Transfer Talk: Arsenal plot homecoming move for Bayern’s Gnabry

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: Real Madrid still keen on Pogba

Real Madrid have not given up on the potential signing of Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba this summer, reveals Sport.

Pogba, 29, is set to leave Old Trafford when his contract expires in June. Sources have told ESPN that the France international would prefer to move abroad rather than stay in the Premier League with Manchester City, who were recently linked.

He is willing to consider all serious offers but sources said he has prioritised a move to either Paris Saint-Germain or Juventus, who reportedly already have offers on the table.

Madrid have already moved to agree a deal for Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger on a free transfer and are hoping to do the same for PSG striker Kylian Mbappe, but Pogba remains a possibility as they look to freshen their ageing midfield.

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19.30 BST: Sevilla are interested in signing Nicolas Pepe on loan, according to Ekrem Konur.

Since joining Arsenal from Lille in 2018 for £72million, the 26-year-old has since failed to establish himself at the Emirates Stadium. He has made just five starts in the Premier League this season, but could be moved on in the summer as Mikel Arteta looks to continue his rebuild of the squad.

The LaLiga side intend to include an option to make the move permanent if a loan agreement is reached with the Gunners.

19.00 BST: Lyon have announced that Maxence Caqueret has signed a new deal at the club until 2026.

🤝 @MaxenceCaqueret #Caqueret2026 https://t.co/VyxZV199kb

— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) May 11, 2022

The Ligue 1 side have been looking to reward the 22-year-old midfielder for his form since turning professional with the club in 2018, and amid interest from a number of sides in Europe, he has now committed his future to Lyon, having already spent over a decade at the club already.

18.30 BST: Bayern Munich have completed the signing of Noussair Mazraoui, writes Kicker.

The Bundesliga club have been negotiating with the representatives of the 24-year-old right-back with hopes of landing him on a free transfer when his contract runs out with Ajax in the June, and it looks as though they have fended off competition from Barcelona to win the race for his signature.

He is expected to sign a four-year deal at the Allianz Arena until the summer of 2026.

18.00 BST: Arsenal have elevated Cody Gakpo to the top of their shortlist, reports Foot Mercato.

The 23-year-old winger has caught the attention of clubs across Europe with his performances for PSV Eindhoven this season, and amid reported interest from Liverpool and Manchester City, it looks as though Mikel Arteta’s side are ready to push forward a move to sign him.

17.30 BST: Following reports revealed on the blog earlier regarding an eight-year deal for Declan Rice at West Ham United, the latest indicates that he is set to turn down the club’s offer, according to the Sun.

The 23-year-old midfielder has been offered a deal worth £200,000-per-week, but with interest from Chelsea and Manchester United, the England international is desperate to join a side who can compete regularly for trophies.

The Hammers have tabled four contract extension offers so far in a bid to persuade him to remain at the London Stadium.

17.00 BST: Feyenoord are interested in securing an additional season to keep Reiss Nelson on loan at the club, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Reiss Nelson will discuss with Mikel Arteta to understand his Arsenal future soon. Feyenoord want to keep him on loan for one more season, as they can’t afford permanent move. 🔴 #AFC

There’s interest from English clubs to buy Nelson but priority will be to understand AFC plans.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 11, 2022

It is reported that there is interest in the 22-year-old winger from clubs in England who are looking to sign him on a permanent move, but the Eredivisie side currently aren’t able to meet Arsenal’s asking price.

He has made 21 appearances for them this season, contributing to six goals.

16.30 BST: Reminder that Ousmane Dembele‘s contract at Barcelona still expires in the summer.

15.44 BST: Tottenham are set to move on Giovani Lo Celso, Steven Bergwijn and Tanguay Ndombele, says Football Insider.

Ndombele is on loan at Lyon, while Lo Celso is on loan at Villarreal, but Bergwijn is also deemed surplus to requirements as Tottenham look to raise some funds to bring in new players over the summer.

Manager Antonio Conte has reportedly already made up his mind over players he does not want in his squad next season.

15.11 BST: Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini is set to leave the club this summer on a free transfer and is attracting glances from MLS.

Chiellini, 37, is a legend of the game and has nine Serie A titles, as well as a host of other domestic silverware, while he helped Italy to the Euro 2020 trophy.

The Athletic says LAFC and have offered him a contract when he becomes a free agent from July, while the Vancouver Whitecaps and Inter Miami are also reportedly keen.

14.50 BST: Leicester are keen to sign Club Brugge midfielder Charles De Ketelaere, says Corriere dello Sport.

De Ketelaere, 21, has scored 18 goals and assisted nine in 46 appearances this season and the Belgium international is gaining a lot of interest with his performances.

Leicester are keen, but face competition from Milan and Napoli, while he could cost €40m to sign given his contract expires in 2024.

14.30 BST: How Man City signed Erling Haaland from Dortmund: The inside story.

Having started plotting their next move since the ink was drying on his contract at Borussia Dortmund, Haaland and his team have done their homework about where to go next. In April 2021, Raiola — who died last month following illness — and Alfie Haaland visited Real Madrid and Barcelona on the same day. Earlier this year, there were talks with both Chelsea and Bayern Munich, but it was City who left the best impression.

