Transfer News

Subterms

    More stories

    • 263 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Newcastle face uphill battle to keep hold of superstar Bruno Guimaraes as Arsenal, Man Utd and PSG circle amid FFP woes

      by

      NEWCASTLE United face an “uphill” battle to keep hold of midfield superstar Bruno Guimaraes, Sun Online can reveal.Eddie Howe knows he will need to offload players to satisfy FFP rules.Newcastle face a challenge to keep hold of star midfielder Bruno GuimaraesCredit: RexAnd his Brazilian midfielder is not only a target for a string of clubs – but he also has ambitions to play in the Champions League.This has put PSG on red-alert for the player – who has a £100m release clause.A source said: “Newcastle face an uphill battle to retain Bruno over the Summer.“He’s one of the best midfielders in the world and has been on the radar of PSG for more than a year.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“They will have funds in the summer and wouldn’t blink at meeting the release clause.“Eddie Howe won’t want to lose the player, but the matter may end up being taken totally out of his hands due to FFP.”Reports claim that Arsenal and Manchester United are also interested in Guimaraes, but PSG are believed to be at the front of the queue.“They’ve been tracking Bruno for a long time, and it’s no secret that he’s top of their wish list.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“They face losing Mbappe in the Summer so the heat will be on the owners to bring in big names to appease the fans.”Bruno also has fond links to France so PSG are confident they can get the player out of the club and over to Paris.”What is FFP? How Financial Fair Play is affecting Man Utd and Arsenal in January transfer windowThe Tyneside outfit forked out £35 million for the Brazilian’s signature in January 2022, and he has since emerged as one of their key players – and also their highest-valued.In 98 games for the Magpies, he has scored 13 goals. Guimaraes, who pockets £160,000-per-week, is under contract until 2028 after signing an extension earlier this campaign.Howe has already expressed his concerns around FFP restrictions at St James’ Park and explained the club are in position that requires them to sell in order to buy.Speaking in January, he said: “In an ideal world, given the freedom to act we would have brought players in already.“But we’re not in that situation. Financial Fair Play is a problem and we’re having to navigate around that.Eddie Howe has admitted the club need to work within their means to surviveCredit: Reuters“We’re not shutting the door on everything but as I sit here now, no we’re not going to bring anyone in.“Sometimes you have to take your long-term vision away and just deal with the here and now.“I’d be quite prepared to do that if the situation arose where we could agree something that would help us now.“The owners are very ambitious and they would like to help and improve the squad in any way they can.READ MORE SUN STORIES”But the rules and conditions we’re working under don’t allow that.”I will continue to push for signings but I have to respect and understand the football club’s health because we want Newcastle United here for the next 500 years.” More

    • 275 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd ‘in talks’ to sign France star from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s other club – with five stars available to fund transfer

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly in talks to sign Nice defender Melvin Bard.The Red Devils are expected to spend big this summer following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25 per cent takeover.Man Utd are interested in signing Melvin BardCredit: GettyA new full-back is understood to be at the top of Erik ten Hag’s priority list.And, according to The Standard, Bard has emerged as a target.They say Man Utd are already in contact with the 23-year-old.He is being discussed among the club’s hierarchy ahead of the transfer window.Read More on Man UtdA move to Old Trafford will likely benefit both clubs as they are each affiliated with INEOS – Ratcliffe’s company.Man Utd have been plagued with defensive injury issues this season.Luke Shaw has missed 23 games since the start of the campaign due to a muscle injury.Tryell Malacia is yet to feature this season due to a knee issue.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSMan Utd vs Chelsea – so what? They’re sinking towards irrelevance, says Dave KiddBy Dave Kidd
      MANCHESTER UNITED and Chelsea were the two dominant forces in English football when Sir Alex Ferguson and Roman Abramovich were in their pomp.
      But when they meet at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night it will be a ‘so what?’ match between dysfunctional clubs lurching in and out of crisis.
      On Saturday, Erik ten Hag’s United failed to build on an FA Cup win over Liverpool and were poor in the 1-1 draw at Brentford.
      And Mauricio Pochettino put out a Blues side that failed to beat ten-man Burnley at home.
      Will either be in a job next season? And will it make much difference?
      United have only won a League Cup in seven years and Chelsea’s last domestic honour was the 2018 FA Cup.
      Both clubs are sinking towards irrelevance.

