Messi asks Barcelona not to sign top transfer target, Real Madrid confident of signing £255 million duo in the summer and more: Transfer News, 26 April 2019

Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's Daily Transfer Roundup. We are only weeks away from the summer transfer window and the rumour mill has been buzzing. We are expecting to see one of the most exciting transfer windows in recent times with several top clubs across Europe expected to undergo massive changes over the course of the next few months.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the top transfer news, rumours and updates that made headlines on 26 April 2019.

Marco Asensio's agent claims they rejected massive bids for the Spaniard

Marco Asensio made quite an impact when he first made his breakthrough to the big stage. However, his influence has waned in his sophomore professional year for Real Madrid. He remains a top player who is the subject of interest of several top clubs across Europe. But it remains to be seen whether or not clubs will break the bank in order to sign him up.

Meanwhile, Asensio's agent has been making some tall claims regarding Asensio's valuation and his future at Real Madrid. Asensio's agent Horacio Gaggioli revealed to ESPN that Real Madrid received offers close to €180 million for the Spaniard but chose to reject them.

"Over the last year there have been offers as high as €150m and €180m, but Madrid did not want to listen to them,"

"There is always interest in Marco from other big clubs, seeing if he wanted to leave, which is normal for the player he is.

"But he always says that he is very happy with Madrid, is only interested in being a success there. He is still a young kid, improving all the time, and the club is very happy with him too."

Eddie Howe shuts down claims that Bournemouth will sign Jack Butland in the summer

The Cherries have been heavily linked with a move for England international Jack Butland. However, Bournemouth manager Eddie How has now come out and shut down all such claims by stating that the club has not finalized their summer transfer plans.

Speaking to the press ahead of their weekend game against Southampton at St. Mary's, Howe said,

"We haven’t formulated any plans regarding transfer targets or anyone towards next year, we’re firmly looking at this season. I’ll have conversations with the owner and respective people at the club towards the close of the season where we’ll formulate our plans.

"As I said, without formulating our plans it’s ridiculous to think we’re considering any positions. It’s not the time for that at the moment, it’s time to concentrate on our next game."

Liverpool favourites to sign Nicolas Pepe

Nicolas Pepe has been one of the young stars of the 2018-19 season. The Ivory Coast international who plies his trade in the Ligue 1 with LOSC Lille has scored 19 goals and provided 13 assists this season and has been heavily linked with a move to one of the European elites.

Arsenal have been monitoring his growth for a while now. However, it looks like the Merseysiders will be able to put one over on their rivals as they are now leading the race to sign the 23-year-old. Liverpool could seal the deal for a sum of £59 million in the summer.

Pepe's departure in the summer is now inevitable after Lille president Gerard Lopez revealed that they will let him leave for the right amount of money. Lopez told Telefoot,

"Four or five players will be leaving this summer.

“All clubs are forced to balance their accounts except perhaps one. I would say yes, it is sure he [Pepe] will leave.

“He enters a price range that can no longer be paid. There is a career choice to make for him, I think he will have the choice."

Real Madrid confident of signing Pogba and Hazard in the summer

Los Blancos are expected to undergo a massive squad overhaul in the summer and fresh Galacticos are tipped to enter the fray. Two of the most prominent names among those are Paul Pogba and Eden Hazard. Now, latest reports suggest that Real Madrid are quite confident of sealing the deal for the talismanic duo from the Premier League.

Both players have openly flirted with Real Madrid and have quipped about the opportunity to play under Zinedine Zidane on multiple occasions. Chelsea are ready to sell Hazard to Real Madrid if they meet their £100 million valuation of the Belgian.

However, Manchester United are expected to play hardball when it comes to Pogba. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has once again told the press that he does not think the Frenchman will depart in the summer. Speaking ahead of their game against Chelsea, the Red Devils' manager said,

"His work rate is improving all the time, that shows the urgency that he wants this to be a success,"

"You can't guarantee anything in football but yes I think Paul is going to be here. I can assure you he is now very determined to succeed at Man United.

"I would say yes, I can guarantee - but in life you can never. He will be as far as I can answer."

Lionel Messi vetoes the signing of Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt

Luka Jovic in action against his former club Benfica

With Luis Suarez's contributions in Europe dwindling to a trickle, Barcelona are very much expected to splash the cash in the summer to rope in a top striker. However, things may not pan out as they would have initially planned as none other than Lionel Messi seems to have vetoed the signing of Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Jovic has been one of the revelations of the season and has been Frankfurt's top scorer this term. He has been the subject of interest of several top clubs across Europe with Barcelona and Real Madrid being the most prominent of them.

However, Messi thinks Luis Suarez's presence on the pitch is something the Cules cannot do without and he does not want a player who will take a lot of minutes away from the Uruguayan.

About the author

Shambhu is a European and international football journalist at Sportskeeda who focuses on previews, listicles and news articles. An ardent Manchester United supporter since before his teenage years, he started following the Red Devils by age 10 watching MUTV on television. Shambhu is also a highly-revered rapper and a playback singer on Spotify, having a whopping 1 million monthly listeners.

For his articles, Shambhu believes in triple-checking every piece of information, relying on trusted websites like Transfermarkt and Opta, and staying away from speculative publications. He believes that his law degree helped him to be more articulate and meticulous with his content and one of his core strengths is seamlessly involving emotion in his write-ups owing to the love for the sport. For Sportskeeda, has done exclusive interviews with Spanish legends Gaizka Mendieta and Fernando Morientes so far, and his articles boast of a huge readership of close to 50 million.

Shambhu's favorite footballer is Lionel Messi, and the Argentine attaining glory in 2022 is his favorite FIFA World Cup moment. He believes only Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland could replicate Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's rivalry in the years to come. His favorite manager is Sir Alex Ferguson due to the Scot's unmatched longevity at the top.

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Edited by Sripad