberdeen to bring highly rated right-back Calvin Ramsay to Anfield, according to The Times.
The deal includes an added £2.5m contingent on the 18-year-old's appearances and involvement with success.
Ramsay played 33 times for Aberdeen, who finished third from bottom in the Scottish Premier League last season, and was named the Scottish Football Writers' Association Young Players of the Year.
12.32 BST: Arsenal are confident they can agree a deal with Manchester City over the transfer of Gabriel Jesus, according to The Times.
Jesus, 25, is said to be keen to reunite with Mikel Arteta, who joined Arsenal following a three-year spell as assistant to Pep Guardiola at City.
The Gunners are looking to bolster their forward options with Alexandre Lacazette leaving the club on a free transfer this summer, but their initial bid, made last week, reportedly fell short of City's £50m valuation.
The Brazil international impressed at the end of the 2021-22 season, with 13 goals and 12 assists for the campaign, but will be falling down the pecking order at City with the arrival of Erling Haaland.
12.17 BST: The Athletic says that Manchester City midfielder Romeo Lavia is on the radar of Leeds United and Southampton.
Lavia, 18, has not made a Premier League appearance for City's first team after moving from Anderlecht in 2020.
However, the Belgian defensive midfielder could be used as part of the deal to take Leeds' Kalvin Philips to City.
11.30 BST: Paul Pogba has expressed his dismay at Manchester United and said he wants to prove the club "made a mistake" by failing to extend his contract this summer.
The 29-year-old will leave Old Trafford for a second time on a free transfer at the end of June and sources have told ESPN that he has sealed a return to former club Juventus on a four-year contract.
Pogba, who recently said he needed to feel loved at United, has hit out at the club's inability to keep him in his upcoming documentary, "The Pogmentary," which will be released on Amazon Prime on Friday.
"My thought process is to show Manchester [United] that they made a mistake in waiting to give me a contract," he said in an extract seen by The Athletic. "And to show other clubs that Manchester had made a mistake in not offering me a contract."
10.51 BST: Inter Milan have had €5m loan offer for Romelu Lukaku rejected by Chelsea and journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claims they will need to triple the bid.
Chelsea want €15m in loan fees to let the €115m striker return to Inter, however a €10m compromise could be accepted.
10.15 BST: Man City's new £51.2m signing Erling Haaland might enjoy the start of the season, given the fixtures on offer.
09.47 BST: Manchester City are set to submit a bid to sign Brighton defender Marc Cucurella, says Fabrizio Romano.
Cucurella, 23, impressed at Brighton last season after moving from Getafe in the summer, with the former Barcelona academy product on Pep Guardiola's radar as Man City's top target at left-back.
Brighton reportedly want around £45m for the Spain international, but it remains to be seen what City's opening offer will be.
09.32 BST: Manchester United and Nottingham Forest are in talks over a deal for goalkeeper Dean Henderson, sources have told ESPN.
Forest, who won promotion to the Premier League last season, are keen to negotiate an initial loan move for Henderson, who has told United chiefs that he wants to leave Old Trafford this summer.
Sources have told ESPN that United are willing to let the England goalkeeper move and that their preference is for a temporary deal. Henderson was restricted to just three first-team appearances last season as understudy to No.1 David De Gea.
He is keen to find regular football in a bid to earn a place in England's squad for the World Cup, due to start in Qatar in November. There is speculation that Forest's current No. 1, Brice Samba, could leave this summer.
09.04 BST: Mauricio Pochettino has been sacked as Paris Saint-Germain manager just months after guiding the team to the league title, sources have told ESPN.
The club is yet to announce the departure of the Argentine, but sources have told ESPN it was agreed on Wednesday morning. Pochettino had one year left on his contract.
PSG are still trying to secure the signing of their new boss. Christophe Galtier, the Nice manager, is now the front-runner and the favourite of new sporting director Luis Campos, who replaced Leonardo.
Sources have told ESPN that the discussions are positive and Galtier, who won the Ligue 1 title ahead of PSG with Lille, in 2021, is keen on the job.
Zinedine Zidane was the priority of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who owns PSG and has been close to Zidane for many years.
Zidane has been without a club since leaving Real Madrid in the summer of 2021, but sources have told ESPN that he wants to coach the France national team after Didier Deschamps leaves and is unlikely to be the new PSG boss.
