The winter transfer window is closed, but now it's time to look ahead to the summer! Here are the new rumours floating around Europe's big leagues and beyond.
TOP STORY: Tottenham to lose Kane for £150m?
He may be injured at the moment, but Tottenham's dip in form and lack of silverware could see them lose their star man, Harry Kane, in the summer.
The Daily Telegraph reports that "Kane will consider his Tottenham future" if the club fail to get into the Champions League. With Jose Mourinho's side sitting seventh in the Premier League, that's certainly a possibility and would also leave Spurs with just £50m to spend on new players unless they can raise money from sales.
Real Madrid and Juventus are long-time admirers of Kane and the 26-year-old's £150m price tag would be no deterrent. Manchester City are also looking for a new striker to replace Sergio Aguero once he departs, while Manchester United have also been linked, but it's unlikely that the England captain would move to another club in the Premier League given his long attachment to Spurs.
However, there certainly won't be a shortage of suitors for Kane if he does decide to leave.
LIVE BLOG
23.20 GMT: That will do it for the latest edition of our LIVE Transfer Talk blog. We hoped you enjoyed following along with us and remind you to check back shortly for the latest transfer rumours, reports and completed deals. Goodnight!
22.57 GMT: Arsenal are looking at another season outside of the Champions League and Mikel Arteta will be keen to see a major overhaul this summer.
Reports in Italy are linking Arsenal with both a Serie A centre-back and defensive midfielder. Calciomercato claims that the Gunners are the favourites to land £35 million-rated Juventus defender Merih Demiral. The Turkish international, 21, is currently rehabbing after suffering a season-ending knee injury and has also been linked with Atletico Madrid and Leicester City.
The same outlet also suggests the Gunners have made another enquiry for AC Milan defensive midfielder Franck Kessie. The 23-year-old combative midfielder was linked with a move to Emirates in January and Calciomercato claims that "concrete advances" have been made by the English club since.
AC Milan claim that Kessie is not for sale. It will surely be an interesting summer at the Emirates!
22.04 GMT: Here's one we didn't expect... Tim Howard to play for USL side Memphis 901.
TURN UP THE VOLUME 🔊@TimHowardGK is ready to #DefendMemphis
— Memphis 901 FC (@Memphis901FC) March 4, 2020
The former USMNT goalkeeper, 40, retired last September after a 22-year professional career and had taken a job as Memphis' sporting director. The second-division side begin their second-ever season this weekend and will surely get a boost from the announcement that their sporting director -- and former Man United and Everton No. 1 -- will be in their ranks.
On signing his contract Howard said, "Since my retirement in October, my obsession for football has grown. The desire to win continues to drive me. I love to play and I love to compete, this gives me the opportunity to do both."
Howard will assume multiple roles at 901 FC, combining his position as both minority owner and sporting director with his new responsibilities as a player.
Owner, sporting director and goalkeeper... Tim Howard is ready to #DefendMemphis
21.19 GMT: We've talked a lot in this blog about Napoli attackers potentially moving on this summer: Dries Mertens, Hirving Lozano, Jose Callejon, etc. But what about Arkadiusz Milik?
Tuttosport reports that Napoli are listening to offers for the €60 million-rated Pole, after failing to meet the striker's new contract demands. The 26-year-old Milik, whose contract expires at the end of 2021, is reportedly asking for a raise if €5m a season and a release clause no greater than €50m.
The oft-injured Milik has scored 12 goals in 22 appearances over all competitions and was linked with Manchester United in January.
20.53 GMT: West Ham "boast" the fourth-worst defence in the Premier League, so it makes perfect sense for the Hammers to be in the market for defenders.
TNT Sports reports that the London club are planning to return for River Plate right-back Gonzalo Montiel, whom the club tried to sign on loan in January. West Ham reportedly had a loan bid of £400,000 with an option to buy for £8.3 million rejected by the Argentine giants in January.
West Ham continue to monitor the 23-year-old Argentine international, who local publication El Intransigente claims has a £13.1m release clause, which could rise to £17.1m with add-ons.
