Messi wants Barcelona to sign €180 million superstar, Sergio Ramos wants former Barcelona superstar at Real Madrid and more: Transfer Roundup, 5 May 2019

Lionel Messi has had his say on Barcelona's transfer plans
Lionel Messi has had his say on Barcelona's transfer plans

Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's Daily Transfer Roundup. We're nearing the end of the 2018-19 domestic seasons across Europe and at the end of this long and exciting season, we will have the summer transfer window.

With several top clubs across Europe including the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United looking to rebuild and reorganize, we expect some big money moves to be completed in the summer.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the top transfer news, rumours and updates that made headlines on 5 May 2019.

Barcelona considering a £70 million bid for Alexandre Lacazette

Alexandre Lacazette leads an Arsenal attack against Valencia
Alexandre Lacazette leads an Arsenal attack against Valencia

Alexandre Lacazette's exploits at Arsenal have certainly gained him a lot of admirers across Europe and if the latest reports are true, he will be subject of a £70 million bid that La Blaugrana are planning to launch in the summer.

The report claims that Barcelona's representatives were keenly watching Lacazette from the stands as he scored a brace against Valencia in the semi-final of the UEFA Europa League. Lacazette has been in fine form for Arsenal this season and was recently voted their Player of the year.

Barcelona are desperate to bring in a top quality striker, who has age on his side, to take over from Luis Suarez.

Barcelona are hopeful of signing him in the summer and they will confident as Lacazette is reportedly close to Barcelona's technical secretary Eric Abidal.

However, Barcelona will find it difficult to land the Frenchman in the summer as he is not one of the players that Arsenal manager Unai Emery wants to unload in the summer. After joining Arsenal in the summer of 2017 for £46.5 million, Lacazette has scored 35 times in 85 games.

Unai Emery had praised both his strikers recently when he appreciated their commitment.

Emery said,

“They are [helping] us with their performances, with their behaviour, with their commitment. We are happy together, sharing this way.”

Napoli confirm interest in Kieran Trippier

Kieran Trippier
Kieran Trippier

Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed the club's interest in Tottenham Hotspur right-back Kieran Trippier. As a result, there are suggestions that Trippier will be allowed to leave the club in the summer by Mauricio Pochettino.

Trippier has not been able to satisfy the expectations of Spurs fans after enjoying a good run of form in the World Cup where the Three Lions made it to the semi-finals. There are reports coming in from Naples that claim that Trippier's wife is in the city looking at schools.

Ancelotti said,

'I don't like talking about players from other teams. [Kieran] Trippier's wife in Naples? I honestly don't know, but Naples is a beautiful city, there are people who come on holiday.
'But [PSV Eindhoven winger Hirving] Lozano and Trippier are players who we are evaluating, then later there is everything else that is much more complex.
'Negotiations, players who prefer other things. They are among the players we are interested in.'

Sergio Ramos wants Perez to sign Thiago Alcantara

Thiago Alcantara (centre) in action against Liverpool
Thiago Alcantara (centre) in action against Liverpool

Real Madrid have an army of players who have proved themselves on the biggest stages. However, the deterioration of their performance levels this season is expected to force Zinedine Zidane to oversee a massive squad overhaul in the summer.

With some of their midfielders expected to depart in the summer, Real Madrid will be looking for quality additions in that department. While Paul Pogba and Christian Eriksen have been named as the likely candidates to take over, Sergio Ramos has reportedly now asked Florentino Perez to push for the signing of former Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich.

Thiago struggled with injuries this season and hasn't been able to perform at the incredible standards he's set for himself over the past few years. However, he continues to be Kovac's go-to player in midfield whenever he is available.

Franck Ribery will leave Bayern Munich in the summer

Franck Ribery's (left) days with Bayern Munich are done and he will leave the club in the summer
Franck Ribery's (left) days with Bayern Munich are done and he will leave the club in the summer

Franck Ribery, who has had a stellar career at Bayern Munich, will be released from the club at the end of the season, the club has confirmed. Ribery joined Bayern Munich as a 24-year-old from Marseille 12 years ago.

The 36-year-old Frenchman has 8 Bundesliga titles to his name in addition to one Champions League, one World Cup, one European Super Cup and several other domestic honours.

Ribery is resigned to the fact that his future lies away from Bayern Munich and said that playing for Bayern was a dream come true for him.

"When I came to Bayern, it was a dream come true,”
“It won't be easy to say goodbye, but we must never forget what we've achieved together, we've won so much - more than 20 honours."

Lionel Messi asks Barcelona to sign Kylian Mbappe

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe

It would be fair to say that Barcelona are dependent on Lionel Messi's antics now more than ever before and as such, the Cules are expected to go into the market looking for a goalscorer. And now, they are all set to go ahead and pursue the signing of Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona are reportedly readying a €180 million bid. However, there is a twist in the tale. Barca want to reach an agreement with the player over the course of this summer that he won't join another club and then sign him in 2021 when he will have one year remaining in the contract and he can be the focal point of Barcelona's attack.

Lionel Messi himself asked the board to step up their pursuit of the Frenchman and it wouldn't be entirely surprising if they do indeed make a move for him in the summer.

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Edited by Sripad