The transfer window for Europe’s biggest clubs is closed, but click here for all the deals. Transfer Talk will continue to scour the world’s media and set correspondents loose to see what’s on the agenda for the summer.
Jump to: Real’s lowball Hazard offer | Top clubs eye Ndombele
TOP STORY: United to entice Rice to Old Trafford?
The West Ham board is braced for an approach from Manchester United for their newly-capped England international Declan Rice, according to reports in the Irish Independent.
Despite signing a new long-term contract at the London Stadium back in December, Rice could be tempted by a big-money move to United that would bring a nice pay rise to his current £30,000 a week pay packet.
The 20-year-old’s contract does leave West Ham in a strong negotiating position, however, with the Londoners expected to demand a fee of at least £50 million for the midfielder, despite him playing in only 56 Premier League games in his fledgling career.
A move for Rice isn’t the only one on United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s agenda, with Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho also on his shopping list, while the Norwegian is also planning a mass clearout of some of his side’s ageing stars.
Real seek cut-price Hazard summer switch
Real Madrid are stepping up their pursuit of Chelsea winger Eden Hazard, with the Telegraph claiming the Spanish giants want a deal done before the end of the season.
The Belgium international’s contract at Stamford Bridge expires in the summer of 2020, and with the 28-year-old seemingly uninterested in signing an extension at the club, Real are confident of getting their man on a relatively cheap deal.
Despite Hazard’s increasingly ominous contract situation, Chelsea still value their star man at the £100m mark, but Madrid officials are reluctant to pay anything above £85m, as they look to make the Chelsea No. 10 their first major signing of the second Zinedine Zidane era.
Despite the continued speculation, Hazard is expected to start in Chelsea’s Premier League game against West Ham on Monday night, and will be hoping to add to his tally of 17 goals in all competitions.
Ndombele attracts attention from six of the best
Calciomercato claims as many of six top European are chasing Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, with the Italian outlet reporting Juventus as the team in pole position for his signature.
The French midfield destroyer is developing a big reputation following some impressive displays for his side in both Ligue 1 and the Champions League, after signing permanently from Amiens last summer for just €8m.
And his performances have attracted attention from some of the continent’s biggest sides, with the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain keeping an eye on the 22-year-old, as well as admiring glances from Premier League trio Manchester United, Man City and Chelsea.
But Juventus appear to have stolen a march on their European rivals, after the player’s agent met officials of the Turin club back in January, ahead of a potential €60m switch in the summer.
Tap ins
– Roma are eyeing a cut-price move for Sevilla winger Pablo Sarabia. The 26 year-old has just over a year left on his contract in Andalusia, and could be available for as little as €18m in the summer, with the Calciomercato claiming the capital club is set to trigger the Spaniard’s release clause in the coming months.
– Chelsea are plotting a permanent deal for on-loan Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic. The Croatian has become a mainstay in the Blues midfield, racking up 30 starts for Mauricio Sarri’s side, but a deal is dependent on the outcome of an appeal against a two-window transfer ban. Chelsea boss Sarri is on the record that Kovacic is the type of player he covets for his system.
– Calciomercato claims Juventus are interested in a deal to sign Roma defender Kostas Manolas, but only if Claudio Ranieri’s side fail to qualify for the Champions League. The 27-year-old Greek international has a contract at the Stadio Olimpico until 2022, but failure to finish in Serie A’s top four could tempt him into a move elsewhere.