The January transfer window might seem like a distant memory, but that doesn't mean the rumour mill has shut down! Speculation over summer moves is heating up, so check out the latest gossip below, and see all official deals here.
TOP STORY: Coutinho could be Arsenal's Plan B to Odegaard
The Daily Express reports that Arsenal are considering Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho as an alternative to Martin Odegaard if the Gunners are unable to keep hold of the on-loan Norwegian beyond the end of this season.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is hoping he can make the 22-year-old's stay in North London a permanent one, such has been the influence of the burgeoning No. 10. Odegaard has been a revelation since joining from Real Madrid on loan in January, scoring two goals and adding a much-needed creative presence in Arsenal's midfield.
However, Odegaard might still have a future at the Bernabeu, particularly if Zinedine Zidane was to leave the club as manager in the summer.
Arsenal are considering a Plan B, though, and Coutinho's transfer could cost as little as €40 million, if Spanish newspaper Sport is to be believed. The Brazilian has played just 12 games in La Liga for Barca this season, but he made 99 goal contributions during his 201 appearances for Liverpool before joining Barca for around €160m three years ago.
The 28-year-old also was a regular on loan at Bayern Munich last season, scoring three goals and offering three assists in 11 matches in the Champions League as Bayern went on to lift the title. A move for Coutinho would certainly be welcomed by Barca, who are keen to move his hefty salary off the books.
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LIVE BLOG
20.00 GMT: That will do it for the latest edition of our LIVE Transfer Talk blog. We hoped you enjoyed following along with us and remind you to check back shortly for the latest transfer rumours, reports and completed deals. Goodnight!
19.18 GMT: At one stage, Napoli were asking for over £100 million for Kalidou Koulibaly but due to the financial impact of COVID-19, he may be available for half of that.
Il Roma in Italy claims that the Senegalese defender, 29, is considering leaving Naples after seven seasons and could be had for €50m or £43m. Man United are in the market for a central defender to pair with record signing Harry Maguire, with neither Victor Lindelof or Eric Bailly believed to be up to snuff.
Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has previously downplayed transfers in the wake of COVID-19:
"We have to be realistic and responsible in the way we do our business both on and off the pitch. There are improvements on the training ground, stadium - we have to look at the whole picture.
"Where can we spend the money? And how much is there? It's just the real world now. It has changed.
"All clubs in the world are going through the same situation so it's no different for other clubs than for us.
9 "I think there's just going to be less and less transfers happening in the world of football with all these changes."
18.36 GMT: Dinamo Zagreb's Mislav Orsic tormented Tottenham last week, bagging a brilliant hat trick to knock Spurs out of the competition.
A week later and naturally, North London rivals Arsenal are reportedly interested in forward. The Times writes that Arsenal are keen to add another wide-playing forward with the 28-year-old Orsic a potential target. Capped six times by Croatia and an impressive goal record of 53 goals in 122 games, Orsic appears poised to make a move to one of Europe's Big Five leagues.
With Willian now 33, and the futures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette uncertain, we'll see if the Gunners continue to monitor Zagreb's Europa League hero.
17.49 GMT: D.C. United have bolstered their attack by signing a new forward, the club announcing on Thursday that they have added Nigel Robertha from Bulgarian first-division side PFC Levski Sofia.
Found something weird in our cereal ... pic.twitter.com/xK8MDctEqx
— D.C. United (@dcunited) March 25, 2021
The Dutchman, 23, came through the Feyenoord academy and has scored 20 goals in 45 appearances for Sofia.
"We have been monitoring Nigel over the past two seasons and we've been impressed with him in all phases of the game, particularly his ability to stretch the game vertically, press and counter-press, and score and manufacture all types of goals in every situation," Dave Kasper, D.C. United's general manager and vice president of soccer operations, said in a release. "Nigel is a bright young talent at 23 and we are looking forward to welcoming him to our family when he arrives ahead of our season opener on April 17."
17.03 GMT: Should Leeds consider a move for forgotten Liverpool striker Divock Origi?
Former player Noel Whelan believes they should and recently told Football Insider's Dylan Childs why the Belgian would be a perfect signing for the Whites.
"I think we've got to keep our options open. Divock Origi for £12-15m, would you turn your nose up at that? No, you wouldn't.
"He can play a number of roles, left side, right side, through the middle. You've got to look at these things seriously. It's not a lot of money. It's so cheap. You could maybe go out and get two strikers if he's available at that price.
