BARCELONA have submitted their first transfer bid for Bayern Munich goal-machine Robert Lewandowski according to reports.
The Poland international has made it clear that he wants out of the club and Barca boss Xavi is eager to lure Lewandowski to the Nou Camp.
Elsewhere, Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Fulham wonderkid Fabio Carvalho.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain will reportedly put Neymar up for sale after Kylian Mbappe’s new deal.
Le Parisien say the star forward will be on the market following “direct orders” from Qatar.
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Cottagers offload 14 players
Fulham have confirmed the exit of 14 players including TWO of their biggest transfers ever who cost the club a combined £50million.
Jean Michaël Seri and Alfie Mawson will depart the club this summer alongside 12 others players.
Seri joined the club for a near £30m in the summer of 2018, leaving OGC Nice.
The midfielder failed to make an impact and spent two spells out on loan at Galatasaray and Bordeaux.
Seri made 33 appearances for the Cottagers this season, managing just one goal which came in the 7-0 win over Luton.
Mawson left Swansea for Fulham in 2018 in a £15m deal. The centre-back, like Seri, failed to have an impact in Fulham’s squad and had a loan spell at Bristol City.
Cyrus Christie, Fabri, Michael Hector, Timmy Abraham, Jacob Adams, Eric Ameyaw, Xavier Benjamin, Tyler Caton, Jerome Opoku, Jonathon Page, Julian Schwarzer and Jaylan Wildbore have also left the club.
However, Fulham have tied down Sonny Hilton, Idris Odutayo and Adrion Pajaziti for a further year.
Pepe sale may fund new Saka deal
Arsenal have been tipped to sell Nicolas Pepe to help fund a huge new contract for Bukayo Saka.
Newly-crowned Serie A champs AC Milan have been linked with a £25million bid for the Ivory Coast winger – three years after his £70m arrival at the Emirates from Lille.
Credit: Getty And transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims Gunners’ boss Mikel Arteta is ready to offload erratic Pepe, 26.
A major reason is said to be the focus on keeping 20-year-old Saka.
It’s understood the 14-cap England wideman is frustrated at missing out on Champions League football but can still be persuaded to agree a new long-term deal.
Juve favourites to win Pogba hunt
Juventus are favourites ahead of PSG to sign Paul Pogba – with Manchester City and Real Madrid next on the list.
The French World Cup winner, 29, seems sure to exit Manchester United for a second time on a free transfer this summer.
The midfielder’s final United appearance lasted just eight minutes as he was injured early on in the 4-0 defeat at Liverpool on April 19.
But old club Juve are still thought to be keen.
Betfair odds on Pogba’s next club:
- Juventus – 6/4
- PSG – 9/4
- Manchester City – 6/1
- Real Madrid – 9/1
- Barcelona – 14/1
- Newcastle – 33/1
- Inter Milan – 33/1
- Liverpool – 66/1
Real ‘join Prem queue for Gnabry’
Real Madrid have reportedly joined a host of Premier League clubs in the race to lure Serge Gnabry away from Bayern Munich.
The 26-year-old is facing an uncertain future at the Allianz Arena with his contract set to expire in 2023.
It has been claimed that the Germany international has rejected a new deal to remain in Bavaria.
A Premier League return has been mooted, with former employers Arsenal linked with a move to bring him back to the Emirates.
Fellow English giants Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are also all rumoured to be keeping tabs on the winger.
Meanwhile Gnabry’s ex-Bayern team-mate David Alaba is looking to persuade Gnabry to quit Germany and join him at Real Madrid.
And according to Sport1, Gnabry is open to departing Bayern as he doesn’t feel valued by the Bundesliga champions.
They state that Alaba has recommended the ex-West Brom loanee to Real, who are now eyeing up a possible swoop for Gnabry.
Carv up for Kop challenge
Fulham whizkid Fabio Carvalho has finally joined Liverpool.
The Portugal Under-21 attacking midfielder helped the Cottagers return to the Prem as Championship winners, notching ten goals and eight assists in 36 league games.
Carvalho, 19, will move to Anfield on the expiry of his contract for a £5million compensation fee that could eventually rise to £8m.
Liverpool narrowly failed to get the move through on January’s transfer deadline day.
Breaking: Borussia Dortmund appoint Terzic
Edin Terzic has been confirmed as the new head coach of Borussia Dortmund.
The 39-year-old is back in charge of the Bundesliga club following the sacking of Marco Rose on Friday.
Terzic was previously interim boss at the Westfalenstadion – winning the DFB-Pokal in 2021 – but was moved upstairs after Rose’s arrival last summer.
Youri demand: Arteta wants Tielemans
Mikel Arteta is refusing to wallow in the misery of missing out on Champions League football, and is already making plans to go at least one place better next season.
