February 11th 

Latest transfer news: Man Utd want Barca star, Chelsea target 19-year-old Sporting midfielder

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The transfer window has closed for most top European leagues but planning will already be all underway for the summer window. Teams are working tirelessly behind the scenes on identifying targets and figuring out their budgets.

Managers will be constantly assessing their squads with sporting directors and recruitment staff scanning the market for potential deals. A plethora of players will become available in the summer with clubs famously have more money to spend and aren’t as restricted by financial fair play rules. The rumour mill is beginning to pick up pace and we’ve collated some of the biggest current transfer stories. 

Today’s biggest transfer stories 

Rumour
Alejandro Balde A. Balde FC Barcelona
Left-Back
Barcelona FC Barcelona ? Manchester United Man Utd
LaLiga Premier League

While Manchester United technically signed a left-back in the January window, Ruben Amorim’s insistance on playing him on the right wing means the Old Trafford club will have to return to the summer window in search of a new defender. According to El Nacional in Spain, the Old Trafford club have set their eyes on Barcelona full-back Alejandro Balde and are prepared to pay what it takes to sign the 21-year-old talent. 

Rumour
Johan Bakayoko J. Bakayoko PSV Eindhoven
Right Winger
PSV Eindhoven PSV Eindhoven ? Newcastle United Newcastle
Eredivisie Premier League

While Newcastle have enjoyed a productive season to date, there’s little doubt that Eddie Howe’s side need more attacking options and as such the Premier League club have been heavily linked with a number of forward players. The most recent and perhaps most intriguing to fans of the club is none other than PSV star Johan Bakayoko, who Italian newspaper Tuttosport believe will be the subject of a €40 million offer from Newcastle in the summer. 

Rumour
Dário Essugo D. Essugo Sporting CP
Defensive Midfield
Sporting CP Sporting CP ? Chelsea FC Chelsea
Liga Portugal Premier League

Elsewhere, Chelsea are looking ahead to the future and have already begun their plans for next season as the consider a move for one of Portuguese football’s most exciting young talents. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Stamford Bridge side are seriously considering a move for Sporting midfielder Dario Essugo, who is on loan at Las Palmas this season.