"We need options, especially attacking ones. We know Bielsa likes players who can be versatile and we know Origi is that.
"Like a potential Harrison deal, it's not much of a risk. You're not breaking the bank and you know what you're getting. He knows the Premier League.
Origi, 25, has only made six starts this season, scoring one goal.
16.22 GMT: Real Madrid have struggled to find consistency from their wingers in recent years with Eden Hazard, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Marco Asensio and Gareth Bale all having largely underwhelmed over the past few seasons.
AS claims that Bayer Leverkusen and France Under-21 winger Moussa Diaby could prove a solution to Madrid's problems out wide. The Spanish club's scouts have reportedly been impressed with the 21-year-old, who is valued at over €40 million. Sometimes likened to Liverpool's Sadio Mane, Diaby has scored nine goals and added 12 assists this season over all competitions for Leverkusen.
Man United, Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund have all previously been linked with the PSG talent.
15.45 GMT: Gareth Bale says he'll return to Real Madrid after his Tottenham loan ends.
15.03 GMT: Celtic legend Scott Brown will be departing the club at the end of the season.
The 35-year-old is heading to Aberdeen to take on a player-coach role.
📝 Our history-making captain, Scott Brown will leave Paradise at the end of the season.
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) March 25, 2021
Thanks for the unprecedented success @ScottBrown8 🍀🏆
🟢⚪️ Captain. Leader. Legend. 🟢⚪️#ThankYouBroony 💚\o/🤍
14.34 GMT: Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani looks set to leave the club in the summer.
Earlier this month, Luis Cavani, the father of the Uruguay striker, told Argentina's TyC Sports that his son had a "60% chance of joining a South American club" and would be inclined to play for Boca Juniors. United and Cavani have an option to add an additional year to the deal he signed last October. If United decided to not execute the option, the club will have to pay him a €2m release clause.
Sources told ESPN's Moises Llorens earlier this month that United are keen to wait until Cavani has recovered from injury before making a decision about his future, however reports in Italy are linking them with Fiorentina's 21-year-old striker Dusan Vlahovic.
Corriere dello Sport says the 6-foot-3 target man is on the radar of United after his 12 goals in 27 games. The Serbia international has been linked with Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham and West Ham in the past.
13.53 GMT: Arturo Vidal only joined Inter Milan from Barcelona last summer but the Chile international has reiterated once again that he would like to play for Flamengo before hanging up his boots.
The 33-year-old midfielder made a surprising appearance on ESPN Brasil show Resenha to send a message to his friend Mauricio Isla, who is currently at Flamengo.
"Hey, little brother! How are you papi? I would like to send you a lot of health and many blessings here from Italy," he said. "You know everything we've been through this year and I'm very happy that you are wearing the most important shirt in South America, like Flamengo's. I love you very much, many blessings. I hope one day I get the chance that you are taking. A big kiss. Lots of blessings and make the most of everything you are experiencing. You deserve it. Bye, brother."
13.22 GMT: LA Galaxy midfielder Efrain Alvarez has suggested that if he decides to play in Mexico one day, his main option would be Chivas as he wants to follow his father´s footsteps.
"My father played for Chivas in the days when Chicharito's dad was also there. Then he came (to the U.S.) with my mother to chase the American dream and he played in the U20 in Chivas," the 18-year-old starlet told TUDN. "He came to a team in Los Angeles and that's when I started to fall in love with soccer."
13.00 GMT: Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly has been linked with a €100m move to almost every top club in Europe.
12.12 GMT: Real Madrid signed winger Brahim Diaz from Manchester City for around €24m back in 2019 but he hasn't had much chance to shine.
Diaz, 21, joined AC Milan on loan last summer and, with five goals in 31 games, has seemingly done enough to earn himself a recall to Madrid, says Calciomercato.
11.36 GMT: Villarreal defender Pau Torres has been linked with Manchester United for some time and the MEN claims he would be interested in the move.
The report reads: "Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is prioritising a move for a new centre-back this summer and Torres' natural ability as a left-footer make him an ideal candidate to be the long-term partner for club captain Harry Maguire."
Torres, 24, has a reported release clause of €60m, but Villarreal may accept a lower offer if it includes players in return.
11.03 GMT: City group are monitoring River Plate attacking midfielder Nicolas de la Cruz, according to TyC.
De La Cruz, 23, has been a regular for River since joining the club from Uruguayan side Liverpool in August 2017. The Uruguay international is contracted to River until December 2022 and has a release clause of $20m.
