The transfer window may be 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!
TOP STORY: Bayern eye Kolo Muani but Frankfurt won't budge
Eintracht Frankfurt will dismiss offers of €70 million for striker Randal Kolo Muani amid interest from Bayern Munich, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Frankfurt are reportedly aware of interest from their Bundelsiga rivals for Kolo Muani's signature. With the 24-year-old in excellent form in Germany's top flight, it is believed that it would take a "crazy" offer for them to consider parting ways with him this summer.
The France international, who is also attracting interest from the Premier League, has contributed to 23 goals in 28 Bundesliga matches this season. Oliver Glasner's side are planning to keep hold of him for one more campaign, though they would be open to offloading him after the 2024 Euros.
Kolo Muani signed a five-year contract at Deutsche Bank Park after arriving on a free transfer from Nantes last summer.
- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)
LIVE BLOG
22.11 BST: Liverpool are interested in signing Sporting Lisbon midfielder Manuel Ugarte, according to O Jogo.
Jurgen Klopp's side has struggled for most of this season, and the 22-year-old Uruguayan could be an important part of their midfield revamp. The defensive midfielder is tied to the Portuguese giants until the summer of 2026, but could leave if clubs agree to pay the release clause of £52m and negotiate a successful a transfer deal.
21.36 BST: Aston Villa are leading the chase to sign Feyenoord's Orkun Kokcu, according to the Mirror.
The 22-year-old Turkish midfielder is garnering interest from top clubs in the Premier League, but Unai Emery's Villa is leading the race.
Kokcu's current contract runs out in 2025 and an offer around £40m could see the young star move on this summer.
21.05 BST: Arsenal have joined the race to sign Chelsea's Mason Mount, according to the Daily Mail.
The 24-year-old has struggled to secure a first-team spot for his boyhood club this season, and as Mikel Arteta is looking to revamp the Arsenal midfield, a move to the Emirates could be on the table this summer.
Mount enters the final year of his contract in June and negotiations to extend that deal at Stamford Bridge are at a halt.
20.12 BST: Bayern Munich are monitoring Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins in their search for a new striker, according to the Mirror.
Watkins has been on fire this season, scoring 11 in 12 matches, under new coach Unai Emery. The 27-year-old Englishman has helped Villa contend a spot for European football next season.
Although Watkins' current contract runs until 2025, Bayern's new boss Thomas Tuchel could convince the striker to make the move sooner than later.
19.15 BST: In more Harry Kane news, the Spurs captain admitted that the club has lost the values it had under former manager Mauricio Pochettino, in an interview with Sky Sports.
Spurs suffered an embarrassing 6-1 defeat at the hands of Newcastle last week after a turbulent month in which they've had three different managers.
Spurs haven't won a trophy in the last 15 years, and Kane will hope to lift a major title to complement his individual awards before he retires. Whether that will be at Tottenham or not could be decided this summer.
As mentioned below, Manchester United are one of the clubs interested in signing Kane as their search for a striker continues.
17.29 BST: Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag wants the club to prioritise signing a centre-forward this summer.
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Tottenham forward Harry Kane are among United's top targets as the club seek to bring in a genuine No. 9.
"It's not a secret that over the whole season, we had a shortage of No. 9s," Ten Hag told reporters before Sunday's 1-0 win over Aston Villa. "First, we had the dropout of [Cristiano] Ronaldo, then Anthony Martial was often not available, Jadon Sancho was often not available, then you have a shortage of frontline players. "With less players we have to cover many games, so definitely we need in the frontline players who strengthen the squad".
Marcus Rashford is having the best scoring season of his career, while United also brought in Wout Weghorst on loan in January, but Ten Hag is eager to add depth to that area of his squad.
"You can approach that from many ways," he added. "The typical No 9, but Rashford can also play very good as a No 9 and Anthony Martial is a great No 9.
"We have players who can play in that role but definitely we need some offensive players who are really impact players, quality players, who improve the frontline."
- Dawson: United take step towards top-four finish against backdrop of fan protests
16.43 BST: In the multibillion-pound industry that is the top end of professional football, for better or worse it's transfer activity that attracts the most attention among investors, owners, managers, sporting staff, media and supporters alike. And although the transfer window doesn't reopen for another couple of months, planning is already well under way as clubs strive for a positive response to intense scrutiny.
With the "untouchables" usually well-known, the discussion revolves around who to keep and who to let go. The latter are either softly launched as unofficially available (i.e. "listening to offers under the right circumstances"), which is where agents play a vital role, or actively encouraged to search for new opportunities.
As the very nature of sport means that while a few succeed, others fail, it's logical that some teams hit gold with their recruitment whereas others will count the cost for years to come. For a variety of reasons, some signings just don't work out and those involved are better off parting ways once the transfer window opens.
Here's a look at some of these at the top end of the Premier League; all big-name internationals with impressive CVs, sizeable wages and huge transfer outlay, meaning the clubs -- and the players' agents -- need significant and coordinated work (along with some goodwill on either side) to make the moves happen.
