Arsenal have been told they must pay Real Madrid €80 million to sign Rodrygo after making their first move, while Florian Wirtz will choose between Bayern Munich and Liverpool in the next 10 days. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors and gossip from around the globe.
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TOP STORIES
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TRENDING RUMORS
– Arsenal have held the first exploratory discussions to sign Rodrygo from Real Madrid, reports Sky Sports Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg. Rodrygo has become disillusioned with his role at the Bernabeu this season, and Los Blancos are prepared to allow him to move on if the offer is right. Liverpool have also been strongly linked with the 24-year-old Brazil international, who has won 33 caps for his country. Cadena SER has added to the speculation, saying that Real Madrid will tell Arsenal they want €80m for the winger. Rodrygo’s representatives are sounding out potential suitors, including the Gunners. However, a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martín Zubimendi remains Mikel Arteta’s first priority amid competition from Real Madrid.
– Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz will make a decision over his future in the next 10 days, according to kicker. Bayern Munich and Liverpool are the leading contenders for his signature, with Leverkusen demanding well in excess of €100m. Manchester City were strongly linked but pulled out when the total cost of the deal, including the player’s salary and payments to agents, was going to reach €300m. Bayern had previously considered Real Madrid their only serious rivals, but they are now very worried about Liverpool with the 22-year-old’s family having flown to England for talks.
– Chelsea face competition from Arsenal and Liverpool in the battle to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, RMC Sport reports. The 22-year-old scored 22 goals in all competitions this season, leading to speculation of a move to the Premier League. The report states that Frankfurt want to get €80m to €100m for the striker, who struggled at Paris Saint-Germain — due 20% of the transfer fee — last season before moving to the Bundesliga.
– Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Al Nassr contract ends in June, and there is no indication of a renewal, and that with FIFA’s rules for the Club World Cup, have resulted in AS reporting that various clubs in the competition are trying to sign the 40-year-old on loan. Al Nassr’s rivals Al Hilal, Brazilian sides Botafogo, Flamengo, Palmeiras and Fluminense, Mexican clubs Pachuca and Monterrey, plus African clubs Wydad Casablanca, Esperance de Tunis and Al Ahly are all seen as options, although they would need to negotiate with Al Nassr for the Saudi club to let the forward leave in time for the competition or hope they release him from his contract.
– TEAMtalk have reported that AC Milan are among the various clubs tracking Amad Diallo, with Manchester United needing to raise funds for their summer business, while Bruno Fernandes and André Onana could also leave amid interest from the Saudi Pro League. In another report, the same outlet states that Napoli are stepping up their push to sign Alejandro Garnacho, who is expected to leave Old Trafford. Sky Sports have specified that Al Hilal are interested in Fernandes.
EXPERT TAKE
ESPN’s Alex Kirkland on growing speculation around the future of forward Rodrygo.
For the second summer in a row, Rodrygo’s future at Real Madrid is in doubt — but for very different reasons. Twelve months ago, the presumption was that Kylian Mbappé’s arrival at the Santiago Bernabéu meant a likely departure for the Brazil forward. Mbappé would replace Rodrygo in Carlo Ancelotti’s front two — alongside Vinicius Junior — and the Brazilian would leave, rather than accept a reduced role.
In fact, quite the opposite has happened. For the majority of the season, Rodrygo has kept his place in the team, Ancelotti insisting on maintaining his “fantastic four” frontline despite the resulting imbalance between attack and defence.
Rodrygo has made 30 appearances in Madrid’s 37 LaLiga games, 22 of them starts. He can’t complain about a lack of opportunities, he just hasn’t made the most of them. In fact, he’s scored one goal since the end of January — though he has been out injured this month. That underwhelming performance, including in Madrid’s Champions League elimination to Arsenal, and the Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona, when he was hauled off for Mbappé at half-time, has led go a growing feeling that Rodrygo might leave at the end of this season.
Some journalists who are close to the club, and president Florentino Pérez, have reported exactly that in recent weeks, although a source close to the player has denied to ESPN that Rodrygo is considering pushing for a move.
