The summer transfer window may not be open yet in Europe, but teams are getting ready for it, and there's plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Lautaro Martinez on Pochettino's Chelsea shortlist
Chelsea have agreed terms with Mauricio Pochettino to become the club's new coach, according to ESPN sources, and while a contract is yet to be signed, transfer options for this summer are already being discussed.
According to the Daily Mail, the Blues will sign a striker, midfielder and goalkeeper, while also offloading players to balance the books.
Internazionale's Lautaro Martinez is seen as the most likely striker signing, with any move for Napoli's high-priced ace Victor Osimhen likely to prove problematic, as Chelsea have already privately committed to signing Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig for £63 million.
Looking at the midfield, Chelsea still want West Ham United captain Declan Rice but will face competition from Arsenal, while they have joined Liverpool in looking at Brighton & Hove Albion's Alexis Mac Allister. Another Argentine World Cup winner, Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, is also an option.
There has been plenty of talk surrounding Mason Mount's Chelsea future with his contract ending in 2024, and Pochettino will aim to convince the midfielder to stay, while he also will speak to Romelu Lukaku, who is on loan at Inter, to ascertain whether the striker can be part of Chelsea's team next term.
Pochettino will bring assistant Jesus Perez and his usual coaching team to Stamford Bridge but will not officially start in his new role until the end of the season.
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LIVE BLOG
21.33 BST: L'Equipe reports that Paris Saint-Germain are bound to make their loan move for forward Hugo Ekitike permanent for a €35m transfer fee (so long as they finish in the top two of Ligue 11, as expected), despite not being happy with the 20-year-old France youth international's performances since his arrival from Stade Reims. Eintracht Frankfurt are looking to capitalise this situation and have offered to take Ekitike on loan, convinced that they can relaunch his career.
20.26 BST: Paris Saint-Germain are not expecting Juventus to make their loan move deal for midfielder Leandro Paredes permanent, according to Foot Mercato, noting that his €9m net annual wages are more than the Bianconeri feel his contributions are worth. The 28-year-old Argentina international's return to the French capital won't be ideal for PSG, with Paredes reportedly having strained relationships with influential members of the team such as Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi.
19.19 BST: AC Milan are set to meet with the agents of attacker Charles De Ketelaere following a disappointing first season at the San Siro, Calciomercato writes. The 22-year-old Belgium international has registered a solitary assist in 1,441 minutes of action since his €35m move from Club Brugge last summer, and a return to the Belgian capital club on loan isn't being ruled out for the 2023-24 season.
18.12 BST: Catalan outlet Sport reports that Spanish wingers Marco Asensio of Real Madrid and Ferran Torres of Barcelona could be part of recruitment plans at Aston Villa this summer. Asensio, 27, is out of contract at the end of the season, while Torres, 23, has four years left on his contract at Camp Nou and could command a reasonably hefty transfer fee.
17.05 BST: Manchester United are prioritising the signing of Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, according to L'Equipe. The 28-year-old France international will be a free agent this summer, and while Newcastle United are said to be interested in the former Paris Saint-Germain standout, Old Trafford appears his preferred destination - with United boss Erik ten Hag reportedly holding talks with Rabiot as far back as last summer.
15.50 BST: Marca reports that Real Madrid remain interested in signing Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain, but there's a condition.
The report says that Los Blancos president Florentino Perez will not pay a transfer fee for the 24-year-old, who still has 12 months remaining on his contract. That means the Spanish giants will not make a move to sign the striker at the end of this season.
Mbappe was expected to move to Madrid in the summer of 2022, but changed his mind and opted to sign a two-year contract with PSG.
15.02 BST: Jordi Alba could leave Barcelona this summer, according to Xavi.
"I have tremendous confidence in him," Diario AS reported the Barca coach as saying. "I believe he's a loyal, valid and capable person.
"He must decide how the picture looks for him. But up to now, he has been very important. Whether he stays or leaves, he remains highly valued."
Alba still has 12 months remaining on his Barca contract, but is one of the club's highest paid players. Now at the age of 34, Alba could be allowed to leave to free up space on the wage bill.
14.18 BST: Arsenal are showing interest in Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy.
The Sunday Mirror reports that the left-back is available for transfer, and could be signed for as little as £17.5m.
Kieran Tierney is linked with a move away from the Gunners this summer, with Newcastle watching on, and the 27-year-old Mendy could be his replacement.
The France international has also been linked with Tottenham, but wants to play for a club in the Champions League.
13.33 BST: Manchester United are ready to reward Lisandro Martinez for his performances with a huge pay rise, reports the Sun on Sunday.
Martinez, 25, had a slow start to his career at Manchester United but has grown into life in the Premier League.
