The summer transfer window is approaching, and there's plenty of gossip swirling about who's moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings and goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: USMNT's McKennie could move to Atletico Madrid
United States midfielder Weston McKennie may join Atletico Madrid as part of a deal that would see Alvaro Morata stay at Juventus, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Morata has been on loan at Juve from Atletico since the summer of 2020, with the option to make that deal permanent for €35 million in June. While Juventus do want to keep the Spain international, they don't want to pay that fee and are instead looking at various options scenarios to bring it down.
Their first option is to try to sign Morata for between €20m and €25m, but Atleti are not convinced as they reportedly feel they could get a higher fee elsewhere.
Massimiliano Allegri is keen to keep Morata but doesn't fully trust McKennie, adds the story, so it is felt that the midfielder could be offloaded to help fund a move or be added to the deal with Atleti.
The 23-year-old has managed 20 Serie A appearances this season, which was cut short by an injury in February, and has characteristics that could work in Diego Simeone's team -- especially with Hector Herrera joining the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer this summer.
McKennie's versatility is said to be of interest to Atleti, as they feel he could play as a defensive midfielder, central midfielder or even operate on the right.
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21.27 BST: Aberdeen have given Leeds United permission to talk to Calvin Ramsay but will hold out for a seven-figure transfer fee in order to sanction the right-back's departure, reports Football Insider. The Scottish side are willing to let the teenager leave as they aim to bring in much-needed funds, with Liverpool one of the other Premier League clubs showing interest.
20.54 BST: Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Bruno Lage has admitted he is unsure what the response would be to a transfer offer for Ruben Neves.
"We need to wait for an offer, we have nothing," he's quoted as saying in the Evening Standard. "We need to wait for an offer and understand what [will] really happen -- what is good for the club, good for the player.
"For me it is clear, if I want to work with Ruben, yes. If you ask the player if he wants to work for me, for sure he will say yes. But this is football and you never know what can happen in the next day."
Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have all been linked with a possible move for the Portugal midfielder.
20.21 BST: According to Kicker, Bayer Leverkusen will look to find a new club for Joel Pohjanpalo in the summer despite the Finland international impressing on loan at Caykur Rizespor. The striker has scored 14 of Rizespor's 33 Turkish Super Lig goals this term, and with the club close to being relegated, Pohjanpalo will now be looking for a new club. Leverkusen are said to want a transfer fee of between €3m and €5m to sanction the departure of the 27-year-old, whose contract ends in 2023.
19.48 BST: Tottenham Hotspur are willing to listen to offers for Sergio Reguilon, according to Football Insider, with an unnamed Spanish side interested in signing the left-back. Real Madrid have the option to sign their academy graduate for £43m as part of the initial deal that saw him move to North London, but it would not take that much to convince Spurs to part ways with the Spaniard, and Los Blancos are reportedly not the team interested.
19.15 BST: Juventus are looking to strengthen their midfield in the summer transfer window and Calciomercato has listed three players they are considering signing.
The first is Manchester United's Paul Pogba, who will be available as a free agent when his contract ends in the summer. He is followed by Chelsea metronome Jorginho, who would reportedly be happy to move back to Serie A a year before his contract ends. The last name is Sergej Milinkovic-Savic of Lazio, who could demand a transfer fee of €70m to sanction the Serbia international's departure.
18.42 BST: Nice manager Christophe Galtier is very keen for his club to sign Montpellier captain Teji Savanier in the summer, reports Le10 Sport. Nice are fighting to ensure they secure European football for next season, with the Champions League still not out of reach, which is taking up most of Galtier's attention. However, he is also aware of possible opportunities to strengthen, and with Savanier having one more year on his contract, there is hope the club's ambitions could persuade the midfielder to move.
18.09 BST: The Vancouver Whitecaps have completed the signing of Paraguay international defensive midfielder Andres Cubas from Nimes. The 25-year-old has signed a four-year contract as a Designated Player, which includes an option for the final six months of 2026.
Welcome to This City, Andrés Cubas 🏙️
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) April 28, 2022
It's official! Cubas is a Whitecaps FC player 🇵🇾🇦🇷#VWFC | #ThisCity pic.twitter.com/zzcOP62ARP
17.36 BST: Barcelona have long been linked with Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, and Ekrem Konur suggests they have now prepared a €35m transfer offer for the Poland international. Barca are looking for a proven goal scorer and Lewandowski has hit the back of the net a remarkable 48 times in 43 appearances across all competitions this season.
17.03 BST: According to Fabrizio Romano, Borussia Dortmund have reached a full agreement with SC Freiburg defender Nico Schlotterbeck ahead of a move in the summer. This follows their agreement with Bayern Munich centre-back Niklas Sule and they are now working on a deal with FC Salzburg as they aim to bring in coveted striker Karim Adeyemi.