If Madrid do sanction a transfer, and Rodrygo accepts it, there would be no shortage of suitors, especially in the Premier League.
Nobody doubts his quality, and at 24, he still hasn’t reached his peak. Despite his lack of consistency at Madrid, there’s a good chance he’d thrive in the right environment, where he’s the main man in attack, rather than a supporting player.
In terms of replacements, the question is: do Madrid need one? Without Rodrygo, it means Mbappé and Vinicius — who’s expected to sign a new deal — could play as a front two, with Bellingham behind them. Endrick would be the first-choice alternative in attack, with Brahim Diaz as a different kind of option.
Instead, Madrid could use the funds raised by Rodrygo’s exit to spend elsewhere in the team, where it’s badly needed: in midfield and defence, with centre-back Dean Huijsen already signed from Bournemouth for £50m.
OTHER RUMORS
– Paris Saint-Germain have joined the race to sign River Plate attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono and have put the 17-year-old on their shortlis. Talks have already taken place, with Mastantuono allowed to move to Europe when he turns 18 in August. (Florian Plettenberg)
– Barcelona and Real Madrid have joined Liverpool and Manchester City in showing an interest in Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton. Even so, the FA Cup-winning Eagles are not willing to let the 21-year-old leave and will reject any offers. (Football Insider)
– Real Madrid have got in touch directly with Athletic Club to tell them there’s no truth in Marca’s report linking them with Nico Williams (Cadena SER)
– Liverpool are considering a move for Lyon’s Malick Fofana, 20, if Barcelona are successful in their pursuit of Luis Diaz. (Mundo Deportivo)
– Liverpool have offered a new four-year deal to Wellity Lucky, a 19-year-old central defender who was born in Spain. (Fabrizio Romano)
– Juventus are hopeful that striker Moise Kean, who has 24 goals across all competitions, will commit his future to the club amid rumours he could look to move on with interest from the Premier League. (Corriere dello Sport)
– Fabio Silva, who spent this season on loan at Las Palmas from Wolves, is an “open option” for Atletico Madrid. The 22-year-old would be a potential replacement for Angel Correa, who is set to leave. (Diario AS)
– Following Fabrizio Romano’s report that Joao Pedro could be allowed to leave Brighton & Hove Albiwho was born in Spanion, the Daily Mail has now suggested that Chelsea are ready to offer £50m for the forward and could include other players in the deal.
– Bournemouth could make a move for Marseille left-back Quentin Merlin. The France under-21 international has helped his club into the Champions League next season. (La Provence)
– West Ham and Nice are both reported to be tracking Bournemouth winger Hamed Junior Traoré. The 25-year-old spent this season on loan at Auxerre, scoring 10 goals, and Bournemouth could do a deal for €20m. (Foot Mercato)
– Chelsea are determined to see off any interest from Real Madrid in midfielder Enzo Fernández. (The Guardian)
– Atlético Madrid are seriously pushing to sign Liverpool forward Darwin Núñez. (Mundo Deportivo)
– Napoli are still the frontrunners to sign departing Manchester City attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. (Corriette dello Sport)
– Internazionale have joined Juventus and Napoli in considering a summer move for Rasmus Højlund. (Fabrizio Romano)
– Following Real Madrid’s move to sign Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth, Los Blancos could look to bring in another centre-back in Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté. (Football Insider)
– Internazionale hold a strong interest in Ange-Yoan Bonny, the striker Parma value at €20m but could accept €15m for plus add-ons or a percentage of the funds earned from his next move. Napoli and Juventus also like the 21-year-old but haven’t made an offer. (Calciomercato)
– Carlos Corberan wants to sign Jamie Vardy for Valencia, with the striker’s Leicester City contract coming to an end. (The Sun)
– Manchester United are pushing to sign forwards Antoine Semenyo and Bryan Mbeumo from Bournemouth and Brentford, respectively. (Football Insider)
– A decision on Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah’s future isn’t expected to come soon as he is on holiday, although Bayern Munich are waiting for a deal and Barcelona haven’t given up on the 29-year-old. (Kicker)
