Exclusive: Arsenal eye further midfield signings, Real Madrid star’s contract talks & more – Fabrizio Romano

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Aberdeen

English clubs are monitoring Aberdeen striker Duk. The talented 23-year-old has 13 goals and 6 assists this season in Scotland after Darren Mowbray signed him. Duk joined Aberdeen from Benfica on 50% deal for free, now attracting interest from English clubs for the summer.

AC Milan

Fair to remind how much AC Milan paid for their defenders after two clean sheets in both legs against Tottenham:

Mike Maignan: €15m

Pierre Kalulu: free agent

Malick Thiaw: €6m

Fikayo Tomori: €29m

Four players for a total of just €50m.

I’m aware there have been stories linking Gianluca Scamacca with AC Milan but I wouldn’t read too much into them for now. Of course he’s linked with return to Italy as he’s Italian and Serie A clubs know him very well. I’m sure Milan will sign a new striker next summer, but there’s nothing advanced or concrete for Scamacca yet as he has to pick new agents after leaving his former agent; this is crucial step, also West Ham have not spoken to any club about Scamacca.

Arsenal

Arsenal are very happy with Jorginho, on the pitch but also in the dressing room he had great impact and they’re very happy with him. I still believe that Arsenal want a new midfielder in the summer to help Mikel Arteta if they find the right opportunity, but Jorginho is a permanent signing and they’re convinced it was an excellent deal.

Will Arsenal make use of the Ligue 1 loan market again this summer? Click here for exclusive insight from Jonathan Johnson.

Barcelona

Brazilian star Vitor Roque: “I definitely feel prepared to play in Europe. I work for it, I’m focused on getting there as prepared as possible.”

Barcelona are pushing on both player and club deal with Athletico Paranaense to advance in the negotiations.

Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich look unstoppable in the Champions League this season. After an impressive win to knock out PSG, their record so far is 8 games, 8 wins, 7 clean sheets, and 21 goals scored.

FC Bayern consider it just a matter of time for Lucas Hernandez to sign a new contract, as the agreement is imminent and his extension was already decided after his injury.

Bayern are also working on the proposal for Jamal Musiala’s new long term deal, one of the future priorities.

Thomas Muller: “Against Messi, things always go well at all levels in terms of results. At club level, Cristiano Ronaldo was our problem when he was at Real Madrid. I have the greatest respect for Messi’s World Cup performance.”

Benfica

Goncalo Ramos has €120m release clause included into his contract, it won’t be easy at all to negotiate with Benfica. At the moment there’s still nothing advanced, just many clubs sending their scouts to follow him; PSG wanted Goncalo last summer but he was untouchable for Benfica.

Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund are in advanced, verbal talks to sign Daichi Kamada on a free transfer, nothing signed yet. English clubs know very well the conditions of the deal, but BVB remain favourites to sign Kamada; nothing has changed, at this stage.

Borussia Dortmund director Sebastian Kehl on Jude Bellingham: “We will do all we can to keep Bellingham at BVB for one more season.”

But it’s not easy at all as Manchester City, Real Madrid and Liverpool keep pushing to sign him.

Brentford

David Raya is expected to leave Brentford in the summer. He’s waiting for a big move after turning down two contract offers in the last few months. Clubs are tracking Raya, exploring the conditions of possible summer deal.

Brighton

Many clubs are tracking Brighton wonderkid Evan Ferguson. Scouts are always keeping an eye on him… but there’s Brighton! It’s always easy to mention top clubs for Brighton players but they know how to negotiate in the best way, and it’s not easy to sign players from them. They hope to keep Ferguson at least for one more year.

Evan Ferguson in action for Brighton

Chelsea

Kai Havertz on Graham Potter: “In the media I can’t believe how many people talk about him… we have 100’s of coaches in England who think they know better than him. We know in the changing room he’s a big personality, big manager, he helps us all a lot.”