20.11 GMT: Could John Stones do with a change of scenery?
A source has told 90min that Pep Guardiola is no longer convinced by the England international and that City are prepared to let him leave. Signed from Everton for £50 million in 2016, Stones has struggled for fitness and consistency during his time at the Etihad.
With former City assistant Mikel Arteta now in charge at the Emirates, he will have a better idea than almost anyone about whether Stones is worth moving for. Stone is clearly short of confidence but still just 25, the England man would be a major upgrade on any of the centre-backs currently on display at Arsenal.
19.29 GMT: Norwich signed 'keeper Ralf Fahrmann on loan from Schalke in the summer to challenge Tim Krul for the No. 1 shirt but things have not gone to plan for the towering German.
The 31-year-old has only made one appearance for the relegation-threatened Canaries in the Premier League and is now close to having his loan spell terminated early.
One of 12 summer additions by Daniel Farke and Co., Fahrmann is keen to play and according to Sky, wants to join Norwegian SK Brann for the remainder of the season. The Norwegian transfer window does not close until April 1 and it is understood that Norwich will not stand in Fahrmann's way if he does in fact want to go.
18.43 GMT: Stephen Kenny's Republic of Ireland Under-21s have had a strong campaign, as they are in strong position to qualify for their first ever U21 Euros, while players like Aaron Connolly, Troy Parrott and Michael Obafemi have broken through at club level.
Another one of the stars from that side has signed a contract extension with a Premier League side, captain Jayson Molumby having inked a new three-year deal with Brighton & Hove Albion. The 20-year-old central midfielder has been a regular this season while on loan at Championship outfit Millwall, and to date has made two EFL Cup appearances for parent club Brighton.
18.03 GMT: Napoli are a club that could be set for a major makeover this summer with Dries Mertens, Kalidou Koilibaly, Hirving Lozano, Fabian Ruiz and others all linked with a move away from the San Paolo.
Another player that could be on the move? Napoli veteran Jose Callejon. According to AreaNapoli, the ex-Spain international is already in talks with Sevilla over a summer move to Andalusia.
The 33-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the season, joined Napoli for £8million in 2013 and has made 336 appearances, scoring 80 goals and providing 77 assists for the club. Aston Villa have been another club linked with Callejon in recent months.
17.25 GMT: The Colorado Rapids have announced they have signed former Man United youth teamer Will Vint to a Homegrown Contract.
Vint, 18, is a product of local Real Colorado but also spent a year and a half at Manchester United (2017-18) before returning to the U.S. due to family visa issues. The Midfielder spent last season with Atlanta United 2, playing 16 times and scoring one goal.
16.48 GMT: Brazilian outlet UOL reports that Chelsea winger Willian has rejected the club's two-year contract offer.
The 31-year-old is a free agent in the summer and really seems to want a three-year deal, so he's keen to explore his options if the Blues don't step up.
15.47 GMT: Aston Villa forward Jaden Philogene-Bidace could be the latest to take up residence on Man City's bench, according to Football Insider.
Philogene-Bidace, 18, has scored six goals in 10 games for the Villa U18 team, having been signed in January 2019. His contract is up at the end of the season and City, Ajax and Bayern Munich are all interested.
14.59 GMT: West Ham, Wolves and Everton are all keen on signing Napoli's Hirving Lozano, says Calciomercato.
Lozano, 24, hasn't hit the heights he would have wanted in Serie A and a linkup with his old boss Carlo Ancelotti at Everton has been tipped. The Mexico winger has three goals and one assist in 23 appearances this season.
Meanwhile, Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez says he would like to see more Mexicans move to Europe over the coming years in order to strengthen El Tri.
"It would be awesome to not have to talk about who is the best Mexican abroad, I'd love for there to be 100 [Mexicans in Europe] and that there could be 20 that are difficult to compare, at least unless there is another Hugo Sanchez or Rafa Marquez," Hernandez said in an interview with TUDN on Monday.
"Or that at some point in our history there is a Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, Maradona or Pele. I don't know, but it would be awesome to have 100 Mexican players in all Europe."
14.03 GMT: Genoa midfielder Nicolo Rovella is on the radar of Chelsea, says Calciomercato.
Rovella, 18, made his Serie A debut against Inter Milan in December and has been tipped for big things. Chelsea are reportedly keen to add him before Inter Milan make their interest known.
