Transfer Talk: Arsenal plan Kluivert, Forster double swoop

Published on: 14 June 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has made the summer transfer window uncertain, but here are the rumours floating around Europe's big leagues and beyond.

TOP STORY: Coutinho sends come-and-get-me plea to Klopp

Former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho wants to return to Anfield, according to Sunday World.

Editor's Picks

    How soccer scouting, budgets during coronavirus could impact transfer marketWhy Werner's move to Chelsea is a warning to LiverpoolBarcelona want to sell Coutinho, but why does no top club want him?

2 Related

The Brazil international signed with Barcelona for a club-record €160 million in January 2018 but failed to shine in a Blaugrana shirt and has since been shipped off to Bayern Munich on loan.

The 28-year-old now reportedly wants to team up with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp again in a bid to recapture his form, and is prepared to take a pay cut to do so.

Arsenal and Chelsea have previously been linked with a move for Coutinho, so the ball now appears to be in Klopp's court -- would he be willing to see his former charge playing for a Premier League rival?

LIVE BLOG

22.00 BST: That's all for today's edition of Transfer Talk Live. Please check back in a few hours for tomorrow's best lines. Thanks and be safe.

20.42 BST: Reggina director Massimo Taibi has confirmed that the Serie B side are nearing a deal for former France international Jeremy Menez.

"We are at an advanced stage in the talks for Menez, but haven't finalised anything yet," Taibi told reporters on Sunday.

"I am working on it and feeling confident."

Menez, who has had spells with AC Milan and Roma in his career, most recently played with French second-division side Pars FC.

19.27 BST: Arsenal have emerged as favourites to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey, reports Cadena COPE.

The hard-working Partey has seen contract talks stall with the Spanish giants and the Gunners are nearing a deal for the Ghana international priced at €50 million, the outlet says, though it adds that Diego Simeone is still determined to get an extension done. Let's see how this one plays out.

18.38 BST: Former Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj has said he believes Paul Pogba will remain at Old Trafford next season.

Januzaj played alongside the France international in the club academy and both men have maintained a good friendship since then.

"I think he will stay," he told Het Nieuwsblad. "Paul and I are still close. We have known each other since we were kids when we were in the United academy. Our families are also friends and we all keep in touch. That will never change."

17.42 BST: Football Insider reports that Chelsea are keeping an eye on Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Forster, 32, enjoyed a successful loan spell with Scottish champions Celtic this season and the Saints will listen to offers for Forster this summer.

Chelsea are reportedly looking for a goalkeeper after Kepa Arrizabalaga fell out of favour with boss Frank Lampard this season.

The report claims that Forster is valued around £10m and Celtic are also interested in a permanent deal but his £70,000-a-week wage has hindered the transfer.

16.30 BST: ICYMI - ESPN's Insider Notebook had some transfer bits this week.

- Barcelona are set to complete the signing of young Rayo Vallecano forward Fabian Luzzi after flexing their financial muscles to beat Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

- Manchester United have watched Ansu Fati's progression into the Barcelona first team, but there is an acceptance he will remain with the Spanish giants despite rumours of a £100m bid.

15.02 BST: Leicester midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is on the radar of Manchester United, according to the Daily Express.

Ndidi, 23, is one of the best tacklers in the Premier League and was being watched by Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain before the coronavirus outbreak postponed most of Europe's leagues. But now PSG have opted to look elsewhere, United are frontrunners.

14.30 BST: Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to enter the final year of his contract in the summer and says the club hold the key to him signing another.

"Recently I haven't received an offer but of course there have been discussions with the club for a fair few months now," he told Telefoot. "And they know very well why so far nothing has happened. It's them [the club] who have the keys and for them to do their work. Afterwards we will see how things go.

'It is a turning point in my career, and I will be very frank with everyone, it will be of course a very difficult decision to make because I have still not decided. It is possibly the most important decision of my career. To be clear, nothing has been decided."

13.47 BST: Inter Milan centre-back Diego Godin could be sold this summer, according to RMC Sport.

Godin, 34, joined last year on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid but has struggled in Italy. Lyon are reportedly interested but his €5m a year in wages is proving a stumbling block.

12.55 BST: RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner has looked a bit out of sorts since his €53m move to Chelsea was revealed.

play1:36Is Werner feeling pressure surrounding a move to a bigger club?

Frank Leboeuf reacts to Timo Werner failing to make an impact against Hoffenheim amid transfer rumours.

12.06 BST: Arsenal want to try and sign captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a new contract but evidently they might have to sell Ainsley Maitland-Niles to get it done.

The Gunners can raise £20m with Maitland-Niles' sale, as the defender has fallen out of favour under manager Mikel Arteta, and that money will go towards a new deal for their star striker, says The Sun.

