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LIVE Transfer Talk: Barcelona to swap Griezmann for Inter Milan's Martinez

The winter transfer window is closed, but now it's time to look ahead to the summer! Here are the new rumours floating around Europe's big leagues and beyond.

TOP STORY: Griezmann wanted by Inter in exchange for Martinez

Barcelona are set to be offered Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez in the coming weeks in exchange for French forward Antoine Griezmann.

That's according to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport who have stated that Inter Milan are still chasing a player from the Catalan club to swap with their star 22-year-old forward after former negotiations reached no successful conclusion.

The report says that Inter plan on parting company with Martinez, but that Barcelona cannot at this moment in time afford his €111 million release clause. It's possible that Griezmann's potential swap with Martinez could be a simple exchange with no additional fee for either club, though the former Atleti striker's current wages at Barcelona could be a potential stumbling block.

Griezmann has made 37 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring 14 goals. Martinez can better that tally, though, with 19 goals scored in 32 games for Inter. And, just to throw a spanner in the works, The Sun claims that Manchester City will beat out competition from Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona to land him.

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LIVE BLOG

23.00 BST: 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 news Goodnight all and stay safe!

22.27 BST: It is no secret that Arsenal are looking to bolster their defence when the transfer market opens and according to the Daily Mail, a new -- and cheaper -- alternative target to RB Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano has emerged.

That player is Reims centre-back Axel Disasi, and the publication writes that Arsenal are already engaged in talks to sign the 22-year-old on a five-year contract. The former France Under-20 international is valued at £15 million and has played a central role in a Reims defence that has conceded just 21 goals in 28 games, the best defensive record in Ligue 1 and the second best in all of Europe's five major leagues behind only Real Madrid.

With 2019 summer signing William Saliba, 19, expected to arrive at the Emirates this fall after a loan spell at Saint-Etienne, and potentially Disasi, the defensive future for Arsenal could offer hope for a club that struggled to keep the ball out of its net in recent campaigns.

According to Sport, Barca have offered Semedo a contract extension through 2024, but the right-back wants reassurances over playing time before committing his future. Semedo, who started 16 of Barca's 27 La Liga contests before the coronavirus shutdown, is valued at €45 million and was recently linked to Man City in a swap deal for Joao Cancelo.

Semedo, who arrived at the Camp Nou from Benfica in 2017, has made 111 appearances to date for the Blaugrana.

20.42 BST: Man United are consistently linked with Jadon Sancho, Kalidou Koulibaly and Harry Kane but how about a new -- or at least -- forgotten name? 

Italian outlet CalcioMercato suggests that Torino forward Andrea Belotti has been offered to Man United via intermediaries. Heavily-linked with United and the Premier League back in 2018, the forward, now 26, has his name back in the shop window after scoring 15 goals in 31 games this season.

While the Italy international has never come close to repeating the 26 Serie A goals he scored back in 2016-17 that earned him a €90-100 million price tag, with 15 goals last campaign and on pace for close to that this season, Belotti is still an interesting proposition.

Napoli and Everton have also been linked with Il Gallo (The Rooster), who is currently valued at around €32 million according to Transfermarkt. 

19.56 BST: Eredivisie strikers have been boom or bust in the Premier League: Ruud van Nistelrooy, Robin van Persie and Luis Suarez were smash hits, while many more such as Mateja Kezman, Jozy Altidore and Ali Jahanbakhsh have been historic flops.

The latest Eredivisie goalscorer being linked with a move to England is Heerenveen's Chidera Ejuke. The player's agent tells Sky Sports News that three Premier League clubs have expressed interest in the 22-year-old. The Nigerian, who has fired nine goals this season in Holland's top flight, will be hoping he falls into the Van Nistelrooy, Van Persie, Suarez category if his move to England does come to fruition.

19.08 BST: Olivier Giroud wanted to trade Chelsea for Internazionale in January, but was not allowed to leave by the London club.

Out of contract at the end of the season, Giroud reportedly still wants Milan -- so much so that he is willing to slash his wages. Gazzetta Dello Sport writes that the World Cup winner is willing to slash his £135,000-per-week wages in order to make a move to Italy work. The report estimates Giroud, 33, would likely make in the neighborhood of £110,000-per-week at Inter, which is still nothing to cry about.

Giroud, who has played second fiddle to young Tammy Abraham, has made just five Premier League starts and 13 appearances over all competitions for Chelsea this season.