Real Madrid were also seriously considered, but their pursuit of Mbappe complicated matters, while 34-year-old Karim Benzema has shown he’s far from finished as a top-level striker after a season during which he has already topped 40 goals in all competitions.

Even if the Premier League offers a sterner test than LaLiga for a young striker, it is City and Guardiola who are crying out for a No. 9 having navigated the campaign without one following Aguero’s departure. On top of that, and everything else City have been able to offer, it’s also being billed as a homecoming after Alfie played for City between 2000 and 2003.

Erling was born in England a month after Alfie joined the club from Leeds, and there are still employees who remember holding him as a baby. Haaland and his father were in the stands at Wembley for City’s 3-1 win over Sunderland in the 2014 League Cup final. City look after their former players, and Alfie has been back a number of times over the years as a guest or fan. According to sources, Erling feels he’s joining a club with which he has “an emotional connection.”

13.05 BST: Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus has been in talks with Arsenal about a potential move this summer, according to his agent.

Jesus, 25, has one year left on his deal at the Etihad and refused to rule out a move away from the club following his four-goal performance against Watford last month.

After City announced the signing of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, Jesus might not be a first-team regular for the club next season and his agent Marcelo Pettinati has said Arsenal are interested in signing him.

“We had talks with Arsenal about Gabriel Jesus,” he told the Guardian on Wednesday. “We like the project — it’s a possibility we’re discussing. There are six more clubs interested in Gabriel. He’s focused on the final games with Man City; we’ll see.”

Sources have told ESPN that City’s successful pursuit of Erling Haaland has given Arsenal more encouragement they could pull off a deal for Jesus this summer.

The strong relationship between Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta from their time working together at City is another factor in the Gunners’ favour given that the Premier League leaders would typically avoid selling to a domestic rival.

Sources also indicate Jesus enjoyed working under Arteta at City. Arsenal believe Haaland’s arrival will accelerate the 25-year-old’s departure and those close connections could provide a useful advantage in the race for his signature.

Asked specifically about Arsenal’s interest in Jesus, Arteta said: “You know that I don’t talk about any players that are not with us.”

Asked whether he is looking for a striker in the summer, Arteta said: “I am looking for the strikers that we have in the team, and this is my focus. We have three games to go and that’s the only thing I am focusing on.”

12.15 BST: Erling Haaland had a number of clubs to pick from.

11.37 BST: West Ham have offered Declan Rice a new eight-year contract, according to talkSPORT.

Rice, 23, is considered one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe but wants to challenge for trophies, or play in the Champions League.

Chelsea, Man City and Man United have been linked with him, though West Ham want over £100m to complete a deal.

Rice could earn £200,000-a-week until 2030 if he pens new terms, as his club look to ward off potential suitors.

10.56 BST: Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez says he is hopeful of returning to play in Europe next season.

James, 30, joined Qatari side Al Rayyan from Everton in September for an undisclosed fee but is now looking for a new club.

The former FC Porto, Monaco and Real Madrid midfielder, who is currently on holiday in Medellin, said on Twitch: “I don’t know where I will play next season.”

Asked about the possibility of returning to play in Europe, he added: “In a few days’ time the market will open and we shall see… Wherever they want me, I will go… to return to [football’s] elite is an option. Let’s see who wants my left foot.”

Asked about the possibility of returning to his former club Porto, he said: “Why not, it’s also an option. I was very happy at both FC Porto and Monaco.”

10.09 BST: Arsenal have announced that right-back Noelle Maritz has signed a new contract with the club.

Maritz, 26, joined the Women’s Super League side in 2020 from Wolfsburg, making her debut against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2020 Champions League quarterfinal.

The Switzerland international has made 49 appearances, scoring two goals, and has now penned new terms.

“I’m really happy — it’s amazing,” Maritz said in a statement. “I think we have a really good group of girls and the staff is really good. I think everybody has the ambition to take it to the next level and the club is really pushing for it. Hopefully in the future we can make a big step in that direction.”

09.50 BST: Juventus CEO Maurizio Arrivabene has told the club’s fans to be patient with Dusan Vlahovic and allow the Serbia forward time.

Vlahovic, 22, joined Juve in a €70m transfer from Fiorentina in January, but despite scoring seven goals in 18 appearances for his new club, he has not found the back of the net in the last four games.

“Vlahovic is not up for debate,” Arrivabene told Sky Italia. “I remind the Juventus fans of a gentleman called Zlatan Ibrahimovic. In his first season as a Bianconero, there were lifelong Juve fans that were friends of mine who criticized him as much as possible. The following year, he exploded. It’s just a matter of trusting the player and letting him grow in peace. He needs time, let’s give it to him, then he’ll show what he’s worth.”

09.33 BST: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s daughter, Karna Solskjaer, has signed a permanent deal with AaFK Fortuna to move away from Manchester United.

