Transfer Talk: Bayern Munich to make big offer to woo Kane from Premier League

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: Kane wants to stay in Prem, but Bayern think they can change his mind

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is keen to remain in England and try to make Premier League history, but Bayern Munich are prepared to put in an “attractive offer” to entice him, says The Independent.

The England captain has been linked with a move to Bayern heavily over the last year since the departure of Robert Lewandowski, and the Bundesliga giants are still in need of a striker, which has made 29-year-old an attractive prospect.

Kane is entering the last 12 months of his deal at Spurs and it remains unclear whether he will sign a new contract with the North London club, which could force Tottenham to let him go for aorund €100 million in the summer.

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The report reveals that Kane would prefer to stay in England, with the striker on 206 Premier League goals and eyeing up Alan Shearer’s all-time record of 260 goals. But Bayern have not been discouraged from making a bid to sign him in the summer because Spurs are reluctant to allow Kane to leave for another club in the division.

Despite a successful career with Tottenham, trophies have been elusive, with Kane finishing runner-up in the Premier League in 2016, as well as losing two League Cup finals alongside a Champions League final defeat in 2019.

Manchester United are also reported to be admirers of Spurs’ record goal scorer as manager Erik ten Hag looks to sign a high-profile striker in the summer. The Red Devils have also been linked with younger strikers such as Napoli‘s Victor Osimhen and Benfica‘s Goncalo Ramos, indicating that United may feel better suited to signing a more long-term option than Kane.

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12.32 BST: Chelsea are expected to make a final push to convince Mason Mount to sign a new contract, otherwise the midfielder is set to leave this summer, sources have told ESPN.

ESPN revealed on Feb. 16 that talks had stalled over a new deal, with Liverpool, Man City and Man United among the clubs monitoring the situation.

There has been no tangible progress in the two months since then with the 24-year-old’s deal expiring in summer 2024.

Sources said Mount is seeking a wage commensurate with his status as an England international and a senior player at Chelsea, with Reece James’ £250,000-a-week deal thought to be a benchmark in negotiations.

Chelsea are yet to reach that figure but sources have told ESPN that further conversations will take place before the situation comes to a head one way or the other this summer.

11.57 BST: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has likened talk of big-money signings to a five-year-old asking for a Ferrari for Christmas, after the Merseyside club pulled out of the race to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham.

Sources told ESPN on Tuesday that Liverpool ended their pursuit for England international Bellingham, instead opting to dedicate funds to a squad overhaul in the summer following a disappointing season which sees Klopp’s side languishing in eighth in the Premier League. Sources told ESPN on Wednesday that Manchester City lead the race to sign the midfielder, while Real Madrid are also interested.

At a news conference on Friday, Klopp refused to address the media reports that Liverpool ended their interest in signing the 19-year-old, while saying that he doesn’t understand talk over transfers that may not happen.

“There’s nothing to say about it [Bellingham], to be honest,” he told reporters. “If we don’t speak about players we sign or do not sign, why would I talk about these kinds of speculation?”

“It is not about Jude Bellingham, but I never understand why we talk about things we theoretically cannot have. We cannot have six players in a summer, everyone for £100m. That is clear.

“We are not children. Ask a five-year-old what they want for Christmas and they say a Ferrari, you wouldn’t say that’s a good idea, it’s too expensive and you cannot drive it. Whatever we need and want, we try everything to get it but there are moments where we have to accept and step aside.”

11.24 BST: Veteran defender Sergio Ramos is still waiting to receive a contract extension offer from Paris Saint-Germain, according to El Larguero.

Ramos, 37, wants to continue at PSG beyond this summer when his contract expires. Having made 37 appearances for the French giants so far this season, including 25 in Ligue 1, the former Real Madrid centre-back believes he has done enough to be offered a one-year contract extension.

He joined PSG as a free agent in July 2021.

10.55 BST: Sporting CP have triggered Francisco Trincao‘s permanent option, O Jogo reports.

Trincao, 23, has scored 12 goals in 44 appearances since joining Sporting on a season-long loan from Barcelona last summer. A compulsory option for him to sign permanently was included in the deal and Sporting have now exercised it by paying €7m to the Catalan outfit.

Sporting had already paid Barca €3m for Trincao’s loan, while Barca will retain 50% of the player’s sporting rights and an option to re-sign him set at €25m.

The Portuguese winger joined Barca from Braga in the summer of 2020 and, having failed to secured a regular spot in the first team, spent the 2021-22 season on loan at Wolves.

10.16 BST: Real Madrid are tracking Chelsea’s Reece James as a possible target at right-back, Marca reports, although a likely transfer fee of between €50m-€70m and a contract until 2027 would make a move difficult.

