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Transfer Talk: De Ligt to Barca could stall over €14m agent fee for Raiola

With the transfer window for Europe's biggest clubs set to open soon -- find out when the Premier League transfer window opens -- rest assured that Transfer Talk is scouring the world's media and setting correspondents loose to see what is on the agenda. You can click here to review all the latest transfers.

TOP STORY: Barca's De Ligt deal hits agent commission hitch

Matthijs de Ligt's move from Ajax to Barcelona is on hold because of concerns raised by agent Mino Raiola over how much commission he will earn, Marca reports.

The report says a €70 million transfer fee has been agreed by the clubs, but Raiola, recently given a three-month ban in Italy, is reportedly demanding €14m for brokering the deal.

The usual cut for agents in transfer dealings tends to be around five to 10 percent but, with Raiola looking for around double that, the anticipated move is in peril.

That could leave the door ajar for other potential suitors to move for De Ligt, with Raiola hoping a more lucrative deal will come from elsewhere.

LIVE BLOG

22.56 BST: That's going to bring Friday's live edition of Transfer Talk to a close. Be sure to check back in a few short hours when we return with all the latest gossip pulled from Saturday's back pages.

21.38 BST: The Mirror cites Portuguese publication A Bola as reporting that Benfica are preparing to over Joao Felix a new contract worth £2.1m a season to keep him at the Estadio da Luz for another season amid interest from Manchester United and Manchester City in the £103m-rated 19-year-old attacker.

20.01 BST: Inter Milan are closing in on a €50m deal for Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic, according to Catalan outlet Mundo Deportivo.

- Chelsea's unwillingness to sell Callum Hudson-Odoi has freed up the funds to allow Bayern to snap up RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner in a €40m deal this summer, instead of capturing him on a free next year, with the Red Bull-backed club insisting they will sell the 23-year-old forward this summer if he does not agree a new contract.
- Bayer Leverkusen are demanding €100m for 19-year-old playmaking prodigy Kai Havertz, who is drawing interest from Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern, but all three seem to be put off by the price tag.
- Staying in Leverkusen, the €25m release clause of Julian Brandt could see the 23-year-old join Liverpool or Borussia Dortmund.

16.47 BST: The Mail reports that Everton manager Marco Silva is still optimistic that midfielder Andre Gomes, on loan from Barcelona, will move to Goodison Park on a permanent basis despite reports in Spain suggesting that he has agreed a deal with Champions League finalists Tottenham.

16.14 BST: Both Tottenham and Crystal Palace are waiting to swoop to sign Aston Villa playmaker Jack Grealish if the Midlands club fail to win promotion to the Premier League in the playoffs, according to the Mail.

15.41 BST: It's been another good season for Roy Hodgson and Crystal Palace, but Hodgson isn't resting on his laurels. "It will be nice if we can see our way clear to investing a little bit in the off season and trying to make certain that some fresh faces come into the club," he told a news conference ahead of the final Premier League game of the season against Bournemouth.

15.09 BST: Marcos Llorente will leave Real Madrid this summer with several Premier League clubs interested in his services, a source close to the player has told ESPN FC.

Llorente has made only six league appearances this season, 15 in all competitions, and Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is not counting on having the midfielder in his squad for the 2019-20 campaign.

14.29 BST: PSG coach Thomas Tuchel has indicated that one of Gianluigi Buffon and Alphonse Areola will not be at the club next season.

Speaking at a news conference ahead of Saturday's trip to Angers, he said: "The goalkeeper situation cannot go on. It is not possible. We are perhaps the only ones in Europe doing that. It has been possible, thanks to Gianluigi and Alphonse, but only over a single season. Both are of exceptional quality and have formed a team."

Tuchel stressed that no decision between Buffon and Areola had yet been taken.

13.57 BST: West Ham are ready to sell fringe players Lucas Perez, Pedro Obiang, Reece Oxford, Sam Byram and Jordan Hugill to raise funds for a summer revamp, the London Evening Standard reports.

It adds that doubts remain over the future of Javier Hernandez, while Andy Carroll is expected to move on when his contract runs out in the summer.

13.43 BST: Ajax are closing in on the signing of Argentina international Lisandro Martinez, sources have told ESPN FC.

The Champions League semifinalists face an exodus of players following an excellent campaign which could see them win a domestic league and cup double but have set their sights on 21-year-old Martinez, who plays for Defensa in Argentina's Primera Division and is co-owned by Newell's Old Boys.

13.05 BST: After a six-year spell at Selhurst Park, midfielder Jason Puncheon will be on his way to pastures new at the end of the season:

12.52 BST: A little more on Manchester United and Daniel James -- sources have told ESPN FC that United are among a number of clubs in a race to sign the Swansea City winger.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to comment on speculation about a move for James at a news conference on Friday, but sources have told ESPN FC that the 21-year-old Wales international is on his list of summer targets.

12.33 BST: David Luiz has indicated that he has agreed a new contract at Chelsea, with a formal announcement to be made in the coming days.

