Former Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has decided against taking the Leicester City job, despite being close to reaching a final agreement. AC Milan have identified England Under-21 striker Folarin Balogun, currently on loan at Reims from Arsenal, as a potential summer target, although they expect the Gunners to demand more than €30 million (£26.5 million) for the 21-year-old.
Tottenham Hotspur have registered an interest in signing Morocco winger Hakim Ziyech, 30, from Chelsea this summer. Manchester United are keeping tabs on Celta Vigo’s Spanish midfielder Gabri Veiga, 20, ahead of a potential summer move. The Red Devils have also added Brighton’s Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo, 21, and Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, 24, to their transfer shortlist.
Former France striker Karim Benzema, 35, has turned down an offer from Saudi Arabia and wants to stay at Real Madrid for at least one more season. Chelsea and Liverpool are set to battle it out for Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella, with the Italian giants prepared to sell the Italy midfielder, 26, for £44 million. Manchester United have had positive talks with Monaco over the potential signing of France defender Axel Disasi, 25.
If Bayern Munich beat Manchester United to the signing of Bayer Leverkusen’s Dutch defender Jeremie Frimpong, 22, this summer, the Red Devils could turn their attention towards signing Bayern Munich’s France defender Benjamin Pavard, 27. Spain goalkeeper David Raya will not sign a new deal at Brentford and the club are set to ask for a fee of €40 million (£35.4 million) to sell the 27-year-old this summer.
Bologna and Leicester City are both vying for Birmingham City’s 18-year-old Wales midfielder Jordan James. France midfielder Adrien Rabiot, 28, is still waiting to discuss whether to sign a new contract with Juventus as his current deal is set to expire this summer. Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus, whose current contract expires this summer, is set to sign a new deal for next season despite having to take a pay cut.
Coach Xavi Hernandez will “insist” that Sergio Busquets stays with Barcelona for at least one more season before the former Spain midfielder, 34, leaves to join an MLS club. Real Madrid attempted to sign Chelsea’s interim boss Frank Lampard twice when he was a key player for the Blues – in 2005 and 2010.