Among his priorities is a new midfielder, and the Arsenal boss has identified Youri Tielemans as the man he wants most.
And the Gunners are now readying an opening £25m bid for the Leicester player, according to The Telegraph.
The 25-year-old has reportedly gone on record as saying he wants to play Champions League football, but Arteta is confident that he can sell the long-term project to the Belgian.
Tielemans has a year left on his contract at the King Power.
Origi off to the Rossoneri
Liverpool cult hero Divock Origi will join AC Milan on a free transfer when his contract expires at Anfield next month.
The Belgian said an emotional goodbye to the Reds yesterday despite not being fit enough to play a part in the 3-1 win over Wolves.
A banner on the Kop during the post-match reception read ‘Football without Origi is nothing’.
The striker scored 41 goals over seven years with Liverpool, many of them of the upmost importance.
Gunners ready to part with Pepe
Arsenal will consider selling their record signing Nicolas Pepe this summer – but don’t hold out hope of recouping the £72m that they paid for the forward.
The Ivorian arrived at the Emirates in 2019, but has struggled to make a consistent impact in the Premier League.
The 26-year-old has scored 16 goals in 80 league games for the Gunners, but has found himself down the pecking order in the past year.
And it appears as though the former Lille man would welcome a move away.
Fabrizio Romano, writing for Caught Offside, revealed that Pepe had recently changed agents in order to actively pursue his options across Europe.
Mass exodus expected after relegation
Burnley’s season ended in heartbreak and relegation yesterday afternoon, and the Lancashire club must now prepare for a difficult few months off the pitch.
The Athletic report that the Clarets had built their financial strategy on Premier League survival, and will have to sell off their biggest assets to balance the books.
Wout Weghorst and Maxwel Cornet only arrived at Turf Moor in the past year, but the pair will now move on; Cornet has a release fee of £17.5m.
Stalwarts such as James Tarkowski and Nick Pope are also expected to seal transfers to Premier League clubs, while there will be discussions regarding Dwight McNeil’s future.
Barca won’t trigger Traore deal
Barcelona are not prepared to take up their option to permanently sign Adama Traore following the completion of his loan deal.
The LaLiga giants could have snapped up the 26-year-old for €30m, but have decided against a deal for the Wolves winger.
Traore registered four assists in 16 appearances during his spell back at Barca, but he will now return to Molineux.
His current deal with the Old Gold runs out in 2023.
Breaking: Liverpool sign wonderkid Carvalho
Liverpool have finally confirmed the signing of Fulham’s teenage sensation Fabio Carvalho.
The Portuguese U21 international played a pivotal role as the Cottagers stormed to the Championship title, scoring ten goals and providing eight assists in 36 League games.
Carvalho will move to Anfield on the expiry of his contract, and Liverpool will pay an initial £5m compensation fee that could eventually rise to £8m.
The Reds were originally in for the 19-year-old in January, but failed to get the deal over the line on deadline day.
Juve won’t spend big on Jorginho
Juventus are still interested in signing Chelsea’s Jorginho, but are refusing to ‘spend big’ to land their man.
That’s the understanding of Fabrizio Romano for Caught Offside, who believes the Serie A club are prioritising moves for Angel Di Maria and Paul Pogba.
While the Old Lady also want to add the Italian midfielder to their ranks, the ‘deal has to be right’ for them – and that will depend on what Chelsea wish to do with the 30-year-old.
Tchouameni favours Liverpool move
The future of Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni is threatening to be the transfer saga of the summer.
The French international is in high demand with both Real Madrid and Chelsea making the midfielder the number one priority.
However, L’Equipe report this morning that the 22-year-old would prefer a move to Liverpool.
Like Real, the Reds are understood to have already agreed personal terms with Tchouameni, and it will now come down to who presents the best offer to the player’s club.
Breaking: Villa sign Boubacar Kamara
And just like that, the news was confirmed.
Credit: @AVFCOfficial Twitter
Villa close to Kamara deal
Aston Villa may have thrown away a 2-0 lead with 14 minutes remaining at Manchester City, but their supporters still had reason to celebrate yesterday.
And that’s because news begin to emerge that Villa had agreed a deal to sign Marseille’s highly-rated Boubacar Kamara.
The 22-year-old defensive midfielder is in the final weeks of his contract at the Stade Velodrome, and will move to the Premier League outfit at the end of June.
The no-nonsense French U21 international – who can also operate at centre-back – has played 170 times for Les Phoceens, having joined the club at the age of five.
Gunners face battle for Jesus
Arsenal fans are reeling from losing out on Champions League football to Tottenham – and now face the prospect of losing out to their rivals again in their pursuit of Gabriel Jesus.