Talks between Chelsea and Luiz -- who has made 47 appearances under Maurizio Sarri this season -- have dragged on for several months, with the club's policy of only offering players over 30 one-year extensions understood to have been the main problem.

11.59 BST: More from Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has said he wants players brought in over the summer to stay at the club for many years. "It's a big summer," he told a news conference.

"There are players whose contracts have run out, some players will definitely come, there's some young players coming in, I've worked with the club, recruitment, with the analysis department, we've identified some players we think will fit the Man United squad and let's hope we can get some over the line."

11.32 BST: Some managerial news for you now -- Claudio Ranieri has said he will leave Roma when his contract runs out of the end of the season.

The former Chelsea and Leicester boss was appointed on an interim basis following the dismissal of Eusebio Di Francesco in March.

10.40 BST: Staying with Dortmund, and with Michael Zorc, he has said there is no possibility that Achraf Hakimi will return to Real Madrid this summer.

Morocco international defender Hakimi, who has made 21 league appearances for the Bundesliga side, said earlier this month he would love to return to Madrid as soon as possible, but Zorc said: "There is no possibility that Achraf will not continue at Borussia next season."

10.22 BST: Borussia Dortmund have become the latest club hoping to raid Champions League sensations Ajax, according to German media reports.

BVB sporting director Michael Zorc was spotted at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Wednesday as Ajax lost to Spurs in the most dramatic of semifinals, and both kicker and Bild reported that he scouted 22-year-old midfielder Donny van de Beek.

09.40 BST: A host of names have been linked with Manchester United as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer prepares for his first summer window, but this is one of the less heralded -- the Mail says United "are close to agreeing a deal to sign Swansea winger Daniel James for £15 million."

James, whose greatest asset is his exceptional pace, had been set to join Leeds in January only for the deal to fall through, and now the Wales international could be on his way to Old Trafford.

09.29 BST: Le Parisien reports that PSG stars Kylian Mbappe, Presnel Kimpembe and Alphonse Areola are unlikely to be on the move in the summer, despite rumours linking them all with moves from the French champions.

08.40 BST: Eden Hazard vowed to try and sign off with a trophy if the Europa League final proves to be his last game at Chelsea after scoring the winning penalty in the shootout win over Eintracht Frankfurt at Stamford Bridge.

Sources have told ESPN that Hazard wants a summer transfer to Real Madrid finalised as soon as possible, but after the match the Belgium international refused to confirm whether the Europa League final would be his last match for the Blues.

"If it's my last game I will try to do everything for this club to win a trophy," Hazard told BT Sport. "In my mind I don't know yet. I don't think about that. I'm only thinking about winning something for this club and this squad."

08.00 BST: Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas has enlisted agent Jorge Mendes in his bid to leave the Bernabeu, according to AS, with Thibaut Courtois is expected to be Zinedine Zidane's No. 1 next season.

Navas, 32, has reportedly turned to Mendes -- whose clients include Cristiano Ronaldo, Jose Mourinho and David De Gea -- with the brief of securing him a move to the Premier League. He is also a reported target for Porto and Paris Saint-Germain.

PAPER TALK (by James Capp): Conte at centre of Serie A managerial merry-go-round

Inter Milan want former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte to take the reins at the San Siro next season, but Calciomercato says he is hoping for an offer to take over from Massimiliano Allegri at Juventus.

Conte has been out of work since leaving Stamford Bridge at the end of last season, and the Nerazzurri want him to take over from Luciano Spalletti if they qualify for the Champions League.

Inter need to finish in the top four of Serie A and must also hope that champions Juve don't come calling for Conte, who would reportedly prefer a move to Turin.

Allegri has been linked with the Paris Saint-Germain job, with boss Thomas Tuchel's side in poor form in recent weeks.

Arsenal after Ayoze -- but face Inter interest

Arsenal have joined Inter Milan in the race to sign Newcastle forward Ayoze Perez, according to the Sun.

Perez has scored a career-high 12 Premier League goals this season and, after five years at St James' Park, has admitted that he may be tempted by a move.

With Arsenal manager Unai Emery briefed to pursue low-cost signings, he has added compatriot Perez to his list of targets, alongside Ryan Fraser of Bournemouth and Lille's Nicolas Pepe.

It is believed around £25m would be enough to secure a deal for former Tenerife striker Perez.

Tap-ins

- Marca claims Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is set to ditch full-back Santiago Arias after just one season.

Napoli are waiting in the wings for a deal, and Atleti are confident that, despite the player's disappointing first season in La Liga, they can still make a profit on the €10m they spent 12 months ago.

- AC Milan officials have made contact with Nice to find out how much they need to pay for star forward Allan Saint-Maximin, according to Calciomercato.

Rossoneri directors Leonardo and Paolo Maldini are keen to bring down the French club's €35m valuation while fighting off competition from Borussia Dortmund.

- The Sun claims Stoke are plotting an ambitious swoop for Newcastle United winger Matt Ritchie.

Scotland international Ritchie has two years remaining on his contract but Potters boss Nathan Jones is reportedly keen on a deal for the former Bournemouth man.

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