18.20 BST: According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Leicester City are not taking no for an answer in the pursuit of young Sporting Lisbon winger Gonzalo Plata.

After rumours of a €15 million enquiry for the 19-year-old by the English club, A Bola has now learned that Leicester are willing to raise their offer to up to €30m to negotiate with the Ecuadorian. Having only played 13 first-team games in Europe, Plata remains rather green, but the youngster is highly rated and is also reportedly being monitored by English clubs Watford and West Ham.

Plata may not be going anywhere, though, as Sporting remain keen on buying the other 50 percent of his rights, which are currently owned by Plata's boyhood club Indepndiente del Valle.

17.39 BST: Chelsea seem to have decided to move on from record signing Kepa Arrizabalaga but who will replace him between the sticks?

The Mirror reports that the Blues are set to sell Kepa and are targetting Ajax No. 1 Andre Onana to be his replacement. The 24-year-old, who already has four years as a starter under his belt, is thought to be available for £25 million, with Tottenham, PSG and Barcelona also all interested.

Onana would be the second Ajax star to join the Stamford Bridge outfit for next season, with attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech having signed a pre-contract with the Blues back in February.

16.54 BST: Bulgarian teenager Nikola Iliev has agreed to join Inter Milan, according to his agent.

Iliev, 15, is considered a top prospect but his agent Kaloyan Ivanov has revealed his next destination once he leaves PFC Botev Plovdiv after the coronavirus pandemic ends.

"Iliev is the purest talent of all Bulgarian football," Ivanov told FcInterNews. "We are talking about a fantastic player, tall, strong, powerful and at the same time very skilled. A rare combination these days. We already agreed on everything with Inter.

"PSG, Manchester United, Ajax and other top clubs were very interested in him. But we chose the Nerazzurri because we considered Inter the best project for the player. We agreed before the pandemic and we will formalise everything once we can fly back to Italy."

15.47 BST: Calciomercato reports that AC Milan have turned down the chance to sign Liverpool's Adam Lallana.

Lallana, 31, will be a free agent in the summer but Milan don't view him as someone who would improve their squad.

Leicester and former club Southampton have been linked with the midfielder.

15.02 BST: Barcelona will move for Real Sociedad's Alexander Isak if a deal for Inter's Lautaro Martinez can't be reached, says Marca.

Our Barcelona correspondent Sam Marsden can offer some context on this one.

14.24 BST: Manchester United are keen on Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez, but are only willing to pay £70m for him, says The Sun.

Saul, 25, has a buyout clause of £132m but United reckon they can tempt him by doubling his wages to over £200,000-a-week.

14.01 BST: One player who could be on the out at Arsenal is Alexandre Lacazette.

The 28-year-old scored nine goals in 29 games in all competitions, but AS reports that manager Mikel Arteta views him as surplus to requirements.

If Diego Costa leaves Atletico Madrid then the Spanish club will go for Lacazette, though the Gunners will also be wary that his friend and teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would be unlikely to renew his own contract (which expires in 2021) if that sale was made.

13.14 BST: Arsenal are keen on Bayer Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah and RB Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano to upgrade their defence, but the Gunners are looking at Tah as first choice, says Sport Bild.

Tah, 24, has a contract that expires in 2023 with a €40m release clause -- the problem is that it's only valid until May 31 and with the current coranavirus lockdown, pulling off the logistics of a move in the coming months will be impossible. Apparently it comes back into force next year, but Arsenal need reinforcements ahead of next season, whenever that may start.

12.30 BST: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen for Manchester United to press ahead with their pursuit of Jack Grealish despite the Aston Villa midfielder's coronavirus lockdown break, sources have told ESPN.

Solskjaer is a fan of Grealish and urged executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to enquire about his availability last summer and in January.

Both approaches were knocked back but there is belief Aston Villa may sanction a sale during the next transfer window, regardless of whether or not they stay in the Premier League this season.

11.41 BST: Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz says he's ready to leave the club for a new challenge.

Havertz, 20, has been tipped as one of the brightest young talents in Europe and has been linked with Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Liverpool.

"I'm ready to take a big step, and I like challenges. For me, this also includes abroad," he told Sport Bild. "Leverkusen are a great club, I feel good. I have always said that. But of course I want to take the next step in my career at some point. That's my ambition.

