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LIVE Transfer Talk: Real Madrid want €150m Salah to replace Bale

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: Real Madrid want €150m Salah to replace Bale

European champions, world champions and now on the brink of becoming Premier League champions, you could be forgiven for thinking there's no better place than Anfield to be playing your football right now. But Liverpool might yet face a battle to keep sensational pair Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah beyond the summer.

The duo's desire to play in Spain was confirmed by journalist Duncan Castles on the Transfer Window Podcast and Real Madrid are looking to take full advantage by moving for Salah once they get rid of Gareth Bale. El Desmarque says that the Egyptian is top of their list, as they have been priced out of a €300m move for PSG's Kylian Mbappe and could get Salah for half that fee.

Both Salah and Mane are tied to long-term contracts and the Mirror reports that it would cost Barcelona €250m if they wanted to sign Mane after a three-year agreement was made between the two clubs when Philippe Coutinho left Anfield for Camp Nou in 2018 that an extra €100m is added to any transfer fee.

Still, that agreement reportedly comes to an end in summer 2021, so Barca will just have to be patient.

LIVE BLOG

23.10 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!

22.31 GMT: Arsenal are one of a handful of teams that are interested in Hoffenheim midfielder Florian Grillitsch, according to Sport Bild.

The €25 million-rated central midfielder, 24, is being monitored by Southampton, Newcastle, Inter and the Gunners, and could be the heir to Granit Xhaka's tenous position at the Emirates. The Austria international has been a lynchpin at Hoffenheim for a few years now but could be ready to take the next step and join a bigger club.

Stay tuned...

21.49 GMT: It sounds as if there could be transfer changes around the corner -- in England at least.

EFL clubs have agreed to push the summer transfer deadline back to the end of August. The shift would revert the deadline back to the standard Aug 31/Sept. 1 deadline and end a two-year run of an experimental deadline which coincided with the start of the season.

With other European countries refusing to follow suit, English clubs had felt they were at a disadvantage due to the shorter window.

21.13 GMT: Bayern Munich put on a masterclass at Stamford Bridge but could the rich soon get even richer?

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Bavarians are lining up a move for Roberto Firmino, if Liverpool choose to replace the Brazilian with RB Leipzig's Timo Werner. Werner, 23, has had a fantastic season for Leipzig with 27 goals and is valued at £51 million but the Echo believes Bayern's chances of luring the integral Firmino away from Anfield are slim.

Carry on...

20.25 GMT: The Philadelphia Union have signed captain Alejandro Bedoya to a contract extension.

The deal keeps the United States international with the Union through at least 2021 -- with a player option for the 2022 season. In 35 games last season fro the Union, the veteran midfielder contributed 5 goals and three assists as the Union amassed a franchise-record points total.

19.48 GMT: Chelsea are one club the experts are tipping to spend big this summer and the latest player linked: Lyon's Houssem Aouar.

The Blues have already agreed to a deal for Ajax's Hakim Ziyech, and Aouar could be set to join the Morocco international at Stamford Bridge. TuttoMercatoWeb understands that Chelsea are "serious" about the Frenchman and are "ready" to launch a £42.5 million bid for the Lyon man.

A France Under-21 international, Aouar, 21, has nine goals and seven assists this season and is also reportedly being pursued by Juventus.

19.12 GMT: Could a West Ham winger be bound for Sheffield Wednesday?

The Owls have their eyes on 21-year-old Nathan Holland, according to Football Insider. The ex-England Under-19 international is currently on loan at League One's Oxford United and could be allowed to leave the Olympic Stadium on a permanent basis by David Moyes this summer.

18.41 GMT: Man United have done some good business this season in signing Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and most recently Bruno Fernandes. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's rebuild at Old Trafford still has a long way to go and Goal.com suggests the Red Devils could sell some of their more expensive players to fund further moves.

The outlet claims that goalkeeper David De Gea could even be sacrificed to raise transfer funds. The 29-year-old just signed a new contract back in September that runs through 2023 but with Dean Henderson starring on loan at Sheffield United, their are rumblings that United could look to shed the expensive Spaniard and turn things over to the youngster.

Paul Pogba seems like another high-profile candidate to be shipped out, with the World Cup winner reportedly unhappy at Old Trafford amidst an injury-plagued campaign.

18.06 GMT: Liverpool whizkid Harvey Elliott is reportedly set to sign a new contract.

The 16-year-old, who became the youngest player to appear in the Premier League last May with Fulham, will sign the maximum allowed three-year extension with Liverpool once the season ends. Elliott has impressed in his seven appearances for the senior squad this season, tallying four goals and eight assists for Liverpool's youth teams.