      And Lisandro Martinez has been limited to just 11 appearances.United’s budget will depend on outgoings with several players at risk of being axed.Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood, Antony, Raphael Varane and Casemiro could all be sold this summer.Meanwhile, the Red Devils have been linked with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, RB Leipzig midfielder Dani Olmo and Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise. More

    • 188 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Real Madrid and Bayern Munich ‘tracking Championship star’, 18, after breakthrough season with promotion chasers

      by

      ARCHIE GRAY is being watched closely by both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich as they consider a move for the talented teenager. The European giants have been long-term admirers of the 18-year-old, who has emerged as one of England’s most in-demand players.Archie Gray has been long admired by Bayern Munich and Real MadridCredit: GettyThe Leeds star has been highly-rated for some time at Elland Road – and, with his family connections, he was always going to be a player in the spotlight.Gray is the son of Andy Gray, grandson of Frank Gray and great nephew of Eddie Gray – all former Leeds players.And now the teen has impressed Bayern Munich and Real Madrid scouts as Leeds won 3-1 against Hull City on Monday night. The Yorkshire side have gone unbeaten in their last 15 games and have been on a great run since the start of 2024.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLOver the Easter weekend, they took another huge step towards sealing a Premier League return as they moved into second – just one point off leaders Ipswich.Gray has made 35 Championship starts to go with two substitute appearances this season.The midfielder has laid on two assists but is yet to trouble the scorers himself.Though he is one of Daniel Farke’s most important players, he is attracting a lot of interest and catching the eye of Europe’s top clubs. Most read in Champions LeagueBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERThe 18-year-old committed his future to Leeds last year when he signed on until 2028.The promotion hopefuls have no intention of selling Gray and hope an immediate return to the Premier League will fend off any interest. Young stars set to shine at Euro 2024Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle were keen on a move for Gray last summer, having tried to lure him away before he put pen to paper on a new deal.Gareth Southgate has also praised Gray, saying he is doing “very, very well”, while admitting the Leeds ace is on his radar for a shock call-up to the England set up. More

    • 200 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      Conor Gallagher tipped to leave Chelsea as Todd Boehly makes same transfer mistake for THIRD time

      by

      CONOR GALLAGHER is tipped to leave Chelsea this summer.Just as he was in January, last summer and the January before that.Conor Gallagher looks set to leave Chelsea this summerCredit: GettyGallagher finds himself in a similar situation to the one Mason Mount was in last yearCredit: AlamyTodd Boehly could come under more criticism from fansCredit: AlamyAt some point something has to give and with barely a year left on his contract things are coming to a head.Tomorrow’s clash between Chelsea and Manchester United is a timely reminder of how things have not changed at Stamford Bridge when it comes to muddled negotiations with players – particularly home grown ones.Mason Mount is due back at Stamford Bridge nine months after being sold for £60m when he was in precisely the same position as Gallagher is now.The symmetry is compelling and should be concerning for Chelsea as they prepare for yet another worrying summer of transfer dealings as they hover dangerously close to breaching strict spending rules.READ MORE CHELSEA NEWSThere is just a year in age between Gallagher and his old stablemate Mount.Both grew up at Chelsea’s renowned academy in Surrey and saw off competition from within and from outside to force their way into the first-team set up at one of the most successful clubs in the world.But with the change of ownership two years ago, came a change in priorities from above that coincided with a clampdown on reckless spending.Most owners are thinking twice now about splashing the cash because of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSNot so Americans Todd Boehly and his sidekick Behdad Eghbali. A £1billion super-spend on an entirely new squad means the money has to be clawed back by other means.Mount was the first victim of this. With roughly two-and-a-half years left on his contract, negotiations collapsed.Simon Jordan slams ‘pathetic’ Chelsea fans for criticising Todd Boehly They never really resumed. And with 12 months left on his deal, Mount left the club he had served since aged eight.The fee is logged as pure profit and it will be the same with Gallagher, when and if Tottenham finally do get their a****s in gear and strike a deal for the midfielder who has carried his team for a significant part of this stuttering season.Gallagher is popular with the fans as “one of our own” – his energy, drive and ability to score vital goals in the nick of time makes him valuable in every sense.Player transfer value is at its highest when they have two years left on their contracts. Mount slipped past that point and Chelsea have let it slide with Gallagher too.Accountants can argue that £60m is a good price for Mount. Unfortunately, he has been injured much of this season and needs to start paying back on the investment.He scored his first goal for Man Utd at the weekend and football fate is primed for him to return to Stamford Bridge and do further damage. What should have been the easiest contract in history to thrash out became a standoff and ultimately a bitter parting of the ways.Chelsea have to make up their minds about Gallagher. It is evident that they set the bar too high in transfer dealings.Demanding £50m for another academy graduate, Armando Broja, last January proves that. He is now on loan and warming the bench at Fulham.Although it was under the previous regime, Antonio Rudiger was allowed to walk away from Stamford Bridge into the arms of Real Madrid for nothing. Same for Andreas Christensen and Barcelona.READ MORE SUN STORIESEghbali and Chelsea overlord Paul Winstanley need to get a grip and get realistic. If Gallagher does not sign a deal this summer or is sold, it will be another stick for the already frustrated fans to beat the new owners with as they look up at their rivals from the bottom half of the table.WHAT IS FFP?SunSport’s Martin Lipton breaks down what it is all about…
      FFP – or Financial Fair Play – is a concept originally introduced by Uefa in 2009, officially to prevent clubs from spending money they could not afford.
      Yet many critics have rounded on the system, accusing it of being a protective instrument, drafted by the so-called “legacy clubs” to prevent insurgent and wealthier clubs from buying their way onto the top table.
      The Premier League introduced its own FFP regulations which came into effect for the 2013-14 season and which, while less stringent than Uefa regulations, they do impact on club spending.
      Under the current Prem “Profitability and Sustainability” regulations, clubs who are constant members of the top flight for a three-year period are allowed total losses of £105m over those three campaigns.
      But it is not as simple as totting up outlay and income.
      The biggest outlay, of course, is transfer fees. The 20 Prem clubs spent a total of around £2.4bn in last summer’s transfer window.
      Yet that does not mean they “spent” that money as far as the Prem rules are concerned.
      Transfer fees are “amortised” over the length of the contract, so, for example, a £100m fee for a player who signs a five-year deal is amortised at a cost of £20m per season for each of those five campaigns. More

