Manchester City are plotting a move for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, while Arsenal have firmed up their interest in Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors and gossip from around the globe.
Manchester City have initiated contact with AC Milan over the potential transfer of midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, reports The Athletic. While no agreement has been struck for the 26-year-old, he is said to be keen on a move to the Premier League. Negotiating for Reijnders won’t be straightforward, however, as the Dutch international recently penned a new deal to remain at San Siro until June 2030. He has been a regular for Milan this season, scoring 10 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions.
Arsenal have made Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres their number one transfer target this summer, the Daily Mirror has revealed. The Swedish sharpshooter is at the top of a three-man shortlist alongside Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško, with the Gunners’ interest spearheaded by new sporting director Andrea Berta. Arsenal have been informed that a bid of £60 million will be sufficient to secure Gyökeres, who’ll likely command a weekly wage of at least £200,000. Other Arsenal transfer targets include Athletic Club winger Nico Williams and Espanyol stopper Joan García.
AFC Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo has held talks with Manchester United, TalkSPORT has revealed. The Ghana international has been a revelation for the Cherries this season, with 14 goal involvements from his 35 Premier League appearances. United are keen to recruit in attacking areas this summer, with Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap becoming another player of interest at Old Trafford. Semenyo, meanwhile, is under contract at Bournemouth until June 2029
Newcastle United are leading Chelsea in the race to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi, TeamTalk reports. While the Magpies previously had their £65m bid for Guéhi turned down, it is believed that a deal could be easier to secure 12 months later, due to his contractual situation at Selhurst Park. The England international’s current deal at Palace expires next summer, and thus, he is yet to demonstrate a desire to extend. Chelsea are also keen on re-signing the Londoner, who is a product of their famous academy at Cobham.
– Paris Saint-Germain are keeping tabs on Valencia center-back Cristhian Mosquera, according to Footmercato. The 20-year-old could be available for a cut-price deal at the end of the season, with his club keen to raise funds from player departures. Another young defensive target is Club Brugge’s Joel Ordóñez, who could cost as much as €30m following an impressive European campaign.
The Brazilian FA’s social media post says it all. Hiring Carlo Ancelotti to manage the Brazil national team is “more than a strategic move” — it’s also a “statement to the world.”
“He is the greatest coach in history, and now he is at the helm of the greatest national team on the planet. Together we will write new glorious chapters in Brazilian football,” said Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF).
Way to dial the hype-and-expectation-meter up to a Spinal Tap-sized 11. Then again, some hyperbole was probably necessary since this move — Ancelotti departing Real Madrid and going on to coach Brazil at the 2026 World Cup — had been telegraphed for a long, long time. (In fact, its origin story dates back more than three years.)
The fact that the CBF itself preempted Real Madrid’s announcement that he’d be leaving — or, indeed, Ancelotti’s turn to say gracias after a total of six seasons and 15 trophies — is also significant, given that he has another year on his contract with the Spanish club and, just as important, their season isn’t over. Sunday’s 4-3 defeat in the Clasico to Barcelona has all but handed the title to their archrivals, but there are three games left and arithmetic has yet to condemn them.
It was common knowledge both that Ancelotti was likely to leave at the end of a largely trophyless campaign — their one piece of 2024-25 silverware, the UEFA Super Cup, came in August — and that the prospect of ending his coaching career by taking charge of the most iconic and successful World Cup nation appealed to him. But there are norms and customs to how these things happen, and the CBF, for whatever reason, went rogue.
Usually, it’s the current club that makes the announcement or it’s the coach (or player) himself, in concert with his current employers. Controlling the message matters, and these issues are often discussed in detail in negotiations. Not here. For whatever reason, the biggest and most successful national team in the world appears to have big-footed the biggest and most successful club team in the world. (Not to mention, in the CBF’s own words, “the greatest coach in history” — and their newest employee — who may have wanted to make his farewells on his own terms.)
That’s done now, and we’ll see what the fallout, if any, will be. But it’s worth remembering that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, now in his third decade as club supremo, has a very long memory and that he pays the salaries of several Brazil stars such as Rodrygo, Éder Militão, Endrick and FIFA Best winner Vinícius Júnior.
As for Ancelotti, this isn’t a guy to hold grudges. Heck, he wasn’t vindictive the last time Real Madrid fired him, in 2015, only 10 months removed from leading them to their 10th Champions League crown and their first in more than a decade. He was hugely disappointed and hurt, but he sat tight, took a few other gigs and, six years later, returned after the shock resignation of his one-time assistant and protégé, Zinedine Zidane. In four seasons, he won another 11 trophies, including two more Champions League titles, a Spanish Cup and two Liga crowns and celebrated like this.
This is a guy who loves the game and enjoys life. That’s much easier to do when you’re not consumed by grudges and you give everyone the benefit of the doubt.