13.42 GMT: Some contract news from the Real Madrid youth team.
New contract for highly-rated RM Juvenil left-back Miguel Gutiérrez. Watched him a lot - he's great https://t.co/3c42tLXuLV
— Alex Kirkland (@alexkirkland) March 4, 2020
13.14 GMT: Manchester United will have a decision to make over Paul Pogba this summer.
12.40 GMT: Barcelona will offer goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen an improved contract before the end of the year to reflect his growing importance at the club, multiple sources have told ESPN.
Sources said that president Josep Maria Bartomeu, whose mandate runs until 2021, wants to ensure that both Lionel Messi and Ter Stegen have signed new deals by the time he leaves his role.
12.05 GMT: RB Leipzig are bracing for the exit of Timo Werner this summer.
The Germany attacker has been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool and, speaking to Bild, Leipzig sporting director Markus Krosche said that "it's normal [Werner] is showing up on other clubs' radars" following an outstanding Bundesliga season.
Krosche added: "But I don't have any sleepless nights. We are prepared should someone contact us." And, addressing a reported release clause in Werner's contract believed to be between €50m and €60m, he said: "There are things which are like they are. That's why we always have to be prepared and think about tomorrow and the day after tomorrow."
Leipzig have already eyed a replacement should the 23-year-old leave the club: reportedly Gent's Jonathan David.
11.35 GMT: Ollie Watkins has 22 goals for Brentford this season as they seek promotion to the Premier League and the Daily Mail says that has caught the eye of West Ham.
Watkins, 24, was linked with a move in January -- with the Hammers opting to spend around £20m on Jarrod Bowen instead -- but if Brentford don't make it up, then expect David Moyes to come looking for a cut-price deal.
10.53 GMT: Manchester United have high hopes for 16-year-old winger Shola Shoretire and have signed him up to scholarship terms, says The Athletic.
Shoretire turned out for United in UEFA's under-19s Youth League against Valencia aged just 14 back in December 2018 and has agreed a pre-contract to turn professional on his 17th birthday, on Feb. 2 next year.
10.08 GMT: Spanish second division leaders Cadiz CF are confident the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will overturn FIFA's decision to ban the club from signing any new players for the next two transfer windows.
FIFA punished Cadiz after Watford made a complaint about the Spanish club's signing of Senegalese defender Mamadou Mbaye as a free agent in 2019. The Premier League outfit claimed that Mbaye had terminated his contract with them illegally and demanded a transfer fee of around £1.86m.
Mbaye was ordered to pay £26,834 as compensation to his former club and has been hit with a four-month suspension.
"We have begun proceedings to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as the player and Cadiz believe they have acted at all times with good faith and within the FIFA rules regarding the signing of the player," said a club statement.
09.30 GMT: ICYMI - Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement to send midfielder Victor Wanyama to MLS side Montreal Impact via a free transfer, the clubs announced on Tuesday.
Montreal have undergone an offseason transition under new coach Thierry Henry, after longtime playmaker Ignacio Piatti and ex-Premier League defender Bacary Sagna left the club. Other notable players on Montreal's roster include former Serie A midfielder Saphir Taider and ex-Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic.
"When I spoke to Thierry and he told me he wanted me to join him in Montreal, I didn't have to think twice," Wanyama said. "He has always been a player that I've admired, and I am really happy to get the opportunity to work with him and to play a part that can ensure that the Montreal Impact have an improved season and hopefully reach the ultimate stages of the competitions in which we compete."
09.12 GMT: Both SPORT and Mundo Deportivo -- the two daily sports newspapers in Catalonia -- insist Neymar remains Barcelona's top target as the club begin to plan for the summer transfer window.
Barca failed to strike an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain last year to bring the Brazilian back, but will re-open negotiations in the coming months in hope of a more favourable outcome.
Mundo Deportivo claims that Neymar is still desperate to return to Barca and that his relationship with PSG's sporting director, Leonardo, is unsustainable. The report details how FIFA could even set the price of the deal, leaving PSG helpless, as the player will have completed the three-year protected period of his contract.
