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Good evening and welcome to Sportskeeda's latest transfer news and rumours round-up. Despite the season now entering its business end, top clubs are also keeping their eyes open on potential transfer targets.
As always, there are stories which make headlines irrespective of the transfer window being open or shut. Despite the onus on the Champions League ties, we have still managed to get a bunch of stories that made headlines on April 4, 2018:
La Liga
Marco Asensio threatens to leave Real Madrid
According to Don Balon, Marco Asensio has demanded a starting role in the side and has threatened to leave in the summer if he is not given a start in the big matches. Asensio was a substitute and featured late on during Real Madrid's 3-0 away win over Juventus in the quarter-final first leg.
Eager to remain at the Bernabeú, the Spanish forward wants the club to repay the faith in him - currently being monitored by the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.
Real Sociedad target Rafael Benitez
Rafa Benitez is wanted by Real Sociedad as their new boss - the Spanish side want him to take over in the summer. Sociedad, who are 15th in La Liga at present, are looking at the former Valencia manager to get them among the European spots once more next season, the Mirror reports.
Benitez has been at loggerheads with the Newcastle hierarchy over the lack of transfer funds available at his disposal and as a result, may be convinced to leave the Magpies at the end of the campaign if given good offers elsewhere.
Serie A
Manchester United to make a move for Faouzi Ghoulam
The Napoli left-back is reportedly on the radar of Jose Mourinho. RMC Sport has reported that Manchester United are interested in the fullback and are ready to open the bidding for Ghoulam at €30million.
He's currently under contract with Napoli under the summer of 2022 and is expected to fetch a higher value than United's first attempt - especially given he could be a long-term replacement for Luke Shaw at Old Trafford.
Juventus sweating over Emre Can
Calciomercato understands that Juventus are still favourites to land Emre Can on a free transfer but are wary of the interest in him from rival clubs. The likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City and PSG have all been linked with the German midfielder. Can will be a free agent in July and continues to keep all his options open.
Bundesliga
James Rodriguez unsure over Bayern Munich future
Amidst reports of Bayern Munich looking to sign James Rodriguez permanently, the Colombian attacker has maintained that he is still unsure over where his future lies.
Talking to Fox Sports, Rodriguez said, "Back to Madrid? I do not know, in the future, you do not know what's going to happen, you have to think about what's happening now and this club is my present."
Julian Brandt commits his future to Bayer Leverkusen
Julian Brandt has today extended his contract with Bayer Leverkusen and will now be seen with the Bundesliga club until 2021. He was previously linked with Liverpool and Bayern Munich but has now been lured by the club's project.
Brandt said, "I feel totally comfortable and I see something super big growing here. This has recently been shown to me by the recent contract renewals of Jonathan Tah and Lars Bender."
Premier League
Arsenal monitor Dani Ceballos
The best player at last year's European u21 Championships, Dani Ceballos has cut a disappointed figure at Real Madrid this season. Making just 19 appearances in all competitions, Ceballos has not been favoured at all by Zinedine Zidane and is hence looking to leave the club.
Arsenal are in the market for a midfielder with the futures of Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey still being up in the air. Real Madrid are reluctant to sell Ceballos but may let him leave on a year-long loan spell, El Confidencial has reported.
Tottenham Hotspur enter the race for Matthijs de Ligt
Spurs are again looking to raid Ajax in the summer and have now identified Matthijs de Ligt as a potential summer target. He is also on the radar of FC Barcelona and Arsenal with Mauricio Pochettino facing an uphill task to get his desired target.
Ajax value de Ligt at £50million, with the teenager having been a regular for the club this season. Football London has claimed that Pochettino sees him as a direct replacement for the contract rebel Toby Alderweireld.
Rest of the world
Zlatan Ibrahimovic rejected an offer from China
Sports Illustrated has revealed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic rejected a $97million offer from an unnamed Chinese Super League club to sign for the LA Galaxy. Ibrahimovic will earn only $3 million in wages over a two-year deal in the MLS but decided to commit his future to the Los Angeles side as opposed to moving to China.
Javier Pastore on Valencia's radar
After failing to land him in January, Valencia are ready to make renewed efforts to sign PSG midfielder Javier Pastore. Tuttomercatoweb has reported that Pastore has an offer from Besiktas on the table but prefers a move to La Liga instead.
Valencia and PSG are on good terms in the transfer market with PSG's Goncalo Guedes currently being on loan at the Mestalla.