The report says that the Argentina international will be offered a £50,000 increase on his weekly salary, putting it at £170,000 -- a 42% rise.
The centre-back, who signed from Ajax for £55m last summer, will not have any additional years added to his contract, which runs to the summer of 2027.
12.49 BST: Inter Milan CEO Beppe Marotta has said there's only a 6/10 chance that Romelu Lukaku is still at the club next season, but also warned Chelsea off goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Lukaku is on loan at Inter from Chelsea, with the agreement expiring at the end of the campaign. The striker is due to return to Stamford Bridge, but it's unclear if new coach Mauricio Pochettino sees a future for the Belgian in west London.
Pochettino is also on the search for a new No. 1 keeper, with Onana believed to be one of Chelsea's targets.
"I don't know what Chelsea's intentions are, who their coach will be," Moratta said at an even held by Gazzetta dello Sport. "If a coach arrives who wants to rely on Lukaku, then that'll be the end of it. He has a lot of quality and having him is a positive, but the fact remains he is not our player. We'll see further on. I'd say six [out of 10]."
On Onana, he added: "It is difficult to predict the future. But we have not received any offers and the goalkeeper wants to stay here. We do not intend to put him on the market."
12.00 BST: Liverpool have agreed a new contract with attacking right-back Isaac Mabaya.
The 18-year-old was part of the first team on last summer's preseason tours, but missed most of this season with a hamstring injury.
The Reds have high hopes for the Preston-born player.
Isaac Mabaya has signed a new contract with the Reds ✍️
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 13, 2023
Congratulations, Isaac 😁
11.11 BST: Barcelona midfielder Ferran Torres has had no contact with Aston Villa, and wants to stay at Camp Nou, reports Mundo Deportivo.
The 23-year-old is deemed surplus to requirements, however, and Barca reportedly want to offload the former Manchester City player to free up funds to spend on other players.
Barca will need to achieve a transfer fee of at least €42m to avoid an accounting loss on the deal which took the player back to Spain.
Despite the reports of strong interest from Villa manager Unai Emery, there has not yet been an offer.
The situation is complicated by sporting director Mateu Alemany's impending move to Villa from Barca, and any deal may not happen until July.
10.20 BST: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will reshape his midfield this summer, and the Sunday Mirror reports that Alexis Mac Allister could move to Anfield from Brighton in a £70m deal.
Mac Allister, 24, is almost certain to leave Brighton after a breakout season in which he played a starring role in Argentina's World Cup win.
The report says that Klopp has made Mac Allister his No. 1 target after being priced out of the race for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, who seems set to join Real Madrid.
James Milner, 27, is set to move in the opposite direction, signing for Brighton on a free transfer when his contract expires next month.
Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will also be told they can find new clubs.
09.30 BST: Mario Balotelli could be about to sign for the 12th club of his career, according to Romanian outlet GSP.
Balotelli, 32, has had a nomadic career since leaving Nice in 2019, playing for another French club in Marseille, then returning home to Italy with Brescia and Monza, onto Turkish club Adana Demirspor and then Swiss side FC Sion.
The former Inter Milan, Manchester City, AC Milan and Liverpool striker is likely to leave Sion in the summer and is now wanted by Rapid Bucharest. However, the player wants a payment of €1m up front to sign a deal, which could yet scupper it.
PAPER GOSSIP
- Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has no plans to announce any decision on his future, reports Fabrizio Romano, who adds that the 32-year-old is focused on ending the campaign with trophies. This comes amid strong rumours that Barcelona will sign the Germany international on a free transfer after his City contract expires at the end of June.
- Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker is ready to turn down interest from abroad and see out the final year of his contract, claims the The Sun, after the 32-year-old was linked with AC Milan. The England international is happy at the Etihad but could move back to former club Sheffield United when his deal expires, with any return to Bramall Lane likely requiring him to be a free agent.
- AC Milan have made a three-year contract offer to Eintracht Frankfurt attacking midfielder Daichi Kamada, according to Ekrem Konur, with the 26-year-old set to be a free agent when his contract ends this summer. Newcastle United, Barcelona and Benfica also have been linked with the Japan international.
- Tottenham Hotspur are keeping a close eye on Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, according to Football Insider, with Spurs being impressed by the 21-year-old's performances despite the Saints' relegation from the Premier League. Spurs are looking for young players who can develop under a new manager and feel that Bazunu is ready to replace Hugo Lloris, who is expected to leave in the summer.
- Everton are willing to let Amadou Onana leave for £50m if they are relegated, reports Football Insider, which adds that the Toffees will try to persuade the midfielder to stay if they secure safety. This comes amid interest from Manchester United, with coach Erik ten Hag being an admirer of the 21-year-old.