Madrid are looking to strengthen at full-back this summer, with Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies also being monitored as an alternative on the left-hand side.

James started for Chelsea in Madrid’s 2-0 Champions League quarterfinal first leg win at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

Madrid have Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez as their right-back options. But, according to Marca, the LaLiga club haven’t yet decided whether to make a move for James, though Chelsea’s overpacked squad could work in their favour.

09.41 BST: Juventus sporting director Francesco Calvo has insisted that Dusan Vlahovic is “at the centre” of the club’s future plans, despite reports linking the forward with a move away from Turin.

ESPN reported in February that Real Madrid were monitoring Vlahovic, 23, with an eye to a move this summer as a potential back-up forward for Karim Benzema, alongside a number of other candidates.

Vlahovic has scored eight goals in 20 Serie A appearances this season and came on as a second-half substitute in Juve’s 1-0 Europa League win over Sporting Club on Thursday.

“Vlahovic is at the centre of our project for the future and there are no doubts on that,” Calvo told Sky Italia ahead of the game. “He still needs to express himself at his best. This might not be his best period for Juventus, but we are confident going forward.”

09.07 BST: Roma general manager Tiago Pinto has confirmed that former England centre-back Chris Smalling will continue at the club beyond this summer.

Smalling, 33, has agreed to sign a two-year contract extension with his current deal ending in June.

“We’ve never hidden that we all wanted to continue together,” Pinto said of Smalling. “It’s not a done deal yet, but we expect some developments during the week.”

08.34 BST: Rangers are closely monitoring Pablo Torre‘s situation at Barcelona after rekindling their interest in the Spanish attacking midfielder, according to Mundo Deportivo

Torre, 20, reportedly turned down a move to the Scottish giants and joined Barca in a €5m transfer from Racing Santander last summer.

He has made only 11 appearances, and just one start, across all competitions for Barca. The Catalan club is considering loaning Torre, is under contract with Barca until June 2026, this summer to a

08.00 BST: Colombian attacking midfielder James Rodríguez was released by Olympiakos on Thursday, a day after the club was knocked out of the Greek Cup.

The 31-year-old former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich player joined the Greek club last September and scored five goals this season, having made just 23 appearances in all competitions.

Olympiakos are six points behind joint leaders Panathinaikos and AEK Athens in the Greek league and lost to AEK 4-2 on aggregate in the Greek Cup semifinals.

Rodriguez, who won the Golden Boot with Colombia at the 2014 World Cup, has played for three clubs in as many years since leaving Real Madrid in 2020, having also spent single seasons at Premier League club Everton and Qatari side Al Rayyan.

I would like to thank everyone for all the time that we have spent together. although we are going our separate ways, I feel that I will always be a member and welcomed in the family of the great port Piraeus. I wish all the best to Olympiacos and every success in the future. pic.twitter.com/BTddkWubiQ

— James Rodríguez (@jamesdrodriguez) April 13, 2023

PAPER GOSSIP (by Rajan Hothi)

– Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are set to battle it out for the signature of Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, reports Fabrizio Romano. The Argentina international looks set to depart Brighton in the summer, however, with a contract at the club until 2025, the south coast club will likely demand an £80m fee. Liverpool, in particular, look set for a midfield overhaul in the summer with the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Naby Keita set to leave Anfield.

– Chelsea are keen to sign Raphinha this summer, according to Sport. The report suggests Barcelona are aware of the interest from the Premier League giants, however, the Catalan club would prefer to prioritise other departures, before considering allowing the Brazilian to leave Camp Nou. The Blues are reported to be admirers of Raphinha and regard him as a potential missing piece in the puzzle.

– Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool and Manchester CIty are monitoring Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram, according to Foot Mercato. The French club are said to be hopeful of securing €60m for the transfer of the 22-year-old, who has registered two goals, alongside eight assists in all competitions this season. With a contract at Nice until June 2025, the Ligue 1 outfit are under little pressure to let players leave on the cheap this summer.

– Barcelona remain eager to sign Ilkay Gundogan and are set to meet with the midfielder’s agent, as per Ekrem Konur. The Manchester City captain is out of contract with the Citizens at the end of the season, and has emerged as one of Barcelona’s premier targets for the summer. The 32-year-old is thought to be an ideal signing financially, as cash-strapped Barcelona look to find a way to comply with LaLiga‘s Financial Fair Play rules, but he would also offer much-needed experience to a youthful squad.

– Roma are in advanced talks with midfielder Houssem Aouar but face competition from Real Betis and Eintracht Frankfurt, according to Fabrizio Romano. Aouar will not extend his contract at Lyon and will be out of contract at the end of the season. Romano reveals that Roma have offered the 24-year-old a five-year deal, although nothing has been signed yet between the parties.