16.30 BST: Is €222m-man Neymar thinking about leaving PSG?
15.49 BST: New Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag wants to sign some new defenders, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.
United will move on a host of players this summer and have a sizeable transfer budget to change things around.
Villarreal's Pau Torres and Ajax's Jurrien Timber are two who have caught the eye of United, with Timber set to be used as a right-back and the left-footed Torres providing some balance along with Raphael Varane in the central area.
15.14 BST: Barcelona will play their home games during the 2023-24 season at the Olympic Stadium in the city with work due to begin on revamping Camp Nou this summer, the club confirmed on Thursday.
Barca members approved a €1.5 billion funding package to regenerate the club's ageing 99,354-seater stadium and the surrounding area in a referendum last December.
A licence has now been granted by the local council to begin the developments, with work set to start in June, when the existing campaign ends. It will take four years for the renovation to be carried out.
President Joan Laporta said most of the construction can be carried out alongside sporting activity, but the club will have to vacate their home for one season in 2023-24. Laporta had hoped to be able to play at the 6,000-seater Johan Cruyff stadium at the club's training ground, but plans to increase the capacity were not viable at this moment in time.
Instead, they will temporarily relocate to the Olympic Stadium in the Montjuic area of the city.
14.33 BST: The Athletic claims Jurgen Klopp has signed a contract to keep him at Liverpool until 2026.
Klopp, 54, and his staff were on deals which expired in 2024. The German had been expected to take a sabbatical after the 2023-24 campaign, but he has reportedly been "re-energised by his side's chase for the quadruple this season."
He first took charge in October 2015 and has overseen a period of great success at Anfield, winning the Champions League, Club World Cup and Super Cup with Liverpool in 2019, before landing the Premier League title in 2020.
14.00 BST: Are Chelsea thinking about moving on Christian Pulisic?
13.44 BST: AC Milan striker Rafael Leao could leave the club for €70m, says Calciomercato.
Leao, 22, has been in talks over a new contract as his terms expire in 2024. The Portugal international has scored 12 goals in 38 games this season but may depart the Serie A leaders if he can't get around €4.5-per-year in wages.
13.19 BST: Former Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman does not believe the club are trying to move on Frenkie de Jong following a string of rumours this week.
De Jong, 24, has been linked with a reunion with Erik ten Hag, his former coach at Ajax, following his appointment at Manchester United, while Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich have also been credited with an interest.
"I don't think Barca want to sell Frenkie, neither does Xavi," Koeman said. "He's a great player, a great midfielder. Maybe he's had some games where he has not been at his level, but don't doubt Frenkie."
De Jong joined Barca from Ajax in 2019 for around €75m. His time at Camp Nou has been marked by several managerial changes, with Xavi the fourth coach he's worked under during that time.
However, despite the upheaval, and Barca's problems on the pitch, the Dutch international has always maintained that he wants to stay at the club.
13.02 BST: Juventus forward Paulo Dybala is likely to leave the club on a free transfer in the summer, but Corriere dello Sport reports that Manchester United are keen to sign him.
Incoming boss Erik ten Hag evidently has plans and rates Dybala highly, while the lack of a transfer fee is a clear boost for a player of such quality.
Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City are also being linked with the Argentina international, who has seen interest from Milan, Inter and PSG in Europe as well.
12.15 BST: The world's best male players are getting younger but, as the likes of Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, Barcelona's Pedri and Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden make headlines every week, is it finally time to crown successors to the legendary Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo?
ESPN brings you our list of 39 of the game's next top young stars aged 21 or under.
Assembling the list for the third year running is Tor-Kristian Karlsen, who has worked as a scout and executive for clubs across Europe, including Monaco, Zenit and Watford. Here he explains his methodology before revealing his picks.
11.47 BST: Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka could leave the club this summer and head back to Crystal Palace, says The Athletic.
Wan-Bissaka, 24, moved to Old Trafford for £50m in 2019 but is now behind Diogo Dalot in the pecking order this season and has not settled.
Palace can't afford to bring him back permanently but would be keen to do a loan deal if new manager Erik ten Hag doesn't want him to stay.
10.58 BST: Barcelona continue to be linked with players, but a possible incoming could be Benfica left-back Alex Grimaldo.
Mundo Deportivo claims that the 26-year-old is on Barca's shortlist to replace Jordi Alba, given he was a graduate of their famed La Masia academy before leaving in 2016.
10.32 BST: U.S. women's national team striker Tobin Heath has been released from her contract at Arsenal, the club announced on Thursday.
Both parties have agreed for Heath to leave the club early after she picked up a hamstring injury last week which ruled her out for the remainder of the season.
The 33-year-old's contract at Arsenal was due to expire at the end of the campaign and the club said she will return to the United States to work with her personal medical team.
