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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: If Frimpong doesn’t pan out, Man United want Pavard
Manchester United are looking at Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard and Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga, as has been reported by Football Insider.
The report states that the Red Devils are looking for a right-back and while Bayer Leverkusen‘s Jeremie Frimpong is the priority target to sign, Bayern Munich also hold an interest in the 22-year-old Frimpong. If the Man United are beaten to the signing of Frimpong, the Premier League club could instead throw all their efforts behind signing Pavard.
With Pavard’s standing in the Bayern team likely to be under added threat upon Frimpong’s arrival, that could create a suitable Plan B for Man United, with various outlets already reporting that the 27-year-old could leave the Allianz Arena.
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Another Football Insider report echoes ESPN’s previous reporting that Manchester United are keeping tabs on Veiga ahead of a possible summer move, having already scouted the 20-year-old on several occasions.
Man United manager Erik ten Hag is looking to strengthen in central midfield and Veiga has been enjoying a breakthrough campaign for Celta Vigo, recording nine goals and four assists in 26 LaLiga matches so far this term.
Even so, a third report states that midfielder Marcel Sabitzer is keen to make his loan from Bayern Munich permanent with Man United looking to complete a deal. Bayern are expected to demand a transfer fee of between €25m-€30m for the 29-year-old, who has settled in well since moving to Old Trafford in the January window.
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12.17 BST: Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell has reportedly agreed a new contract, according to The Athletic.
Chilwell, 26, joined from Leicester for £50m in 2020 and has a deal until 2025. However, with the England international linked with a move to Manchester City, Chelsea have moved to ensure he stays at Stamford Bridge until 2027.
11.31 BST: Alejandro Balde is set to sign a new contract with Barcelona, extending his stay at the Catalan club until 2027, according to Diario Sport.
Balde, 19, has been one of the revelations of the season at Camp Nou, making 34 appearances and knocking veteran left-back Jordi Alba out of the team.
Negotiations have been ongoing with his agent, Jorge Mendes, for months over new terms, with reports suggesting an agreement is now close after the two parties ironed out the final details. However, getting Balde to commit his future to the club is just the first part of the dilemma for Barca as they also have to be able to register his new contract with LaLiga.
Gavi, Ronald Araujo and Marcos Alonso have also signed new deals in the last year but none have yet been registered with the Spanish league.
Barca must reduce as much as €150m from their annual outgoings — or raise money through transfers — before LaLiga will inscribe the new deals.
10.25 BST: English clubs are lining up to sign the Barcelona winger Abde Ezzalzouli, according to various reports in Spain.
Diario Sport claims Wolverhampton Wanderers want to bring in the Morocco international this summer, while Mundo Deportivo adds that “half the Premier League” are tracking him.
Abde, 21, scored twice at the weekend as Osasuna came from behind to beat Elche 2-1 in LaLiga to continue his impressive season on loan in Pamplona. He also scored a late winner against Sevilla last month and the only goal of the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg against Athletic Club as Osasuna progressed to the final, where they will meet Real Madrid in May.
Barca are also monitoring the progress of Abde, who they signed from Hercules for €2m in 2021.
“He is making the most of his loan, making differences for Osasuna,” Barca coach Xavi said Sunday. “They are really happy with him in Pamplona, he’s professional, playing really well. At Barca, the level he was at on Saturday, you have to be at in every game. When he returns, we will look at it and decide what we do with him. He could be an important player in the future.”
Abde made 12 first team appearances at Spotify Camp Nou last season, scoring one goal, but a loan was deemed the best option for his development this season following the signings of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha.
09.26 BST: Manchester United’s desire to sign a central midfielder this summer is clear, with Brighton pair Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister on their shortlist, says The Daily Telegraph.
Caicedo, 21, almost left the club in January amid £70m offers from Arsenal and Chelsea before falling out with the club over being forced to stay. However, he signed a new contract at the Amex Stadium until 2027.
Meanwhile, Argentina World Cup winner Mac Allister signed a new deal in October and would likely cost in excess of £70m to sign as well.
Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong and West Ham’s Declan Rice have also been linked with United.
08.53 BST: Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is being tracked by AC Milan, says Calciomercato.
Balogun, 21, is on loan at Reims this season and has 19 goals in 31 games for the club in all competitions.
However, Arsenal have Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah up front so the England Under-21 international may not return to the Emirates. Instead, the Gunners could move him on for more than €30m.
08.30 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.
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PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)
– Paris Saint-Germain want to sign 23-year-old Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby in the summer, according to Foot Mercato, who add that unnamed clubs from England and Italy are also interested. After coming through Les Parisiens’ academy, Diaby played a total of 34 games for the PSG first-team before moving to Germany in the summer of 2019.
– Borussia Dortmund are keeping an eye on Burnley winger Anass Zaroury and sent scout Benjamin Frank to watch the 22-year-old, claims The Sun, who add that Olympique de Marseille, Monaco and Standard Liege have also watched him. Having seen the Morocco international help the Clarets reclaim their place in the Premier League, BVB could make Zaroury part of a recruitment drive if Jude Bellingham leaves in the summer.
– Tottenham Hotspur have registered an interest in signing Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech, according to Football Insider, who add that Paris Saint-Germain could rekindle their interest in the 30-year-old. The Blues are said to be willing to accept offers in the region of £20m, with West Ham United and Fulham also looking at the Morocco international.
– Internazionale like Tigre striker Mateo Retegui but will not commit to signing him until June, reports Calciomercato, with the probable valuation of around €20m for the 23-year-old potentially causing problems for the Champions League quarterfinalists. I Nerazzurri would need to qualify for Europe’s primary competition again and complete certain transfers to make a deal happen, while Retegui — who scored on his national team debut — has made no secret of his desire to play in Italy.
– Fabrizio Romano has suggested that Brentford goalkeeper David Raya will not sign a new contract, with his current one expiring in 2024. The Premier League outfit will aim to bring in €40m for the 27-year-old in the summer, with Raya’s hope being that one of the big-name clubs monitoring the Spaniard will make a move when the transfer window opens.
