The summer transfer window does not open for another week yet but all of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are already busy chasing new signings. Chelsea are reportedly starting the Mauricio Pochettino era by beating Paris Saint-Germain to Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte, with claims that an offer has been made to buy a minority stake in Sporting Lisbon as part of the negotiations.
Arsenal could make their first bid for West Ham star Declan Rice this week, with Manchester City’s FA Cup final hero Ilkay Gundogan and Moises Caicedo also in their sights as Mikel Arteta targets a major midfield boost. Tottenham are close to appointing Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou as their new manager, though Spurs may now have to contend with a mega £100million Real Madrid offer for Harry Kane.
Los Blancos are rivalling Manchester United and Bayern Munich for the England captain with Karim Benzema set to depart for Saudi Arabia after 14 years. United, meanwhile, are pushing hard to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea, with Rasmus Hojlund and Kim Min-jae also on the radar along with Diogo Costa. Follow all the latest transfer news, gossip and rumours with Standard Sport’s live blog below!
Live updates
Chelsea pull out of Manuel Ugarte race
It’s all going on tonight!
Multiple reports now claim that Chelsea have withdrawn from the race to sign Manuel Ugarte altogether in another hugely dramatic twist.
PSG look to have beaten their financial offer to the Sporting Lisbon midfielder, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that Chelsea are unwilling to go above what they consider as Ugarte’s “market value”.
Now the French giants will look to agree a final package with Sporting and get the transfer over the line this week.
Chelsea ‘offer to buy Sporting Lisbon stake in Ugarte deal’
A major new update on the Manuel Ugarte to Chelsea front tonight.
The Daily Mirror report that the Blues have moved to beat PSG to the signing of the Uruguayan midfielder by offering to buy a minority stake in Sporting Lisbon as part of the negotiations.
Sporting have apparently now told Ugarte that he will only be sold to Chelsea this summer, with a huge eight-year contract said to be on the table at Stamford Bridge.
Much more to come on this I’m sure!
Zlatan Ibrahimovic announces retirement from football
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has just announced his retirement from professional football.
The legendary Swedish striker, one of the game’s most charismatic figures, is hanging up his boots at the age of 41, having bid an emotional farewell to AC Milan on Sunday.
Ibrahimovic endured an injury-ravaged final campaign of his glittering, trophy-laden career, restricted to just four appearances across all competitions for the Rossoneri, who opted not to extend his contract.
Milan fans and team-mates bid goodbye to one of their most popular players in a ceremony at the San Siro on Sunday, after their final Serie A match of the campaign against Hellas Verona, which they won 3-1.
An impressive large tifo display that read simply ‘Godbye’ was unfurled by supporters in the stands, while Ibrahimovic had tears in his eyes as he received a standing ovation and was presented with a special signed shirt.
“I say goodbye to football but not to you,” he told fans at the San Siro.
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AC Milan bid farewell to Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Some farewell from the AC Milan fans for Zlatan Ibrahimovic today.
The Swede is departing the San Siro once again when his contract expires this summer, having been restricted to just four appearances across all competitions in 2022/23 due to injury.
Ibrahimovic was not fit to face Hellas Verona in Milan’s final Serie A game of the campaign on Sunday.
However, he attended the match was given an emotional send-off by fans and his Rossoneri team-mates, with a small ceremony held.
Man United target Kolo Muani ‘dreaming’ of Premier League
This could well be turning into Manchester United’s lucky night.
Having already been handed incentive in their pursuit of Napoli frontman Victor Osimhen, they also look to have been offered encouragement by Randal Kolo Muani.
The French forward is another rumoured target of Erik ten Hag’s, with a summer exit from Eintracht Frankfurt seen as very possible.
Now Kolo Muani – who was on the losing side in Saturday’s German Cup final against RB Leipzig – has talked up a potential move to the Premier League during an interview with Canal Football in France.
“It’s flattering that PSG are interested in you, like all the other big clubs,” he said.
“Then honestly, who doesn’t dream of playing in the Premier League? It’s one of the best leagues that exists. You dream about it. These are childhood dreams.”
