/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F21%2F37%2Fwelcome-to-sports-mole-transparent-click-area.png "Welcome to Sports Mole")
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Potential summer swoop? Fulham 'among admirers' of Celtic star
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F09%2Falistair-johnston.jpg "Celtic's Alistair Johnston on February 8, 2025")
Fulham are reportedly among the clubs interested in signing Celtic full-back Alistair Johnston.
The Cottagers are currently in a battle to secure European qualification, with Marco Silva's side sitting in ninth position in the Premier League table.
Fulham's European chances may depend on how many qualification spots become available between now and the end of the season, although the race is set to go right to the wire with six points separating third and 10th position.
Making summer additions will be imperative if Fulham reach one of the three UEFA competitions, but even if they miss out on European football, they will still be keen to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Barcelona set for £24.5m boost to their coffers as 'deal in place' to sell teenager
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F30%2Fvitor-roque.jpg "Barcelona's Vitor Roque in action on May 19, 2024")
Barcelona have reportedly agreed a deal with Palmeiras to sell striker Vitor Roque to the Brazilian club.
The 19-year-old only arrived at the Spanish club just over 12 months ago, signing from Athletico Paranaense for a fee believed to be in the region of €30m (£24.75m).
Playing second fiddle to Robert Lewandowski proved tough, though, and Roque has struggled for regular game time while on loan at Real Betis this season too.
Roque has only scored once in 2025, and that was a late penalty against his parent club in a 5-1 loss in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey.
Messi's proposed Barcelona return 'impossible' due to one key reason
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F07%2Flionel-messi.jpeg "Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi pictured on January 29, 2025")
Lionel Messi's proposed return to Barcelona is reportedly impossible due to club president Joan Laporta.
Messi left Barcelona in the summer of 2021 after scoring 672 goals in 778 appearances for the Blaugrana, helping the club win multiple honours, including 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies.
The Argentine was desperate to extend his successful stay with the Catalan giants, but the club were unable to finalise his contract even though Messi had agreed to reduce his salary.
They were unable to give Messi a new deal and remain under La Liga's salary limit, meaning that he had to depart when his contract expired in 2021.
Chelsea, Arsenal 'set to battle' for 19-goal forward who stunned Man United
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F43%2Fsamuel-omorodion.jpg "Samuel Omorodion of Porto celebrates scoring against Manchester United in the Europa League, on October 3, 2024")
Chelsea and Arsenal are reportedly both interested in signing Porto forward Samu Aghehowa during this summer's transfer window.
The 20-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea from Atletico Madrid last summer, but he ultimately made the switch to Porto, and an excellent campaign to date has seen him score 19 goals and register three assists in 31 appearances.
The Spain international has 13 goals and three assists in 19 league outings this term, while he has managed six goals in nine Europa League appearances, including two against Manchester United earlier in the competition.
According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea are preparing to reignite their interest this summer, but Arsenal are also firmly in the picture, with the Gunners needing to bring in a new striker at the end of the campaign.
Manchester bound? Amorim 'in competition' with Pep for £82.5m-rated attacker
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F48%2Fruben-amorim_1.jpg "Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim on November 28, 2024")
Manchester United and Manchester City could reportedly go head-to-head for the signature of AC Milan attacker Rafael Leao during this summer's transfer window.
The 25-year-old has scored nine times and registered seven assists in 36 appearances for Milan this season, while he has 67 goals and 52 assists in 246 outings for the Italian giants in total.
Leao has a contract at San Siro until June 2028, having penned an extension in June 2023, but there remains speculation surrounding his future, with Milan believed to be willing to cash-in during the upcoming market.
According to Fichajes, both Man United and Man City are keen on the Portugal international, with the Manchester duo potentially battling for his signature ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Ratcliffe prepared to make transfer exception as Man United 'target' world-class forward
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F09%2Fsir-jim-ratcliffe.jpg "Sir Jim Ratcliffe on March 19, 2024")
Manchester United are reportedly preparing a sensational move for Bayern Munich centre-forward Harry Kane, with the England captain potentially returning to the Premier League in the near future.