The Gunners have been tracking the Manchester City forward for months, and have even spoken to the player’s agent since the Premier League champions confirmed the purchase of Erling Haaland.
However, Mike McGrath at The Telegraph now reports that Spurs are interested in the Brazilian following their fourth-place finish yesterday.
Antonio Conte is keen to strengthen his squad for the next campaign, and has shortlisted Jesus, who is capable of either playing through the middle or out wide.
Good morning football fans
PSG will put Neymar up for sale after Kylian Mbappe’s new deal.
That is according to Le Parisien, who say the star forward will be on the market following “direct orders” from Qatar.
PSG are now expecting offers for the Brazil international, whose contract expires in 2025, ahead of the summer transfer window.
However, a potential sale won’t come easy for the French champions due to the 30-year-old’s sky high £490,000-per-week salary.
Real Madrid have reportedly opened talks with Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni in a blow to a string of Premier League sides.
Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are among the teams who had been targeting the highly-rated midfielder.
Journalist Santi Aouna reports that the Spanish club has been in contact and ready to make an offer.
Burnley are asking a staggering £40million for keeper Nick Pope, despite getting relegated.
Pope, 30, will be a wanted man this summer and Fulham are keen, with a potential three-year contract on offer.
But the Clarets want a huge fee for the England ace.
Neymar for sale
PSG will put Neymar up for sale after Kylian Mbappe’s new deal.
That is according to Le Parisien, who say the star forward will be on the market following “direct orders” from Qatar.
PSG are now expecting offers for the Brazil international, whose contract expires in 2025, ahead of the summer transfer window.
However, a potential sale won’t come easy for the French champions due to the 30-year-old’s sky high salary.
Previous reports suggested that Neymar has been on a whopping £490,000 per week, which is the club’s second-highest salary behind Lionel Messi.
Romantic Raphinha
Raphinha rushed to hug his fiancee Taia Rodrigues after he helped Leeds United complete a great escape.
The Brazilian was on target as his team became the first side since Wigan in 2011 to survive after starting the final day in the bottom three.
Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun His penalty put Leeds ahead against Brentford in West London as the drama began to unfold.
The Bees were then reduced to 10 men when Kristoffer Ajer had to go off as the hosts had already used their three substitutions.
But Sergi Canos looped in an equaliser to leave Leeds sweating on their safety before he was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Jack Harrison made sure Leeds were safe – scoring a 94th minute winner – as Burnley crashed to a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle.
Cigar moment
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was in party mood – and had time for a cigar after winning the Serie A title with AC Milan.
The Sweden legend was snapped on the pitch celebrating in style.
Zlatan managed eight goals in 26 games for the Italian giants this season.
He previously won the league with the Rossoneri in 2011.
Olsen attacked
Man City have apologised after Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen was attacked by fans after they invaded the pitch.
City supporters poured onto the Etihad turf after being crowned Premier League champions following a dramatic 3-2 win over Aston Villa.
Both sets of players were quickly surrounded with Olsen revealing he felt something hit the back of his head as he walked off.
The Villa boss said: “We’re going to see how he is now, but I think you should ask Pep and Man City those questions.”
City issued an apology in a statement which reads: “Manchester City would like to sincerely apologise to Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who was assaulted after the final whistle at today’s match when fans entered the pitch.
“The Club has launched an immediate investigation and once identified, the individual responsible will be issued with an indefinite stadium ban.”
Real deal
Real Madrid have reportedly opened talks with Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni in a blow to a string of Premier League sides.
Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are among the teams who had been targeting the highly-rated midfielder.
Madrid will be hunting for high-profile summer signings after being snubbed by Kylian Mbappe on Saturday.
And journalist Santi Aouna reports that the Spanish club has been in contact and ready to make an offer.
AC Milan are Serie A champions
Olivier Giroud blasted AC Milan to their first Serie A title for 11 years as they turned the tables on fierce rivals Inter.
Ex-Chelsea and Arsenal hitman Giroud struck twice before Franck Kessie rounded off a first-half blitz at mid-table Sassuolo that sealed Milan’s final-day glory.
Inter’s 3-0 win at home to Sampdoria failed to stop Milan reversing the top-two positions of the previous season.
And it means the neighbours are LEVEL with 19 top-flight crowns each.
Golden Boot
The 2022 Premier League Golden Boot has been shared by Son Heung-min and Mohamed Salah.
The Tottenham and Liverpool stars BOTH hit the target on the final day of the season to finish it with 23 goals each.
Son went into his team’s clash at Norwich in second place behind the Reds hitman.
But he produced two goals in Spurs’ 5-0 win at Norwich.
However, his lead at the top of the charts only lasted a couple of minutes.
Salah soon put Liverpool ahead against Wolves in his team’s 3-1 victory as they narrowly missed out on the title to Manchester City.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
