The coronavirus pandemic has made the transfer market uncertain -- and you can find out when the windows open here -- but here are the rumours floating around Europe's big leagues and beyond.
TOP STORY: Barca want Champions League winner Coutinho back
Philippe Coutinho will speak with Ronald Koeman about his future this week, with Mundo Deportivo reporting that the new Barcelona coach will tell him he's in his plans for the upcoming season.
Coutinho, Barca's record signing at €160 million, has spent the last season on loan at Bayern Munich and came off the bench as the German side beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 to win the Champions League final on Sunday.
Barca have been trying to sell Coutinho for several months, with his agent Kia Joorabchian recently saying the Brazilian is keen to return to the Premier League.
Coutinho's name was also conspicuous by its absence on the list of players that Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu said were not for sale last week when he spoke about overhauling the current squad.
However, with a lack of clubs willing to pay Barca's €80m asking price and a change of manager in the Camp Nou dugout, Coutinho could be handed a second chance in Catalonia.
"I've not thought about next season yet," Coutinho said on Sunday. "I have to return to Barcelona and I am excited to work hard and have a great season. I don't know if it will be with Barcelona, but I have to return there first."
Meanwhile, Catalan radio station RAC1 reports that Koeman has told Luis Suarez he's not in his plans for next season. Koeman is said to have phoned Suarez to inform of his decision. The two parties will now look into rescinding the Uruguayan's contract, which runs until 2021, to allow him to find a new club this summer.
Suarez, 33, has been at Barcelona for six years and recently became the third top goal scorer in the club's history. He has scored 198 goals in 283 appearances.
However, he's one of the players that has been criticised following the 8-2 Champions League loss to Bayern Munich and another who Bartomeu tellingly didn't name among the players that are not for sale.
Suarez, meanwhile, has stated his desire to stay at the club and has even said he would be willing to accept a backup role under Koeman.
- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- Hunter: How Koeman's Barca dream could be a nightmare
LIVE BLOG
23.08 BST: We are closing up shop after another fun-filled day of transfer rumours, but we'll be right back with tomorrow's paper round shortly and do the whole thing all over again on Tuesday. Thanks as always for checking in and see you all next time!
22.52 BST: Should Valencia decide to part with Rodrigo (who's reportedly interested Leeds United) or Kevin Gameiro, they'll look to Real Madrid striker Borja Mayoral to be their new No. 9, according to Super Deporte. The 23-year-old, who's spent the past two seasons on loan at fellow Valencian side Levante, would join either on loan with an obligation to buy (seeing as his contract expires next summer) or in a complex deal that would see Los Che purchase 50% of the player's rights.
22.05 BST: Gazzetta dello Sport writes that AC Milan and Chelsea are expected to come to an agreement in the next two days over a loan deal for 25-year-old midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko to rejoin the Rossoneri on another loan (having spent 2018-19 at the San Siro) with an option to buy set at around €30m.
21.42 BST: Manchester City are crunching the numbers to work out if they would be able to sign Lionel Messi without breaching Financial Fair Play rules if the Barcelona star becomes available, sources have told ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.
City know any deal for Messi is complicated -- due in no small part to a €700 million release clause -- but want to be prepared should the option of bringing him arise. Therefore, they're looking into the costs that would be involved if Barca agree to sell for a reasonable price.
21.09 BST: Everton are closing in on a deal for Napoli midfielder Allan, according to Corriere dello Sport, after submitting a bid of €35m including add-ons for the 29-year-old Brazilian. The report also states that once the Naples club completes the sale of Kalidou Koulibaly, who is reportedly expected to join Manchester City, they will look to Arsenal centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos to replace the Senegal international.
20.31 BST: Could winning the Champions League on Sunday compel Thiago to remain at Bayern Munich? ESPN's Jan Aage Fjortoft delves into the midfielder's potential move away from Germany.
19.44: Despite making a combined eight appearances between them since joining Arsenal on loan in January, Cedric Soares and Pablo Mari are now permanent Gunners, the North London club announced on Monday.
✍️ We have reached agreement with both Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares to join the club on permanent deals.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 24, 2020
18.57 BST: David Beckham's Inter Miami CF have "strong interest" in 31-year-old centre-back Holger Badstuber, according to Bild, which adds that the Germany international has a year remaining on his contract at VfB Stuttgart but that isn't expected to be a stumbling block in the move to South Beach.
18.10 BST: If Antonio Conte leaves Internazionale as has been speculated in recent days, and if Massimiliano Allegri replaces him, as has also been discussed, Gazzetta dello Sport writes that the Nerazzurri will seek to sign free agent forward Mario Mandzukic to work in Allegri's system.
17.23 BST: Malaga could sack half of their first-team squad after announcing plans to begin a "collective dismissal procedure."
