Transfer Talk: Barca ponder Pavard swoop this summer

The January transfer window may be closed around Europe, but teams are looking ahead to the summer 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: Barcelona ponder Pavard swoop

Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard remains an option for Barcelona this summer, according to Sport. Approaching the final year of his contract at the Allianz Arena, it is reported the 27-year-old France international could move on. With talks yet to be held on extending his deal, the Blaugrana have maintained their interest in his signature.

Barca coach Xavi Hernandez has made the right-back position a priority, and the Spotify Camp Nou hierarchy are beginning to craft their shortlist. Pavard is reported to be one of the club’s main options, with Villarreal defender Juan Foyth and AS Monaco star Vanderson also being considered.

Pavard kept his place in the starting XI for Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge on Saturday, playing 90 minutes as Bayern Munich secured a 4-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund, which saw them leapfrog their rivals into first place in the Bundesliga title race.

LIVE BLOG

15.52 BST: Chelsea are closing on a €20m deal to sign 15-year-old Independiente del Valle midfielder Kendry Paez.

Fabrizio Romano claims a transfer for the Ecuador U17 international could be signed in the coming days, with Paez set to move to London in 2025.

The €20m is reportedly made up mainly of add-ons, which would revolve around his performances.

15.23 BST: Arsenal have held talks over the signing of Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans, says TEAMtalk.

Tielemans, 25, is a free agent in the summer and is likely to leave regardless of whether the 19th-placed side avoid relegation.

The Belgium international reportedly wants a wage deal that would make him one of Arsenal’s highest earners, which has put the brakes on negotiations for now.

14.56 BST: Liverpool have Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher as a top summer transfer target, says The Independent.

Gallagher, 23, is highly rated but the Blues are “under pressure to offload a number of players this summer” and he could be one of them.

The England international is under contract at Chelsea until 2025 and has also been linked with Newcastle and Crystal Palace.

14.12 BST: Everton midfielder Amadou Onana would cost £70m to sign this summer, according to Football Insider.

Onana, 21, has had a breakthrough season at Goodison Park after arriving Lille for around £33m last summer.

Arsenal and Chelsea are reported to be interested in the 6-foot-4 Belgium international, but Everton have named a high fee.

13.30 BST: UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says the refereeing scandal facing Barcelona is one of the most serious situations he has ever seen in football.

European football’s governing body announced in March it had opened an investigation into payments Barca made to the former vice president of the refereeing committee in Spain.

Between 2001 and 2018, Barca paid over €7m to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira. The Catalan club say they were purchasing “technical reports on refereeing” and deny ever buying match officials or influence.

“The situation is extremely serious,” Ceferin said in an interview with Slovenian newspaper Ekipa on Monday when asked about events surrounding Barca. “It is so serious that, in my opinion, it is one of the most serious [situations] in football that I have ever seen.”

12.54 BST: Jose Mourinho has offered no clarity about his future with Roma amid rumours he could return to Real Madrid this summer.

The Portuguese coach is in his second season at Roma and is under contract with the Italian outfit until June 2024. There are rumours circulating that Real Madrid could bring back Mourinho should Carlo Ancelotti leave the Spanish giants to guide Brazil.

“I talk about my future at home, sometimes not even there,” Mourinho said after his team’s 3-0 win over Sampdoria on Sunday. “I don’t talk to friends, colleagues or journalists about it. If a few months ago our CEO (Pietro) Berardi said I would stay, that was his interpretation.

“If (Corriere dello Sport director) Mr. (Ivan) Zazzaroni said that I will stay, it is his interpretation. I guarantee you that I don’t talk to anyone about this. The situation is very clear: I have a one-year contract. Football is football, Sometimes contracts aren’t the most important thing. But everything is going well, everything is calm.”

11.30 BST: Chelsea sacked their manager on Sunday night.

10.49 BST: Robert Lewandowski has told ESPN he hopes Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi joins him at Barcelona next season.

Messi, 35, left Barca for PSG two years ago but, with his contract expiring in France in June, rumours have increased about a potential return to Camp Nou.

Lewandowski, who only joined Barca last summer so never played alongside Messi, would welcome the chance to play with the Argentina international.

“That would be great if he’s coming,” the Poland striker told ESPN after scoring twice in Barca’s 4-0 win at Elche in LaLiga on Saturday. “I know that there are a lot of rumours now, but in the end we have to be patient and we [will] see what’s going on.

“Of course, Barcelona and the place for Lionel Messi belong and I hope that something happens. But now we have to be focused on this season and what we can achieve this season with the team.”

