Clubs are slowly turning their eyes toward the summer window, and Transfer Talk has the updates on all the latest rumours.
Man City join 'race' for Neymar
Much of the recent talk surrounding the future of Neymar has been focused on a possible move to join Barcelona rivals Real Madrid whenever the Brazil star decides to call time on his Ligue 1 days.
But Mundo Deportivo has revealed there is another footballing power broker ready to pay up for the former Blaugrana star's services in Manchester City. The report says that Neymar is enamoured by the prospect of joining the Premier League and even more smitten with the chance to play for Pep Guardiola's runaway leaders in England.
The Paris Saint-Germain playmaker is currently on the mend following surgery on his broken right foot and racing against the clock to be fit for a return to Selecao duty ahead of the summer's World Cup. But that hasn't stopped rumours from swirling about the next stop for the Santos product.
The report also says that Manchester United will also be a player in the race for Neymar's signature, while his current club are ready to do anything their star man wants -- including managerial changes and a squad overhaul -- to keep him in Paris.
Bale will leave Real if Zidane stays
The Mirror suggests that if Zinedine Zidane stays on as Real Madrid manager, Gareth Bale will take his cue and return to the Premier League.
The outlet reports that Bales' teammates with Wales, who are playing a pair of friendlies in Asia as part of the China Cup, believe their country's brightest star will head to Manchester United to find regular playing time and a fresh start.
Bale has been relegated primarily to a substitute role at the Bernabeu this season, with a mixture of injury to the player and selection by Zidane both contributing factors.
A Bale return to England wouldn't come cheap, with the Mirror saying that it "would have to be a £90 million-plus deal and they would have to make him the highest-paid player at Old Trafford to tempt him back."
Barcelona monitoring next Coutinho
Barcelona have their eye on yet another Vasco da Gama teenage sensation, according to Sport.
Following in the footsteps of former Vasco star Philippe Coutinho, 17-year-old Paulinho has made a big name for himself at the Rio de Janeiro club this season.
The attacker has been a key man in Vasco's Copa Libertadores run in 2018, and the outlet has reported that the Brazil youth international has caught the attention of the Blaugrana, with Paulinho's €30 million release clause thought to be a low figure for a player of his talent.
Santos swoop for Ecuador teenager
Santos have beaten city rival Palmeiras to the signature 17-year-old Ecuador starlet Jackson Porozo, according to ESPN Brazil.
The 6-foot-3 defender has been playing for Manta in Ecuador's second division and has been a regular call-up for his country's under-17 side.
Often compared to Barcelona defender Yerry Mina, Porozo had previously been with Palmeiras for a trial but has instead pledged his future to Neymar's former club.
Tap-ins
- The Mirror reckons Douglas Costa could soon leave Italy for England, with Manchester United confident a £40m bid will be enough to get the Bayern Munich winger, on loan to Juventus this season, to Old Trafford. Costa featured for Brazil in a 3-0 friendly win against Russia on Friday with Neymar absent through injury.
- Another Bayern Munich player in the transfer pages is Jerome Boateng, who the Sun reports could be headed for a move to either Man City or Man United. The centre-back left Man City in 2011 and is said to be keen to reunite with Pep Guardiola, with whom he won three Bundesliga titles in Bavaria.
- Tottenham loanee Anton Walkes has said that MLS is on an upward trajectory and that his spell at Atlanta United has helped prepare him for life in the Football League.
Walkes, 21, joined Portsmouth in January after spending the 2017 MLS season on loan at expansion club Atlanta, where he scored twice in 23 appearances.
- Hector Bellerin's agent says there have been no approaches from other clubs for the Arsenal defender despite ongoing speculation that he could seek a move away at the end of the season.