The Red Devils attempted to sign Kane from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023, but he instead made the move to Bayern, and the 31-year-old has managed 73 goals and 22 assists in 77 matches for the German giants.
Kane has been in strong form this season, scoring 29 goals and registering 10 assists in 32 appearances, and he has a contract at Allianz Arena until June 2027, but there has recently been speculation surrounding his future.
Reports in Germany have claimed that there will be a £54m release clause in Kane's contract in January 2026, potentially opening the door for him to return to the Premier League for the latter stages of his career.
Arsenal ready to 'make contact' with left-back this week
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F09%2Fmaxim-de-cuyper.jpg "Club Brugge's Maxim De Cuyper on February 18, 2025")
Arsenal are reportedly prepared to make contact with the representatives of Club Brugge left-back Maxim De Cuyper.
The Gunners currently have a number of left-back options in their squad, although a couple of those players could depart in the summer transfer window.
Kieran Tierney will return to Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic when his contract expires in the summer, while Oleksandr Zinchenko may also depart after struggling for regular game time this season.
That would still leave Mikel Arteta with Myles Lewis-Skelly, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu as candidates to play on the left side of defence, although there may be some doubt about whether Arsenal can rely on the latter due to his ongoing injury issues.
Liverpool 'eyeing' Real Madrid attacker as Salah replacement
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F09%2Fbrahim-diaz.jpg "Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz with Kylian Mbappe on January 19, 2025")
Liverpool have reportedly identified Real Madrid attacker Brahim Diaz as a potential replacement for talisman Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian is enjoying a scintillating season with Arne Slot's side, having racked up 30 goals and 22 assists in 39 competitive appearances.
Salah's impressive form has been crucial in Liverpool establishing a 13-point gap at the top of the Premier League table, while he has also helped them reach the Champions League last 16 and the EFL Cup final.
However, it is currently unclear whether he will still be at Anfield beyond the end of the season due to his uncertain contract situation.
Man City 'edging ahead' of Real Madrid in race for £29m defender
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F41%2Ftheo-hernandez_1.jpg "AC Milan's Theo Hernandez pictured on October 1, 2024")
Real Madrid have reportedly fallen behind Manchester City in the race to sign AC Milan left-back Theo Hernandez.
Hernandez left Real Madrid in the summer of 2019 to join Milan for around €20m and he has since established himself as an important first-team player at San Siro.
The 27-year-old has made a total of 248 appearances for the Rossoneri in all tournaments, recording 33 goals and 44 assists as a left-back, and won the Serie A title in the 2021-22 campaign.
Hernandez has played 35 times across all competitions for Milan so far this term, but he struggled to show his best form under former boss Paulo Fonseca at the beginning of this season.
Who is the priority? Liverpool "dinosaur" exclusive on Reds' contract "mess"
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F09%2Fjamos.png "John Aldridge/Mohamed Salah composite")
Liverpool have left themselves in a "mess" with Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold's contract situations, and the club should have handled their extensions a couple of years ago, former Reds striker John Aldridge has claimed.
Arne Slot's men have virtually reached the status of Premier League champions-elect as they sit 13 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table, despite some unwelcome contract distractions in the background.
Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold - three cornerstones of the Liverpool XI - are still able to leave for free at the end of the season and can enter pre-contract talks with foreign teams having each entered the last six months of their agreements.
While Aldridge - who scored 63 goals in 104 games for Liverpool - does not want to earmark one of the trio as the priority for a new deal, he affirmed that Van Dijk could continue to compete at the top level for another two years until his 36th birthday.
'Aguero stands out': Echeverri talks up Man City legend, admiration for Doku, Savinho
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F42%2Fclaudio-echeverri_2.jpg "Claudio Echeverri celebrates scoring for Argentina Under-17s on November 21, 2023")
Claudio Echeverri has admitted that Manchester City legend and fellow Argentine Sergio Aguero influenced him to make the move to the Etihad Stadium.
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder was signed by the Citizens in January 2024 for a reported £12.5m, but he remained in his native Argentina on loan at River Plate until last month.
Echeverri has now officially arrived in Manchester after excelling at the Under-20 South American Championship, where he captained Argentina to a runners-up finish.