17.39 GMT: Aston Villa to make £30 million signing -- if they stay up?

French newspaper Le Phoceen claims that Villa are monitoring Marseille midfielder Morgan Sanson and could move for him next season if they remain in the Premier League.

The Daily News had previously mentioned that Carlo Ancelotti's Everton are also keen on the 25-year-old midfielder.

17.03 GMT: Real Salt Lake have just announced an interesting addition.

The MLS club revealed on Thursday that they have signed former Man United and Italy attacker Giuseppe Rossi

The American-born forward, 33, last played for Serie A side Genoa in 2017-18 and had been on trial with the club. Rossi, who has made 30 appearances for Italy, has had a very successful career in Europe, playing for United, Newcastle, Parma, Villarreal, Fiorentina, Levante, Celta Vigo and Genoa.

The New Jersey native had his best season back in 2010-11 with Villarreal when he scored 32 goals in 56 appearances over all competitions.

16.30 GMT: Jeremie Boga left Chelsea for Sassuolo in 2018, having failed to make the breakthrough at Stamford Bridge, so we're not sure why he'd be that interested in returning. But Tuttomercatoweb reports the Blues are set to spend €15m on the buyback clause in his contract.

Oh ... and then sell him again for a higher price. This makes more sense now.

15.23 GMT: Hoffenheim midfielder Florian Grillitsch is on the radar of a few Premier League clubs, says Bild.

Grillitsch, 24, has seen Arsenal, Southampton and Newcastle pay him some interest, with a release clause of €25m enough for an English club to land him in the summer.

However, that fee drops to €20m for any club outside England and the Austria international is also being watched by Inter Milan.

14.35 GMT: Manchester United want Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish and the MEN reports that they are ready to make a move.

Grealish, 24, reportedly has a £45m release clause in his contract and is the club's first choice, with Leicester City's James Maddison also on the shortlist, despite the fact he would cost almost twice as much.

14.20 GMT: Sources close to Victor Guzman have told ESPN that Pachuca are still paying him a monthly salary after Chivas cancelled their January transfer for him over positive doping results.

13.27 GMT: Is Maurizio Sarri the right man to be in charge of Juventus?

12.42 GMT: Werder Bremen's Milot Rashica has been courted by Liverpool, Dortmund and RB Leipzig but the forward's future destination will stay under wraps until the summer.

Rashica, 23, reportedly has a €38m release clause in his contract and the Kosovo international is keen to make the step up, given that Bremen are second from bottom, 17th in the table.

Werder Bremen sporting director Frank Baumann told DeichStube: "No decision has yet been made and we have not yet negotiated with clubs."

Baumann added about hopes of an extension to Rashica's contract, which ends in 2022: "We didn't get together ... At some point the sporting situation didn't help us either. If we were different in the table, it might be different."

11.56 GMT: FC Inter Miami owner David Beckham reckons the new MLS club has a great opportunity to sign either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo in the future.

"Well you know what, we've got great opportunities down in Miami," he told The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday.

"We've been contacted by a lot of different players with possibly coming to join the team. As with any owner, you really want the best players and if we have the opportunity to bring in players like Cristiano or Leo, I have such admiration for them as athletes, if we could bring those players in than great.

"But at the moment, we have a great roster. Young players, a couple of experienced players too, but a lot of young players who are just ready to play.

"One of the things I learnt from [former Man United manager] Alex Ferguson ... he turned around to me and said whoever you bring in, they have to be the right fit for the club. It's not about the biggest name or personality, it's about who fits in best with the players.

"That's what we'll do. But, like I said, as an owner if you want to bring these players in then we have a great opportunity."

11.16 GMT: L'Equipe reports that Marseille are keen on a summer deal with Rennes for €30m-rated M'Baye Niang.

The former AC Milan striker is still only 25 and has 14 goals in 34 games for Rennes this season.

10.47 GMT: Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Inter Milan and Monaco are among the clubs keen to land Napoli forward Dries Mertens, but the Italian club have made progress over a new deal, says Calciomercato.

Mertens, 32, is a free agent in the summer so has his pick of clubs, but the reports claims he could be ready to pen a new two-year extension.

10.15 GMT: COMUNICADO OFICIAL!

Leganes have announced that the Spanish FA (RFEF) has rejected their request to sign a replacement for striker Martin Braithwaite after Barcelona paid his €18m release clause outside the transfer window to replace the injured Ousmane Dembele.

Seems fair ...

