Transfer News: Lionel Messi wants Barcelona to sign top Manchester United target as Suarez replacement, Manchester United make shock David de Gea decision and more, 21 April 2019

Lionel Messi has told Barcelona who he wants to partner up with next season
Lionel Messi has told Barcelona who he wants to partner up with next season

Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's Daily Transfer Roundup. We are a month away from the summer transfer window. With every passing gameweek, we are getting a better idea of how this summer transfer window might pan out as most high-profile clubs' strengths and weaknesses have become quite clear.

Manchester United and Real Madrid are expected to undergo massive squad overhauls in the summer and as such, we expect several transfer records to be broken in the summer.


Also See: La Liga Transfer News


Without further ado, let's take a look at the top transfer news, rumours and updates that made headlines on 21 April 2019.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirms players will be sold in the summer

Solskjaer apologizes to the travelling United fans after their horror show at the Goodison
Solskjaer apologizes to the travelling United fans after their horror show at the Goodison

Before Manchester United's 0-4 drubbing at the hands of Everton, Solskjaer had admitted to The Daily Telegraph that they will not carry players as the club will look to rebuild in the summer. Solskjaer said,

"As a club we cannot carry players.
"Everyone has to take ownership, keep improving, show that hunger that you want to get better individually and as a team.
"I'm not just talking about Alexis (Sanchez). Everyone is under the same demands. But if we are talking about Alexis, he hasn't been lucky with injuries.
"Since I came in, he's had two long-term injuries and that hasn't been beneficial to him. Some other players have had injuries as well. But I see the characters we have. I am looking at who we should keep, who we should move on.
"Alexis has got a fantastic talent when he's at his best level. Now we want him performing for us."

He reserved stronger words for later after the Red Devils put on a horror-show at Goodison Park. Ole said in the post-match interview,

“If you want to play at this club, it has to mean more. I want my team to be the hardest working team in this league. I’m going to be successful here, and there are players there that won’t be part of that successful team.”

It is almost certain that we will see a new-look Manchester United side if the board decides to back Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the summer.

Zinedine Zidane says there will be changes, heaps praise on Paul Pogba

Zizou
Zizou

It certainly seems as though Zinedine Zidane wants to rope in Paul Pogba in the summer in a bid to reinforce his midfield. The Real Madrid manager did not shy away from saying that there will indeed be changes as spoke to the press ahead of the weekend game against Athletic Bilbao.

Zizou did not hold back when talking about Real Madrid's plans for the summer,

"I know exactly what I want,"
"Nothing is ever concrete with these things, it's just what you aim to do, your desire to change certain things, that's all.
"We have talked about player profiles and that is clear in my head. We'll see what we can do.

He also heaped praise on Pogba.

"I like Pogba a lot,”
“He is someone that I know personally and he is different. He knows how to attack and how to defend."

We're not too sure Manchester United fans will agree with Zidane at the moment,

Chelsea decide not to stand in the way of Eden Hazard and Real Madrid

Chelsea v Slavia Praha - UEFA Europa League Quarter Final : Second Leg
Chelsea v Slavia Praha - UEFA Europa League Quarter Final : Second Leg

Chelsea have decided not to play hardball in Eden Hazard's case according to Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla. The Chelsea bosses reportedly want to avoid the occurrence of yet another situation identical to that of Thibaut Courtois' from last season and are ready to let things take its course despite having to serve a transfer ban.

Thibaut Courtois' exit from Chelsea was quite ugly, to say the least. He became a contract rebel, rejected all the extension offers that the Blues presented him with and even went AWOL in a bid to force his dream move to the Santiago Bernabeu. Chelsea ended up having to sell him on a cut-price deal.

Chelsea also run the risk of losing Hazard for free should they fail to sell him in the summer as the Belgian's current contract will run out in 2020.

David de Gea will not be offered wages on par with that of Alexis Sanchez

David de Gea had another disappointing outing against Everton today
David de Gea had another disappointing outing against Everton today

The David de Gea contract situation has been growing quite complicated over the past few months and now, they have decided to not meet his demands and give him a wage package that's on par with that of the club's highest earner Alexis Sanchez.

David de Gea is frustrated with the decision and it looks like a move could very well happen in the summer. The club had earlier decided to go on and trigger the one-year extension option on his contract and has tied David de Gea to the club till 2020.

David de Gea reportedly wanted a basic pay of £350,000 a week which will increase to £500,000 with add-ons. However, the Manchester United board has decided that they cannot offer such exorbitant rates at the moment. The Red Devils are expected to undergo a massive squad overhaul in the summer as they continue to struggle in the Premier League.

Lionel Messi recommends the signing of Hirving Lozano as Suarez replacement

Hirving Lozano
Hirving Lozano

Lionel Messi has asked Barcelona to sign none other than Mexico's World Cup star as a replacement for Luis Suarez amid huge Manchester United and Atletico Madrid interest.

Hirving Lozano has reportedly impressed Diego Simeone who has every reason to be fed up with Diego Costa. Not only has the former Chelsea striker's goals dried up, but his lack of discipline has also reflected poorly in Il Rojiblancos' results.

Simeone is looking for an enterprising youngster who can help sort out Atletico's problems in the final third. But he won't have it easy as Lionel Messi has himself asked the Barcelona top brass to go ahead and seal the signing of PSV star who had an impressive outing in the World Cup.

Manchester United are also expected to go all out to get some reinforcements in the summer and Lozano is one of the players who have been heavily linked with them.

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Edited by Sripad