The summer transfer window is open for some leagues in Europe 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: Chelsea to beat Arsenal for Caicedo
Chelsea are moving closer to signing Moisés Caicedo in a deal that could be worth £80 million, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Blues have been competing with London rivals Arsenal for the signature of the Brighton midfielder but The Times reports that the Gunners had withdrawn their interest in the Ecuador international after having two bids rejected in the January transfer window. Sky Sport Deutschland also reports that Bayern Munich had been contention.
Arsenal are focusing on securing a £100m-plus move for West Ham United captain Declan Rice, as well as Chelsea forward Kai Havertz.
Caicedo impressed in 37 appearances in the Premier League last season, where he helped Brighton to a record sixth-place finish, as they qualified for Europe for the first time in their history. He is under contract until 2027 after signing a new long-term deal in March, but Romano adds that he is nearing agreement on personal terms with Chelsea.
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LIVE BLOG
13.04 BST: Manchester United are eyeing a new striker.
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12.18 BST: Brazil forward Raphinha says he has no intention of leaving Barcelona any time soon.
Raphinha, 27, scored 10 goals and set up 12 more in 50 appearances across all competitions for Barca, but Barca are reportedly considering placing him on the transfer list this summer to ease the club’s financial problems, having signed him in a €60m transfer from Leeds last summer.
“I will continue at Barça next season and the one after that, and the one after that,” Raphinha said. “I have many years of contract [until 2027] and I hope to fulfil those years and many more.
“My first few months were tough. I didn’t score many goals but then I adapted better. The Champions League is our aim next season.”
11.52 BST: Alessia Russo will leave Manchester United this summer, the club and player confirmed on Friday.
Russo has not extended her contract at Old Trafford and will depart at the end of her deal on June 30.
Sources told ESPN’s Mark Ogden that the 24-year-old turned down a number of contract offers to extend her stay at United (see 08.00 BST:).
Russo was frustrated by United’s failure to negotiate at an earlier stage, sources added, and their eventual offer was too late in the process.
A statement issued by the club on Friday said: “Manchester United can confirm that Alessia Russo will leave the football club on completion of her contract at the end of June. Everyone at the football club would like to thank Alessia for her service and wish her luck for the future.”
11.08 BST: Manchester City are on the brink of completing a deal worth £34.2m to sign Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, sources have told ESPN’s James Olley.
Talks between the two clubs have progressed well in recent days with a broad agreement on the fee leading to more detailed conversations about how the payments are structured.
Although there are still some issues to be resolved, sources have told ESPN the expectation is a deal for the 29-year-old will be completed within the next fortnight. Kovacic has broadly agreed personal terms and the transfer will likely progress further after he finishes his international obligations with Croatia.
Their final match comes in Sunday’s Nations League Final against Spain. Kovacic initially joined Chelsea on loan from Real Madrid in 2018 before signing a permanent deal in a £40m switch a year later.
He has made a total of 221 appearances, scoring six goals and winning the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
10.32 BST: Atletico Madrid forward Alvaro Morata has turned down a lucrative deal to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Taawoun FC, according to COPE radio.
The Spain international is set to sign a contract extension with Atletico, with his current deal ending in June 2024.
Morata, 30, scored 15 goals in 45 appearances for the Rojiblancos this past season.
09.47 BST: Romeo Beckham is set to make his loan at Brentford from Inter Miami permanent this summer, according to Sky Sports.
Beckham, 20, has been playing for Brentford’s B team during his six-month spell at the club, during which time they won the Premier League Cup.
Brentford will now pay Inter Miami a nominal fee to sign Beckham on a one-year contract with their B team.
09.09 BST: Barcelona are closely monitoring Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso, Mundo Deportivo reports.
Barca coach Xavi Hernandez is an admirer of Lo Celso and considers the Argentina international an ideal addition to his team’s midfield line.
Lo Celso, 27, has played the last two seasons on loan at Villarreal from Spurs, with whom he has a contract until June 2025.
08.34 BST: New Real Madrid signing Jude Bellingham said during his opening presentation at the club on Thursday that he would like to see Kylian Mbappe join him.