Lewandowski’s comments come after Barca vice president Rafa Yuste confirmed last week that the club are in contract with Messi’s camp over a return.

Speaking last Friday, Barca coach Xavi also said he would welcome his former teammate back to the club if a deal is possible financially.

10.08 BST: Inter Milan director Giuseppe Marotta has not closed the door to Romelu Lukaku playing at the club next season.

Lukaku joined the Nerazzurri on a season-long loan from Chelsea last summer after spending just one year at Chelsea following a €115m move from Inter. The Belgium forward is keen to remain in Milan beyond this summer, but Inter may not be able to afford to pay much of a transfer fee.

“When it comes to his love for the Inter jersey, I can say it’s 10 out of 10,” Marotta said of Lukaku. “He will return to Chelsea after the loan and then we can all together evaluate the prospects.”

Lukaku, 29, made his 16th league appearance for Inter this season in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Fiorentina.

09.31 BST: Carlo Ancelotti has reiterated his wish is to continue at Real Madrid beyond this summer. Ancelotti is under contract with Los Blancos until June 2024 but has been linked with the vacant Brazil coaching job.

“I don’t know what I will do in the future,” Ancelotti said after Sunday’s 6-0 win over Real Valladolid. “For the last time I say that my contract expires in 2024 and the idea is to reach the end of my contract. If Real Madrid is happy with me afterwards, I’ll sign until 2034.”

⚪️ @MrAncelotti, en rueda de prensa

😏 “Si el @realmadrid está contento conmigo, firmaré hasta 2034″

👏🏻 “La seguridad me la da el equipo y los jugadores que tengo”

💪🏻 “Podemos pelear también este año hasta el final. No hablaré más de mi futuro”

📻 #PartidazoCOPE pic.twitter.com/ajeLCwFjwg

— El Partidazo de COPE (@partidazocope) April 2, 2023

Ancelotti was asked on TV by former Real Madrid midfielder Guti if he was going to stay next season and he said: “Do you see me worried? I love Real Madrid as you do.”

🗣️ El momentazo entre @GUTY14HAZ y @MrAncelotti en #DAZN que va a ilusionar a todo el madridismo 👏

– Dígamelo, ¿usted se queda?

– ¿Tú me ves preocupado? Yo quiero al @realmadrid como tú#LaLigaEnDAZN ⚽ pic.twitter.com/eu5dfMe3d6

— DAZN España (@DAZN_ES) April 2, 2023

08.30 BST: There’s going to be a lot of movement in the managerial transfer market in the coming days with two Premier League clubs sacking their manager on Sunday.

First, Brendan Rodgers left his role as Leicester City manager by mutual agreement with the club which is battling to survive relegation from the Premier League. Leicester have lost five of their past six Premier League games and face a battle to stay in the division.

And then Chelsea sacked head coach Graham Potter after less than seven months in charge. Chelsea fell into the bottom half of the Premier League following Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa, Potter’s 11th defeat in 31 games since replacing Thomas Tuchel in September.

PAPER GOSSIP

– Tottenham Hotspur are preparing a move for Nottingham Forest winger Brennan Johnson, reports Football Insider. Scouts were sent from north London to watch the 21-year-old during the 1-1 draw with Wolves on Saturday, and Spurs will be keeping close tabs on him. Johnson is enjoying an impressive run of form, having scored three goals in his past four Premier League games.

– Fresh talks have been scheduled between AC Milan and the representatives of forward Rafael Leao, writes Calciomercato. The Rossoneri remain intent on signing the 23-year-old to a new contract, with talks of a deal that could see his salary increased to €7m a season. Leao scored a brace in the emphatic 4-0 away win against Napoli in Serie A on Sunday.

– Liverpool are the latest club to join the race for Eintracht Frankfurt attacking midfielder Jesper Lindstrom, writes Sky Sport Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg. A transfer fee of between €35m and €40m could be required to land the 23-year-old, who has also been linked with Arsenal. Lindstrom has contributed to nine goals in 22 Bundesliga matches.

– Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is prioritising staying at Old Trafford, reports TeamTalk. Paris Saint-Germain are reported to have been interested in his signature, but the 25-year-old is focused on staying as part of Erik ten Hag’s project. Sources told ESPN last week that Manchester United are planning to step up contract talks before the end of the season,

– Barcelona would accept a £90m transfer fee for winger Ansu Fati, according to Football Insider. Manchester City have recently been linked with the 20-year-old, while Chelsea and Manchester United are also reported to have been keeping an eye on his situation.