Transfer Talk: Real Madrid to make final Haaland pitch amid Man City links
Gab Marcotti doesn’t think Erling Haaland’s future has been decided just yet. (0:50)
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!
Real Madrid are set to make a move for in-demand Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland after Manchester City intensified their interest in recent weeks, writes Sport.
It is reported that the LaLiga giants have made an approach for the 21-year-old Norway star as Los Blancos are keen to respond to Pep Guardiola’s attempts to persuade him to the Premier League.
Much as as the two sides are set to meet in the Champions League semifinal later this month, the two clubs will also go head-to-head for the signature of Haaland.
Haaland has kept his cards close to his chest regarding where his future could be. Nonetheless, with BVB reportedly focused to on signing FC Salzburg‘s Karim Adeyemi as Haaland’s replacement, the German club seem prepared to lose their star striker despite previous efforts to keep him as his €75 million release clause comes into effect this year.
Haaland has scored 25 goals in as many games across all competitions for Dortmund this season, including two scores in Sunday’s 6-1 Bundesliga win over Wolfsburg.
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20.17 BST: Atlanta United is reportedly interested in U.S. men’s national team winger Matthew Hoppe, according to journalists Paul Tenorio and Felipe Cardenas. Hoppe joined Mallorca last year and it seems unlikely Spanish club will want to lose players while it’s still fighting to stay up in a relegation battle.
But this may be one to watch down the line. Hoppe reportedly commanded $4 million when he joined Mallorca from Schalke last year.
18.29 BST: Bayern Munich are reportedly finishing up negotiations to acquire both Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn was not willing to confirm it, however, telling Sport1: “We don’t speak about players who are under contract at other clubs. It’s about respect for other teams.”
16.58 BST: Ajax’s Erik ten Hag is set to become the new Man United boss.
Shaka Hislop feels Arsenal need more fight when things are not going their way in games.
16.09 BST: Marca says that Real Madrid have to let some players leave before they can bring in more.
Madrid want to sign forward Kylian Mbappe from PSG on a free transfer, while they are also keen to land €75m striker Erling Haaland from Dortmund.
The club will need to offload some wages to make that happen, however, and Marcelo, Gareth Bale, Isco, Takefusa Kubo, Brahim Diaz and Reinier are all set to depart.
15.31 BST: Correire dello Sport claims that Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo is on the radar of Liverpool and Tottenham.
Zaniolo, 22, has already got Milan on his trail, but could head to the Premier League if either club makes a €60m bid too.
14.55 BST: Bayern Munich chief executive Oliver Kahn has been speaking to Sport1 about the club’s striking options.
On potentially signing Dortmund’s Erling Haaland: “I don’t think we would be doing our job properly if we didn’t consider such a young striker. He’s an excellent striker and a very interesting player for the future. But financial dimensions are beyond our imagination.”
On 33-year-old Bayern star Robert Lewandowski: “As of today, Robert has a contract with us. We’re currently in contact with him and we want him to stay at Bayern for as long as possible. Some people seem to think it’s like an online manager game, where you click on something and the contract is extended. By the way, there are also financial means and as a club you have to think about how to manage that because Bayern also suffered in the last two years because of COVID.”
14.07 BST: AC Milan will target Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo, Lille’s Renato Sanches, RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku and Ajax striker Sebastien Haller this summer, says Gazzetta dello Sport.
Milan lead Serie A ahead of rivals Inter Milan, but they want to challenge for the Champions League next season and are looking at a major overhaul of top talent.
The issue being that this quartet will cost in excess of €120m.
13.13 BST: Young star Gavi has yet to sign a new contract at Barcelona and is attracting interest from Bayern Munich, claims Mundo Deportivo.
Gavi, 17, burst into the first team this season and has wowed with his performances in midfield for club and country.
The Spain international has a contract with a reported €50m release clause but Barca want him to pen new terms. However, he has yet to agree to stay and Bayern are waiting to see if they will be able to land him.
12.39 BST: Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite could move to Manchester United this summer, according to The Daily Mail.
Branthwaite, 19, joined the Toffees from Carlisle for £1m in January 2020 and has done well in a struggling side this season.