Madrid confirmed the deal to sign the England international — a deal Dortmund have said is worth an initial €103 million ($111m), with another possible €30m ($32m) due in variables — on Wednesday.
The midfielder, 19, has signed a six-year contract at the Bernabeu and will wear the No. 5 shirt — previously worn by his idol, Zinedine Zidane — for Madrid next season.
In an event at the club’s Real Madrid City training complex, club president Florentino Perez called Bellingham “one of the best players in the world” as the former Birmingham City and Borussia Dortmund player posed for photos, before taking questions from the media.
“I can’t really comment, I don’t know his situation,” Bellingham said when asked about Madrid’s links with Mbappe. “If anything, my whole saga has taught me that not everything you see is true.
“He’s a great player, whatever he chooses to do, all the best to him. Would I like to play with a player like Kylian Mbappe? Who wouldn’t?”
08.00 BST: Manchester United forward Alessia Russo is considering a move to the United States amid interest from NWSL team Washington Spirit, sources have told ESPN’s Mark Ogden, despite Arsenal’s attempts to sign the England international.
Lyon and an unnamed Spanish team are also prepared to offer the Lioness the chance to move overseas before the start of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand on July 20.
Russo, 24, will become a free agent when her contract with United expires at the end of June and Arsenal are in pole position to sign the former Chelsea youngster having had a world record bid of £450,000 ($569,655) rejected by United in January.
But while Russo is aware of the long-standing interest from Arsenal, sources have said she is open to a return to the U.S. having spent two years with North Carolina Tar Heels between 2017 and 2019.
Russo’s representatives travelled to the U.S. last week and attended Washington’s 2-1 victory against Angel City — a win which cemented Spirit’s second place position in the NWSL standings.
1:31
Ogden: Alessia Russo has ‘the world at her feet’ for summer move
Mark Ogden explains the impressive list of clubs interested in a move for Manchester United’s Alessia Russo this summer.
PAPER GOSSIP (Abbie Ingham)
– Tottenham Hotspur are not looking to sign Leicester City duo James Maddison and Harvey Barnes, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Daily Mail previously reported that Spurs saw a £50m bid for the two midfielders rejected by Leicester. However, the north London club have sent no proposal for the pair, who contributed to 23 goals and 10 assists between them last season as the east Midlands club were relegated. Maddison is out of contract next summer, so the club will be looking to avoid losing the 26-year-old on a free transfer at the end of next season, whilst Barnes’ deal does not expire until 2025.
– Internazionale are set to challenge Tottenham for David Raya, the Guardian reports. The 27-year-old Brentford goalkeeper, who made the most saves in the Premier League last season in his 38 appearances, is a top transfer target for Spurs as they look to replace the departing Hugo Lloris. However, they now face competition from the Nerazzurri, who have reportedly inquired about the Spain international. This comes amid reports that Inter keeper André Onana is set for a move to the English top flight, with Chelsea and Manchester United pushing hard for the 27-year-old Cameroon international.
– AC Milan are interested in Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek, reports Football Insider. After monitoring the 27-year-old midfielder for a long time, the Italian club are set to make an official proposal to the Blues. This will reportedly be at the end of the month, following Paulo Maldini’s exit as Milan sporting director. The England international, who has made 155 senior appearances for the west London club, is also being eyed by several Premier League sides, including Brentford.
– Al Hilal are pursuing Leeds United‘s Rodrigo Moreno, according to Ekrem Konur. The 32-year-old striker, who scored 15 goals in 35 appearances last season, is out of contract in June 2024. However, with Leeds relegated from the Premier League, the Spain international has been tipped for a move away from Elland Road this summer.
– Bayern Munich are set to beat Manchester United to the signature of Kim Min-Jae, reports Fabrizio Romano. The 26-year-old defender only joined Napoli last summer, helping the Serie A side to their first Scudetto in 33 years. The South Korea international has a clause in his contract that is active for the first 15 days of July which allows him to leave Naples if an offer of €60m comes in. Kim is now reportedly close to agreeing personal terms with the Bundesliga champions.