Arsenal could make Rice bid this week
Arsenal will bid for Declan Rice after West Ham’s Europa Conference League final appearance this week.
The Gunners have long since been considered as the front runners to sign Rice, who is widely expected to move on in a big-money deal this summer after years of speculation.
Manchester United and Bayern Munich have also been linked with the England midfielder, with suggestions last week that the latter were ready to steal a march on their rivals by making an early €100m offer following positive telephone conversations between Rice and manager Thomas Tuchel.
However, Fabrizio Romano insists tonight that nothing has changed with regards to the Rice situation, with Arsenal set to table their opening offer after West Ham face Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in Prague on Wednesday evening.
Ancelotti speaks after £100m Harry Kane links
Carlo Ancelotti has opened up on what he wants from any new strikers this summer amid Real Madrid links to Harry Kane.
Los Blancos are said to be preparing a blockbuster £100m offer for the Tottenham talisman having confirmed earlier today that Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema would be leaving the Bernabeu this summer after 14 years in order to make a big-money switch to Saudi Arabia.
Kane is far from Madrid’s only target, with the likes of Chelsea’s Kai Havertz also believed to be in their sights as Madrid actually prepare for the exits of multiple forwards in Benzema, the Paris Saint-Germain bound Marco Asensio, Mariano and Eden Hazard, whose mutual contract termination was announced on Saturday.
“We need signings in attack and we will do that,” said Ancelotti after Real closed their LaLiga season with a 1-1 home draw against Athletic Bilbao in which Benzema scored a penalty and received a standing ovation on his farewell appearance.
“We want to sign a striker that can score goals and link up well — so, a striker that plays football well.
“Benzema told us about his decision to leave the club this morning, it was really unexpected. His departure was surprising, now we have time to think about what we should do. We will sign strikers.”
Osimhen addresses future amid Man United and Chelsea links
Victor Osimhen says he “doesn’t mind” if he stays at Napoli or moves on this summer.
The Nigerian has become one of Europe’s top strikers during his time at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, hitting 30 goals this season to fire Luciano Spalletti’s side to their first Serie A title since 1990.
Such exploits have seen Osimhen linked with a big-money exit from Italy, with Manchester United and Chelsea said to be among the clubs interested in the player, who still has two years left to run on his current contract in Naples and is expected to have an asking price worth more than £100m.
“I don’t know, the president [Aurelio De Laurentiis] has to decide that. I love the people of Napoli, they have shown me so much love. For me, I don’t mind, the president decides and I will just go with the flow,” Osimhen told DAZN when asked if he would still be at Napoli next season after Sunday night’s season-ending 2-0 win over Sampdoria in which he registered a second-half penalty.
Chelsea demand £20m fee for Maatsen
Chelsea will demand in excess of £20million to sell Ian Maatsen this summer, with Burnley interested in keeping hold of the left-back.
Dutch Under-21 international Maatsen has shone during a season-long loan at Turf Moor in 2022-23, making 42 appearances across all competitions as a mainstay under Vincent Kompany as the dominant Clarets stormed to the Championship title and an immediate return to the Premier League.
Burnley are keen to retain his services preferably on a permanent transfer, though will be relucant to meet Chelsea’s considerable asking price.
Maatsen has just one year remaining on his current contract at Stamford Bridge but could yet sign an extension before joining Burnley on loan again next term.
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Tottenham close in on Ange Postecoglou appointment
Tottenham are closing in on the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as their new manager.
A deal to take the Treble-winning Celtic boss to north London could be completed this week as Spurs zero in on their top target, Standard Sport understands.
Postecoglou has emerged as the leading contender to become the long-term successor to Antonio Conte, having suitably impressed chairman Daniel Levy and incoming chief football officer Scott Munn.
Tottenham were expected to ramp up their interest in the Australian after Saturday’s Scottish Cup final, which Celtic won 3-1 against Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle to secure their fifth domestic Treble in the last seven seasons.
They look set to make a formal approach for Postecoglou this week, with the 57-year-old currently on a 12-month rolling contract in Glasgow, where has has won back-to-back league titles and five major trophies across two seasons after leaving Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos to succeed Neil Lennon at Parkhead in June 2021.
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