Transfer Talk: Man United make Kane priority as Bayern Munich ease off
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: Manchester United make Harry Kane priority target
Manchester United have made signing Tottenham forward Harry Kane this summer their main aim and are favourites for the England captain’s signature, with Bayern Munich reluctant to be involved in a bidding war, reports the Sunday Mirror.
The 29-year-old is about to enter the final year of his contract with Spurs and there is uncertainty over whether he will sign a new deal. If he doesn’t it would put pressure on Tottenham to move him along for a fee in the summer to ensure he does not walk for free in June 2024.
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United are in the market for a high-profile striker, as they look to mount a title challenge next season, and have earmarked Kane as an ideal fit. While the report suggests that manager Erik ten Hag is also keen to bring Jude Bellingham to Old Trafford, Kane is the priority.
As Bayern still look to find a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, the German club have also been heavily linked with Kane, Spurs’ record goal scorer. However, Spurs’ price tag of over £100m is thought to be too high for the Bavarian club. Lewandowski joined Barcelona last summer. The report states that Eintracht Frankfurt forward Randal Kolo Muani has been identified by Bayern as a cheaper alternative to Kane.
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14.00 BST: Barcelona have sounded out Xavi Simons‘ interest in a potential return to Camp Nou, according to several reports in Spain.
Simons, 19, is having an impressive debut season in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven. He has scored 16 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions, setting up eight more.
After coming through Barca’s La Masia academy, he left the Catalan club for Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, making 11 first team appearances for the French side before moving to PSV last year.
PSG have an option to re-sign Simons as part of the deal that saw him move to the Eredivisie. There have been reports they could be interested in activating, with Barca also monitoring the youngster’s situation.
13.05 BST: The Sunday Mirror reports that Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton, Leicester, West Ham and Brentford sent scouts to watch two Feyenoord players in midweek against Ajax.
Orkun Kokcu and Santiago Gimenez are both set to be in demand this summer, with interest from across Europe as well as in the Premier League. Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Monaco, Lyon, Wolfsburg and Sevilla also had representatives at the game.
Benfica are reportedly ready to offer a £31m transfer fee for Turkey international Kokcu, with the midfielder Feyenoord’s captain at the age of 22.
Gimenez is a 21-year-old Mexico international who could be available for £18m. He has scored 23 goals for Feyenoord this season.
12.10 BST: Barcelona are preparing a “revolution” in the attacking positions this summer in an attempt to provide more support for Robert Lewandowski, according to Diario Sport.
Yannick Carrasco, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Vitor Roque and Abde Ezzalzouli could all be part of Xavi Hernandez’s first-team squad next season with Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres and Raphinha‘s futures all said to be in doubt.
Lewandowski has netted 17 league goals, while Ansu, Ferran, Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele have managed just 18 between them. While a much-improved defence has meant that hasn’t cost them in LaLiga, it has seen them come up short in the Champions League, the Europa League and the Copa del Rey. Therefore, Barca are planning to bring in new faces to freshen up their front line.
Abde could return after an impressive season on loan at Osasuna and the club have already secured a €15m option to sign winger Carrasco from Atletico Madrid.
The Catalan side also want to add a striker to take the weight off Lewandowski. Brazilian teenager Roque is their top target, but if his price tag proves too high, they could bring Aubameyang back from Chelsea if he accepts a salary cut.
That means, according to Sport, that Barca will listen to offers for Ansu, Ferran and Raphinha to help fund the changes up front.
11.15 BST: Newcastle United will have to pay Manchester United £50m if they want to sign Scott McTominay this summer, reports the Star on Sunday.
McTominay, 26, is considering leaving Man United in search of regular first-team football, and the Magpies are considering an offer.
The Scotland international scored the first goal in United’s 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday, but has played a bit-part role for much of the campaign.
10.21 BST: Liverpool are hoping to sign Aurelien Tchouameni from Real Madrid, reports El Nacional.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp must rebuild his midfield this summer and has identified the 23-year-old France international as a key target.
Klopp wanted to sign Tchouameni last summer, but lost out when he decided to leave AS Monaco for Real Madrid.
He has failed to live up to the €80m Madrid paid to sign him, and Los Blancos would be willing to talk to potential suitors.
09.30 BST: AC Milan are confident that Olivier Giroud will sign a new deal very soon.
The 36-year-old has scored 12 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions this season, but is out of contract in the summer.
AC Milan director Frederic Massara explained that talks have almost been completed, while the club remain hopeful of signing Real Madrid loanee Brahim Diaz on a permanent deal.
“We are down to the details with Giroud, the renewal is imminent,” Massara told Sky Sport Italia. “Brahim Diaz has done very well in recent years. We’ll sit down at the table with Real Madrid and see what the options are. We would like to bet on him.”
PAPER GOSSIP
– U.S. men’s national team striker Ricardo Pepi is set to leave FC Augsburg in the summer with the forward attracting interest from Dutch duo PSV and Feyenoord, according to Fabrizio Romano. Pepi has impressed on loan at FC Groningen, netting 10 goals in 22 Eredivisie appearances, and looks unlikely to return to Augsburg. Romano reveals the 20-year-old is eager for a new challenge.
– Paris Saint-Germain are hopeful of securing a new deal for Lionel Messi, despite interest in the forward from Barcelona, reports Sport. It reveals that Kylian Mbappe is keen for Messi to remain at the club, as are the owners — however, the club are aware that it is becoming increasingly difficult for a deal to be reached. Barcelona have admitted to holding discussions with the Argentina international regarding a potential return.
– Al Hilal are interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain defender Sergio Ramos, according to Calciomercato. The Spain international is set to leave the French giants at the end of the season, upon the expiration of his contract, The report indicates that Al Hilal are keen to sign an experienced defender in the summer, with the Saudi Arabian outfit working on a deal to acquire the 37-year-old.
– Manchester United are favourites to sign Bayer Leverkusen right-back Jeremie Frimpong, according to Football Insider. The Netherlands international has been in impressive form this season, registering eight goals and nine assists in all competitions, attracting interest from across Europe in the process. Frimpong is under contract with the Bundesliga outfit until 2025, however, the report suggests that Leverkusen have accepted that the 22-year-old will depart in the summer. While Bayern Munich and Barcelona are thought to be interested, United have made Frimpong their first-choice target for right-back.
– Liverpool and Chelsea are both interested in Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, as per Relevo. The Argentina international is set to be one of the most sought-after players in the summer transfer window. Liverpool look set to undergo a midfield overhaul in the summer with James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita all potentially leaving on a free transfer, while Chelsea are eyeing Mac Allister as the perfect partner to compatriot Enzo Fernandez in the middle.
