Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda’s daily transfer news and rumours roundup for 2nd May 2017. Today’s top stories include Barcelona opening talks for a right-back, Mesut Ozil’s humungous wage demands and more. Let’s take a look at the top stories coming in from Europe today.
Barcelona move to open talks with Arsenal’s right back
According to Mundo Deportivo in Spain, Barcelona are opening talks to persuade Arsenal’s right-back Hector Bellerin to re-join his boyhood club in Catalunya. The Catalan giants have made signing a right-back their highest priority this summer transfer window and Bellerin has been heavily linked with a move away from the Emirates.
The Spanish media outlet report that Barcelona have backed their technical secretary David Fernandez’s plan to lure Bellerin back to the club and have moved to open talks with the right-back and his agent. However, the player has recently signed a new extension to his contract at Arsenal so the Catalan club will have to spend big to sign him.
Manchester City are also sniffing around the situation but the Gunners are confident he will stay on at Arsenal irrespective of who the manager is.
Mesut Ozil holding out for huge pay package with European clubs ready to pounce
Sticking with Arsenal, the Gunners’ star German midfielder Mesut Ozil is reportedly refusing to sign a new contract worth £250,000 a week. As per the Daily Mail, Arsenal are genuinely concerned about Ozil’s commitment to the club and have offered him a new deal but the player and his agent are holding out for an improved offer of £300,000 a week.
There is a growing consensus among the Arsenal hierarchy that Ozil’s humungous wage demands do not represent a value for money proposition and the club are cautiously approaching the situation.
Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are said to be monitoring the situation and could move for the player should a deal not be struck with his current club.
Antoine Griezmann latest
The Antoine Griezmann saga has taken a new turn today, with the Daily Mail reporting that Griezmann wants a contract worth £300,000 a week if he is to sign for Manchester United which would make him the Premier League’s highest paid player.
The move to Manchester United could also prove to be highly lucrative for Atletico Madrid with his price tag nearing £155 million including all clauses over the course of a five-year deal. This could tempt Atletico into selling Griezmann to United and signing a younger forward like they so tactfully and usually do.
Manchester United in for a keeper
With David De Gea’s move to Real Madrid seeming even more likely to happen as the opening of transfer window draws closer, Manchester United are looking to replace the Spaniard with a new goalkeeper.
It was believed that United were looking at Joe Hart and battling Liverpool to sign him, but according to Sky Sports, they have diverted their attention to Leicester City’s Kasper Schmeichel.
United are leading the race to sign the 30-year-old Schmeichel and given his father’s ties with the club and Jose Mourinho’s interest in him, this is a move that could go through should De Gea leave the Red Devils.
Spurs holding out as Manchester City eye Walker
According to the Mirror, Tottenham are asking Manchester City to pay £50 million for their right-back Kyle Walker.
The England international was left on the bench by his manager Mauricio Pochettino for the derby game against Arsenal further fuelling rumours of an impending move to Manchester City.
However, if Guardiola and City are to sign the wing-back they would have to cough up a fee that has never before been paid for a right-back.
