After David de Gea’s latest error in the FA Cup final, rumours about Manchester United’s need for a replacement will increase. The newest name on the list is Porto’s Diogo Costa, who has supposedly also caught the eye of Newcastle and Chelsea. The Portuguese shot-stopper would not come cheap because United would need to activate his £65m release clause to lure him to Old Trafford.
Speaking of struggling Manchester United players, Wout Weghorst might have found a route back to the Premier League next season. It is clear he will not fit in at Vincent Kompany’s Burnley and he has proven himself substandard at United but Everton, and their desperation for a striker, may result in a call to Turf Moor.
Meanwhile, in Erik ten Hag’s quest to find a suitable central midfielder, he has identified Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat as a potential candidate. Manchester United, however, could face completion from Barcelona, who are linked to a plethora of players despite an uncertain financial situation.
It looks increasingly likely that Real Madrid will be the focal point of the summer transfer window. Over the weekend it was announced that Eden Hazard and Karim Benzema will be leaving the club. The Frenchman’s future is set to be in Saudi Arabia but the Belgian’s next move is unknown.
Their departures will free up some money for Carlo Ancelotti and friends to spend on some lovely new signings. Naturally, Madrid’s interest has turned to a top Premier League goalscorer, with Chelsea’s Kai Havertz being targeted.
Jude Bellingham’s move to the Spanish capital is getting closer by the day and he could be joined by Tottenham striker Harry Kane, who may finally decide now is the time to leave the Premier League behind. Ancelotti has supposedly winked to the hierarchy that the England captain is the man to replace Benzema; now they just need to deal with Daniel Levy.
Kane’s departure would leave a massive gap at Tottenham for the new manager, whoever that turns out to be. Celtic gaffer Ange Postecoglou is the most likely man to be Antonio Conte’s permanent replacement, fresh from completing the domestic treble in Scotland. If he does move down south, he would be quite eager to bring Kyogo Furuhashi with him.
One man potentially heading to Scotland is Jack Butland. The goalkeeper has struggled for matches in recent seasons, spending the final months of the campaign doing next to nothing at Manchester United, on loan from Crystal Palace. His Selhurst Park contract is up in a few weeks and he could be tempted to head to Rangers as a replacement for Allan McGregor.
Burnley understandably want to sign left-back Ian Maatsen on a permanent deal after a fine season on loan at the Championship winners. There is one teeny, tiny issue: Chelsea want £20m for the defender. That’s one spicy meatball. Speaking of impressive loanees, Kompany wants to reunite with Southampton’s Nathan Tella. Another potential striker arrival is Coventry’s Viktor Gyökeres, who has been linked with most lower-half Premier League teams over the past six months.
And Crystal Palace are desperate to fend off supposed interest from Qatari side Al-Sadd in Wilfried Zaha by offering him a new deal worth £150,000 per week.
