Transfer Talk: Arsenal join Spurs, Man Utd in race for Doué

The summer transfer window won’t reopen in Europe for another month, but there are plenty of moves in the works and gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!

TOP STORY:

Arsenal have joined Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich in the race for Stade Rennais winger Désiré Doué.

That’s according to the Mirror, which suggests that while the youngster has been scouted extensively by a number of top European clubs — Borussia Dortmund have also been linked with a move, along with those listed above — Arsenal could move to the front of the queue.

Les Rennais are reluctant to let the 18-year-old leave, but with rising interest and multiple bids reportedly looming in the coming weeks, they’re also resigned to the fact that he could be on the move this summer.

Doué played 43 times for Julien Stéphan’s side this season, scoring four goals and adding six assists. Yet it’s Stade Rennais’ failure to secure European football for a second successive campaign that will likely prove their undoing when it comes to keeping hold of the rising star, with the side finishing 10th in the Ligue 1 table.

Doué is under contract until 2026 but wants to play at the top level, leaving Europe’s finest clubs to duke it out for his services.

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PAPER GOSSIP

– Bayer Leverkusen have reached a verbal agreement with Girona defensive midfielder Aleix García, according to Florian Plettenberg. The 26-year-old is keen to join Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen project and compete in the UEFA Champions League next season, and a long-term deal is on the table. Leverkusen and Girona are said to be in advanced talks, with a transfer fee of around €20 million reported to be on offer.

– Tottenham are in talks over a £60m move for attacking midfielder Heorhii Sudakov from Shakhtar Donetsk, according to Teamtalk. Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is looking to add to his attacking options for the 2024-25 season and, while he continues to be linked with Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White, among others, 21-year-old Sudakov has emerged as a new target. Chelsea and Arsenal are also believed to be interested in the Ukraine international.

– The future of Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag is uncertain despite his side’s FA Cup win against Manchester City on Saturday, and Football Insider says Conor Gallagher could be a major signing of the summer if Ten Hag is replaced by former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino.

– Atletico Madrid striker Álvaro Morata has been linked with a move back to Serie A, with AS Roma, AC Milan, and Napoli all keeping tabs on his situation. That’s according to Calciomercato, which reports that with the 31-year-old’s deal with Atleti set to come to an end in 2026, Italian clubs could be tempted by the €12m exit clause in his contract. Roma are looking for alternatives to Romelu Lukaku, who is due back at Chelsea following his spell on loan, while Milan need to replace the US-bound Olivier Giroud.

– Jarrod Bowen has been linked with a move to Newcastle United, but the England international is keen to stay in east London, according to the Mirror. The 27-year-old winger scored 16 goals alongside six assists in league action this season and, as a result, is on Newcastle boss Eddie Howe’s radar ahead of the new campaign.