Clubs are slowly turning their eyes toward the summer window, and Transfer Talk has the updates on all the latest rumours.
Ronaldo insists Real sell seven players
There are few things worse in life than having a co-worker actively lobbying for your dismissal and that’s exponentially more the case when said co-worker is Cristiano Ronaldo.
Real Madrid’s La Liga title defence hasn’t gone according to plan this season — with Zinedine Zidane’s team trailing leaders Barcelona by 15 points in the table — and despite the team still competing in the Champions League, Ronaldo has reportedly made a list of seven players he wants to see sold in the offseason, including midfielder Isco.
The Daily Star says “Ronaldo does not like the [Isco’s] attitude on or off the field and wants him gone.” Finding suitors for Isco probably won’t be a problem, with Man City, Chelsea and Tottenham all in the mix to secure the services of the Spain international.
Another big name on Ronaldo’s list is Keylor Navas. The Portuguese megastar is said to have a “good relationship” with the Costa Rica keeper but would prefer to see one of David De Gea, Marc Andre Ter Stegen or Thibaut Courtois minding the net at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Star says that Mateo Kovacic and Marcos Llorente are both also not up to Ronaldo’s standards at Real and would prefer that three of the team’s younger players — Borja Mayoral, Jesus Vallejo and Achraf Hakimi — were moved on as well.
Man United plot Varane, Umtiti raids
Jose Mourinho is looking to revamp Manchester United’s defence, and has identified Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane and Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti as the men to lead his new-look back line, according to the Star.
It’s reported that Umtiti has reached a contract impasse with Barcelona. The 24-year-old is said to want to treble his £50,000-a-week wages, a figure the Catalan club has been hesitant to agree to.
Meanwhile, a move to Old Trafford for Varane would mean a reunion with Mourinho, who gave the 24-year-old his Los Blancos debut in 2011.
To make room for these French defenders, United would need to offload a handful of their existing ones. The Star reports that Chris Smalling, Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind are all expected to depart the club this summer.
Chelsea determined to win race for Alderweireld
Another centre-back demanding a £150,000-a-week contract is Toby Alderweired, and it seems Tottenham have no interest in giving the Belgium international such a deal.
While Manchester United and Barcelona have been monitoring the 29-year-old’s situation, it’s Chelsea who appear set to bring in Alderweireld this summer, the Mirror reports.
Alderweireld has one year remaining on his contract, but a one-year extension will automatically renew next summer. However, next summer also marks the introduction of a £25 million buyout clause, leaving Spurs vulnerable to losing the centre-back for significantly less than market value.
Tottenham would be reluctant to sell to such fierce rivals, but Chelsea believe this contractual quagmire gives them an opening. While the price tag may be set at £55m, the looming buyout clause means the reigning Premier League champions could cut a deal for as little as £40m.
Tap-ins
– Arsenal fear Jack Wilshere will leave North London on a free transfer after the 26-year-old, whose existing contract expires this summer, rejected an £80,000-a-week, heavily incentivized deal, according to the Guardian. Everton, West Ham and Juventus are reportedly interested in acquiring the England international.
– Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez has suggested he would favour a permanent switch to Bayern Munich over joining a Premier League club in the summer.
Rodriguez, currently on a two-year loan with the Bundesliga champions, has been linked with moves to Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal in the past year.
– Zlatan Ibrahimovic insisted the “lion is still hungry” as he embarks on a fresh challenge with the LA Galaxy.
The former Manchester United man revealed that his move to the Galaxy was supposed to happen two years ago, only for him to join the Old Trafford club instead.
“My head was here. I wanted to come here, and it didn’t happen,” he said. “OK. Things go sometimes like it’s not supposed to go, but the destiny said I will come here. So Los Angeles called and I answered.”
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