The transfer deadline may have passed across Europe’s top five leagues but there is still business to be done this summer. And, with only four months until the January window opens, the rumour mill keeps on turning! Transfer Talk brings you all the latest, and you can check out our list of all the major done deals.
TOP STORY: Real Madrid eyeing Rodri for next summer
Real Madrid will prioritise a move for Manchester City midfielder Rodri next summer, reports Diario Sport.
Los Blancos will be willing to give the go-ahead for two major transfers if there is also a departure from the club. There is also reference to Real Madrid’s interest in left-back Alphonso Davies, whose Bayern Munich contract expires in 2025, and his teammate Jamal Musiala.
Focusing on the latter, they feel that the attacking midfielder is a world-class player who would fit manager Carlo Ancelotti’s system.
However, Bayern are determined to extend the 21-year-old’s contract past its current expiration in 2026 due to his importance to the club — especially as letting his contract run down would mean risking losing him for free.
In addition to Bayern’s efforts to keep Musiala, Los Blancos will also have to contend with Barcelona in their efforts to sign the Germany international. Musiala is one of the most liked players among those at Camp Nou and club president Joan Laporta wants him to be the Blaugrana‘s big-name signing of 2025.
It would take €130 million to sign him and the hope is that a deal with Nike that the club’s management is working on will help them to complete a deal, especially as they have manager Hansi Flick — even if Laporta is aware that competing the move still won’t be easy.
PAPER GOSSIP
– Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Juventus and Napoli are all interested in Lecce winger Patrick Dorgu, reports La Gazzetta dello Sport. This comes with the 19-year-old having impressed for the Serie A side this season and now having scored on his debut for the Denmark nationak team.
– Trabzonspor are continuing to negotiate with Olympique Lyonnais for Gift Orban, reports Foot Mercato. The report says that the Turkish side are offering a loan that includes a conditional obligation to sign the striker for €10m. Lyon are asking for €12m and for there to be an obligation without conditions.
– With Nicola Zalewski rejecting a move from AS Roma to Galatasaray, as mentioned previously in our blog, Calciomercato have now reported that the wing-back could leave the Serie A club as a free agent when his contract expires in the summer. The 22-year-old has also turned down PSV Eindhoven and there haven’t yet been any meetings about a contract renewal.
– Manchester City will make large funds available to manager Pep Guardiola in the January transfer window, reports Football Insider, who add that the Citizens could look to bring in a striker. While Guardiola wants to work with a small squad, he will sanction a big January move if there is an injury or his side falls behind in the title race.
– Goztepe have agreed on a loan deal with Chelsea for David Datro Fofana, reports Fabrizio Romano, with this coming after the collapse of the striker’s proposed move to AEK Athens — which was mentioned earlier in our blog. The deal also includes an option for Goztepe to permanently sign the 21-year-old and for Chelsea to recall him in January.