BBC
Inter Milan will ask for France forward Antoine Griezmann, 29, in exchange for striker Lautaro Martinez if Barcelona try to sign the 22-year-old Argentine from them. (La Gazzetta dello Sport, via Marca)
Barcelona will try to sign Sweden forward Alexander Isak, 20, from Real Sociedad if they fail to land Martinez. (Marca)
Chelsea and France midfielder N'Golo Kante, 29, is part of a three-man shortlist of transfer targets in his position drawn up by Real Madrid. (AS, via Mail)
Former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp says Spurs striker Harry Kane would not be making a step up by moving to Manchester United but the England captain "might fancy a move" to Barcelona or Real Madrid "one day". (Talksport)
Arsenal and Chelsea will be offered the chance to sign Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho this summer, with Bayern Munich set to turn down the chance to turn the 27-year-old Brazil international's loan spell with them into a permanent move. (Sun)
Manchester United have watched Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez but would only be willing to pay £70m for the Spain international, who has a £132m buy-out clause. United hope to tempt the 25-year-old by increasing his wages from £115,000-a-week to nearer £200,000-a-week. (Sun)
The agent of Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek, says the 22-year-old Dutch international, who has been linked with Real Madrid and Manchester United, is attracting interest from "several clubs". (Voetbal International, via Metro)
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero's former side Independiente are increasing their efforts to try to bring the 31-year-old Argentine back to the club. (Mirror)
Manchester United and Real Madrid will not be able to activate Borussia Dortmund and Norway striker Erling Braut Haaland's £65m release clause this summer because it does not come into effect until summer 2022. (Mirror)
Italy forward Lorenzo Insigne, 28, is set to extend his contract with Napoli until 2025. (Calciomercato)
OS
Gonçalo Cardoso: I take motivation from Cristiano Ronaldo's incredible work ethic and attidude
For every burgeoning young footballer, it is important to keep in mind your idols – your standard-bearers, your icons, the model professionals to have trodden the path you see before you.
For every burgeoning young Portuguese footballer, there is one immediately obvious candidate.
Despite being a central defender, 19-year-old Portugal youth international Gonçalo Cardoso will never forget the time he met Cristiano Ronaldo.
The summer 2019 signing from Boavista, who was West Ham’s youngest recruit of the off-season, has played a pivotal role at the heart of Dmitri Halajko’s U23s so far this campaign.
Blessed with a superb natural reading of the game, the Marco de Canaveses-born defender has made 18 appearances in all competitions, helping his side to seven clean sheets on the way to being named in his first Premier League matchday squads in January.
Such form has also translated to the international stage, with Cardoso joining West Ham having represented Portugal at last summer’s UEFA European U19 Championship finals, before captaining the U20s for the first time against England in November.
It was in training with his country, however, where Cardoso enjoyed an encounter with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner – and it was one he could scarcely fathom.
“As a Portuguese centre-back, I really liked watching Ricardo Carvalho and Pepe,” he told whufc.com. “Then there are internationals like Virgil van Dijk and Sergio Ramos, who are unbelievable.
“As an idol, I really like Cristiano Ronaldo – not for his position, but for the way he works, the way he’s got the way he is now.
“I met him with the national team last summer. We were preparing for the European U19 Championship finals in Armenia. We were in the gym in Portugal doing some exercises and he walked in like nothing.
“We looked around at each other and asked ‘What is he doing?’ What was crazy, but it shows how he works, was that he joined in during his holidays, on a Sunday!
"He was in Lisbon with his family on holiday, and he’d decided to come to the training ground to train. On his holidays, he was there.
“Look at his story. He started from nothing but he started growing, working hard, and he has been at the top for so many years, which gives you motivation as a player.
“He doesn’t play my position, but he is a hero of mine. His motivation and how he works… it’s incredible.”
Having grown up in the comparatively modest surroundings of Marco de Canaveses – “there are only 10,000 people,” Cardoso laughed – and grafted his way into the Premier League, it would surprise few should the centre-back’s grounded mentality helped him to similarly shine under the bright lights of London Stadium.
SportsLens
Aston Villa and West Ham target Milot Rashica’s agent drops transfer hint
West Ham and Aston Villa have been linked with a move for the Bundesliga winger Milot Rashica this summer.
The player’s agent has now revealed that something could be on the cards at the end of this season.
He said (quotes via Birmingham Mail): “Before the coronavirus crisis, we were in contact with some clubs – including those from the Bundesliga.
“At the moment, everything is standing still. I am sure that soon, when we are back to normal, there will be movement on the topic and something will definitely happen.
“It is clear that until the end of the season Milot will concentrate entirely on staying up with Werder Bremen”.
It seems that the player and his agent are preparing for a move. If that’s the case, it would surely be a boost for his suitors.
If Rashica wants a transfer, it could be easier for the likes of West Ham and Aston Villa to negotiate a fee with Werder Bremen.
The 23-year-old can play on either flank and he would add goals and creativity to the team he joins. Furthermore, he is quite capable of leading the line as well.
Rashica has 10 goals and 4 assists to his name for the German side this season. It will be interesting to see if the likes of Villa or West Ham manage to sign him.
Both clubs need to add more goals to their side from the wide areas and Rashica would be an ideal addition for them.
It could depend on where they finish in the table this season. Both teams are fighting relegation and if they go down, the transfer would be quite unlikely.
Rashica is too good for the Championship and he won’t want to take a step-down.