10.04 GMT: Bayern Munich want to extend Alphonso Davies' contract, according to Sport1.

Following his extraordinary display at Stamford Bridge in Bayern's 3-0 win against Chelsea in midweek, the club are hoping to sign Davies to a new five-year deal to sync his salary and his new status at the club. Signed to the Bundesliga champions until 2023, the Canada international has impressed at left-back this season and has become a fan favourite at the Allianz Arena.

Having joined Bayern from Vancouver in late 2018 for €10m, Davies had previously been scouted by Manchester United, The Times reports. The Premier League club reportedly identified the player after he debuted in MLS at the age of 15, but Bayern beat them to the youngster's signature.

09.03 GMT: Potentially better news for PSG fans here -- Le Parisien reports that Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly has recently purchased an apartment in the French capital for €4m, ready to live in from early 2021.

Speculation continues that PSG will try to replace captain Thiago Silva with the Senegal international, who was born in France.

Koulibaly, 28, wants a change of scenery, while the Italians will want at least €75m. A Champions League ban could put Manchester City's interest in danger.

08.31 GMT: Here's one to get Paris Saint-Germain fans nervous and Real Madrid fans excited -- Kylian Mbappe has shared a story with The Players' Tribune about a trial he had with Real Madrid when he was young:

"I will never forget the moment that we arrived at the training centre ... We said hello, and then he offered to drive me over to the field for training. He was pointing at the front seat, like, 'Go on, get in.' But I just froze and I asked, 'Should I take off my shoes?' Hahaha! I don't know why I said that. But it was Zizou's car! He thought that was really funny."

08.00 GMT: The race to sign Inter forward Lautaro Martinez will be a "war" between Barcelona and Real Madrid, report Mundo Deportivo.

The 22-year-old will be available this summer for €111m under a release clause in his contract.

Earlier this month sources close to Martinez told ESPN that Madrid have expressed an interest in his signing. Now the Barcelona-based newspaper claim that "Florentino Perez has decided to go all out for the Argentinian centre forward" as a response to Real Madrid's lack of goals this season.

Karim Benzema, who is 32, has scored just two goals in his last 13 appearances in all competitions.

Mundo Deportivo also argue that "Madrid have an advantage" in the race for Martinez as "at an institutional level, things are calmer at the club. There are no internal divisions unlike at Barcelona."

In Barca's favour they have the influence of Lionel Messi, who described his compatriot as "spectacular" in an interview last week.

PAPER TALK (by Liam Wheeler)

Chelsea prepare for summer squad overhaul

In the wake of Chelsea's 3-0 Champions League capitulation at the hands of Bayern Munich, the Blues are preparing a massive squad overhaul this summer, according to the Sun. The report suggests as many as eight first-team players could be moved on come the end of the season.

Ross BarkleyKepa Arrizabalaga and Jorginho are all "in danger" of being sold. Kurt ZoumaWillian and Pedro -- the latter two are out of contract this summer -- are "under the microscope." Meanwhile, Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri "are not rated as good enough."

The report also states that Chelsea would be keen to swap Kepa for Atletico Madrid No. 1 Jan Oblak, and that Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell is highly rated.

The Mirror echoes many of those names, but adds that RB Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano is the club's priority this summer, with the Londoners desperate to improve their defence. The 21-year-old is in demand, however, with Arsenal having been linked with the France youth international for months.

Inter Milan eye swoop for Spurs defender

The Evening Standard reports that Serie A title challengers Inter Milan have made contact with Tottenham about the possibility of signing centre-back Jan Vertonghen, who has fallen out of favour at the North London club.

The versatile defender is out of contract at the end of the season, and Antonio Conte has set his sights on securing the Belgian on a free transfer should he fail to agree terms over a new deal with Spurs.

The Nerazzurri are said to be facing a battle to keep hold of highly rated centre-half Milan Skriniar, linked with Manchester City, and might see Vertonghen as the ideal replacement.

Vertonghen, 32, has been free to speak to overseas clubs since January and could follow ex-Spurs star Christian Eriksen to the San Siro, although Jose Mourinho remains keen to keep hold of the player.

Tap-ins

- Injury-hit forward Ousmane Dembele will be allowed to leave Barcelona this summer, but Liverpool should not pursue the 22-year-old, according to Spanish journalist Guillem Balague. As published in the Express, Balague said of Dembele: "He isn't a player for Liverpool but Barcelona will be open for offers in the summer."

- West Ham and Newcastle have been boosted in their attempts to keep hold of two of their star assets after it was revealed that Manchester United have moved onto fresh transfer targets. United were previously said to be keen on Hammers youngster Declan Rice and Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff, but the Manchester Evening News writes that the club have now turned their attentions elsewhere.

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