TOP STORY: Doué desired by plenty of big clubs
Arsenal have joined Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich in the race for Stade Rennais winger Désiré Doué.
That's according to the Daily Mirror, which reports that while the youngster has been scouted extensively by a number of top European clubs -- Borussia Dortmund have also been linked with a move, along with those listed above -- Arsenal could move to the front of the queue.
Les Rennais are reluctant to let the 18-year-old leave, but with rising interest and multiple bids reportedly looming in the coming weeks, they're also resigned to the fact that he could be on the move this summer.
Doué played 43 times for Julien Stéphan's side this season, scoring four goals and adding six assists. Yet it's Stade Rennais' failure to secure European football for a second successive campaign that will likely prove their undoing when it comes to keeping hold of the rising star, with the side finishing 10th in the Ligue 1 table.
Doué is under contract until 2026 but wants to play at the top level, leaving Europe's finest clubs to duke it out for his services.
Casemiro could make move to Saudi Arabia
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is expected to make the switch to a club in Saudi Arabia, according to Football Insider.
The Red Devils are said to be keen to move the 32-year-old on due to his high salary, with talks expected to take place over a deal in the next transfer window.
Previous reports have indicated that Casemiro earns a base salary of £350,000-per-week at Old Trafford.
Southampton in talks to get Lallana
Southampton are in talks to sign midfielder Adam Lallana on a free transfer, reports the Telegraph.
The 36-year-old recently decided to leave Brighton at the end of his contract, but it looks as though he could be set to stay in the Premier League, with the Saints keen on making him their first signing since returning to England’s top flight.
Lallana previously left St. Mary’s Stadium in 2014, when he completed a £25m move to Liverpool.
Milan making progress on Maignan's new contract
AC Milan are looking to make progress on signing goalkeeper Mike Maignan to a new contract, reports Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Rossoneri are reported to be looking to hand the 28-year-old a deal that reflects his leader status in the squad, with terms that would extend his stay at the San Siro beyond the summer of 2026. He has recently been linked with Bayern Munich.
Girona want to re-sign Romeu
Girona want to re-sign Barcelona midfielder Oriol Romeu, according to Mundo Deportivo.
It is believed that an offer worth €3m would be enough to land the 32-year-old, who was previously crowned the player of the season at the club before joining the Blaugrana last summer.
Romeu made 37 appearances for Barca last season, but he is reported to be open to returning to his former club.
Tottenham will wait until after Euros to make move for Sudakov
Tottenham Hotspur may have to wait until after the European Championships before making a move for Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Georgiy Sudakov, says Ben Jacobs.
The 21-year-old’s club are reported to be hopeful of his value increasing after the tournament where is expected to be a key player for Ukraine, with his valuation currently set in the region of €70m.
Talks underway over De Bruyne's future
Talks are set to take place between Manchester City and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, reports Football Insider. It is believed that the 32-year-old is keen to understand how he fits into the club’s plans for next season, as well as exploring the terms of a potential new contract.
He will enter the final 12 months of his deal at the Etihad Stadium next month, with clubs in the Saudi Pro League believed to be keeping close tabs on his situation.
Roma could get rid of Abraham this usmmer
Roma could be willing to move on striker Tammy Abraham in the summer, according to Calciomercato.
The Giallorossi are said to be open to evaluating offers for the 26-year-old, amid belief that he won’t be a key starter in their squad in the future.
He scored just one goal in 12 appearances across all competitions last season, after returning from a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury.
New contract for McKenna at Ipswich is close
An agreement over a new contract between Ipswich Town and manager Kieran McKenna is close, reports the Telegraph.
Manchester United, Chelsea, and Brighton have all been linked with interest in the 38-year-old head coach, but the latest indicates that he is now prepared to commit his future at Portman Road ahead of the club’s first season in the Premier League in 22 years.
Chelsea make approach for Leicester's Maresca - sources
Chelsea have approached Leicester City for permission to speak to manager Enzo Maresca, sources have told ESPN’s Mark Ogden, after identifying the Italian as the preferred candidate to succeed Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca, 44, guided Leicester to promotion back to the Premier League as winners of the Championship in his first campaign in charge this season and his success has prompted Chelsea’s owners to make a formal move to hire Pep Guardiola’s former assistant at Manchester City.
Former Brighton & Hove Albion coach Roberto De Zerbi and Brentford’s Thomas Frank are also under consideration to replace Pochettino, who left Chelsea by mutual consent after guiding the team to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, and the Carabao Cup final, during his one season charge.
Maresca is regarded as a coach who favours a possession-based game with a track record of giving opportunities to emerging youngsters. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia both worked with Maresca during their time together at City.
Sources have said that Leicester will expect compensation of around £9m for Maresca if they allow their highly rated coach to speak to Chelsea this week.
