Transfer Talk: Can Arsenal beat AC Milan to sign Zirkzee?

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: Milan close in on signing Zirkzee, but Arsenal still in it

AC Milan are optimistic that they can sign Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, but continue to face competition from Arsenal, according to Calciomercato.

I Rossoneri have made the 22-year-old their priority signing for the summer, and Zirkzee is the only player they will bring in without the opinion of the eventual replacement for outgoing manager Stefano Pioli.

The Serie A club is aware that there are plenty of variables in the deal but feel that the work done so far has put them in a great position to sign Zirkzee, who must give the green light for Milan to trigger his €40m release clause.

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Arsenal are seen as the club that could get in the way of that happening, as the Gunners have concrete interest and positive relations with his representative, Kia Joorabchian.

Sky Sports Deutschland have also reported on the situation, stating that it is unlikely that Bayern Munich will aim to re-sign Zirkzee despite having a return option. Instead, the Bavarians are simply happy with the clause enduring they’d collect 50% of the funds from his next move, which would be around €20m.

The report still mentions further competition for Milan, though, as Juventus are also in talks to sign Zirkzee.

PAPER GOSSIP

– Newcastle United are pushing ahead with a move for Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, reports The Telegraph, with the Magpies willing to pay £15m for the 26-year-old and offering a five-year contract. In an apparent response to suggestions that a deal has been agreed, Ramsdale has tweeted, “News to me” with a laughing emoji, but The Telegraph insist that the Magpies are interested and hope a deal can be completed after further talks.

– Sky Sports Deutschland have reiterated that Borussia Dortmund are prioritising a move for Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy as they aim to bring in a striker. Even so, there is competition from Manchester United and Atletico Madrid, while signing the 28-year-old also depends on the respective futures of Sébastien Haller and Youssoufa Moukoko. In addition, the outlet has denied a report from L’Equipe that the Champions League finalists are interested in Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani.

– Luka Modric has made Real Madrid aware that he wants to sign a new contract and stay with the club past this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano, who adds that it isn’t about the salary for him. The 38-year-old midfielder has rejected two big proposals to wait for Los Blancos.

– Internazionale are taking inspiration from the clause that will allow them to re-sign Giovanni Fabbian from Bologna in 2025 and look to do similar deals this summer with players currently out on loan, reports La Gazzetta dello Sport. Martín Satriano could depart for €10m-€12m, there is interest in Lucien Agoumé if Sevilla don’t take up their €8m option to sign him and the clause could be used for Filip Stankovic, Mattia Zanotti, Sebastiano Esposito, Francesco Pio Esposito and Gaetano Oristanio. Doing the same for Valentin Carboni will be difficult but offers of €30m and over will likely still be accepted.

– Wolverhampton Wanderers could accept offers for Pedro Neto, Max Kilman, João Gomes and Rayan Aït-Nouri during the summer transfer window, according to Football Insider, with all four of them having contracts that run until 2026. The Premier League club was forced to let key players leave last summer due to financial issues and the suggestion is that it could be a similar scenario this time around.