Clubs are slowly turning their eyes toward the summer window. Transfer Talk has updates on all the latest rumours.
Liverpool will fight to keep Salah
Liverpool will rebuff Real Madrid’s interest in Mohamed Salah, telling the Spanish giants that even £200 million won’t be enough to sign the Egypt international.
According to the Daily Mail, the Merseyside club intend to improve Salah’s £90,000-a-week contract, which has another four years to run, and have already opened talks with his agent Ramy Abbas.
Real have been tracking Salah for months and their admiration has only grown since his performance against Roma, when he took his tally to 43 for the season in Liverpool’s 5-2 romp.
But it seems they could be fighting a losing battle, with the Reds determined to build around Salah and Roberto Firmino after losing Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in January.
Man United want Sessegnon
Fulham wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon a leading target for Manchester United in the summer, reports The Times.
With doubts remaining over Luke Shaw’s future at Old Trafford, Sessegnon could arrive to compete with Ashley Young for the left-back spot.
The 17-year-old began his Fulham career playing at full-back, but has been handed an attacking role since the turn of the year, claiming 15 goals in the Championship.
Sessegnon has won a host of awards for his performances this term, including the coveted Championship Player of the Year gong, which has prompted calls for Gareth Southgate to take him to the World Cup.
Arsenal enter Nainggolan chase
Arsenal are the latest club to express an interest in Radja Nainggolan, with Manchester United and Chelsea still monitoring the Roma midfielder’s situation, claims The Sun.
Nainggolan has been tipped for a move to China at the end of the season, but he could be persuaded to join the Gunners if they appoint former Roma boss Luis Enrique.
Luis Enrique left the Stadio Olimpico two years before the Belgium international arrived, but the pair faced each other in Serie A during Nainggolan’s spell at Cagliari.
And it’s thought the 29-year-old left an impression on Enrique, who could make him one of his first signings for Arsenal if he succeeds Arsene Wenger at the Emirates Stadium.
Vasco da Gama’s Paulinho is headed to Germany
Vasco starlet Paulinho is set for a move to Bayer Leverkusen, according to a report on ESPN Brazil. The player’s family are said to be celebrating with close friend already after the 17-year-old reached a deal with the German side.
Paulinho has been sidelined since and an April 4 Copa Libertadores match against Cruzeiro, when he fractured his elbow, and will do the rest of his rehab in Germany while targeting an end-of-summer return.
Bayern Munich were also in contention for the attacker’s services, but his father said: “The player doesn’t want to know the size of the club but the quality of the project they are presenting.”
The transfer will be completed when Paulinho turns 18 in July, with Vasco set to receive €25m now and another €10m if he reaches certain performance-based incentives.
Tap-ins
– Gareth Bale has refused to rule out a move to Bayern Munich in the summer, with the curtain set to fall on his Real Madrid career. The Welshman told Bild, as reported by the Independent, that he is flattered by Bayern’s interest, with the Bundesliga club helping to revive James Rodriguez’s form following his move from Real last summer. Unsurprisingly, Bale was merely a spectator during Real Madrid’s 2-1 Champions League semifinal first-leg win against Bayern on Wednesday night.
– Portuguese trio Gelson Martins, Cedric Soares and Ruben Neves are all on Mauricio Pochettino’s shortlist to strengthen his Spurs squad in the summer. The Mirror says Wilfried Zaha is also a target, while Serge Aurier and Mousa Dembele could be allowed to leave.
– West Ham will not be signing Joe Hart on a permanent deal at the end of the season, reports The Metro. The England keeper has made a number of high-profile errors during his time at the London Stadium, and will return to Manchester City with his future in limbo.
– The Hammers are eyeing a pair of England defenders, though, with Alfie Mawson and Lewis Dunk featuring high on David Moyes’ wish list. The Daily Star says Moyes will be handed a new contract and greater control of transfers in the summer, but faces stiff competition from Man United and Spurs for Mawson.
Matthew Stanger covers European football for ESPN and is the editor of The Set Pieces. Twitter: @MatthewStanger
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