🚨 UEL round-up, Tel in demand, Morata to Gala, Pedri's new deal, Dorgu delayed, Saudi laud Salah and much more

Plus all of the other stories making the news in the world of football...

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Today’s top stories:

• Today’s live transfer news - follow here!

• Arsenal’s new striker priority after Watkins failure

• Slot hints there will be big changes at Liverpool this summer

• Plus more from Chelsea, Napoli, Tottenham Hotspur and more

AC Milan

• Santiago Giménez’s agent Rafaela Pimenta has made new contact with Feyenoord to present a formal proposal from AC Milan.

• How much Milan will earn from selling Morata to Galatasaray.

Arsenal

• Arsenal have already identified their striker priority after failed Ollie Watkins attempt.

AS Monaco

• AS Monaco are closing in on a deal to sign Jordan Henderson from Ajax. Permanent move almost agreed on a contract until June 2026.

Aston Villa

• Aston Villa are determined to reject any new approach from Arsenal for Ollie Watkins. Unai Emery wants Ollie to stay and Villa didn’t like the amount of first bid (£60m) or the timing of the leaks ahead of their UCL game.

• One more club has called today for Mathys Tel: Aston Villa have also asked for deal conditions. Jhon Durán leaves to join Al Nassr and Villa are in the market for a new striker.

• Aston Villa are in talks with PSG for Marco Asensio, one of the main names on their list. Villa also made contact with Chelsea for João Félix earlier this week, another option for them depending on the formula. Asensio would be keen on a Villa move.

• Aston Villa are currently not in talks for Fikayo Tomori.

• Ben Jacobs shares an interesting update on Arsenal’s pursuit of Ollie Watkins.

Atalanta

• Atalanta are closing in on the Daniel Maldini deal with Monza as final details are being sorted.

Barcelona

• Pedri’s new contract at Barça valid until June 2030 has been signed.

• Next one to sign a new deal at Barcelona after Pedri will be Gavi. Deco’s work continues then with Inigo Martinez also expected to extend… and then, Lamine Yamal.

• Unai Hernández leaves Barcelona to join Al Ittihad. €4.5m transfer fee plus a sell-on clause.

• Barcelona request stadium extension amidst Camp Nou delay fears.

Bayer Leverkusen

• Bayer director Simon Rolfes confirms the Victor Boniface move to Al Nassr deal is off. “There have been talks, but we are happy that he will be training with us today. I assume that he will stay. He feels comfortable here, his attitude towards the club is unchanged.”

• Mario Hermoso has signed in as a new Bayer Leverkusen player on loan from AS Roma.

Bayern Munich

• The race for Mathys Tel is starting to heat up with Premier League clubs pushing. Tottenham are open to a permanent transfer — as their director was in attendance in Munich on Wednesday night. Chelsea are still there and Man United called asking about a loan deal.

• Tottenham are prepared to the pay €60m fee for Mathys Tel, but the player and his agent are taking their time to make a decision as several clubs are keen.

• Bayern director Max Eberl: “Yes, Mathys Tel wants to go. Loan or permanent? We will assess all the options. I've rarely had so many clubs call me about a player before.”

Chelsea

• Chelsea are advancing on several exits. Santos are closing in on Deivid Washington, QPR are on track to sign Harvey Vale and Watford will sign Caleb Wiley on loan.

• There’s still no green light to get the Cesare Casadei deal signed with Lazio as talks continue. Chelsea have been approached by many clubs from Torino to Porto, but the saga will be decided soon.

• Have Clearlake and Todd Boehly bitten off more than they can chew at Chelsea?

Como

• Como are in talks for a new right-back with João Mário from Porto and Kiliann Sildillia from Freiburg as the main candidates. Negotiations ongoing for both players.