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Chelsea FFP woes set to worsen with £72m flop to be sent back to Stamford Bridge after disastrous loan transfer

      by

      KEPA ARRIZABALAGA will leave Real Madrid when his season-long loan expires this summer.The 29-year-old joined Los Blancos in August after refusing a move to Bayern Munich.Kepa Arrizabalaga will leave Real MadridCredit: GettyReal Madrid wanted to sign him on a temporary basis to replace Thibaut Courtois, who suffered an ACL injury during pre-season.When he arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu, Kepa revealed he wanted to seal a permanent move at the end of the season.However, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claims he will return to Chelsea instead.Kepa has been limited to just 18 appearances this season, with back-up goalkeeper Andriy Lunin taking his spot in the first team.Read More on FootballReal Madrid officials now want to reward Lunin with a new contract.They are also waiting for Courtois to return from his latest injury setback.Kepa’s return to Stamford Bridge could spell trouble for Chelsea, with the club needing to balance the books due to Financial Fair Play.The Blues could be forced into selling some key players – including Reece James and Conor Gallagher – this summer to comply with FFP regulations.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSKepa has fallen out of favour at Real MadridBut they will have to accept a huge loss to offload Kepa.The goalkeeper joined Chelsea in a £71.6million transfer from Athletic Bilbao in 2018.Andy Dillon and Will Pugh discuss where Chelsea’s transfer policy has gone wrong, the future of Conor Gallagher and The Blues’ spendingAnd according to Transfermarkt, he is now valued at just £12m.Kepa made 163 Chelsea appearances before leaving for Real Madrid.The Blues have since signed Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic. More

    • 238 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      Arsenal ‘identify top midfield target and could sign Champions League star for LESS than cut price £51m transfer clause’

      by

      ARSENAL could attempt to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi this summer, according to reports.The Gunners are expected to dip into the transfer market when the window opens.Arsenal are interested in Martin ZubimendiCredit: GettyWhile signing a new striker is understood to be the main priority, they could also look to recruit a midfielder.And Caught Offside claim Zubimendi is a top target.The Gunners have held an interest in the Spaniard for over a year.While Zubimendi has remained committed to Real Sociedad since extending his contract 18 months ago, he could be tempted to move on this summer.Read More on ArsenalArsenal could decide to trigger his £51million release clause in order to complete a deal quickly.However, the starting point for negotiations is expected to be lower.Zubimendi has been with Real Sociedad for over 13 years.He joined the club’s academy at the age of 12 and progressed through the ranks before making his first team debut in April 2019.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSZubimendi has established himself as a crucial player for Real SociedadThe midfielder has since made 186 senior appearances for the club.Zubimendi has also been capped five times for the Spanish national team.Ashley Cole picks his all-time team-mates XI… but does it boast more Arsenal or Chelsea stars?Arsenal are also keeping tabs on Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz.However, the midfielder is expected to stay at Villa Park if Unai Emery’s side qualify for the Champions League. More