08.39 BST: Villarreal would love for Pau Torres to remain at the club for the rest of his career but know it's unlikely, according to the club's CEO Fernando Roig.
The centre-back is considered one of the best defenders in LaLiga and has fully established himself within the starting XI for Spain. Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea have reportedly monitored Torres' progress this season and are keen to sign the 25-year-old this summer.
Torres is under contract with Villarreal until June 2024 and has been offered a contract extension.
"We would love for Torres who started his career here to end it at Villarreal, " Roig said. "He is among the best 10 defenders in the world for sure, although I would go further and say he is in the top five. I wish someone born here would remain at the club the rest of his life. But the reality in football is different and there are teams that are very powerful. We shall see what happens but we would have no issue with him staying here the rest of his career."
Roig, meanwhile, spoke about the possibility that Giovani Lo Celso will remain at Villarreal for a further season. The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder made 16 league appearances while on a six-month loan at Villarreal, as well as playing a part in their run to the Champions League semifinals.
"It's a complex operation but the truth is that the player has been happy here and we are happy with him," Roig said. "We will do all that we can to have him next season but it won't be an easy task to achieve it. He is a very good player. He has played for PSG, Betis, Tottenham, had a good spell with us. He is an Argentina international, a very important footballer. He gave us a lot and I hope he will do the same in the future."
08.00 BST: Paul Pogba will return to Juventus on a free transfer after leaving Manchester United, sources have told ESPN's Julien Laurens.
The 29-year-old has signed a four-year deal at Juventus as he moves to the club for the second time in his career -- he previously joined the Italian giants in 2012 from United.
Pogba enjoyed a successful four-year first stint in Turin, winning four consecutive league titles and two Coppa Italia trophies. He will also be reunited with manager Massimiliano Allegri as the club look to win their first Serie A title since 2020.
Sources told ESPN last month that Pogba was keen on a return to Juventus after turning down interest from Premier League champions Manchester City.
PSG were also a potential destination for the France international, but the departure of sporting director Leonardo and the arrival of Luis Campos cooled down the interest from the Ligue 1 champions.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Abbie Ingham)
- West Ham United are interested in Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse, according to The Mirror. The 27-year-old England international had an impressive Premier League campaign, achieving a personal best of 10 goals and five assists in 26 league appearances. David Moyes is reportedly looking to add depth to the Hammers' midfield for next season with top-flight ready players and the dead-ball specialist is considered a proven talent.
- Inter Milan have had €5m loan deal for Romelu Lukaku rejected by Chelsea, reports Fabrizio Romano. After the two sides opened official negotiations over the 29-year-old on Wednesday, Inter saw their opening bid declined. Following a disappointing season for the Blues, which saw the €115m club-record signing manage just eight league goals, the striker is set for move away from Stamford Bridge this summer. However, the Belgium international is determined on rejoin the Nerazzurri and so talks will continue this week.
- Another from Fabrizio Romano here, who reports that Andreas Pereira is set to return to Manchester United following a season-long loan with Flamengo. The 26-year-old will return to Old Trafford ahead of preseason, with the Brazilian side unwilling to exercise their €10.5m option to keep the midfielder permanently. Pereira could still be set to leave the Red Devils this summer, with just one year left on his contract and is reportedly not part of Erik ten Hag's plans for next season.
- Bournemouth are close to completing a deal for right-back Ryan Fredericks as part of a triple transfer swoop, reports The Sun. The 29-year-old is available on a free transfer, with his contract at West Ham expiring at the end of this month, after making 77 appearances in four-years for the Hammers. Scott Parker's side are also set to sign 27-year-old midfielder Joe Rothwell, who is out of contract this summer, while 23-year-old midfielder Marcus Tavernier has just one year left on his deal with Middlesbrough and is reportedly available to join the Cherries for a lower fee.
- Fiorentina are preparing a €10m opening bid for Shakhtar Donetsk's Dodo, writes Sky Sports. The 23-year-old Brazilian right-back has already been linked to Barcelona as the heir to departing Dani Alves. Fiorentina are also looking to replace Alvaro Odriozola, as the 26-year-old defender will return to Real Madrid this summer following a season-long loan.