Europa League

• Twente vs Besiktas (1-0)

• Real Sociedad vs PAOK (2-0)

• FCSB vs Man United (0-2): A good performance was needed from Rúben Amorim’s men, and that’s exactly what was delivered. Although the Red Devils didn’t open the scoring until the 60th minute through Diogo Dalot, the result was never really in doubt, such was United’s dominance. Kobbie Mainoo’s excellent second on 68 made the game safe and sent United straight into the Round of 16 [pictures from TNT Sports]:

• Nice vs Bodø/Glimt (1-1)

• Olympiacos vs Qarabag (3-0)

• Dynamo Kyiv vs RFS (1-0)

• Tottenham vs Elfsborg (3-0): What an entrance from Tottenham youngster, Dane Scarlett! Spurs had been well on top in the game without having converted that dominance into goals. Scarlett was subbed on in the 66th minute, and just four minutes later, he bagged the opener in this one. With six left to play, Oyindamola Ajayi made the game safe for the hosts, and Mikey Moore added the gloss with a third in the 94th minute [pictures from TNT Sports]:

• Midtylland vs Fenerbahçe (2-2)

• Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs Porto (0-1)

• Slavia Prague vs Malmö (2-2)

• Roma vs Eintracht Frankfurt (2-0)

• Ajax vs Galatasaray (2-1): The visitors had much the better of this game but when it mattered, they weren’t able to put the ball in the back of the net. Ajax soaked up the pressure and hit Gala on the break twice through Bertrand Traorê (23) and Kian Fitz-Jim (58). Victor Osimhen’s 94th-minute riposte was no more than a consolation for Gala [pictures from Ziggo Sports]:

• Lyon vs Ludogorets (1-1)

• Athletic Club vs Viktoria Plzeň (3-1)

• Anderlecht vs Hoffenheim (3-4)

• Braga vs Lazio (1-0)

• Rangers vs Union Saint-Gilloise (2-1)

• Ferencváros vs AZ Alkmaar (4-3)

Everton

• Everton have confirmed Orel Mangala has suffered an ACL injury and Dominic Calvert-Lewin has sustained a hamstring injury.

Fenerbahçe

• Milan Škriniar’s loan move to Fenerbahçe is now signed and sealed.

Fiorentina

• Atalanta will terminate Nicoló Zaniolo’s loan deal as Fiorentina will now sign him from Galatasaray. Negotiations underway with all parties involved and final details between Gala and Fiorentina are being sorted.

Freiburg

• Jan-Niklas Beste joins SC Freiburg from Benfica. Deal sealed for €8m fixed, plus €1.5m in add-ons and 10% plus-value on a future sale.

Galatasaray

• Hakim Ziyech leaves Galatasaray and joins Al Duhail in Qatar.

• Galatasaray are in advanced talks to sign Álvaro Morata from AC Milan. Talks underway to get the deal done soon, all parties ready to get it sealed in the next hours. Morata already said yes to Galatasaray as AC Milan planned to sell him.

Girona

• Girona are ahead in the race to sign Arthur Melo after a formal proposal from Santos. The Spanish club now trying to agree a deal for the midfielder, offering higher salary coverage to Juventus.

Juventus

• Juventus have sent a formal bid of €1.5m to Dinamo Zagreb for 17-year-old centre-back Leon Jakirović. The Croatian talent made his Champions League debut on Wednesday and Juve are among several European top clubs trying to sign him.

• Juventus face defensive crisis for Inter and Champions League play-off.

• Arthur Melo has opened the doors to a Santos loan, negotiations underway. Santos are optimistic while they discuss the salary share with Juventus.

• Juventus are close to getting a deal done for Kevin Danso as a new centre-back from Lens. Final details to be sorted, but it will be a loan move for a €4m package with add-ons included (€2.5m initial fee). Wolves and Rennes have been trying for days but Juve now ahead and confident.

Lazio

• Lazio are working to get a deal for Cesare Casadei done with Chelsea. Their final proposal will be in excess of €13m with a sell-on clause included.

• Baroni confirms Guendouzi absence.

Liverpool

• Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al- Faisal tells Piers Morgan Uncensored: “It’d be a privilege to see Mo Salah here (Saudi Arabia). He's the most high profile Muslim player in the world and one of the best 2/3 players in the world. He hasn't signed a new contract yet so it’s up to the clubs now.”

