Transfer Talk: Spurs eye €25M move for Barca's Kessie

The 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: Tottenham make Kessie enquiry

Tottenham Hotspur are tracking Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie, according to Sport.

The Premier League side, who were linked with the 26-year-old in January, have reportedly returned to the negotiating table with hopes of landing him this summer.

The Blaugrana are reportedly willing to accept an offer of €25 million for the Ivory Coast international and, despite interest emerging from Serie A side Internazionale, there is belief that only teams from the Premier League would be able to meet the Camp Nou hierarchy’s demands.

Arriving in Catalonia last summer on a free transfer from AC Milan, Kessie still has three years left on his deal. It is reported that he could be prepared to cut his stay short with Barcelona for a potential move back to Italy, but there are no guarantees whether he would be prepared to leave LaLiga if a fee is agreed with Spurs.

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20.48 BST: After his 11th year with Paris Saint-Germain, midfielder Marco Verratti is considering leaving the club this summer, reports L’Equipe. The 30-year-old Italy international is said to have grown frustrated by vitriol directed at players amid the team’s shortcomings on the European stage, and is of interest to clubs in Saudi Arabia, while he would be intrigued by a return to Italian football.

Signing Verratti won’t be a straightforward operation, however. His contract has another three year remaining, and PSG will have little motivation to let him leave on a cut-price deal.

19.31 BST: Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt are €60m apart in their valuations of striker Randal Kolo Muani, according to Bild. The 10-time defending Bundesliga champions are considering tabling an offer including a €60m transfer fee, while Die Adler want double that amount to sanction the departure of the 24-year-old France international.

Comimplating matters for the Bavarians is what is expected to be a competitive market for strikers this summer. Not only are Bayern on the lookout for a top-level No. 9, but so are Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, with Kolo Muani, Victor Osimhen of Napoli and Tottenham Hotspur captain Harry Kane the only three front men who truly fit the bill.

18.14 BST: AC Milan are in the market for a forward and a central midfielder this summer, and Calciomercato details their search for a right winger, with Christian Pulisic of Chelsea said to be high on the Rossoneri‘s list. The 24-year-old United States international has played just 979 minutes so far this season, and with his contract about to enter its final 12 months and the Blues needing to balance the books following a head-spinning transfer outlay in the previous two transfer windows, Pulisic is expected to leave west London this summer.

The other candidates to fill the role for Milan all are pending free agents: Marco Asensio of Real Madrid, Adama Traore of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Reiss Nelson of Arsenal. It’s noted that the San Siro hierarchy have a good relationship with their counterparts at Chelsea, and the sides are already in discussions not only for a deal for Pulisic, but for midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek as well.

16.57 BST: What could happen this summer? Will Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham move to Man City or Real Madrid? Our writers give their thoughts.

16.00 BST: Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has signed a new contract until 2028.

Kompany, 37, retired after a successful playing career for Anderlecht, Hamburg and Manchester City in 2020. He cut his teeth in management back at Anderlecht but left in 2022 for the job at Turf Moor.

After winning the Championship in his first season to seal promotion to the Premier League, the Belgian was linked with the Tottenham and Chelsea jobs, but has opted to stay put for now.

“Burnley and Turf Moor felt right pretty much from the start — so it also feels right to sign for the next five years,” he said. “Together with the fans we have made Turf Moor a fortress again and continue to look forward to the future and the job of making Burnley better with every step.”

Burnley chairman Alan Pace added: “We are ecstatic Vincent has signed a new deal! He is the perfect fit for how we all see Burnley Football Club moving forward. An extraordinary leader, setting ever higher standards and driving our club to the levels we all want to achieve.”

15.12 BST: Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wants to quit the club to rejoin Barcelona on a free transfer, but Sport claims the Blues are not willing to let him leave for nothing.

Aubameyang, 33, left Arsenal for Barcelona on a free transfer in February 2022 but then joined Chelsea for €12m just six months later.

The Gabon international has three goals from 22 games this season and has struggled to make an impact. However, with plans to bring in a new No. 9, Chelsea want to recoup some kind of transfer fee before they let him go.

14.26 BST: Roma are closing in on deal to sign Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar as free agent this summer, says Fabrizio Romano.

Aouar, 24, was linked with Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham back in 2021 but did not make a move and his contract is now expiring.

The playmaker made one appearance for the senior France national team before switching his international allegiance to Algeria.

13.55 BST: Strange one, given their financial situation, but Joao Cancelo’s agent is reportedly in Spain to discuss a move to Barcelona for his client, says Sport.

