BBC
Manchester United are confident of landing their transfer targets this summer even if they fail to qualify for the Champions League, with West Ham's England midfielder Declan Rice, 23, and Tottenham's 28-year-old England striker Harry Kane on their shortlist. (ESPN)
Chelsea and Paris St-Germain are leading the race to sign France striker Ousmane Dembele, 24, on a free transfer when his Barcelona contract expires this summer. (90Min)
Arsenal face competition from Barcelona for Real Sociedad and Sweden striker Alexander Isak, 22, who is one of Gunners boss Mikel Arteta's top targets this summer. (Daily Express)
Barcelona have offered Spain defender Cesar Azpilicueta a two-year contract to join the club on a free transfer when the 32-year-old's Chelsea contract expires at the end of the season. (Sport - in Spanish)
Chelsea and Tottenham are monitoring winger Serge Gnabry after the 26-year-old Germany international's contract talks with Bayern Munich stalled. (Bild, via Talksport)
West Ham have taken up the option to extend English full-back Ben Johnson's contract until 2024 to ward off potential interest from Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool in the 22-year-old. (Standard)
Spurs are interested in Athletic Bilbao and Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon, 24, as they think about a long-term replacement for 35-year-old Frenchman Hugo Lloris. (Marca)
Former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum could leave Paris St-Germain after just one year, with Atletico Madrid keen on the Netherlands international. Newcastle, West Ham and Aston Villa are also interested in the 31-year-old. (Fichajes - in Spanish)
Leicester City could renew their interest in Italy winger Domenico Berardi if the 27-year-old decides to leave Serie A side Sassuolo this summer. (Leicester Mercury)
West Bromwich Albion are targeting 24-year-old English midfielder Sean Longstaff, who played under Baggies manager Steve Bruce at Newcastle United. (Football League World)
Former Hull City boss Grant McCann, 41, has agreed a deal to become manager of Championship side Peterborough United. (Football Insider)
Tottenham are willing to sell Steven Bergwijn this summer with AC Milan keen on the 24-year-old Netherlands winger. (Calciomercato - in Italian)
West Ham United could be a potential destination for Lille winger Jonathan Bamba, although the English club face competition from Atalanta, Sevilla and Bayer Leverkusen for the 25-year-old Frenchman. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
The Hammers remain interested in signing Arsenal and England U21 striker Eddie Nketiah, 22, in the summer transfer window. (Givemesport)
Roma will revive their interest in Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka at the end of the season despite failing in a bid to sign the 29-year-old Switzerland international last summer. (Calciomercato - in Italian)
Brighton, Norwich, Southampton and Watford are interested in Chelsea academy star Xavier Simons, 19, with the English midfielder out of contract with the Blues in July. (Mail)
Sky Paper Talk
**When/if it comes online**
Calcio Mercato
Milan not only Ekitike: eyes on Gouiri
We have talked extensively about Jonathan David, also in force at Lille, in Milan's notebook for a long time. He is ready to take off but the 2000 class already has too many eyes on him: everyone wants him, from Inter to Borussia Dortmund, passing through the usual English teams.
He already appears to be a profile out of reach for Milan, which is why he looks to other players. Confirmations arrived this morning regarding the interest in Reims striker Hugo Ekitike, whom we talked about a few days ago.
The 19-year-old has reached double figures of the season, with his club, as well as another profile, which tickles the imagination of Milan. Today we are talking about Amine Gouiri, who is two years older. The class of 2000, clearly French, plays for Nice and he too has reached the double figures of the season: there are 10 centers in Ligue 1 and one in the French Cup. Gouiri also knows how to assists, no less than seven, both playing from central striker and left winger. In France, many compare him to Karim Benzema. Only the next few years will tell us if the comparison is risky. In the meantime, Milan thinks about it and evaluates the purchase of him but also in this case beware of an equally fierce competition. PSG was bewitched by him as well as West Ham and Newcastle.
Gouiri is under contract with Nice until 2024, and the potential cost for the striker, Transfermarkt, puts his transfer value €45-million.
FLW
Update emerges on West Ham’s transfer interest in Huddersfield Town star amid Leeds and Wolves interest
Premier League side West Ham United are only monitoring Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien from a distance at this stage despite their reported interest, as per reporter Dean Jones who spoke to Give Me Sport.
The 23-year-old has been the subject of widespread interest from the English top tier in recent months, with Leeds United the side thought to have been most interested in recruiting him back in the summer, launching multiple bids for his services.
Crystal Palace were also reported to be in the race for his signature during that window, but a move to Elland Road and Selhurst Park failed to materialise for the midfielder who has been one of the Terriers’ most influential players again this term.
Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley, Norwich City and Town’s Championship rivals AFC Bournemouth have joined the race since, with West Ham’s interest first reported by TEAMtalk earlier this month.
This interest comes despite O’Brien signing fresh terms in September to extend his stay at the John Smith’s Stadium until the summer of 2025, meaning the Hammers may need to launch a substantial bid if they want to have any chance of luring him to the London Stadium in the summer.
Registering 32 league appearances for Carlos Corberan’s men this season, he has been crucial in elevating the West Yorkshire outfit from relegation danger to promotion contention – but his time at the second-tier side may be coming to an end judging by journalist Jones’ comments regarding interest in his signature.
He said to Give Me Sport: “Other Premier League clubs are interested.
“I know West Ham are also starting to look at him right now, only a watching brief at this stage, but more and more clubs are being alerted to the fact that he can handle so many different kinds of situations.”
The Verdict:
In fairness, this latest transfer news is no real surprise because they may as well just monitor the midfielder between now and the end of this term to decipher whether he’s the right person to recruit or not.
This signing could be particularly important with the 23-year-old potentially coming in as a replacement for England midfielder Declan Rice, who will continue to be the subject of interest from elsewhere based on his performances in recent seasons.
However, he may be a real asset to David Moyes’ side regardless of Rice’s future with the Hammers having European aspirations and their Europa League campaign this term will reinforce the need to have as much depth as possible.
And it’s no real surprise to learn of O’Brien’s interest from West Ham considering they have also been monitoring other stars in the EFL in recent months including QPR’s Rob Dickie and Middlesbrough’s Dael Fry.
They may need to move quickly in the summer if they want to secure his services though, because based on recent performances, there will certainly be a queue of clubs wanting to make a concrete move for him.