The Spanish second-tier side have been in a steady decline since reaching the Champions League quarterfinals in 2013 with a team boasting big-name players such as Isco, Joaquin and Julio Baptista.
Malaga went into administration in February, bringing an end to the reign of controversial owner Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani and fuelling speculation that they would be unable to complete the season due to financial mismanagement.
They eventually escaped relegation to Spain's third, non-professional tier earlier this month, finishing 14th in the second division, just two points clear of the drop.
"As of today, the management of Malaga Club de Futbol S.A.D has communicated to the squad its intention to begin a collective dismissal procedure," the club said in a statement on Monday. "The club has had to make some tough decisions in recent months.
"On this occasion, the restructuring will directly impact the men's first team. This new restructuring joins the economic plan that aims to get the Club out of the complicated financial situation which it continues to be immersed in, in spite of recent efforts."
16.55 BST: Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent has cast doubt on the striker's future at AC Milan.
Ibrahimovic's contract expired at the end of the campaign but Raiola is hopeful there is time to reach an agreement to keep the player at the San Siro.
"I don't believe he [Ibrahimovic] will join the Milan training camp tomorrow," Mino Raiola said. "While we are negotiating, we are at a good stage. We are talking, but not agreement as yet.
"It's not a money issue, but about conviction and style. A marriage is made successful with two people. If Ibra didn't want to stay, we wouldn't be negotiating, but we are."
16.10 BST: Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick hinted Thiago Alcantara had played his last game for the club following their Champions League final victory, and had a bit of fun while doing so.
Thiago, 29, has one year left on his Bayern contract but is expected to leave this summer. The Spain international has been linked with a free transfer to Liverpool, although a Mail on Sunday report claimed that Arsenal have also registered their interest.
In his postmatch news conference, Flick was asked by a reporter: "You had a long chat with Thiago after the ceremony. Was this maybe his last match for Bayern?"
The Bayern coach gave the deadpan reply: "No. He told me he'll stay."
Flick then left that answer to silently hang in the air for three seconds as the assembled media contemplated this shock bit of transfer news before, with expert comic timing, broke into a self-satisfied chuckle: "Hahahaha! You should have seen your face."
OMG😭😭😭❤️ pic.twitter.com/QblQ9oJQEP
— Ruben (CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆) (@Rubsnnn) August 23, 2020
Flick went on to explain: "I just thanked him for our time together, just like I did with every other player.
"I don't know and he doesn't know yet either [where his future lies], because we all focused on this Champions League final. I think we will have to wait what the following days will bring."
15:35 BST: It could be a busy week at Barcelona (again) as they look to get their squad in shape ahead of the start of preseason next week.
Marca are reporting that, as well as Luis Suarez, shifting Ivan Rakitic is a "priority," while an in-depth report in Mundo Deportivo also says they're among the players up for sale, in addition to Samuel Umtiti.
Mundo Deportivo add that Arturo Vidal will be allowed to leave if an offer arrives, while describing Sergio Busquets' situation as "complicated." New coach Ronald Koeman plans to use Frenkie de Jong as his deepest midfielder.
In more expected transfer news at Camp Nou, Rafinha is also likely to leave this summer. According to Sport, he's "seduced" by the idea of moving to the Premier League, with Everton, Arsenal and West Ham mentioned as possible destinations.
15.01 BST: Leeds United are leading the race to sign Valencia striker Rodrigo Moreno, according to Superdeporte.
Leeds coach Marcelo Bielsa has reportedly chosen Rodrigo to strengthen their attack.
Rodrigo, 29, has a contract with Valencia until June 2022 but has been placed on the transfer list.
The Spain international was close to leaving Valencia last summer after the club accepted a €60m transfer from Atletico for the player. However, the deal fell through at the last minute.
Rodrigo, who scored four goals and set up nine more in 27 league appearances this past season, has seen his value fallen and he could be sold for as little as €30m.
14.26 BST: Thiago Silva will sign a two-year deal for Chelsea this week after leaving Paris Saint-Germain on a free, sources have told ESPN's Julien Laurens.
The PSG captain's contract at the French club ran out at the end of the previous campaign but he played all the Champions League knockout matches -- including in the 1-0 final defeat to Bayern Munich -- but was not offered a new deal after eight years at the Parc des Princes.
The big attraction for Chelsea, who are also expected to sign Ben Chilwell from Leicester for a fee around £50 million and are closing in on the signing of Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen on top of the deals already done for Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, is they won't have to pay a transfer fee for the former AC Milan defender.
13.49 BST: Bayer Leverkusen sporting executive Rudi Voller has said reports claiming his club and Chelsea are only hours away from agreeing a deal for Kai Havertz are "nonsense."