"Although I'm disappointed that my time at Arsenal has come to an early end, I have loved every minute of my time here," Tobin told the club's official website. "I would like to thank everyone at the club who has made me feel so welcome. Arsenal is a special club and this is a special group of players. I have no doubt that they are bound for success in the near future and I'll be supporting the team with the rest of the Arsenal family from now on."
10.11 BST: How can Man United bring in top players this summer?
Tor-Kristian Karlsen discusses who he thinks has the highest ceiling amongst the young football stars of today.
08.56 BST: Benfica has announced it has reached a preliminary agreement to bring in German coach Roger Schmidt.
Schmidt's contract with Dutch side PSV Eindhoven expires at the end of the season. The 55-year-old will replace Nelson Verissimo, who was appointed as interim coach of Benfica in December 2021 for the remainder of the campaign and steered the team to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Benfica are third in the domestic league, 14 points adrift of leaders FC Porto, and the Portuguese club has reportedly offered Schmidt a two-year contract with an optional third season.
Benfica president Rui Costa is set to travel to Germany in the coming days to complete a deal for Schmidt.
08.24 BST: Ajax striker Sebastien Haller is being tracked by Borussia Dortmund, says The Sun, after reports linked him with a move to Manchester United.
Haller, 27, has 31 goals in 37 games for Ajax this season and could be keen to play under Erik ten Hag again when the Dutchman takes over at Old Trafford this summer.
The Ivory Coast international flopped at West Ham, after a £45m move from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019, but has impressed in the Netherlands.
Dortmund are looking for a replacement for Erling Haaland this summer, and Haller could fit the profile perfectly.
08.00 BST: Thomas Tuchel said he believes Chelsea's ownership uncertainty is enabling their rivals to gain an early advantage in the summer transfer market.
Under the terms of a special licence allowing the club to function despite owner Roman Abramovich's sanctioning by the U.K. government, Chelsea are banned from signing players or agreeing contract extensions with existing members of their squad.
The malaise has contributed to Antonio Rudiger's decision to leave Chelsea on a free transfer at the end of the season with his move to Real Madrid expected to be finalised in the coming days.
Andreas Christensen is in advanced talks to join Barcelona when his contract runs out in June and the situation means Chelsea cannot approach possible replacements or look to strengthen their squad in other areas at a time when many others are beginning to take steps in the market.
"[In a normal season], you are never fully sure but we would have some targets and we would have for sure contacted some players and found out about their situations," Tuchel said. "Of course, now our hands are tied. We can still have talks inside the building but we cannot act. The situation is not ideal.
"It would be challenging enough with a stable situation but we don't have it. Everybody is doing it for the first time, we try to show our commitment and our passion for it. This is for me very important to give this message: I am committed, I am looking forward and I am passionate about it. As soon as we can act, we will try to act and turn things around.
"You could see we could not compete over the long run, we could compete in periods, we can compete in direct matches. I was so happy with the structure and mentality that Chelsea provides because for me that was the foundation to strongly believe we are capable and we will keep on pushing.
"With this now questioned, it is getting more demanding, not difficult because I don't know what's coming -- but the thing for me is that we keep the mentality here in the building, the competitive mentality which was installed over a decade. This is a bit concerning and hopefully we can find our way through it."
Futbol Americas' Seb Salazar and Herculez Gomez discuss whether rumours about Sergino Dest's Barcelona future should be believed.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)
- Barcelona hope to sign Lucas Hernandez from Bayern Munich in the summer, reports Diario Sport, though the story adds that the Blaugrana understand this deal would be potentially difficult from a financial standpoint. There could be plenty of discussions between the two clubs by the time the next transfer window ends, as Robert Lewandowski has been linked with Barca and rumours have suggested Frenkie de Jong could join Bayern.
- Arsenal have been repeatedly linked with Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus, but they are not alone in their interest as Calciomercato reports that Juventus are also watching the Brazil international. Juve are long-time admirers of the 25-year-old, who scored four goals at the weekend in the Premier League and netted again in City's Champions League win over Real Madrid on Tuesday. While they haven't yet made any approach to City for Jesus, the Turin club are on standby in case the opportunity arises. Barcelona are also mentioned as a possible destination.
- Liverpool could be set to offer £30m for AS Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, according to Ekrem Konur. The 22-year-old is currently viewed as one of the most exciting talents in world football and has also been linked with the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea by other reports.
- L'Equipe reports that RB Leipzig are the team in pole position to sign Bayern Munich defender Tanguy Kouassi on loan. The deal could last two years, but won't include the option to make it permanent. The 19-year-old left Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2020 to pursue more game time, but has only managed 489 Bundesliga minutes this season.
- After a stalemate between Barcelona and Ousmane Dembele's agent Moussa Sissoko, Diario Sport suggests that relations have improved after the latest meeting between the two parties. While a deal has not been reached, there will be another meeting and Barcelona have promised to find a way of providing a better economic proposal for the France international, while Dembele has agreed to accept less from the Catalans than other clubs are offering him.