Potential new United manager Erik ten Hag has plans to reshape the squad and Branthwaite could be part of that, with the 6-foot-5 defender tipped for a bright future in the Premier League.
Branthwaite has a contract until 2025, having penned a new deal in December, but Everton may consider any bids that arrive this summer.
12.00 BST: What do Arsenal need to finish in the top four this season?
Shaka Hislop feels Arsenal need more fight when things are not going their way in games.
11.17 BST: Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson could leave the club this summer, but not for less than a £40m transfer fee, claims The Daily Star.
Henderson, 25, is behind David de Gea in the pecking order and will want to play more regularly so could seek an exit when the transfer window opens again. Newcastle attempted to sign the England international in January and may be well placed to make another bid, though it’s possible they could baulk at the price unless United are willing to negotiate..
10.26 BST: Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsay is on the radar of Liverpool, according to The Sun.
Ramsay, 18, could arrive as an understudy for Trent Alexander-Arnold as their similar playing styles could give Liverpool some greater depth.
The move may see Neco Williams, who has joined Fulham on loan, make a permanent exit in the summer.
10.02 BST: Tottenham are already set to commit €80m on making loan signings Cristian Romero and Dejan Kulusevski permanent, but the club plan to back Antonio Conte further this summer as he tries to turn Spurs into Premier League title contenders, sources told ESPN.
Conte has publicly indicated the north Londoners will pay the €55m fixed fee to Atalanta for Romero while sources told ESPN that he is pushing for Kulusevski’s temporary switch from Juventus to be formalised by taking up an option to buy the winger for €30m.
Conte has ambitious plans to overhaul his squad with sources suggesting a right-back, centre-back, a midfielder, a back-up striker and a back-up goalkeeper are his main priorities; a list which senior figures at Tottenham are willing to support in principle despite the club posted a pre-tax loss of £80.2m in their most recent financial figures last November.
09.00 BST: Erik ten Hag, who is set to take over the managerial role at Manchester United, is keen on signing Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, sources told ESPN.
Ten Hag discussed his thoughts over the United squad as part of his interview for the job at Old Trafford last month and official confirmation of his appointment could come as early as the end of April.
The recruitment department at United have also been finalising shortlists on players in each position for the summer transfer window, and Ten Hag will be allowed to present his own targets. Among them is Tchouameni, the 22-year-old midfielder who is enjoying a fine season in Ligue 1. Tchouameni initially impressed under former Monaco manager Niko Kovac and has raised his game further under Philippe Clement, following his arrival in January.
Shaka Hislop finds it bemusing that a struggling Man United side may yet qualify for the Champions League.
– Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick discussed the future of Cristiano Ronaldo after he scored a hat trick in the Red Devils’ 3-2 win over Norwich City in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. As quoted by Manchester Evening News, when asked about the 37-year-old striker’s future at Old Trafford, he said: “This is in the end is not my decision. Cristiano has got another year of his contract, this will be a decision for the new manager to take, together with the board.”
– Marseille are preparing to fend off interest from Villarreal and Sevilla for Amine Harit, according to Foot Mercato. The 24-year-old is on loan with the Ligue 1 side, and the latest report reveals that they are already negotiating with Schalke to make his stay become permanent. Harit has made 24 appearances this season for Marseille, contributing to six goals.
– Carlo Ancelotti has claimed that Luka Modric will finish his career at Real Madrid. The 36-year-old midfielder’s contract is set to expire in the summer, and speaking on the current situation between the LaLiga side and Modric’s representatives, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano, he said: “Modric will finish his career here at Real Madrid. I don’t know when, but it will happen. This is the idea of the club and Luka.”
– The future of Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite could be becoming more clear with reports that there is interest from two clubs in LaLiga. Calciomercato reveals that both Valencia and Celta Vigo are considering making a move for the 30-year-old Denmark international who has found himself out of manager Xavi Hernandez’s plans. It is reported that he would be open to making the switch to either side interested, though no official bid has been made yet.
– Inter Miami CF are planning to offer Sergio Ramos a two-year deal, writes Ekrem Konur. The 36-year-old centre-back hasn’t lived up to expectations at Paris Saint-Germain since making the switch there from Real Madrid last summer, with a number of fitness concerns playing a part in him starting just three games in the league this season.