With the transfer window for Europe’s biggest clubs set to open soon — find out exactly when the Premier League transfer window opens here – rest assured that Transfer Talk is scouring the world’s media and setting correspondents loose to see what is on the agenda.
TOP STORY: Pogba off to Madrid?
Paul Pogba has told Manchester United teammates he wants to leave Old Trafford, French newspaper L’Equipe reports.
World Cup winner Pogba has been the focus of intense speculation since he said it would be “a dream” to play for Madrid.
Pogba was below par in United’s 4-0 defeat at Everton on Sunday, and L’Equipe suggests the 26-year-old has said he wants out and does not expect Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or the board to block his move.
Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has made no secret of his admiration for the midfielder, while Barcelona and Juventus have also been linked with him.
LIVE BLOG
22.49 BST: That’s going to bring Wednesday’s live edition of Transfer Talk to a close. Be sure to check back very soon when we return with the latest gossip pulled from Thursday’s back pages.
22.08 BST: Everton are eager to sign on-loan centre-back Kurt Zouma to a permanent contract, but the 24-year-old’s availability will depend on the outcome of Chelsea’s appeal of their transfer ban, according to the Liverpool Echo.
20.31 BST: Manchester United are contemplating how to lower their wage bill, according to the Sun. The report states that Marcos Rojo has been valued at a cut-price £15m in order to move on the centre-back, but if no buyer can be found, the Argentina international is demanding a £6m payout with two years worth £11.5m remaining on his contract. The Red Devils are also said to be desperate to get rid of Alexis Sanchez, but his reported £505,000-a-week wages could prove to be a major issue.
18.54 BST: Metro cites Corriere dello Sport as reporting that Liverpool lead the race for Napoli’s £60m-rated attacker Lorenzo Insigne, but that the Italy international would prefer to reunite with Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea.
17.17 BST: Mundo Deportivo reports that Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing playmaker Takefusa Kubo, 17, from FC Tokyo.
16.30 BST: The Mirror says Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain will battle it out with Manchester United to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who it says is “a top target for United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.”
15.47 BST: Reports in Italy suggest that Roma would be willing to let midfielder Steven Nzonzi, previously linked with Arsenal, leave at the end of the season.
15.14 BST: Newcastle’s hopes of signing midfielder Andreas Samaris have been boosted after Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira indicated that talks over renewing his contract were not currently a priority, the Northern Echo reports.
14.42 BST: Real Madrid are in discussions with Ajax over the permanent transfer of Martin Odegaard, according to De Telegraaf. However, the Dutch giants are balking at the €20m asking price.
Odegaard, 20, is on loan at Vitesse Arnhem for the season — the second consecutive campaign he has spent in the Eredivisie, having been at Heerenveen in 2017-18 — and has shown a marked improvement this term.
Ajax are known for helping young players reach their potential, and the move could suit all parties.
13.59 BST: L’Equipe reports that PSG will sell midfielder Gaetan Robail in the summer, with Montpellier and Strasbourg both interested.
13.36 BST: Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has not ruled out the possibility that Gareth Bale could leave in a summer shake-up at the Bernabeu.
Wales international Bale has started only one of Madrid’s last four games and has become a target of barracking from frustrated fans.
12.37 BST: Malcom wants to leave Barcelona at the end of the season, with the club prepared to sell if they can recoup what they spent on him last summer, multiple sources have told ESPN FC.
The Brazilian forward was set to join Serie A side Roma from Bordeaux until Barca swooped with an 11th-hour bid to take him to Camp Nou in a deal worth €40 million.
11.59 BST: RB Leipzig’s Mali international Amadou Haidara has told Sport Bild he would like to play in the Premier League one day, and for one club in particular. “I really like Manchester United and try to watch as many games as I can,” he said. “I dream of playing there one day.”
11.38 BST: Wolves are reported to be interested in Besiktas defender Domagoj Vida and could make a move once the season is over, according to the Birmingham Mail.
11.05 BST: Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is optimistic that playmaker Christian Eriksen, who scored last night’s winner against Brighton, will soon be talking about signing a new deal.
Eriksen is out of contract next season, but Pochettino said: “Christian is a special person. We are all special, different. We need to understand that. The timing for him or for the club to be agreeing something is maybe different to another player. I hope and I wish that Christian can be with us in the future. I think Christian and us, we are so open to talk and we will see what happens.”
10.43 BST: Real Madrid defender Jesus Vallejo is ignoring approaches to play elsewhere as he aims to prove himself worthy of a first-team place at the Bernabeu, a source close to the player has told ESPNFC.
Spain under-21 captain Vallejo made his first La Liga start of the season in the weekend victory at home to Athletic Bilbao, drawing praise from coach Zinedine Zidane.
10.12 BST: Benfica have no intention of selling stars including Joao Felix, who has been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, as they chase a European trophy, president Luis Filipe Viera has said.
Attacking midfielder Felix, 19, is reported to have attracted the attention of top clubs including Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus.
09.43 BST: Eintracht Frankfurt forward Luka Jovic, who they bought after a loan spell from Benfica, could be on his way to Real Madrid, according to AS, which quotes the German club’s sporting director Fredi Bobic as saying: “I want Luka to stay — but I am realistic and I know that, if a great club comes, we will not have options.”
09.23 BST: Arsenal’s first signing of the summer is set to be Ituano forward Gabriel Martinelli, the Mirror, citing reports in Brazil, says. It adds that Martinelli “will officially make the switch to the Emirates when he turns 18 in June.”
08.30 BST: Paris Saint-Germain could be ready to offer Mauro Icardi an escape route from Inter Milan, with ESPN Deportes reporting that the Ligue 1 champions are preparing a €70 million offer.
Icardi has failed to regain a regular starting spot since being stripped of the captaincy in February.
09.22 BST: Philippe Coutinho’s future is “in FIFA’s hands,” says Catalan-based Sport.
It reports that Chelsea are lining up the Brazil international as a replacement for Eden Hazard, who is expected to join Real Madrid. However, if a FIFA-imposed transfer ban on Chelsea is upheld, any deal would be off.
PAPER TALK (by Nick Judd)
Zaha too expensive?
Wilfried Zaha tops the wanted list at Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United, but Crystal Palace’s £75 million asking price could be a sticking point, according to the Daily Star.
Zaha, who has scored nine goals in an impressive campaign, recently spoke of his ambition to play Champions League football. All three clubs have been tracking his progress, and Arsenal got a close-up view when he scored against them at the Emirates on Sunday.
However, the price is not right yet for the 26-year-old Ivory Coast international, so expect some negotiating throughout the summer.
Tap-ins
– Arsenal have apparently identified Dennis Praet as the man to replace outgoing midfielder Aaron Ramsey, says the Mirror.
Praet, 24, who was a transfer target for the Gunners last summer, starred alongside Lucas Torreira at Sampdoria and could be a cheap addition at £17m.
– RB Leipzig are keen to re-sign Emile Smith-Rowe on loan from Arsenal next season, despite the youngster featuring in just one game following his move in January, the Sun reports.
Leipzig boss Ralf Rangnick is keen to strike a season-long deal with a view to a permanent move.
– Juventus want to add Lazio’s Serbia midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to their squad next season and are prepared to offer winger Juan Cuadrado as part of the deal, Calciomercato reports.