Transfer news LIVE updates: Neymar to Man Utd; Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Barcelona
TRANSFER news live updates - follow the latest gossip.
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Transfer news LIVE updates: Follow the latest news and gossip
Friday May 4
Juventus’ Alvaro Morata offer
Juventus are plotting a move to re-sign Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata, according to reports.
The Blues are set for a major summer overhaul, especially with Antonio Conte likely to leave the club after his side’s title defence spectacularly folded.
And according to Italian paper Tuttosport, Juventus wish to bring Morata back to Italy.
The report suggests they are willing to pave his return and will offer £52m for the 25-year-old.
Tuttosport claim the payment will be broken down into a £13m loan payment and then a subsequent purchase fee will make up the rest of the transfer.
Arsenal lead race for Turkish defender
Arsenal are leading the race to land defender Caglar Soyuncu this season, according to reports.
The Gunners are interested in the Turkish centre-back who is currently at Freiburg in the Bundesliga.
He moved to Germany from Turkish second tier side Altinordu two years ago.
The Evening Standard claim Arsenal are interested in young defenders having signed Konstantinos Mavropanos in January.
The 20-year-old Greek impressed on his Premier League debut against Manchester United last weekend.
Soyuncu is just 21 and Altinordu president Seyit Mehmet Ozkan believes that Arsenal will be his next destination.
"Caglar Soyuncu set to join Arsenal," Ozkan confirmed at the International Football Economic Forum.
Thursday May 3
Arsenal worry
Arsenal are out of the Europa League after a 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid.
And that could have massive consequences on their transfer plans for the summer.
Arsenal now cannot qualify for next season’s Champions League.
It means they will likely have a reduced transfer budget, could struggle to convince players to join them and may see some top stars leave.
Gerrard to Rangers latest
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has given his backing to Steven Gerrard joining Rangers - just five months after he nearly switched to Ibrox himself.
"The prospect of a global name like Steven Gerrard coming into the Scottish game can only be seen as a good thing," McInnes said.
"I’d prefer it if he was a player. Because what a player he was: a fantastic leader of man and Liverpool and for England."
Aberdeen are in a battle with Rangers to secure second place in the Scottish Premiership this season.
Samuel Umtiti snub
Jose Mourinho does not want Manchester United to sign Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti in the summer.
That's according to Marca, who claim talk of United's interest has been constructed by his agents.
Umtiti is currently refusing to sign a new contract because Barcelona will not give in to his wage demands.
But it seems a move to United will not be an option if his stint at the Nou Camp draws to a close.
Manchester City were similarly disinterested in getting Umtiti on-board when contacted in December.
While Paris Saint-Germain are out of the race due to the need to comply with Financial Fair Play rules.
REUTERS
Eric Bailly interest
Chelsea and Arsenal could reportedly make moves for Manchester United star Eric Bailly in the summer.
Bailly has experienced a difficult second season at Manchester United though, with injuries restricting him to 16 appearances in all competitions.
Recent reports have suggested the 24-year-old had fallen out with Mourinho, leading to him being dropped for games against Tottenham and Arsenal, while he subsequently missed the club’s Player of the Year awards event.
It has since emerged that Bailly has a dental problem, while the United boss has insisted his selections are now being shaped by giving his other centre-backs the best chance of going to the World Cup.
However, ESPN claim two of United’s Premier League rivals are waiting in the wings in case Bailly is let go.
They say Chelsea and Arsenal are monitoring the Ivory Coast international’s situation at Old Trafford.
REUTERS
Jack Butland warning
Stoke boss Paul Lambert has joked that £35million would only be enough to buy one of Jack Butland's hands.
It has been reported that Wolves, who will be in the Premier League next term having secured promotion last month, are ready to make a £35m bid for Stoke's England goalkeeper Butland if the relegation-threatened Potters go down.
Asked about that, former Wolves manager Lambert said with a smile: "Is that for one glove? With the way the modern market is, I think you might get one glove for that!”
Everton deal
Teenage midfielder Beni Baningime has signed a new four-year contract with Everton.
The 19-year-old, who has made 12 competitive appearances for the Toffees, has committed to the Premier League club until the end of June 2022.
"I'm really happy to sign a new contract and so proud because it represents what I've always wanted - which is to be around the first team and fighting for my place,” Baningime told the club’s website.
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Pires says no…
Robert Pires does not think Diego Simeone would be a suitable replacement for Arsene Wenger.
“I don’t know if Diego Simeone would be the perfect fit for Arsenal,” Pires told bwin. “He’s a fantastic manager and he’s doing an amazing job at Atletico Madrid.
“He competes with Real Madrid and Barcelona every year and has reached the Champions League final, but his philosophy is maybe too defensive.
“Arsenal play fantastic attacking football and I think it’s important that the new manager continues with this philosophy.”
Caglar Soyuncu transfer
Arsenal will sign Freiburg defender Caglar Soyuncu, according to Altinordu president Seyit Mehmet Ozkan.
Soyuncu, 21, is a talented centre-back who’s earned plaudits for his Bundesliga displays since joining from second-tier Turkish outfit Altinordu in 2016.
President Ozkan revealed that Bayern Munich were also vying for his signature but Arsenal have won the battle.
"Caglar Soyuncu set to join Arsenal," Ozkan confirmed at the International Football Economic Forum.
"Arsenal demanded his youth information from us. We'll earn from him, if he joins Arsenal. Bayern Munich wants him too, but he's on the way to the Premier League."
GETTY
Neymar to Manchester United
PSG star Neymar is reportedly willing to accept a move to Manchester United this summer.
Manchester United and Real Madrid are both interested in rescuing Neymar from his PSG nightmare.
The Brazil international has fired the Ligue 1 giants to the title but is said to be underwhelmed by the standard of football in France’s top flight.
Spanish website Don Balon say Neymar is ready to accept a move to United if it means getting out of the Parc des Princes and is interested in playing under Jose Mourinho.
Neymar could even sign as a replacement for one of Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford.
Reports have suggested both players are weighing up their futures amid unhappiness with Mourinho.
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Mohamed Salah deal
Real Madrid are reportedly waiting to spend £147m on Mohamed Salah because they are yet to be convinced the Liverpool star is more like Lionel Messi than Riyad Mahrez.
Salah’s form under Jurgen Klopp has turned heads across the world with Real said to be eyeing him up.
The latest reports indicate there’s a reason Real have not made him one of their priority targets for the next transfer window though.
According to Sports Illustrated, Real have reservations over whether Salah can repeat his current performance levels on a consistent basis.
And that’s apparently seen him unfavourably compared to Barcelona star Messi, with whom plenty of parallels have been drawn this year.
Real Madrid are said to need convincing that Salah can copy Messi by producing the goods season after season.
Otherwise Real believe he could be more flash in the pan, mirroring Mahrez’s form when he won the Premier League with Leicester.
Griezmann undecided…
Antoine Griezmann doesn't know where he will be playing next season, according to Atletico Madrid team-mate Diego Godin.
The Frenchman has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona in recent months after turning down offers to leave Madrid last summer.
And Godin insists Griezmann has not yet made his mind up over where his future lies.
“Nobody knows, we don’t think even he knows,” the Atletico defender told Spanish radio El Desmarque.
“We want him to remain for us and stay here for many years. Right now he is under contract and we want him to keep improving here with us.
“We love him and he brings an extra dimension to our team, so of course we want to continue like this.”