🚨 Chelsea LEAVE race for €60m midfield powerhouse, Harry Kane's future as Benzema shocks Madrid, Moises Caicedo latest, Leo Messi decision coming soon, and more
The latest transfer news, featuring Chelsea, PSG, Bayern Munich, Napoli, Real Madrid, and more.
[From left to right: Declan Rice, Leo Messi, and Gabri Veiga]
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Today’s top stories:
Carlo Ancelotti a big fan of Chelsea ace - Blues are open to selling!
AND MORE on Massimiliano Allegri, Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo, and Harry Kane
Arsenal
Bayern Munich are still interested in Declan Rice but nothing is close or done. Arsenal continue to admire the player, Mikel Arteta likes the player. Keep an eye on Arsenal Football Club - they’re considered more than likely to bid after the UEFA Europa Conference League final.
Barcelona
Gabri Veiga has had a big, big season in La Liga and is set to leave this summer. Barcelona are interested and Premier League clubs also like the midfielder who has a release clause of €40m.
Saudi Arabia have Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo but their big dream, and that of Al-Hilal, is Leo Messi. Messi is being really tempted with an offer of more than €400m net per season for two years, plus commercial deals. A really big proposal.
Inter Miami have made their proposal. Barcelona still waiting for a green light from La Liga to make an official bid. The decision is super close; fans won’t have to wait for a very long time for Messi’s final decision on the matter.
📰 Barcelona will learn Leo Messi’s decision on his next destination on June 6 [Sport via CaughtOffside]
Bayern Munich
Thomas Tuchel and Bayern Munich won’t let Declan Rice go without a fight. There’s already been a meeting between the England international’s father, Rice and Tuchel in London in mid-May and Bayern are more than aware of Arsenal’s interest.
Find out more about Bayern’s plan to snap up Declan Rice this summer below! Courtesy of Bundesliga insider Christian Falk:
Chelsea
Chelsea fans may be dreaming of Eden Hazard returning to Chelsea but the club has different ideas for the transfer market.
One idea was Manuel Ugarte. Chelsea were negotiating in Portugal and believed they were very close to a deal. HOWEVER - the Blues have now left the race for the Sporting star’s signature with PSG offering better terms to the player. They still have to finalise a €60m deal. Chelsea were unwilling to pay more than what they judge to be the player’s market rate.
It’s not just bad news for Chelsea supporters, however, with the club sure to move down their wishlist. Arsenal target Moises Caicedo will be one to keep an eye on, with Chelsea having the Ecuadorian on their list alongside Ugarte.
Juventus
Massimiliano Allegri has no intention of parting ways with Juventus ahead of the summer window. Reports suggesting as much are wide of the mark.
🗣️Allegri: “I’m available for the club, they will now prepare the transfer plan for the summer window.”
Liverpool
Liverpool see Manu Kone as the ideal alternative signing to Jude Bellingham who is understood to be on the ‘verge’ of a switch to Real Madrid this summer. The Reds have been in contact with the Frenchman’s management who claim that Liverpool’s intentions are very real.
Napoli
🗣️Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on extending his stay at Napoli: “If Napoli fans can be optimistic? Of course they can be confident. I love Napoli.”
The player is expected to enter negotiations with the Serie A champions over a contract extension in the near future.
Newcastle
📰 Bayern Munich are still hoping to move on Sadio Mane this summer and that Newcastle could be the club to offload the Senegalese international to [Sport1’s Die Bayern Woche show via CaughtOffside]
PSG
Former Tottenham and Chelsea candidate Julian Nagelsmann is one of the names for the job at Paris St-Germain. The club has had internal discussions about the former Bayern Munich head coach. Still no final decision yet.
💬 Football fans - where will Julian Nagelsmann end up? Would you like him as your club’s next head coach? Let us know your thoughts!
PSG are offering better terms to Chelsea target Manuel Ugarte with the club now in talks to finalise a deal. The Ligue 1 outfit want to close the deal at the beginning of the week if possible with Chelsea having left the race.
Real Madrid
Karim Benzema surprised Real Madrid with his decision to leave the club. He made the announcement Sunday morning after 14 years with the club.
A new adventure awaits Benzema who will be heading to Saudi Arabia. A move to Al-Ittihad is imminent after receiving a lucrative offer.
Real Madrid released a statement on the 35-year-old’s announcement: “Benzema has been an example of behaviour and professionalism, and has represented the values of our club. He has earned the right to decide his future.”
The decision surprised Carlo Ancelotti. The head coach had been expecting the Frenchman to stay another season. Ancelotti now wants new attackers this summer.
Talks between Real Madrid and Chelsea for Kai Havertz are expected to happen soon. There have been plenty of rumours about Havertz but it is true Carlo Ancelotti really appreciates him and has been a big fan of the player for a long time. Real Madrid believe the player is exactly the kind of creative force the team is missing. Chelsea would consider selling - he’s not untouchable but they want important money.
💬 Chelsea fans, would you like to see Kai Havertz stay at the club this summer? Let me know in the comments below!
🗣️Carlo Ancelotti on transfer of Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid: “Bellingham? I don’t talk about players who are not Real Madrid’s.”
Harry Kane is a very real target for Real Madrid. Real Madrid and Manchester United both want the player. But - Daniel Levy wants to fight for the player and try to convince Kane to stay in London. Tottenham are informed of Madrid’s interest. Carlo Ancelotti really rates Kane and, with Benzema going to Saudi, it’s a story to keep an eye on.
Roma
🗣️Paulo Dybala on his future at Roma: “I’m under contract here at Roma for two more years.”
The player has two different release clauses:
Italian clubs have to pay €20m if they want him
BUT clubs from outside of Italy only have to pay €12m
💬Football fans - would Paulo Dybala be the PERFECT signing for your club? Let us know if you’d like to see him make the move!
Tottenham
Talks have been scheduled with Ange Postecoglou. It’s only a matter of time before Tottenham finalise an agreement. There are some final details to sort out and then it is done.
Harry Kane is a very real target for Real Madrid. Real Madrid and Manchester United both want the player. But - Daniel Levy wants to fight for the player and try to convince Kane to stay in London. Tottenham are informed of Madrid’s interest. Carlo Ancelotti really rates Kane and, with Benzema going to Saudi, it’s a story to keep an eye on.
Christian Falk’s CaughtOffside Column: Harry Kane is said to have finally ruled out FC Bayern as a transfer destination. He was Salihamidzic's dream player. Tuchel would have liked to bring him to Chelsea. At Bayern, however, he had concerns over Kane’s age and any potential problems that may arise when transitioning to the Bundesliga. Especially given that Bayern experienced this already with Sadio Mané.
Find out all the latest stories about the Bundesliga and more in Christian Falk’s EXCLUSIVE column with CaughtOffside:
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced his retirement from football at the age of 41 in the direct wake of AC Milan’s 3-1 win over Hellas Verona, the final game of the season. It draws to an end too the striker’s four-year stay in Milan; one that helped ensure the return of the league title to the red and black half of the city.
827 club matches
496 goals
204 assists
For all the very latest transfer news, read caughtoffside.com.
Yes I’d love to see him moved on!! He’s done one important thing for us but it stopped there!! Bye Kai
Joan Laporta is a very shrewd operator. Can talk all day about how Barça tried to re-sign Messi, just as they tried everything in 2021. Smoke and mirrors.