Neymar, 28, complained last month that PSG's medical staff had prevented him from playing a number of games in the build-up to the Champions League defeat at Borussia Dortmund. SPORT suggest that led to a fight with his coach, Thomas Tuchel.
ESPN first revealed in December that Barca would attempt to sign Neymar again in 2020. The Catalan club are desperate to strengthen their attack and are also keen on Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez.
08.29 GMT: Everton defender Mason Holgate has signed a new five-year contract at Goodison Park, the club announced on Tuesday.
Holgate, 23, had recently been linked with interest from Manchester City, but has now committed his future to Carlo Ancelotti's side.
"This is my fifth year at Everton and my development as a person and a player in that period has been massive," Holgate told the club's official website. "The direction the club is going, it is a great Club to be at and I am really excited about it.
"We want to move to the next step and push for bigger and better things. I want to win things - and winning some silverware is where I see us. It is definitely a positive time to be here and I am looking forward to seeing how far we can go."
📝 | Mason Holgate has signed a new five-year deal! #EFC 🔵
— Everton (@Everton) March 3, 2020
08.00 GMT: Borussia Dortmund are closing in on Birmingham City midfielder Jude Bellingham and look set to beat Manchester United to the teenager, sources have told ESPN.
Bellingham, 16, has been on Dortmund's radar for a long time and he visited the club's training facilities recently. The club are confident they can land the youngster and beat Manchester United and other top clubs to the midfielder's signature, with sources telling ESPN and local Dortmund outlet Ruhr Nachrichten that terms with the player have been agreed.
ESPN reported in January how United wanted to sign Bellingham but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not manage to seal a deal in the transfer window.
The Birmingham midfielder has also been linked with Bayern Munich, but sources told ESPN the German giants dropped out of the race for the England youth international last month.
Bellingham has made 31 Championship appearances and scored four goals since his debut in August 2019. The central midfielder can also play on the wing.
PAPER TALK (by Harry Kettle)
Sanchez's wages to halve for Inter move?
Alexis Sanchez has been told that he must agree to halve his £400,000-a-week wages if he wants to complete a permanent move to Inter Milan, Tuttosport reports.
Reports had suggested the Chilean would be heading back to Manchester United in the summer, with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seemingly open to the idea. However, it now appears as if Inter are willing to complete the full deal -- but only if Sanchez agrees to the aforementioned terms.
Sanchez has only recently made his return to Inter Milan's starting XI following a series of injury concerns, as Antonio Conte gets ready to take a big chance on signing the former Arsenal star.
Atletico Madrid want Rakitic
Atletico Madrid are interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic this summer, Marca reports. The belief is that the Croatian is going to be one of their primary targets once the season comes to an end, with Rakitic actually meeting with some Atletico representatives in the wake of their win over Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League.
His priority is said to be staying in Spain, as opposed to heading abroad, which could rule out the highly rumoured switch to Italian giants Inter Milan.
In terms of Atletico, though, the city is believed to have 'charmed' Rakitic and his family who have already commenced looking at properties around the area.
Real Madrid eye up Pochettino
Real Madrid consider Mauricio Pochettino to be a potential replacement for Zinedine Zidane, The Independent reports. The Spanish giants have been asked to be kept aware of the Argentine's movements, with the hope being that they can lure him to the Bernabeu as a possible replacement for Zidane during the summer.
There is said to be a growing pressure in Madrid right now, despite the win over Barcelona, with the loss to Manchester City in the Champions League being pinned on Zidane by the club. Pochettino, on the other hand, has been out of a job since leaving Tottenham Hotspur earlier this season.
Tap-ins
- AC Milan could wind up losing Zlatan Ibrahimovic during the summer, Calciomercato reports. With many changes being made within the club's front office right now, including the departure of Zvonimir Boban and expected exit of Paolo Maldini and Frederic Massara, Ibrahimovic's agent Mino Raiola may prefer for the Swede to get out of his contract early in favour of a move to somewhere more secure.
- Carlo Ancelotti wants to try and sign a midfielder for Everton that will inject some energy in the first team, the Liverpool Echo reports. The Toffees have had mixed results ever since the veteran boss arrived, with the man himself confirming that bringing in a new midfielder remains a top priority for the club.