How did Chelsea convince Benoit Badiashile to choose them over two Premier League rivals? Click here to find out more.

Club Brugge

Official: Scott Parker has been sacked as manager of Club Brugge following their Champions League exit. Parker has been fired twice in one year, in two different countries.

Juventus

Adrien Rabiot will be leaving Juventus this summer, and Ligue 1 expert Jonathan Johnson has provided some exclusive insight into his next move.

Liverpool

Liverpool have been linked with Jeremy Doku several times in the past, but what’s the latest on his future?

Manchester United

Erik ten Hag: “I’m happy to have Bruno Fernandes as captain. Definitely [still captain], I think he’s playing a brilliant season, he’s played an important role in the position that we are. He’s giving energy to the team, running with intensity, in the right way.”

Marcus Rashford: “I love playing with Bruno, as you can imagine. I’m 100% behind him. Bruno helped other players become better leaders. Ten Hag? Having a new manager was exciting for me and I’ve not looked back since then.”

Manchester United are ready to sell Harry Maguire and other first-team players to make room for new signings this summer (ESPN)

Palmeiras

Palmeiras have rejected Brazil U17 call for talent Luis Guilherme to play the Sudamericano at the end of March as they promoted him to the first team. European clubs are already tracking him as he’s considered one to watch for the future.

Porto

I now understand Jorge Meireles has signed a new long term deal with FC Porto, the deal has been agreed and completed. Many top clubs were monitoring him as he could have been a free agent next June.

PSG

Kylian Mbappe on UCL exit affecting his future: “No, no, I’m calm — the only thing that matters to me this season is to win now Ligue 1 and then we’ll see. At the moment, I’m only talking about this season. Nothing else matters to me. We are disappointed.”

Christophe Galtier: “My future? It’s really too early to talk about it. It depends on the management and my president. There’s a disappointment. The club had a lot of hopes for this competition. I stay focused on the end of the season.”

Gianluigi Donnarumma: “We are disappointed, we are angry — it’s very disappointing to go out of the Champions League. I’ve no regrets or doubts on my choice to join Paris Saint-Germain. Never had doubts. Happy for Milan? Yes, but I’m so proud to be at PSG.”

Goncalo Ramos has €120m release clause included into his contract, it won’t be easy at all to negotiate with Benfica. At the moment there’s still nothing advanced, just many clubs sending their scouts to follow him; PSG wanted Goncalo last summer but he was untouchable for Benfica.

Goncalo Ramos celebrates a goal for Benfica

PSV

Full agreement between PSV Eindhoven and Galatasaray for Patrick van Aanholt to stay at PSV on loan until June 2024. Van Aanholt has also agreed terms, it’s done.

Real Madrid

Talks continue between Real Madrid and Marco Asensio. There’s no final decision yet, despite some speculation to the contrary. His agent already spoke with English clubs last summer, but it’s Asensio who has to decide: new deal or leave on a free.

Tottenham

Antonio Conte: “I’m under contract at Tottenham, then we will decide at the end of the season with the club. My contract expires in June, we will see— they might sack me even before the end of the season, who knows, maybe they are disappointed. It’s not today the day to speak and discuss about my future. I have a contract until the end of the season and Tottenham know very well my thoughts… at the end of the season we will speak.”

Richarlison: “I’m honest, this season has been shit. I want to play. I didn’t understand [Conte’s choices]. I was in positive moment… and Conte put me on the bench again. Yesterday he tested me in the starting XI and then… bench, again.”

West Ham

I’m aware there have been stories linking Gianluca Scamacca with AC Milan but I wouldn’t read too much into them for now. Of course he’s linked with return to Italy as he’s Italian and Serie A clubs know him very well. I’m sure Milan will sign a new striker next summer, but there’s nothing advanced or concrete for Scamacca yet as he has to pick new agents after leaving his former agent; this is crucial step, also West Ham have not spoken to any club about Scamacca.