The club are looking at Celtic's £30m-rated striker Odsonne Edouard as a replacement if they can't persuade Aubameyang to stay.

11.21 BST: Chelsea are on the hunt for a new goalkeeper -- with Ajax's Andre Onana and Milan's Gianluigi Donnarumma linked -- but the Daily Express claims current No. 1 "Kepa Arrizabalaga is "is facing a nine-game audition to prove his worth to Chelsea manager Frank Lampard."

Kepa, 25, is still the most expensive goalkeeper in the world after a £71.6m move from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 but has not impressed and was dropped for backup Willy Caballero last season.

10.36 BST: PSG have revealed that Edinson Cavani and Thiago Silva will be leaving this summer. End of an era.

play1:38Departure of Cavani & Silva will be 'end of an era' at PSG

Julien Laurens examines Thomas Tuchel's future at PSG with Edinson Cavani and Thiago Silva set to leave.

09.32 BST: The Daily Star reports that "Arsenal are reportedly leading the race to sign Dayot Upamecano after RB Leipzig informed AC Milan that the defender will move to the Emirates."

Upamecano, 21, has been linked with all the top clubs in Europe as his €60m release clause means he's available for the right price before June 30.

Leipzig head of football Ralf Rangnick was reportedly set to try and bring the Frenchman with him when he takes over from Milan boss Stefano Pioli at the end of the season, but the player had other ideas.

09.00 BST: Tottenham have been offered the chance to bring former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey back to the Premier League, says the Sun.

Ramsey, 29, moved to Juventus on a free transfer last summer but hasn't settled and has been made available for a move. The Welshman earns around £400,000-a-week in Turin though, so any club interested would have to take that into consideration.

Man City, United and Chelsea have all reportedly been watching him, but a move to Arsenal's bitter London rivals would certainly raise some eyebrows.

Juventus are counting the cost of the coronavirus, which means they need to sell players before they can attempt to sign any. But they could use the funds raised from Ramsey's sale to help sign long-term target Paul Pogba from Manchester United.

play1:26Would Arsenal sell Aubameyang to London rivals Chelsea?

Ian Darke breaks down the market for Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang amid transfer rumours to Chelsea.

PAPER TALK (by Nick Judd)Arsenal plot moves for Kluivert, Forster

Arsenal are planning a double raid in the transfer window, with the Sun reporting that the Gunners are targeting Roma star Justin Kluivert and Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Kluivert would appear to be at the top of the north Londoners' summer wishlist and, in order to get him, Arsenal are hoping to include Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who is on loan at Roma, in any deal.

Roma value Kluivert at £36m, and former club Ajax are set to get 10% of any transfer deal made, though Arsenal are hoping to pay just £10m and throw Mkhitaryan into the bargain. Though Arsenal's chances of landing Kluivert might hinge on whether they're playing Champions League football next season.

Arsenal are also targeting Saints keeper Forster as a possible replacement for backup goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who might leave the Emirates in an effort to find more first-team football.

Chelsea considers move for forward Corona

Chelsea are proving to be the big movers and shakers so far this summer, and their spending could continue if reports in A Bola, linking the Blues with Porto forward Jesus Corona, prove correct.

TRANSFERS

• How the summer transfer market works
• Kuper: Coronavirus' impact on transfers
• Barnwell's best moves: 100-51 | 50-1
• This summer's top free agents
• January transfer grades
• Latest completed major transfers

The Mexico international has scored four goals and registered 17 assists for the Portuguese giants this season, and his form has attracted a number of clubs, including Chelsea.

Corona is contracted to Porto until 2022, but his recent contract extension saw his release clause drop from €50m to €30m, which makes him an attractive proposition not just for Chelsea but others monitoring his situation.

Lampard has already signed Hakim Ziyech and, sources have told ESPN that a €53m move for Timo Werner is close, while the club are also interested in recruiting Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz. That could leave little space for Corona, though he could become a priority if the Havertz discussions fall through.

Tap-ins

- Pedro is targeting a move to Roma once his Chelsea deal expires, reports Calciomercato. The Spaniard is yet to agree an extension with the Blues, and with his contract up in June, his situation is uncertain. Pedro is hoping to at least extend his contract until the end of the Premier League season, but beyond that it would appear he's keen on a move to the Italian capital.

- The Mirror says Manchester United will sacrifice Andreas Pereira in an effort to raise some of the funds to capture Donny van de Beek. Pereira has figured in regularly this season, but with Scott McTominay back fit and both Bruno Fernandes and Fred in form, his opportunities could be limited. Real Madrid are also reportedly interested in Van de Beek.

Source: espn.co.uk

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Learn more