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Saliba alternative: Real Madrid 'interested in signing' £33m-rated centre-back
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F07%2Fkonstantinos-koulierakis.jpg "Wolfsberg defender Konstantinos Koulierakis on February 8, 2025")
Real Madrid are reportedly interested in signing Wolfsburg centre-back Konstantinos Koulierakis, with Los Blancos said to have been impressed by the Greek's performances during the 2024-25 campaign.
Koulierakis, 21, made the move to Wolfsburg from PAOK last summer, and he has represented his German club on 21 occasions during the 2024-25 campaign, providing two assists in the process.
According to Fichajes, Real Madrid are huge admirers of the Greece international, with Los Blancos currently weighing up whether to make a move for him during this summer's transfer window.
The report claims that his form in Germany 'has not gone unnoticed', and he is viewed as a much cheaper alternative to Arsenal's William Saliba, as the Frenchman could cost in excess of £80m.
Will Lewandowski, Martinez, De Jong stay at Barcelona this summer?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F39%2Frobert-lewandowski.jpg "Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring on September 25, 2024")
Barcelona sporting director Deco has said that the club want to keep hold of both Robert Lewandowski and Inigo Martinez for next season.
Lewandowski has been in outstanding form for the Catalan giants this season, scoring 31 goals in 33 appearances in all competitions, but there has been speculation surrounding his long-term future at the club.
The Poland international has a contract at Camp Nou until June 2026, but he will be 37 at the start of next season, and Barcelona are believed to be considering signing a big-money centre-forward this summer.
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak and Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres are both believed to be on their radar, but Deco has said that the Catalan giants are planning for at least one more campaign with Lewandowski.
Germany international snubs Bayern to join Barcelona this summer?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F37%2Fkai-havertz.jpg "Germany's Kai Havertz celebrates with Jonathan Tah and Jamal Musiala on September 7, 2024")
Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah has reportedly agreed to join Barcelona this summer after he turned down the opportunity to join Bayern Munich.
The Germany international has racked up 386 competitive appearances since he joined Leverkusen from Hamburg in the summer of 2015.
Tah was a regular fixture in the Leverkusen side during their memorable 2023-24 campaign, featuring in 48 matches in all competitions as Xabi Alonso's side went on to complete a league and cup double as well as reaching the Europa League final.
The 29-year-old has continued to enjoy regular game time in the current campaign despite the fact that he is set to leave the club at the end of the club.
Locking down their future: Barca announce new contract for wonderkid
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F07%2Fpau-cubarsi-lamine-yamal.jpg "Barcelona's Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal on September 25, 2024")
Barcelona have announced that Pau Cubarsi has signed a new contract at Camp Nou until June 2029.
Cubarsi broke into the Barcelona first team last season, ending the campaign with 24 appearances in all competitions, and he has again been a key player this term, making 36 outings for Hansi Flick's side.
Barcelona have been working to sign the 18-year-old to a fresh contract in recent months, and the club have now officially announced it, with Cubarsi's deal now due to run until the end of the 2028-29 campaign.
"FC Barcelona and player Pau Cubarsi have reached an agreement to extend his contract, which will link him to the club until June 30, 2029," read a statement from the Catalan giants.
Barca yet to make firm decision on future of 24-year-old who is out of contract next year
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F42%2Fdeco.jpg "Barcelona sporting director Deco on May 19, 2024")
Barcelona sporting director Deco has refused to offer any guarantees when it comes to the future of Eric Garcia.
The 24-year-old was heavily linked with a move away from Barcelona during the January transfer window, with Girona and Como both believed to be interested in signing the Spaniard in a cut-price deal.
Barcelona had allegedly been willing to accept a fee in the region of €7m (£5.8m) plus add-ons, but according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Catalan outfit's head coach Hansi Flick blocked the move.
Flick allegedly insisted that the club kept hold of Garcia, who has featured on 22 occasions for Barcelona this term, scoring three goals and registering one assist in the process.
"Not a priority" - Barcelona chief makes Rashford admission
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F05%2Fmarcus-rashford.jpg "Marcus Rashford in Manchester United training on January 22, 2025")
Barcelona sporting director Deco has admitted the Catalan giants were interested in signing Marcus Rashford from Manchester United in the winter transfer window.
Rashford completed a move to Aston Villa at the start of the month, joining on a loan deal with an option to buy at the end of the season.
While he opted to stay in the Premier League, the 27-year-old was linked with a number of European clubs before he signed for Unai Emery's side.
AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus were among those said to be interested, while Como president Mirwan Suwarso recently admitted that they made an effort to sign the forward.
Former club 'registers interest' in signing Wolves defender in summer
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F48%2Fnelson-semedo.jpg "Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Nelson Semedo in October 2024.")
Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly bracing themselves for a fight to retain the services of Nelson Semedo.
Since arriving from Barcelona in a deal that was said to be in the region of £36.5m, the right-back has arguably provided valuable for money.
As well as contributing three goals and nine assists, Semedo has made 167 appearances since his move in 2020.
