LIVE Transfer Talk: Pavard eyed by Man Utd, Real Madrid but Bayern want €40m deal
The summer transfer window might not be open yet in Europe, but teams are getting ready for it, 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!
Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard is attracting interest from other top clubs in Europe, according to Sky Sports Deutschland.
Barcelona, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Manchester United are reported to be keen on acquiring the 27-year-old, who could now be set to leave the Allianz Arena.
Despite holding talks earlier this season over a potential new contract, the Bundesliga champions’ stance looks to have changed. Pavard has one year left on his deal and Bayern would now be willing to move him on for a fee of around €40 million.
Pavard made 42 appearances for Bayern this season, and he has continued to attract attention from clubs with his versatility that has seen him impress when deployed at both centre-back and right-back, maintaining form that he has replicated at international level with France.
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11.03 BST: Liverpool have signed World Cup-winning midfielder Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton, the club announced on Thursday.
Mac Allister, 24, joins the Merseyside club as Jurgen Klopp’s first signing ahead of an expected busy transfer window with the club looking to improve upon their fifth-placed finish in the 2022-23 season.
The Argentina midfielder was a key figure for Brighton, contributing 12 goals and three assists in a season which saw the club secure Europa League qualification for the first time in their history.
ESPN reported on Monday that Liverpool wanted to complete a deal for the 24-year-old before he joined up with his national team ahead of their June 15 friendly against Australia in China.
10.09 BST: Arsenal are leading Manchester United and Bayern Munich in the race to sign West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, says talkSPORT.
Rice, 24, helped West Ham to win the UEFA Europa Conference League over Fiorentina on Wednesday and could now depart for around £90m.
Asked if the match was Rice’s last in a West Ham shirt, West Ham owner David Sullivan told talkSPORT: “I think it has to be. We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going. You can’t ask for a man who has committed more to us this season.
“In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement – or several replacements. It’s not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago. He turned it down.
“It’s cost him £10m to stay at West Ham in that time (in lost wages). And he wants to go. You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to be there.”
09.51 BST: Napoli are evaluating 40 candidates for the vacant coaching position and will make a decision by June 27.
The Serie A champions are looking to replace Luciano Spalletti, who announced earlier this month he was stepping down from the post to take a break from football despite having one-year left on his contract.
“I set myself the limit of June 27 to have the new coach so as to have the right time for next season,” De Laurentiis said. “We’re working on it, starting this morning I began to see that my list of 22 coaches has become 40 names. It’s a job that takes time.”
De Laurentiis says he is not considering coaches that have managed Napoli before amid reports that former Napoli boss Rafa Benitez could return to the club.
“I have a friendly and current relationship with the coaches who have been on the Napoli bench,” De Laurentiis said. “I would do no good to anyone who has already been here to bring them back. But never say never.”
Among the candidates reportedly being considered for the position are Antonio Conte, who left Tottenham by mutual consent in March, Atalanta’s Gian Piero Gasperini, Fiorentina’s Vincenzo Italiano and recently sacked Paris Saint-Germain boss Christophe Galtier.
09.22 BST: Real Madrid are considering signing Leeds United striker Rodrigo Moreno to strengthen their attack after the exit of Karim Benzema, according to COPE.
Rodrigo, 32, joined Leeds from Valencia in the summer of 2020 and is under contract until June 2024. The Spain international scored 13 goals in 31 league appearances but it was not enough to help Leeds avoid the drop and he reportedly has a relegation release clause that he could exercise this summer.
A source has told ESPN that Real Madrid are also in advanced talks to sign Joselu on a season-long loan from Espanyol.
Joselu, 33, joined Espanyol after suffering relegation with Alaves last season but included a clause in his contract which would allow him to move on loan to another club if Espanyol were relegated.
08.43 BST: Cristiano Ronaldo says he is not surprised that his former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema has decided to play in the Saudi Pro League.
Benzema turned down a one-year contract extension with Real Madrid and instead signed for Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad.
Speaking at a business event in Madrid, Ronaldo said: “I knew that by me going to [Saudi] Arabia I would open the box. Karim has gone there but I’m sure many others will follow. In two- or three-years’ time, it [Saudi Pro League] will be one of the most important in the world. May all the stars come to Arabia, there are no problems with the league. What we want is competition.”
Ronaldo, 38, also revealed when he plans to retire from football. “I’m at the end of my career, two to three years maximum,” he said. “I’m interested in everything related to health. I know that football will end in a few years and that is why I’m thinking about my future and this sector [business] is something that I like a lot.”
Ronaldo could also be an owner one day.
“I don’t rule out becoming a club owner,” he added. “It’s something I thought about a few years back. I probably would like to be own a [football] club.”
08.30 BST: Sergio Busquets has held talks with Inter Miami CF about the possibility of following Lionel Messi to the Major League Soccer franchise, sources have confirmed to ESPN’s Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.
Busquets, 34, is also in negotiations with Saudi Arabian sides Al Nassr and Al Hilal after announcing last month he will not renew his contract with Barcelona when it expires on June 30. Sources say that Busquets’ next club, save any late twists, is expected to come from one of those three.
On Wednesday, Messi announced he will join Inter Miami after his departure from Paris Saint-Germain. The 2022 World Cup winner was linked with a return to former club Barcelona as well as a possible move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, but ultimately decided to move to the U.S.
James Olley breaks down the Harry Maguire pursuit between Tottenham and West Ham, and wonders if he would fight to stay in Manchester United or start fresh.
– Al Ahli are interested in signing Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, reports CBS. The Saudi Pro League side’s club president Waleed Muaath has been in London this week to discuss signing the 32-year-old winger, who has been a key feature in Pep Guardiola’s team, contributing to 27 goals in 47 matches. Al Ahli have also been linked with Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha.
– Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona are interested in signing Manchester City attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva, according to talkSPORT. The 28-year-old is reported to have informed close friends that he is looking to leave the Etihad Stadium in search of a new challenge, but is first focusing on the Champions League final against Internazionale on Saturday. The Blaugrana have been interested in Silva for a number of years, but were unable to agree a fee with the Premier League champions.
– Lazio and AS Roma are battling for the signature of Sassuolo winger Domenico Berardi, reports Calciomercato. The 28-year-old enjoyed a bright campaign in Serie A, where he contributed to 19 goals in 26 league matches, and the Neroverdi are braced for offers from domestic rivals, with AC Milan also keeping tabs.
– Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek remains on the radar of AC Milan, writes Football Insider. Talks are continuing between both clubs over a deal for the 27-year-old, but the Rossoneri are aware of interest emerging from the Premier League. He has one year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, and he could be moved on as the Blues look to offload a number of players this summer.
– Liverpool are only prepared to listen to loan offers if attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho is to leave the club this summer, reports The Athletic. Bundesliga side RB Leipzig saw a €12m approach rejected for the 20-year-old, with the Anfield hierarchy maintaining their stance that he isn’t available for a permanent transfer.