Chelsea and Manchester United are among the clubs interested in signing RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba for €90m, while Real Madrid are preparing to step up their efforts to sign Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors and gossip from around the globe.
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TRENDING RUMORS
– Chelsea and Manchester United are among the clubs interested in signing RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba, says Bild. Lukeba, 22, has struggled with injury this season but is highly rated and he has a €90m release clause in his contract which comes into effect in the summer. The France international moved to Germany for €34m in 2023 and has a host of top teams on his trail, with Real Madrid and Liverpool also reported to be keen. Meanwhile, a report from journalist Simon Phillips has suggested that if United decide to cut their losses on €62m defender Leny Yoro, then Chelsea are ready to make an offer.
– Efforts to sign Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold are set to be stepped up by Real Madrid, reports The Telegraph. It is believed that Los Blancos are continuing their efforts to tempt the 26-year-old to the Santiago Bernabéu, amid plans to use an “all-or-nothing” approach to sign him on a free transfer in the summer. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal are reported to be leading the race to sign Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah. Al Hilal boss Jorge Jesus wants the 32-year-old to replace the departed Neymar and the club are ready to offer him a huge contract, but iNews reports that given the length of time it has taken so far, clubs from Saudi Arabia are not confident of landing Salah and feel like they are being used as leverage in his negotiations over a new deal at Anfield.
– Chelsea and Bayern Munich are interested in signing Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens in the summer, says Bild. Gittens, 20, left Manchester City’s academy on a free transfer to move to Germany in 2020 and has flourished with 16 goals and 14 assists from 90 games for Dortmund so far. If the England Under-21 international leaves then he would be treading a well-worn path that includes Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham, so Dortmund are aware of his value and wouldn’t let him go for less than €80m.
– Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior is set to consider a move to join the Saudi Pro League, reports Marca. A meeting is reported to have taken place between the 24-year-old’s representatives and “important figures” from the Royal House of Saudi Arabia, and it is believed that an “unprecedented” contract offer of $200m a year for five years was made to him, which includes being an ambassador for the World Cup in 2034. He has yet to decide his future, but a response is expected in the next months with the Saudi Pro League hopeful of landing him in the summer.
– Juventus are set to move forward with plans to offer USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie a new contract, reports Calciomercato. Despite McKennie signing a new deal at the Allianz Stadium last summer, sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli is said to be keen to reward him for his form this season under manager Thiago Motta, and the Bianconeri are preparing an offer that will secure the 26-year-old’s future at the club until either 2028 or 2029.
CONFIRMED TRANSFERS
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EXPERT TAKE
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Marcotti: Juventus rewarded for failing to force McKennie out
Gab Marcotti says Juventus will be thankful to have goalscorer Weston McKennie on the team, despite attempts to move him out of the club in the transfer window.
OTHER RUMORS
– Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has returned from injury and the 21-year-old is on the radar of Manchester City. (Football Insider)
– Manchester United are set to sign 17-year-old Sporting CP full-back Geovany Quenda for around €60m in the summer, with the player keen on a move to Old Trafford. (TEAMtalk)
– Arsenal opted not to recall forward Fabio Vieira, 24, from his loan spell at FC Porto after Bukayo Saka first got injured. (Athletic)
– Manchester City aren’t planning to compete for the signature of Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap. Delap, 22, is reported to still be on the radar of both Chelsea and Manchester United and, despite City having a clause to re-sign him, they aren’t interested.. (Football Insider)
– Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, 27, is a target for Lyon and Atletico Madrid. (Caught Offside)
– Barcelona sporting director Deco expects teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to remain at the club “for many years” and says the club have not listened to any offers toi sign the 17-year-old because the player is not on the market. (TV3)
– Grêmio have agreed to sign LAFC winger Cristian Olivera. The Brazilian Serie A club are reported to have acquired “75% of the pass” to field the 22-year-old for a fee worth $4.5m, and both teams are preparing final documents before the move can become official. (Cesar Luis Merlo)
– Pachuca star Oussama Idrissi has admitted that he was very close to joining Club America a few months ago, but it didn’t work out. (ESPN Deportes)