After being usurped in the Manchester City first XI by teenager Rico Lewis, Cancelo, 28, chose to leave in January for a loan to Bayern Munich, with a €70m clause to sign permanently included.

However, Bayern are unlikely to trigger that amount and the Portugal international will head back to Manchester in the summer.

Barca boss Xavi wants to sign a new right-back and Cancelo is one of the best, but the LaLiga leaders don’t have that kind of money anymore and could only hope to land him on a season-long loan deal.

13.09 BST: Napoli defender Kim Min-jae is the subject of interest from Manchester United, says Corriere dello Sport.

Kim, 26, signed from Fenerbahce for €18m last summer and his performances at the back helped Napoli to claim the Serie A title this season.

The South Korea international is happy to move to the Premier League, while Napoli would regrettably let him depart for a fee of €60m.

12.00 BST: Can Liverpool land a spot in the top four and improve their transfer market options?

11.11 BST: Sport reports that Barcelona winger Raphinha could leave the club this summer.

Raphinha, 26, only signed from Leeds United for €60m last summer and has scored 10 goals and provided 11 assists from 45 games this season.

However, the Brazil international would consider leaving Camp Nou as the club look to balance their finances and Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle are all interested.

10.22 BST: Juventus, Milan and Roma are interested in signing Manchester United outcast Mason Greenwood, says The Sun.

Greenwood, 21, has not played for United since January 2022 after he was suspended following his arrest in November over allegations of attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour.

The forward was due to face trial this year but criminal charges were dropped in February.

Man United have launched an internal investigation, with sources telling ESPN the club could only proceed with their own review once the criminal case had ended. Greenwood will not play or train with United until that investigation is over.

Greenwood’s contract expires in 2025, with the possibility of a loan move reportedly being explored by the three Serie A sides and there has also been interest from Turkish clubs.

09.50 BST: Bild reports that Manchester United and Real Madrid want to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong this summer.

Frimpong, 22, looks set to leave the club for a new challenge and his transfer has been valued at around €50m, despite having a contract that expires in 2025.

Newcastle United and Arsenal are also following the Netherlands international, but Madrid are frontrunners as they eye a long-term replacement for Dani Carvajal at right-back.

09.17 BST: Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch is being tracked by Liverpool, but Man City have now joined the race to sign him, according to The Mirror.

Gravenberch, 20, only moved to Munich in the summer for €18m from Ajax but hasn’t settled and is looking for more playing time.

City want to bring in Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, but the 19-year-old appears close to joining Real Madrid, so the Premier League leaders need another option.

09.00 BST: West Ham United are expected to demand £100m for midfielder Declan Rice this summer as they attempt to ward off interest from several Premier League rivals, sources have told ESPN.

The east London club would prefer to keep Rice but there is an acknowledgement his situation is reaching a critical point given he effectively has two years remaining on his contract at the London Stadium. The 24-year-old’s deal expires in 2024 but there is an option to extend by a further 12 months.

Sources have told ESPN that Arsenal want to pursue a deal for Rice at the end of the season while Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Liverpool are monitoring developments.

Arsenal are keen on bringing in two central midfielders this summer with Rice and Brighton’s Moises Caicedo on their shortlist.

PAPER TALK (by Adam Brown)

– Newcastle United are closing in on an agreement with midfielder Bruno Guimaraes over a new contract, says Football Insider. It is reported that the 25-year-old is set to become the club’s highest earner in history, with head coach Eddie Howe keen to make him a main feature of their long-term project. With talks now at an advanced stage, it is expected that the deal will be complete at the end of the season.

– Club Brugge wing-back Tajon Buchanan has been offered to Celta Vigo, writes Calciomercato. The 24-year-old has caught the attention of a number of clubs across Europe, with Inter also viewing him as a potential replacement for Denzel Dumfries.

– Negotiations over a fee for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham are set to take place at the end of the season, according to Fabrizio Romano. Real Madrid are reported to have already agreed personal terms with the 19-year-old, but they are keen not to disrupt BVB’s Bundesliga title challenge with Bayern Munich.

– Real Betis striker Raul Garcia is attracting interest from the Premier League, reports Mundo Deportivo. The 22-year-old, who is on loan at Segunda Division side Mirandes, has scored 19 goals in 36 league appearances this season, and it is reported that Brighton & Hove Albion are among the sides from England’s top flight keeping a close eye on his situation.

– West Ham United are keen on Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, reveals the Times. City boss Pep Guardiola will reportedly make a decision on the 27-year-old’s future at the Etihad at the end of the season, with the Hammers at the front of the queue should he be allowed to leave the club. Phillips arrived at the club from Leeds United last summer for £45m but is yet to make a start in the Premier League.