Reports in German and UK media claimed on Monday that the two clubs agreed an €80m fee plus a further €20m in add-ons depending on Chelsea's success in the coming season.
"This is nonsense," Voller told kicker.
Germany midfielder Havertz, 21, has long been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.
With Leverkusen returning to training on Aug. 28 to prepare for the 2020-21 season, it is expected that a deal will be done rather sooner than later.
13.07 BST: Arsenal striker Sam Greenwood is set to leave the club with Manchester United and Leeds United both monitoring his situation, sources have told ESPN's Tom Hamilton.
Leeds are understood to be leading the race for the 18-year-old but United are also chasing hard.
Greenwood is also attracting interest from Serie A with both Inter Milan and AC Milan understood to be keen on landing the hot prospect.
He will command a fee that could reach £2m and is regarded as one of the best young strikers in England.
12.35 BST: Antonio Conte will discuss his future with Inter Milan owners on Tuesday, according to Sky Italia.
Inter have not yet contacted Massimiliano Allegri, who remains the main candidate to replace Conte should the former Chelsea manager leave the Nerazzurri after just one season in charge.
Inter lost 3-2 to Sevilla in the Europa League final on Friday and after the game, Conte admitted he will take some time to think about his future ahead of next season. The Milan outfit finished second in the Serie A standings, one point adrift of champions Juventus.
Conte, who has a contract with Inter until June 2022, has reportedly fallen out with the Inter hierarchy and is expected to leave by mutual consent.
Allegri took over from Conte when the latter left Juventus in the summer of 2014 to guide Italy's national team. The 53-year-old has been out of a job since leaving Juve last summer after five seasons in charge.
12.08 BST: Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui wants Real Madrid left-back Sergio Reguilon to continue at the club next season. Reguilon capped off a great campaign while on loan at Sevilla by lifting the Europa League trophy on Friday.
"Reguilon has grown a lot and he is now better than he was when he first arrived here," Lopetegui told Onda Cero. "I hope he can continue with us."
The 23-year-old scored three goals and set up five more in 38 appearances for Sevilla, 35 as a starter, to attract interest of big European clubs.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Napoli are interested in signing Reguilon, who is tied to Real Madrid until June 2023.
AS reports that Real Madrid are considering selling the Spaniard for €25m this summer but including a buy-back clause in the deal.
11.41 BST: Angelino and Patrick Schick will resume training at RB Leipzig on Wednesday but their futures remain unclear, kicker reports.
Both players are on loan at the German club until Aug. 31 after taking part in the Champions League tournament in Lisbon, where they reached the semifinals. However, as things stand, Angelino is set to return to his parent club Manchester City next week and Schick will head back to Italy where AS Roma have him under contract.
Both players remain on Leipzig's list of targets for the 2020-2021 season, and the franchise's sporting director Markus Krosche believes there is still time „to find solutions for Angelino and Schick."
Left-back Angelino has also been linked with a move to Barcelona while Schick could join league rivals Bayer Leverkusen, should Kai Havertz make the move to Chelsea.
But Leipzig are confident they might be able to sign at least one of the pair to a new contract, most likely another loan deal. „We are closer to finding a solution with Manchester City than we are with AS Roma," Krosche said in kicker.
11.09 BST: Arsenal have agreed a €30m deal to sign defender Gabriel Magalhaes from French side Lille, sources have told ESPN's Tom Hamilton.
Gabriel will travel to London for a medical on Monday before signing a contract at the Emirates.
The 22-year-old did not feature in Lille's Ligue 1 opening day draw against Rennes on Saturday.
Arsenal have fended off competition from Manchester United, Everton and Napoli to secure Gabriel's signature.
10.40 BST: Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is in talks over a new contract the club, according to his agent Mino Raiola.
Pogba has entered the final year of his existing deal, although the club hold an option to extend until 2022. The France international has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford but Raiola said he will not leave the club this summer.
"He is at the heart of the important project" he told Sky Sports Italia. "Even in previous years, United have never entertained offers."
Asked whether he is close a new contract, he added: "We are talking very calmly without any stress."
Last month, Pogba said he was "happy" at the club amid reports he wanted to join Real Madrid or Juventus.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also said he was confident that Pogba would sign a new deal.
10.12 BST: Javi Martinez is set to leave Bayern Munich after eight years at the club following their Champions League triumph, kicker reports.
The Spanish midfielder, who turns 32 next week, played a key role in Bayern's first Treble run in 2013, but has dropped down the pecking order in recent seasons.
A €40m signing from Athletic Bilbao in 2012, Martinez is reportedly flirting with a return to his old club but could also make the move to Serie A side Fiorentina.
Bayern Munich are holding out for a fee in the €10m region and because of his services for the Champions League winners will not throw any stones in his way.