Solskjaer, 19, impressed for United’s youth teams — scoring an average of nearly a goal per game — but did not make an appearance in the Women’s Super League and the striker has decided not to stay in England. Her father was sacked as Man United manager in November.

09.14 BST: Inter Milan CEO Giuseppe Marotta is “very confident” that Ivan Perisic will sign a new contract to remain at the club beyond this summer.

Perisic, 33, becomes a free agent at the end of the season but wants a two-year deal to remain in Milan. Inter have offered the Croatia winger a one-year contract extension, with an option to extend it for a further season.

“We are not there yet,” Marotta told Sky Italia. “If he wants to stay with us, we have the desire to please him, without giving exaggerated sums. However, I am very confident that this marriage can still be renewed “

Perisic has scored seven goals and set up six more in 33 league appearances for the Nerazzurri this season.

Marotta, meanwhile, praised outgoing Juventus forward Paulo Dybala while saying Inter do not need to strengthen their attack by signing him when his contract expires this summer.

“Dybala is a great player,” Marotta said. “Everyone knows he will be a free agent and hence, he is an attractive option to many clubs. At the moment, we have a high-quality attacking line and we do not have big problems from that point of view. That said, I appreciate Dybala’s qualities.”

Dybala has not been offered a contract extension at Juve and will leave the Turin giants this summer as a free agent. Reports in Italy have stated Inter are leading the race to sign him and have offered the Argentina forward a four-year contract, though his agent denied those claims.

08.54 BST: Real Madrid have agreed a deal to sign Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger on a free transfer in the summer and The Daily Mail has some information about the finances involved.

Rudiger, 29, had seen interest from Manchester United, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, but was looking for a big payrise and even more than the €270,000-a-week that Chelsea were offering him to stay.

The Germany international has reportingly now signed a four-year contract with the LaLiga side worth around €370,000-a-week, plus a signing-on fee, and has a release clause of €400m.

08.29 BST: Barcelona and Aston Villa are in talks to make midfielder Philippe Coutinho‘s loan move to the Premier League side permanent in the summer, various sources have confirmed to ESPN.

Villa have an option to sign Coutinho for €40m at the end of the season but are not willing to invest so much money.

However, with coach Steven Gerrard keen to keep Coutinho, the English club are trying to negotiate a reduced a fee of around €20m with Barca, who are ready to take a huge hit on their €160m record signing.

Goal also claims that Newcastle have entered the race to sign the Brazilian.

08.00 BST: ICYMI — Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign striker Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund, the club announced on Tuesday.

Haaland, 21, will move to the Etihad Stadium this summer and is set to become one of the highest-paid players at the club. Sources told ESPN he will not top midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, on around £375,000-a-week, as their biggest earner.

According to ESPN sources, the player’s release clause is €60m and Haaland is set to sign a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium.

Meanwhile, Dortmund announced the €38m signing of Germany striker Karim Adeyemi from FC Salzburg in a deal that runs until 2027.

Adeyemi, 20, becomes Dortmund’s third signing ahead of next season, with Germany defender Niklas Sule joining the club on a free transfer from Bayern and Nico Schlotterbeck arriving for a fee in the region of €26m from Freiburg.

PAPER GOSSIP (by Adam Brown)

– Manchester United and Newcastle United are monitoring Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and could be prepared to meet his €100m asking price, writes Calciomercato. Napoli are willing to let him go if the right offer comes in, and it is understood that they believe the Premier League is his only possible destination in the summer. The 23-year-old has contributed to 19 goals in 30 appearances across all competitions for the Partenopei this season.

– Barcelona are considering a move for Tottenham Hotspur wing-back Sergio Reguilon, reports the Mirror. The Blaugrana are looking to find a suitable cover option for left-back Jordi Alba, and it is revealed that Reguilon was added to their shortlist after he lost his place in Antonio Conte’s side. The 25-year-old has made 25 Premier League appearances for the club this season, but has featured just twice since March 20.

– Chelsea are interested in RB Leipzig duo Josko Gvardiol and Christopher Nkunku, reveals Sky Sports Germany. Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is reported to be considering the double swoop though he will face competition from Manchester United, who are also keen on Nkunku. The 24-year-old France international forward has scored 34 goals in 50 appearances this season across all competitions, while Gvardiol is considered one of the top young defenders in Europe.

– Barcelona are set to make an offer in the region of €25m to secure a move for Alejandro Grimaldo, according to Pedro Almeida. The 26-year-old left-back has been a standout performer for Benfica this season in 29 league appearances, and with the Blaugrana looking to find another alternative for the aforementioned Alba, it looks as though Grimaldo is also on their shortlist of potential targets for the summer.

– Arsenal are keeping tabs on Serge Gnabry as contract talks continue to stall between the ex-Gunners forward and Bayern Munich, writes Ekrem Konur. Negotiations over a new deal have shown few signs of progress as Gnabry enters the final year of his contract at the Allianz Arena, and Arsenal are looking to take advantage of that by setting up a homecoming return to the Emirates Stadium.