The highly-rated youngster scored six goals and provided three assists across nine games at the tournament, with braces against eventual champions Brazil and Uruguay the standout contributions.
Echeverri squad number revealed as Man City confirm first-team arrival of new signing
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F09%2Fclaudio-echeverri.jpg "Argentina's Claudio Echeverri on January 17, 2025")
Manchester City have confirmed the arrival of Claudio Echeverri, who will immediately link up with Pep Guardiola's first-team squad.
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder was signed by the Citizens in January 2024 for a reported £12.5m, but he remained in his native Argentina on loan at River Plate until last month.
Echeverri, labelled the 'next Lionel Messi' by Argentine journalists and pundits, has now arrived in Manchester following a magnificent Under-20 South American Championship campaign, where he captained Argentina to a runners-up finish.
The highly-rated youngster scored six goals and registered three assists across nine matches at the tournament, with braces against eventual champions Brazil and Uruguay the standout contributions.
"Real concrete possibility": Man United given hope in pursuit of £67m attacker
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F09%2Fxavi-simons-benjamin-sesko.jpg "RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko celebrate on September 19, 2024")
Manchester United-linked Xavi Simons could reportedly be open to leaving RB Leipzig in the summer transfer window.
The 21-year-old spent 18 months on loan at Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain before making his move to the Bundesliga club permanent in January for a reported €81m (£67m), including add-ons.
Simons has established himself as a star player for Leipzig, scoring 16 goals and registering 18 assists in 65 appearances across all competitions, with 10 goals and 14 assists recorded in 43 matches last season.
This term, Simons has struggled with an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for a couple of months, but the Netherlands international has still managed to chip in with six goals and four assists in 22 games for Leipzig.
"I live for the moment": Man Utd, Arsenal-linked Osimhen issues transfer update
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F09%2Fvictor-osimhen.jpg "Galatasaray's Victor Osimhen celebrates on September 21, 2024")
Victor Osimhen has refused to rule out extending his stay at Galatasaray amid reported interest from clubs including Manchester United and Arsenal.
The Nigeria international joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli last summer following the breakdown of his relationship with the Napoli hierarchy and head coach Antonio Conte.
Osimhen had previously been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, with Chelsea known to have been admirers of the 26-year-old who had been identified as one of their top centre-forward targets.
A transfer to England, or Saudi Arabia, ultimately failed to materialise for Osimhen, who has since excelled in Turkey with Galatasaray, scoring 20 goals in 26 appearances across all competitions.
Audition awaiting? Liverpool's Nunez 'greatly admired' by La Liga giants
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F37%2Fdarwin-nunez.jpg "Liverpool's Darwin Nunez pictured on July 11, 2024")
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez could apparently be offered an escape route from Anfield by Spanish giants Atletico Madrid during the summer transfer window.
The Uruguay international is currently in Arne Slot's bad books and has played just three minutes across the Reds' last two Premier League matches, coming off the bench for the dying embers of Wednesday's 2-0 win over Newcastle United.
Nunez was previously an unused substitute against Manchester City at the weekend after Slot criticised his attitude, slamming the striker for not 'working his arse off' in their draw with Aston Villa last week.
The former Benfica man has struggled to make a lasting impression when given a chance either, only producing six goals and five assists from 36 matches this season, an average of one goal every six games.
A Mancunian Magpie: Man City 'add Newcastle full-back' to summer shortlist
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F09%2Flewtin.jpg "Newcastle United and England's Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento pictured on November 17, 2024")
Manchester City have reportedly added Newcastle United's Tino Livramento to their list of full-back targets as they prepare for Kyle Walker's permanent exit during the summer transfer window.
Walker had been a stalwart of Pep Guardiola's successful Citizens system for seven years, but the ex-Tottenham Hotspur man experienced a dramatic decline in the first half of the 2024-25 season.
The England international is now plying his trade on loan at AC Milan, who have an option to make his stay permanent for around £4.2m, but an exit for good elsewhere is expected to materialise even if the club do not take up that option.
Since Walker jumped ship for the Rossoneri, Rico Lewis and makeshift right-back Matheus Nunes have been filling in for Guardiola, but a direct Walker successor will be high on the club's shortlist this summer.
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