Such has been the 31-year-old's impact that he was selected to replace Mario Lemina as captain earlier this season and has since remained in the role under Vitor Pereira.
Hojlund 2.0? Man United, Arsenal 'make contact' over move for Serie A top scorer
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F07%2Fmateo-retegui.jpg "Atalanta BC's Mateo Retegui celebrates on February 8, 2025")
Manchester United and Arsenal have reportedly expressed their interest in signing Atalanta BC striker Mateo Retegui.
The 25-year-old joined La Dea from Genoa last summer for around €28m, signing a contract until June 2028, and he has since enjoyed a magnificent season in front of goal.
Retegui is leading the race for the Serie A Golden Boot having scored 20 goals in 22 appearances, including four goals netted in Atalanta's 5-0 thrashing of Hellas Verona last weekend.
The Argentine-born Italy international is one of only 10 players in Europe who has scored at least 20 league goals so far this season, just one goal behind Bayern Munich's Harry Kane (21) and two behind both Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (both 22).
Barcelona chief Deco fires Yamal transfer warning to rival clubs
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F43%2Flamine-yamal.jpg "Barcelona's Lamine Yamal reacts on October 26, 2024")
Barcelona sporting director Deco has issued a hands-off warning to rival clubs over a future move for "special" player Lamine Yamal.
The winger became Barca's youngest-ever player when he made his senior debut at the age of just 15 in 2023, and he has since established himself as an important first-team member for the Catalan giants.
Now 17, Yamal has already amassed 82 appearances for Barcelona across all competitions, scoring 18 goals and registering 21 assists, with 11 goals and 14 assists recorded in 31 matches so far this season.
The 2024 Golden Boy winner helped Barca win the 2022-23 La Liga title, before starring for Spain - for whom he has already earned 17 international caps - during their triumphant Euro 2024 campaign.
Vinicius Junior offered 'unprecedented and irresistible' £830m Saudi contract
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F07%2Fvinicius-junior.jpg "Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior on February 11, 2025")
The Saudi Pro League have reportedly stepped up their 'very serious' pursuit of Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior ahead of the summer transfer window.
Vinicius has developed into one of the best players in world football since joining Los Blancos in 2018, and at the age of 24 has already won 14 trophies with the club, including three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues.
The Brazil international has recorded 101 goals and 85 assists in 295 appearances for Real Madrid across all competitions, including 16 goals and 12 assists in 30 matches so far this season.
Vinicius is under contract at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2027 and has recently insisted that he wants to stay with the Spanish giants for "much longer".
Saliba's successor? Arsenal 'enter nine-club race' for £55m teenager
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F52%2Fdean-huijsen.jpg "Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen with Milos Kerkez on December 5, 2024")
Arsenal have joined Premier League rivals Liverpool and Chelsea in the race to sign in-demand Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen, according to a report.
The Cherries have been going from strength to strength under the wing of Andoni Iraola and currently occupy seventh place in the Premier League table as they push for a landmark European qualification.
The fledgling Huijsen has been a standout performer in Bournemouth's marvellous 2024-25 campaign, registering two goals in 18 Premier League appearances and helping the Cherries keep five clean sheets.
The 19-year-old had to be patient for his breakthrough after his summer arrival from Juventus - who pocketed £12.7m through his sale - but an injury to Marcos Senesi opened the first-team door for him.
Desperate Dortmund? Chelsea set for triple boost as 'sales plan' revealed
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F03%2Fjamie-gittens.jpg "Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens on January 17, 2025")
Chelsea have reportedly received a boost in their efforts to sign Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens, whom the German giants have reduced their asking price for.
The Blues are said to have entered discussions with the 2023-24 Champions League runners-up over a summer swoop for the 20-year-old, who has risen to prominence this season thanks to a breakout campaign in the Bundesliga and Champions League.
Gittens has 13 goals and five assists under his belt from 32 appearances in all competitions during the 2024-25 campaign, netting seven times in the Bundesliga and four times in the Champions League.
One of the Englishman's European goals came in their dramatic 5-2 UCL league phase loss to holders Real Madrid in October, but his 11 Bundesliga goal contributions have not proven totally fruitful.
Hamstrings optional? Arsenal 'start contract talks' with injured attacker
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F07%2Fgabkai.jpg "Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz pictured on February 21, 2024")
Arsenal have reportedly entered talks with Gabriel Martinelli's camp over a new contract and are confident of reaching an agreement with the Brazilian's representatives.
Martinelli - one of the Gunners' longest-serving senior players having joined from Ituano in 2019 - last signed an extension in early 2023, and his current terms run until 2027 with the option of a further 12 months.
The 23-year-old is currently sidelined with a hamstring problem, which is expected to keep him out for around a month, but he has been a critical performer for Mikel Arteta when fully fit this season.
Martinelli has had a direct hand in 11 goals in 35 appearances across all tournaments in the 2024-25 campaign - seven of his own and four assists - including six goals and three helpers from 22 Premier League outings.
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