Girona keen on move for McAtee
Girona are keen on a move for Manchester City midfielder James McAtee, reports the Sun.
The LaLiga side, also owned by the City Group, are looking at a loan move for the 21-year-old, and could win the race ahead of clubs in England due to being able to offer him Champions League football.
McAtee made 30 league appearances last season while on loan at Sheffield United.
'Forever? No'
Pep Guardiola avoided answering a question about his long-term future as Manchester City manager during the club’s Premier League title parade.
When asked if he would “please stay forever”, the 53-year-old gave a laugh and deftly swerved the question.
- Dawson: What will motivate Guardiola and Man City next season?
Arsenal, Man City to battle for Bruno
Manchester City are rivalling Arsenal for the signing of Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimarães this summer, according to UOL.
The Brazil international has scored seven goals and set up 10 more in 50 appearances in all competitions for the Magpies this season.
Guimarães, 26, has a contract with Newcastle United until June 2028 and has a £100m release clause that can reportedly be activated until June 24. After that date, any interested clubs would have to negotiate a fee with Newcastle United.
Why are Europe's top clubs struggling to hire new managers?
ESPN’s Mark Ogden looks at the reasons why so many top clubs are struggling to appoint a manager this summer:
There has never been a managerial recruitment race like it. Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Liverpool, Juventus and Chelsea -- five of football's biggest clubs -- all searching for a new manager or head coach during the same brief period of time.
So why is the managerial market becoming such a difficult one to navigate, especially for those clubs that usually get what they want, and quickly? A big factor is the increasing influence of sporting directors, the executives charged by club owners to run the football side of the operation. The days of clubs being dominated by the relationship between chairman and manager are long gone.
- Ogden: Why hiring a new manager can be so hard for Europe’s top clubs
Man United left-back leaves
Álvaro Fernández has left Old Trafford and joined Benfica on a permanent deal, Manchester United have announced.
The Spanish left-back, 21, spent the second half of the season on loan at the Portuguese club.
In his 15 appearances for the Lisbon giants he scored one goal and registered an assist, both coming among his 11 league games as Benfica finished 10 points behind champions Sporting CP.
Xavi wanted to axe Barça stars including Lewandowski
Xavi Hernández wanted to move on Robert Lewandowski, João Félix, João Cancelo and Vitor Roque if he stayed on as Barcelona coach, sources have told ESPN’s Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.
Xavi was sacked by Barça last Friday and took charge of his final game on Sunday, a 2-1 win over Sevilla as the Catalan side ended the season second in LaLiga and without a trophy. However, prior to being dismissed, he had radical plans to overhaul the squad this summer, especially in attack.
The coach wanted to freshen things up by getting rid of top goal-scorer Lewandowski, loanees Félix and Cancelo and January signing Roque.
Lewandowski, 35, still has two years to run on a four-year contract, although the final year is dependent on him playing a certain number of games next season. The Poland captain, who has scored 59 goals in 95 appearances since signing from Bayern Munich in 2022, spoke last week of his desire to remain at the Catalan club.
He shares representation with German coach Hansi Flick, who sources have told ESPN will be Xavi's successor, in the form of Pini Zahavi, who is one of several agents who have a big influence at Barça. Flick also worked with Lewandowski when he was Bayern coach, with the Bundesliga club winning the treble in 2019-20.
Jorge Mendes is another agent with sway at Barça and his clients, Félix and Cancelo, have both spent this season on loan at the LaLiga side. Félix is now due to return to Atlético Madrid and Cancelo to Manchester City, but both could return to Barça this summer, although sources have told ESPN Xavi was not keen on re-signing either.
Mbappé says likely Real Madrid transfer 'days' away
Kylian Mbappé said he will announce his next career move in a "few days" after winning the French Cup with Paris Saint-Germain.
Mbappé is widely expected to join Real Madrid having already confirmed he will leave PSG when his contract expires this summer.
After his team's 2-1 win over Lyon in the final on Saturday, Mbappé was asked by reporters why he is yet to formally reveal his next club.
"Because I think the best thing to do is to finish saying goodbye," the France captain said in the mixed zone of the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille.
"All I wanted was to finish well. There is a time for everything. I will announce my new club in due course. It will be only a few days away so there is no problem."
Pressed by journalists if that meant the transfer would be official before the national team meets to prepare for the European Championship, Mbappé added: "I still don't know, there are still some details. The most important thing was to win and to experience these final emotions."
García set for Leverkusen move
Bayer Leverkusen have reached a verbal agreement with Girona FC midfielder Aleix García, according to Sky Sports Deutschland.
Negotiations between Bayer and Girona are reportedly at an advanced stage with the Bundesliga champions ready to reach up to €20m to sign the 26-year-old.
Garcia made 37 appearances for Girona this season, scoring three goals and providing six assists, and was instrumental in Girona qualifying for the Champions League for the first time.
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