Football Transfer News: Barcelona to swoop Antoine Griezmann, Manchester United to spend big and other major stories

The European footballing season is on the verge of its conclusion as several of the top leagues have been decided. Football transfer news from across the country is heating up as the transfer window effectively opens in a few days time and clubs are desperate to get their targets before the next season begins in August. Here are some of the top football transfer news and stories:

Barcelona eye Griezmann as Coutinho replacement

Philipe Coutinho was supposed to be a brilliant signing for Barcelona when he came from Liverpool in a record-breaking £142 million deal last January. However, one and a half seasons in, the Brazilian has failed to live up to his expectations and the club are already planning to replace him.

Atletico Madrid star-man Antoine Griezmann has been linked to Barcelona since last year, but the Frenchman refused to move away from Madrid last summer. This time, however, he could be tempted to join Lionel Messi and co after a substandard season at the Wanda Metropolitano. 

Griezmann’s release clause would drop down from €200 million to €125 million from July 1, and Barcelona chiefs will look to finally get their hands on their sought-after World Cup winner. 

Coutinho, on the other hand, is set for a return to the Premier League with Chelsea as heavy favourites to sign him if Eden Hazard leaves Stamford Bridge.

Gareth Bale back at Spurs?

Gareth Bale has become somewhat of an outcast at Real Madrid, a club where he has contributed to win four Champions League trophies, one La Liga title, three Club World Cup trophies and one Copa Del Rey. 

The Welshman was not included in Zinedine Zidane’s squad to face Real Sociedad on Sunday, and has grown to become a frustrated figure in the dressing room. 

The Sun has reported that a reunion at Tottenham Hotspur could be on the cards as the North Londoners look to take advantage of Bale’s situation at the Bernabeu with a loan move in the summer.

Gareth Bale is bound to contract which will expire in the summer of 2022 and hence Spurs will have to pay Real Madrid a loan fee of £10m to land their former man. 

Manchester United want three star names in summer overhaul

Manchester United have a huge mountain to climb following their miserable end to the season on Sunday. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men finished a remarkable 32 points behind champions Manchester City, and it looks like they need to completely revamp the squad in order to match their bitter rivals anytime in the future. 

Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly is reported to be Solskjaer’s top priority in the upcoming transfer window. Manchester United are desperate to have a world-class centre-back in their ranks, given their horrendous defensive displays this season. 

The Senegalese defender’s price-tag is in excess of the £75 million Liverpool paid for Virgil van Dijk, but Koulibaly’s world-class abilities might be worth United’s money.

23-year old Lille winger Nicolas Pepe has attracted heavy interest from across Europe after a stunning Ligue 1 season scoring 21 goals and providing 12 assists. Manchester United are looking to acquire the £45 million winger to boost their attacking options. 

In another interesting piece of football transfer news, Adrien Rabiot has also been linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent days. The Frenchman was frozen out of the first team at Paris Saint-German after he refused to sign a contract last year.

The 23-year old is a free agent this summer, and with Barcelona having already signed Frenkie de Jong, United could be willing to meet Rabiot’s £175,000-a-week wage demands.

Jurgen Klopp to bolster attack with RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner

Other top football transfer news comes from Liverpool as manager Jurgen Klopp is already looking to bolster his squad for next season after a brilliant Premier League campaign saw them lose out on the title only by a single point. 

Liverpool’s world-class attacking trio of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have been quintessential to the Reds’ achievements this season, but Klopp will look to add further names to increase the squad depth. 

Daniel Sturridge is out-of-contract this summer, Divock Origi’s future is uncertain and youngster Rhian Brewster is yet to taste first team action. 

In other football transfer news, Jurgen Klopp is looking to bring RB Leipzig talisman Timo Werner to Anfield in the summer. Werner would not only add a different dimension to Liverpool’s attack but also develop an excellent relationship with the German manager.

RB Leipzig’s CEO Oliver Mintzlaff has spoken to Sky Sports about the 23-year old’s future: “Timo Werner would rather not sign an extension. But that could change. I don’t think it’s completely out of the question that he could extend his deal. We haven’t talked to Bayern Munich about Timo Werner yet.”

“Maybe he doesn’t even want to go to Munich. Maybe he would rather join (Thomas) Tuchel in Paris, (Jurgen) Klopp at Liverpool or (Lucien) Favre at Dortmund”, Mintzlaff claimed.

The Liverpool bosses will surely keep an eye on the German in this transfer window as they will look to kickstart another serious title-charge next season.