Transfer rumor roundup 5/12: Barcelona chasing Ajax standout
By Nick Pitner
Here’s a roundup of the latest news and transfer rumors surrounding which players could be joining new teams in the coming months.
Named Ajax’s Player of the Season earlier this week, defender Davinson Sanchez is being linked by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo with a summer transfer to Barcelona.
The Colombian center-back, who put together a standout display as his team narrowly clinched a place in the Europa League final on Thursday, joined Ajax last year for just €5 million.
Now, after totaling five goals and two assists in his first season abroad, the 20-year-old could reportedly fetch Ajax a fee upwards of €25 million.
With the help of third parties, Ajax have alerted Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Barca of their intention to cash in on Sanchez, and the latter’s history with the player figures to boost their pursuit.
Barcelona tried to sign Sanchez last summer, but the player ultimately opted for Ajax due to the far superior first-team assurances they provided him.
After proving his quality in the Eredivisie, however, Barca reportedly plan to return for Sanchez this offseason as a replacement for defender Jeremy Mathieu, who is destined to leave the club.
While Sanchez’s future is set to be determined after Ajax faces Manchester United on May 24th, Ross Barkley has until next weekend to decide whether he’ll stay at Everton, according to the BBC.
That’s because the 23-year-old’s current contract is scheduled to expire after next season, which has resulted in Everton boss Ronald Koeman declaring Barkley will be sold this summer if he doesn’t renew.
With an extension on the table, Barkley has until next Sunday’s season finale against Arsenal to put pen to paper.
Should the academy product continue to reject the terms, Everton will pursue a midfield replacement in the summer market.
In that case, Tottenham have been linked as a possible transfer destination for Barkley, who has logged 12 goals and 16 assists over the past two Premier League seasons.
Another Englishman that could be on the move is Bournemouth’s Adam Smith, who The Sun curiously suggests could be the subject of a transfer tussle between Chelsea and Tottenham.
According to the report, Chelsea scouts were in attendance to watch Smith produce an assist in Bournemouth’s 2-2 draw with Stoke last weekend.
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That viewing came with a potential summer move in mind, but the 26-year-old could also be tempted by a return to Tottenham, where he came up through Spurs’ academy before leaving in 2014.
With one goal and five assists on the season, Smith would give Tottenham insurance should they opt to sell right-back Kyle Walker.
Elsewhere in London, West Ham have been given until the end of this month to decide whether they’ll activate Ludogorets striker Jonathan Cafu’s release clause, Sport Witness reports.
The Hammers met with the Bulgarian club last month to discuss a transfer, at which point Cafu’s €12 million price tag was revealed.
That valuation has reportedly cooled interest from Leicester, Stoke, Crystal Palace and Brighton, leaving West Ham as Cafu’s most likely Premier League destination.
In his second season abroad, the 25-year-old Brazilian has totaled 10 goals and four assists in 23 league appearances.
The winger also did well during Ludogorets’ Champions League group stage appearances, including a goal and an assist against Arsenal back in November.