River Plate own just 30% of the player's sporting rights, with Liverpool owning the remainder.
Manchester City have long been linked with De la Cruz and could move for him this summer.
10.28 GMT: Manchester United remain committed to handing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a new contract and the Norwegian's future does not depend on lifting a trophy this season, sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson.
United are yet to win any silverware under Solskjaer and saw another chance missed when they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Leicester City before the international break.
After drawing Spanish side Granada in the quarterfinals they are still in the hunt for the Europa League but sources have told ESPN that Solskjaer does not have to win the competition to earn a new deal.
The 48-year-old signed a three-year contract when he became permanent manager in March 2019 and will enter the final year in the summer. United chiefs believe they have already seen enough progress, both on and off the field, to warrant offering Solskjaer a new deal.
10.11 GMT: Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland is being linked to every top club around.
09.40 GMT: Mundo Deportivo reports that former Atletico Madrid and Chelsea striker Diego Costa will join Benfica.
Costa, 32, left Atletico at the end of December as his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
The Spain international re-joined Atletico from Chelsea in January 2018 for €66m after spending three-and-a-half seasons at Stamford Bridge. His first spell in Madrid was a success, culminating in winning La Liga in 2013-14 and reaching the Champions League final that same season.
09.13 GMT: ICYMI - The great-grandson of Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini has signed his first professional contract with Serie A team Lazio.
Romano Floriani Mussolini, 18, was called up to the Roman club's under-19 team in February and has featured in four of their past five matches, earning a three-year deal.
The teenager, son of Alessandra Mussolini, a former member of the European parliament for the Forza Italia party, posted a picture of himself signing a contract on his Instagram page, where he goes by the name Romano Floriani.
08.30 GMT: Nicky Butt has left his role as head of first team development at Manchester United.
Butt, who made 387 appearances as a player at Old Trafford and has also previously been head of the academy, said he is leaving to pursue "a new professional challenge."
"Having come through the academy myself to play almost 400 games for Manchester United, it has been an absolute privilege to come back and work with a new generation of talent making that same journey," Butt said. "I'm proud of the role everyone on the staff plays in giving our young footballers the best possible chance of fulfilling their potential, and the results are clear to see in the increased number of homegrown players reaching the first team.
"I already know from my playing days how difficult it is to leave Manchester United, but it feels like the right moment for a new professional challenge and I look forward to exploring opportunities that build on the great experiences I've had here over the past nine years."
PAPER GOSSIP (by Nick Judd)
- Real Madrid are open to the idea of bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club this summer, but the Juventus forward would have to accept a pay cut, reports AS. The 36-year-old Portuguese star also is reportedly keen on a reunion, and though Madrid could afford the alleged €25m asking price, AS writes that his salary of €31m a year would need to be reduced by around €6m a year.
- Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian is considering a return to Real Betis at the end of the season, with the Spanish club targeting him as a replacement for veteran Claudio Bravo. That's according to La Razon, who believe that while Betis have already signed Granada's Rui Silva, 34-year-old Adrian would be a straight replacement for Bravo, who has been linked with a move to Colo-Colo in his native Chile.
- It seems every manager across Europe is doing everything they can to lure top striker Erling Haaland to their club, with the Mirror claiming Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is calling the 20-year-old every day. Solskjaer is hoping his Molde connections can help him convince his fellow countryman to move to Old Trafford, though the Red Devils boss faces competition from a host of clubs including Chelsea, Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
- Eric Garcia's move to Barcelona is done, says Sport, who believe the 20-year-old central defender has already agreed to a five-year deal that will be made official when his contract is up at the end of the season. Barca have accepted the terms of the deal agreed in January and will formalise it in April. Barca had previously tried to sign the former La Masia graduate last summer but refused to pay the €20m asking price.
- Liverpool are considering a move for 31-year-old Real Madrid defender Nacho, according to AS. Juventus and Roma also are interested, with the latter reportedly having already made two approaches. Liverpool's season has been beset by injuries to key defensive players such as Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, and Fernandez is seen as an experienced player and model professional who would provide excellent cover.
- Thiago Silva is set to sign a one-year extension to his Chelsea contract, according to the Sun. The 36-year-old central defender joined the Blues from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer last summer and has impressed during his time in London. Thomas Tuchel has made no secret of his plans to keep the experienced Brazilian at Stamford Bridge, the duo having previously worked together at PSG.