Transfer rumor roundup 6/5: Juventus identify Buffon heir
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.
After falling to Real Madrid in Saturday’s Champions League final, Juventus have turned an eye to their summer transfer plans, agreeing a deal in principle to sign Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, Sky Sports reports.
The Polish shot-stopper has spent the past two seasons on loan at Roma, where he led Serie A with 14 clean sheets this term.
Of course, Gianluigi Buffon mans the goal for Juve, but with the 39-year-old legend anticipated to retire after his contract expires next summer, Szczesny is seen as his heir.
After joining Arsenal as a 15-year-old, Szczesny damaged his future with the Gunners by smoking in the showers following a 2-0 loss at Southampton in January of 2015.
Although he’s since gotten married and matured abroad, Arsenal apparently intend to cash in on the 27-year-old, with a €16 million fee being quoted.
Ahead of that move, the player is said to have agreed to a four-year contract with the Italian champions.
Along with Szczesny, Juventus have also registered their interest in midfielder Emre Can, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The German has just one year remaining on his current contract at Anfield and is yet to make progress on an extension, leaving his situation worthy of monitoring.
With Juve boss Max Allegri thought to be a long-term admirer, the club could test Liverpool’s resolve with a £26 million transfer bid.
Another player notable out of contract after the coming season is Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, but Goal reports the Gunners have insisted they have no plans to sell their leading scorer.
That news comes after Paris Saint-Germain enquired about Sanchez’s availability, only to be told Sanchez is not on the market.
Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester City have also been linked with Sanchez, but it seems Arsenal will resist any overtures, particularly those from their Premier League rivals.
Instead, they’ll hope to convince their Player of the Season to ink an extension with the club.
At 28 years old, Sanchez is fresh off his best professional campaign, having scored an eye-opening 31 goals and 13 assists across all competitions.
Next: Real Madrid 4-1 Juventus: Champions League final highlights
One of few players that rivaled Sanchez’s production this past season, Celtic’s Moussa Dembele is in talks over a transfer to AC Milan, according to Sky Sports.
The 20-year-old, who arrived in Scotland from Fulham last summer, notched an outstanding 32 goals and nine assists in 49 appearances while helping Celtic win the domestic treble in his first year at the club.
On the back of those exploits, the young Frenchman is understandably a hot commodity for top European outfits in search of a striker.
After being linked with Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata in recent weeks, it appears Milan have shifted their focus to Dembele, but Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund are other potential destinations as well.
Dembele began his career in PSG’s youth setup, and another talented youngster that has now escaped the Parisian’s grasp is defender Dan-Axel Zagadou.
Borussia Dortmund confirmed their capture of the 18-year-old on Monday, signing him to a five-year contract.
Standing nearly 6-foot-4, Zagadou captains France’s Under-18 team, but refused to put pen to paper on an extension with PSG.
As a result, he joins Dortmund on a free transfer in anticipation of a faster track to first-team football.