Chelsea are leading the race to sign a €60m-rated Barcelona star, while Liverpool and Arsenal have met the release clause for a controversial Bundesliga midfielder, according to Monday’s European papers.
/div> CHELSEA MOVE AHEAD OF RIVALS FOR BARCELONA DEFENDER
Chelsea have reportedly inched ahead of Manchester United and Manchester City in the race to sign Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti, according to reports in Spain.The France defender has been linked with a move to the Premier League, with the buyout clause in his contract set at a tempting €60million (£53.1million).
While Barcelona remain in talks with the former Lyon man over a new deal, the player is said to be ‘tempted’ to move to the Premier League, according to Don Balon.
The Spanish publication also claims the Blues have moved ahead of their rivals by initiating contact with the player’s representatives, while it’s also suggested PSG are also ready to launch a summer approach for the bulky centre-half.
PREM DUO AMONG SEVEN CLUBS IN MIX TO SIGN HOFFENHEIM STAR
The midfielder has emerged as one of the Bundesliga’s leading midfielders over the past couple of seasons, with both Liverpool and Arsenal tipped by SportsBild as having agreed to pay the exit fee in his contract.
The German paper also cites Everton, AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Schalke and Borussia Dortmund to have expressed an interest in the player, who has been capped twice by Germany.
Having renewed his Hoffenheim deal last summer, the player inserted on the moderate €32m exit clause – and it seems the Reds and the Gunners are leading the chase amid claims they have told his agent the fee won’t represent a problem this summer.
The 24-year-old could emerge as a replacement for Emre Can in the Liverpool midfield, should the German, as expected, agree to join Juventus on a free transfer this summer. Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, is reported to want the player to replace Granit Xhaka in the Gunners’ midfield.
A move to the Premier League for Demirbay, however, would cause some attention after the player achieved international notoriety for making a sexist comment against female referee Bibiana Steinhaus. After being sent off by Steinhaus, he told her “women have no place in men’s football”.
Despite his apologies, the Bundesliga hit Demirbay with a five-game suspension, while he was also made to referee a junior league girls’ football match as an additional punishment.
MALCOM READY TO LEAVE IN SUMMER
Brazilian forward Malcom has pretty much admitted he will leave Bordeaux in the summer.
The 20-year-old forward was being tracked by Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Man Utd and the former two clubs are sure to be on red alert this summer.
“It’s my dream to progress in my career. I spoke to the president, he told me that he knew it was my dream, but that he needed me. I told him he could count on me until the end of the season, I will do everything to help Bordeaux finish in the top six in Ligue 1,” Malcom told Telefoot.
Bordeaux are believed to be wanting €60million for the Brazil Under-23 star.
AND THE REST
The agent of Juventus defender Daniele Rugani has confirmed Arsenal are keen to sign the defender (Gazzetta dello Sport)
Chelsea will look to sign Raheem Sterling as a replacement for Eden Hazard should the Belgian leave for Real Madrid this summer (Don Balon)
Numerous Premier League clubs are keen on Augsburg left back Philipp Max, with Tottenham named as potential suitors (Sport Bild)
Borussia Dortmund are open to selling €45m Man Utd, Liverpool target Christian Pulisic (Sport Bild)
Chelsea’s new €20m signing Emerson Palmieri wasn’t the club’s first option in the transfer market. Porto’s Brazilian Alex Telles was their primary target (Record)
Augsburg full-back Daniel Opare, who is out of contract in the summer, was in Leicester on deadline day to force through a move to the Foxes. The club has now retracted its contract extension for the left back. (DW)
Serie A giants Juventus were scouting Emre Can and Christian Eriksen at Sunday’s game between Liverpool and Tottenham at Anfield (Il Bianconero)
David De Gea is doing all he can to try force through a move to Real Madrid from Manchester United this summer (Don Balon)
Arsenal are eyeing up a summer move for the Benfica star Andrija Zivkovic (Record)
Shakhtar Donestk midfielder Fred has told Manchester City he will sign for them this summer, rather than move to Man Utd
Barcelona transfer target Arthur won’t be allowed to leave Gremio until December at the earliest, the Brazilian club have insisted (Sport)
Michy Batshuayi will definitely return to Chelsea in the summer after his Dortmund loan did not have a purchase option inserted in the deal. The Blues were apparently willing to sell the striker, but only if the deal contained a bu-back option – something the Bundesliga side weren’t willing to do (Bild)
Inter have agreed terms with Racing Club striker Lautaro Martinez and are close to sealing a €23m (£20.2m) deal to see him join them in the summer (SportItalia)
Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestra has admitted the club’s transfer budget will be reduced to €60million next season after the heavy outlays for Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho (Sport)
Thorgan Hazard: No advice from Eden
Leicester want to replace Riyad Mahrez with Eden Hazard’s brother Thorgan this summer (Kicker)
Clarence Seedorf is set to replace the sacked Cristobal Parralo as Deportivo La Coruna manager after moves for Martin Lasarte and Diego Alonso collapsed (AS)
Ajax star Justin Kluivert has dampened talk he has agreed to join Manchester United this summer
RB Leipzig head coach Ralph Hasenhuttl admits he almost subbed off Ademola Lookman, prior to the Everton loanee’s debut goal for the club (Bild)
Roma right-back Bruno Peres escaped unharmed from a car crash in his Lamborghini shortly after 5am Monday morning in the Italian capital (Corriere dello Sport)
Cristiano Ronaldo’s attitude after being substituted in Real Madrid’s 2-2 draw at Levante has upset several of his team-mates who felt his actions showed a lack of respect towards them (Sport)
Inter’s Japanese international full-back Yuto Nagatomo says he took advice from Wesley Sneijder before joining Galatasaray on a season-long loan
Carlos Bacca says he wants to make his loan spell at Villarreal from AC Milan permanent (Superdeporte)
Tyronne Ebuehi opted to stay at ADO Den Haag last month despite interest from Benfica as he felt that represented his best chance of making Nigeria’s World Cup squad (O Jogo)
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