09.39 BST: PSG captain Thiago Silva has denied reports that he has agreed a deal to join Fiorentina this summer.
The Brazil defender, 35, played his final game for PSG in their Champions League final defeat to Bayern on Sunday and he is now out of contract.
Sources told ESPN's James Olley last week that Thiago Silva had been offered to Chelsea, while other reports claimed that the former AC Milan player would return to Italy and join Fiorentina.
However, he told Sky Sport Italia: "I've not accepted any bid. Reports of an agreement reached with Fiorentina are not true. My agent is talking with Fiorentina as with other clubs. I'll decide on next days with my family."
09.00 BST: Paris Saint-Germain manager Thomas Tuchel says Lionel Messi would be welcome at the club if he ever decided to leave Barcelona, but he does not expect the Argentine forward to do so.
Messi, who joined Barcelona aged 13, has scored a record 634 goals for the club in 730 games and is also their most decorated player with 33 trophies but the 33-year-old is into the final year of his contract at the club.
Reports in the Spanish media have cast doubts about his future at the club after a disappointing season that culminated in an 8-2 Champions League humiliation by Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals this month.
"He's very welcome. What coach says no to Messi?" Tuchel told BT Sport after his side lost 1-0 to Bayern in the Champions League final on Sunday.
"I think Messi finishes his career in Barcelona. He's Mr Barcelona."
PAPER TALK (by Nick Judd): Ikone attracting interest from Leicester, Chelsea and Inter
Leicester City have joined Chelsea and Inter Milan in wanting to sign Lille forward Jonathan Ikone, according to Le10Sport.
The French international is one of several players, alongside Victor Osimhen, Gabriel Magalhaes, Mike Maignan and Boubakary Soumare, to potentially leave the club this summer.
ESPN's Tom Hamilton reported Sunday that sources close to the situation have said that Gabriel's departure to Arsenal has been confirmed.
Ikone's stock has been on the rise the past few seasons, and though Chelsea and Inter Milan are said to be interested, Leicester look the most likely to weigh in with a firm offer, with Brendan Rodgers keen to add another dimension to his attack.
The decision is up to the player, with Lille seemingly happy to let him leave for the right price. Ikone has one year left on his contract, which means the French side would rather cash in while they can this year than lose him for nothing next summer.
Pogba to snub Real and Juve for United stay
Paul Pogba is likely to stay at Manchester United beyond this summer, according to his agent, as reported by ESPN earlier Sunday.
Pogba, who missed much of the previous season because of injury, has been linked with a move to Real Madrid for the past 12 months, while previous club Juventus have also been interested in re-signing the French international.
However, Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, said United "won't accept any offer for Pogba this summer" and insisted that the World Cup winner will commit himself to the project at Old Trafford.
Pogba forged a successful partnership with Bruno Fernandes following the Premier League restart, and Reds boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hoping the duo can help his side mount a tangible bid for the title next season.
Barca to fund Gaya move with Firpo sale
Barcelona harbour aspirations of adding Valencia defender Jose Gaya to their squad, and to do that, they need to offload Junior Firpo, and Napoli, Inter Milan and Torino are all interested, according to Sport.
The Spanish outlet is reporting that all three Serie A clubs have made contact with Barca, and now the decision rests with the player.
Barcelona will need to decide whether they want to release Firpo on a permanent deal or by offering him out on loan, with the club having an option to buy.
Whatever they decide, Gaya is believed to be a priority, and though Valencia are struggling financially, they would rather keep the full-back. A bumper Barca offer, though, could help keep the wolves from the door at the Mestalla.
Barca are also considering Angelino and Nicolas Tagliafico as potential full-back options.
Tap-ins
- Pepe Reina is expected to join Lazio rather than Valencia, Corriere dello Sport reports. The Spanish keeper agreed a move to the Mestalla Stadium but grew tired of waiting for an offer while Valencia tried to offload existing keeper Jasper Cillessen. The 37-year-old could move to Lazio this week, despite having one year left on his AC Milan contract, after having spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa.
- Aston Villa boss Dean Smith is hoping to bring Kieran Trippier back to England from Atletico Madrid, the Telegraph reports. Smith is open to a permanent or loan deal as he looks to shore up his defence for the new season. Trippier played 33 matches last season as Atletico finished third in La Liga, this after he made 114 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur between 2015 and 2019.
- Premier League clubs are on red alert, with Barcelona putting Rafinha up for sale for just €16m. According to Sport, Everton, Arsenal and West Ham United are all keen to land the midfielder. Barca are believed to have had an offer from Lazio, but Rafinha is unlikely to return to Serie A following his loan spell at Inter Milan and is expected to move to England instead.