- Karlsen: Pulisic, Maguire, Van de Beek among players who need a summer move
15.51 BST: Atletico Madrid are ready to begin talks over a new, improved contract for Mario Hermoso, Marca reports, after the defender's improved form sparked a change of plans, with the club having previously been keen to see him depart.
Hermoso, 27, was a key player for Atletico in their league title win in 2021, but a subsequent drop in performance saw them identify him as a player they'd be open to moving on, if the right offer arrived.
The left-back -- whose current deal is up in 2024 -- has helped Atletico recover from a slow start to this season to consolidate their position in the LaLiga top four, and according to Marca, both parties are now ready to discuss an extension, with Hermoso hoping to secure a pay rise.
- Valladolid vs. Atletico: Stream LIVE 3 p.m. ET, ESPN+ (U.S.)
15.01 BST: Champions League semifinalists AC Milan and Premier League high-flyers Aston Villa are both keen on signing Manchester City full-back Kyle Walker, the Daily Star reports.
England international Walker has been one of City's key players since joining the club from Tottenham in 2017 in a £45m transfer. Since then he has won 11 trophies under Pep Guardiola, including four Premier League titles.
However, the 32-year-old, who has a contract that runs until the end of next season, has been in and out of the team this season due the emergence of academy graduate Rico Lewis and tactical changes from Guardiola.
Despite interest from other clubs, though, the Star reports that Walker wants to stay at City next season.
🗣️ "It's good to see that you cannot just bring top players together and it works out. You cannot have two dressing rooms, you cannot train on two pitches. You have to create relationships."
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 30, 2023
Jurgen Klopp admits he's happy that Chelsea's plan under Todd Boehly has not worked pic.twitter.com/equ676cO4a
14.06 BST: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said he feels sympathy for Chelsea amid the London club's disappointing season, but added that "it is good to see" that their prodigious investment has not equated to positive results.
The club have made 18 signings since co-owner Todd Boehly took over last summer, including the record-breaking acquisition of midfielder Enzo Fernandez in January for €121m. However, they have struggled to build any momentum over the course of the season and sit 12th in the Premier League table with five defeats from five matches under interim boss Frank Lampard.
Klopp said the Chelsea hierarchy "underestimated" the job that departed managers Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter were tasked with, adding that a big investment does not secure success.
"I feel a little bit for Chelsea to be honest, because it's not going well," he told Sky Sports. "I think they're a top, top team, but on the other side it's good to see that you cannot just bring top players together and think it works out.
"You have to build a team and that's what the guys there underestimated and gave their coaches a nearly impossible job to do. You cannot have two dressing rooms, you cannot train on two pitches, you have to create relationships, you have to create team spirit, and that journey is why I'm a little bit happy about it.
"Chelsea will be fine in the end and they will be incredibly strong next year, but I'm using them just as an example. At the highest level, no, we cannot do it like that. And that's what we will not do. You have to bring in the right players and build a new team. This team wrote a sensational story and now we start a new one, that's it."
Herculez Gomez analyses how a potential transfer to MLS for Lionel Messi could impact the league on a global scale.
13.14 BST: Lionel Messi has yet to make a decision regarding his future but the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales has made it clear that he will be "welcomed with open arms" if he decides to return to LaLiga.
Messi, 35, is out of contract with Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season and has not yet agreed an extension with the Ligue 1 club, which he joined from Barcelona in 2021.
Barcelona are looking into the possibility of re-signing Messi and Rubiales said: "If he [Messi] returns to LaLiga he will be welcomed with open arms. In the end all Spaniards and also all fans of Spanish football want that the best players are in our league."
Messi spent 20 years at Barcelona and helped the club win 35 trophies but left for PSG because of a financial crisis in August 2021. Barcelona fans would be ecstatic if Messi returns. They have chanted Messi's name in recent home games. The club have been warned by LaLiga, however, that they must either cut its wage bill or raise in transfer fees as much as €200m to even consider being able to bring in new players this summer.
The Argentina captain, who earlier this month spent a few days at his home in Barcelona during a break from his club, has other offers, including a lucrative one from Saudi Arabia giants Al Hilal, the city rivals of Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr.
"Whatever happens, Leo Messi is unique in world football, and I will always wish him the best," Rubiales said.
Rubiales was full of praise for Messi, whom he played against when he was on the books of Levante in 2006.
"I was lucky enough to play against Leo Messi, although I don't know if you could say it was good or bad luck because I had to mark him," he said. "He is a one-off, a spectacular, fantastic player."
Barcelona fans were chanting Lionel Messi's name during the 10th minute against Girona ❤️ pic.twitter.com/yAe5uqJy08
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 10, 2023
12.22 BST: AC Milan are leading the race to sign teenage right-back Ivan Fresneda of Real Valladolid, according to Sky Sports.
Fresneda, 18, has made 20 appearances for Valladolid since gaining promotion to the first team last summer. The Spain U19 international is under contract with Valladolid until June 2025.
Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and Newcastle are also monitoring Fresneda, who has made 15 league starts for the LaLiga outfit.
11.29 BST: Radamel Falcao has hinted that his next club could be Johor Darul Takzim in Malaysia.
The Colombia international has not extended his contract with Rayo Vallecano, which expires this summer.
Falcao, 37, has given an indication as to his next destination after responding to a tweet from Johor Darul Takzim owner, Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, who is the HRH Crown Prince of Johor.
The HRH Crown Prince of Johor wrote: "See you very soon JDT31 @FALCAO " and the veteran forward replied: "Looking forward to seeing you..."
Falcao, who is in his second season at Rayo, has scored two goals in 20 appearances for the Madrid outfit this campaign.
Looking forward to seeing you... https://t.co/vgmmJVv7HE
— Radamel Falcao (@FALCAO) April 27, 2023
10.33 BST: Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr are monitoring Alex Telles' situation and could potentially reunite him with former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, according to AS.
The Brazilian left-back, who has a contract at Old Trafford expires in June 2024 is on a season-long loan at Sevilla. Telles has made 32 appearances across all competitions for the Spanish outfit but is set to return to Old Trafford this summer.
The 30-year-old's priority is to have minutes next season so he can return and play for Brazil's national team, and he is considering playing outside one of Europe's top five leagues to have regular playing time. He is also a reported target of former club Galatasaray.
09.44 BST: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is confident that the squad could improve next season and the club are looking to bring in new players in the summer.
The Merseyside club have endured a disappointing campaign and could miss out on Champions League football for the first time since 2016.
"I understand that this season makes people nervous," Klopp said ahead of Sunday's match against Tottenham, one of their rivals for a European place. "We were not ourselves in big parts of the season, but we still have to make good decisions and not panic decisions where we say: 'That's it for him, he will never come back and play football for us again.' That is not how it is.
"That is why I said that whatever we do in the summer, it will not be enough for these people [on social media] in the first place. We have to make decisions on what we know and on the basis of the things we know. That is exactly what we will do.
"We have a lot of potential in this team and we didn't show it enough this year. We will keep that, use that, improve that and bring new players in. That is both possible, I think."
- O'Halloran: Liverpool could make UCL, no matter what Klopp says
09.00 BST: Raheem Sterling has backed Chelsea to challenge for trophies next season once a new permanent manager is in place without the need for another overhaul of the squad.
Chelsea have spent £600m over the past two transfer windows on a multitude of signings including Sterling, who joined from Manchester City in a deal worth around £47.5m ($59.72m) in July. However, having fired two managers in Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter this term, the Blues enter their final six games of the season 11th in the Premier League table.
Chelsea are now being led by interim boss Frank Lampard, with former Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino the frontrunner for the permanent role.
"We need to look in the right direction and look to whoever comes in as the next manager to build for the future," Sterling told The Sun. "I enjoyed my time at my previous club and won a lot of trophies.
"But I like a new challenge and this is the challenge I signed up for. It will taste even sweeter to win silverware coming from a moment like this than if you were winning every single week.
"The ability in the dressing room is undeniable and if we have someone who can take control of that we are more than capable of challenging every year."
PAPER GOSSIP (by Adam Brown)
- In addition to their Kolo Muani interest, Bayern are also said to be tracking Adelaide United wunderkind Nestory Irankunda. Paramount+ commentator Andy Harper confirmed during the Reds' 4-1 loss to the Central Coast Mariners on Saturday he had received "very hot mail" that the 17-year-old would be joining the German giants. Yet to make his Socceroos debut, Irankunda is widely considered one of the hottest prospects in Australia.
- Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets is set to extend his stay by one more year, according to Sport. The 34-year-old has been linked with a potential switch to MLS, but manager Xavi Hernandez has been able to persuade him to remain at Camp Nou. Busquets played a key role in the Blaugrana squad this season, having made 26 LaLiga appearances.
- Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan are both keen on Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin, writes the Mirror. The Magpies are reported to be looking for a fee of around £50 million to part ways with the 26-year-old, who has scored just one goal in 20 Premier League appearances this season. Spurs are said to have already made an enquiry over a potential move.
- Liverpool are set to move forward with their approach for Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte, reports O Jogo. Multiple Premier League clubs are reported to be interested in the 22-year-old, but it is the Reds who are looking to move quickly in case they fail to qualify for the Champions League. Ugarte has a release clause in his contract that allows him to be signed for a fee of €60m.
- Newcastle United have shown the most interest from the Premier League in Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga, understands Mundo Deportivo. The 20-year-old is understood to be on the radar of a number of clubs in England's top flight, while Celta are also looking to resist approaches from both Real Madrid and Barcelona.
- The race for Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kokcu is heating up with Aston Villa at the front of the queue for his signature, reveals the Mirror. Kokcu, 22, who is also the Eredivisie side's captain, is believed to be on the radar of six Premier League clubs, but Villa manager Unai Emery is already considering an offer ahead of the summer transfer window. The Turkey international has made 41 appearances across all competitions this season.