"The coach is a very important person for me. It must be a good fit. You can see that with our coach, Peter Bosz. For me, the sporting direction of the club is also reflected in the choice of coach."

Havertz's contract with Leverkusen expires in 2022 and the German club would reportedly accept offers above €100m.

11.16 BST: Liverpool have not given up on signing RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner, despite both clubs being far from each other in negotiations before the coronavirus lockdown, Sport Bild reports.

Jurgen Klopp had been hoping to personally convince Werner he should join Liverpool in a face-to-face meeting, now made impossible by the lockdowns in the various European countries.

However, Liverpool and Klopp still have until June 15 to convince the Germany international as that is the last day his release clause of around €55m at Leipzig can be triggered.

10.39 BST: L'Equipe says that Tottenham Hotspur are trying to sign Thomas Meunier on a free transfer when his PSG contract expires this summer.

However, sources told ESPN last month that the 28-year-old Belgium international has already agreed a move to Borussia Dortmund.

Either way, PSG sporting director Leonardo is sounding out Rennes' Hamari Traore and Lazio's Adam Marusic as a replacement for the right-back.

10.11 BST: Former Manchester United midfielder Quinton Fortune has denied reports to ESPN that he and fellow former South Africa international Delron Buckley have been tasked with scouting players for the English giants.

Reports in Manchester and South Africa had detailed a new partnership between Buckley and Fortune, who is a youth coach with the Red Devils, and the Class of '92, to find talent in South Africa.

But Fortune, via his representatives in Manchester, has no knowledge of this, and his academy has denied any involvement in the supposed partnership.

09.28 BST: Manchester United have a decision to make...

08.56 BST: Werder Bremen star Milot Rashica is on the radar of four clubs in the Premier League, according to German publication Der Spiegel

Liverpool, West Ham, Wolves and Aston Villa are on the trail of the 23-year-old forward but face competition from Borussia Dortmund. 

The Kosovo international has 10 goals and has five assists in 24 appearances for Bremen this season.

08.24 BST: Manchester City need to get a couple of new defenders and Marseille's Boubacar Kamara could be one, says the Express.

Kamara, 20, has impressed in Ligue 1 and the France U21 international is available for as little as €35m -- unlike a lot of top young players in Europe.

8.00 BST: Bayern Munich reportedly questioned Leroy Sane's mentality and have turned their attention to RB Leipzig attacker Timo Werner instead, but the Manchester City winger still wants a transfer to the Allianz Arena, Sport Bild reports.

"We are in talks with Manchester City how the next step could look like. That Bayern are generally interested is no secret, but other top European clubs have contacted us because of Leroy," Sane's new agent, Damir Soljan of Lian Sports, told Sport Bild, adding that Bayern are the only option in Germany for the former FC Schalke man. "He can see they have everything in place so he can reach his big goal, to win the Champions League."

PAPER TALK (by Shaun Reynolds)

Milan chase Vidal's signature

Inter are keen to secure the services of Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal in a deal separate to both clubs' anticipated negotiations concerning the swap of the aforementioned Griezmann and Martinez above.

Vidal has reportedly attracted attention from Premier League giants Manchester United and teams in the Chinese Super League this season. But Calciomercato's report suggests the 32-year-old is set to snub interest from England and China in favour of a return to Serie A -- a league he last played in five seasons ago with Juventus.

Barcelona are said to have placed a €20m price tag on Vidal, a figure that could persuade Inter boss Antonio Conte to look elsewhere. The report also adds that Vidal wants to secure himself a three-year contract, something that could derail Inter's quest to sign the midfielder given that he will turn 33 later this year. 

Madrid move off for Van de Beek?

A dream move to Real Madrid could be off for Donny van de Beek due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The 22-year-old midfielder was due to move from Ajax to the Santiago Bernabeu with a €55m agreement reportedly reached in January. However, the global COVID-19 crisis means the move could be placed on hold as football clubs miss out on valuable matchday income due to league suspensions.

In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Van de Beek's agent said he is concerned his player's move to Spain might not go ahead.

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Tap-ins

- Teenage sensation Lamare Bogarde has been targeted by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, says Football Insider. Bogarde is regarded as one of Netherlands' brightest young talents and is capped at U16 level for his country. 

- Napoli are close to reaching an agreement on a new deal with Italy international Lorenzo Insigne, according to Calciomercato. The report says that the 28-year-old forward is set to sign a deal through 2025 that will keep him on his annual salary of €4.5m per season.

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