• Arne Slot spoke to BBC Sport about Liverpool’s transfer plans: “In the background, we are working on strengthening the squad for the summer. That would mean that for the upcoming years, we will be able to challenge for every trophy we are playing for.”

• Federico Chiesa: “I want to play for Liverpool. I want to be here, I want to do my best for this club. I'm enjoying being at the club, Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in the world… and the fanbase is amazing. Playing at Anfield gives me shivers.”

• Stefan Bajcetic leaves RB Salzburg as his loan has been broken. He joins Las Palmas on a new loan deal from Liverpool with immediate effect. There’s no buy option clause, and he will return to Liverpool in June.

• Liverpool transfer target reveals he “was invited” to Anfield by Reds star.

Manchester United

• Patrick Dorgu’s medical at Manchester United is to be re-scheduled and will now take place on Saturday. No issues or problems as the deal has been agreed but just due to documents/contracts being finalised.

• Rúben Amorim to TNT Sports ahead of Man United’s Europa League game: “I’m just happy to have Ale Garnacho here. He is improving a lot, he’s a young talented guy. I want to work with these talented guys.”

• Rúben Amorim after the game: “I put Kobbie Mainoo in the No.10 position because we need time to understand the players.He was struggling a lot defending as a midfielder, but as a No. 10 he was so free playing the ball near the box.”

• European giants will make last-ditch attempt to sign 206 G/A Man United ace.

Monza

• Monza have agreed a loan deal to sign 16-year-old Francesco Camarda from AC Milan.

Napoli

• Napoli have approached Anderlecht for Belgian winger Francis Amuzu, negotiations started. Discussions ongoing over the transfer fee for the 25 year old winger.

• What Morata’s move to Galatasaray means for Milan, Osimhen and Gimenez.

RB Leipzig

• Xavi Simons becomes an RB Leipzig player on a permanent transfer from PSG. €81m package add-ons included, sell-on clause and contract until June 2027.

Santos

• Neymar & Santos:

Saudi Pro League

• Steven Gerrard has left Al Ettifaq with immediate effect, mutual agreement has been reached.

• Al Nassr have prepared Jhon Durán’s travel to Saudi Arabia on Friday after medical tests completed on Thursday. Al Nassr and Aston Villa checked and completed all docs for a €77m deal plus add-ons on Wednesday.

• Matteo Dams leaves PSV Eindhoven and joins Al Ahli for €9m plus €1m in add-ons. All documents are now signed.

• Al Riyadh FC are closing in on a deal to sign Sekou Lega from Lyon. It will be a free loan transfer with an option to buy, and Lyon would also have a 25% sell-on clause included in the deal.

• The negotiations for Alex Baena to Al Ahli are now over. Despite the Saudi club planning to trigger his release clause, Baena’s staying at Villarreal.

• Jason Denayer is set to be available as a free agent as his contract at Saudi side Al Fateh will be terminated.

• Al Ahli are pushing to make the Galeno deal happen with formal steps to follow after contacts with FC Porto. All parties are treading carefully after a deal collapsed in September last year.

Sturm Graz

• Sturm Graz have agreed a deal to sign Emran Soglo from Marseille. The England youth international joins on a contract to June 2028.

Sunderland

• Sunderland are working to bring in a new player but it won’t be Chuba Akpom from Ajax despite links.

Tottenham Hotspur

• Ange Postecoglou: “Mathys Tel deal? I can't tell you anything about it. I've been focusing on getting the team prepared. Other people are working in the background.”

• Tottenham have presented their project to Mathys Tel and his agent with game time as a key factor. Spurs also had a direct meeting with Bayern to guarantee a €60m fee in case Tel decides to accept.

• Tottenham will soon complete a deal for their academy as they have agreed to sign 18-year-old Daniel Batty from Manchester City. The transfer fee is £500k as well as future add-ons and a sell-on percentage.