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd add two little known teenagers to centre-back search if they miss out on top transfer target Jarrad Branthwaite

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED have identified two potential alternatives to Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite ahead of the summer transfer window.Branthwaite, 21, is among United’s top targets in their bid to strengthen at the back amid a turbulent campaign that has seen them plummet to sixth place with 11 points separating them fourth.Manchester United have scouted alternatives to Everton star Jarrad BranthwaiteCredit: GettyMan Utd have asked about figures for Boca Juniors ace Aaron AnselminoCredit: GettyBarcelona B star Mikayil Faye, who is already a Senegal international, is also target by Man UtdCredit: GettyAccording to The Mail, the Red Devils are waiting for the Toffees to set a price for the centre-back, who has been on the club’s radar for quite some time after amassing 32 impressive appearances this term.However, the Manchester giants are making contingency plans in case they miss out on the England Under-21 international.That is why United are also keeping tabs on two lesser-known young talents.The Premier League giants have asked about figures for Boca Juniors ace Aaron Anselmino, 18.Read More on Man UtdThe same request has also been made regarding Barcelona B prospect Mikayil Faye, 19.Anselmino signed his first professional contract with Boca in June but has only played seven times for the senior squad.Faye, on the other hand, also joined Barca in June and has since amassed four goals in 25 appearances for the developmental squad.The defender also registered a goal on his senior Senegal debut – his only cap to this day – despite his young age.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERUnited are definitely going to try and sign at least one centre-back this summer.The Red Devils are also expected to look for a centre-forward, central midfielder and right-back. Inside Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s amazing lifestyleHowever, the budget will be limited due to Financial Fair Play restrictions.But Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be hoping to raise up to £100million from player sales. More

    • 213 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      High-flying ex-Man Utd coach tipped as dark horse to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool by EFL chairman

      by

      KIERAN MCKENNA has been tipped to replace Jurgen Klopp as the Liverpool manager.The former Manchester United coach has impressed during his time in charge of Ipswich.Kieran McKenna has been tipped for the Liverpool jobCredit: GettyPeterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony thinks McKenna is good enough for a top clubCredit: GettyJurgen Klopp is leaving the Reds this summerCredit: APMcKenna, 37, has led the Tractor Boys to the top of the Championship this season – their first back in the second tier since 2019.That is despite tough competition from the likes of Leicester City, Southampton and Leeds.McKenna’s efforts have seen him linked to some top jobs.Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony has even backed the Northern Irishman as a potential candidate for the Liverpool job.READ MORE ON MAN UTDHe told talkSPORT: “Yeah, I was being laughed out of the studio by [producer] Luke – a Liverpool fan – this morning, as an outside dark horse (to succeed Klopp).”I love his brand of football. I’ve been watching him since last year in League One and what he’s done.”You can say that Ipswich are a big club, but they didn’t go out and spend mega-millions in the summer.”They kept a large part of the squad and the team from League One and they’re top of the Championship with five or six games to go, it’s incredible really.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”It’s not just his coaching and managing, it’s his style as well. It’s great to watch.”If you watched that game yesterday, it was a great advert for the industry. Roy Keane’s Biggest TV Rants “It was just non-stop. Russell [Martin] does a great job with Southampton and his style.”Then you’ve got Ipswich with their style and it was just an enthralling game to watch and that’s what you want to see. I think he’s destined for the top.”I think he wins promotion with Ipswich this year and he’ll surprise people with what he’ll do with them in the Premier League and within five or six years, he’ll be managing a top six club.”That’s with due respect to Ipswich. I respect everything they’ve done there, but I don’t think you can keep a guy like that down forever.”Liverpool are on the lookout for a new manager following Klopp’s announcement that he would be stepping down after this season.Bayer Leverkusen boss and former Red Xabi Alonso had been the frontrunner but he has committed himself to the Bundesliga club for another season.Sporting Lisbon gaffer Ruben Amorin also remains a potential candidate to arrive at Anfield. More