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Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's Daily Transfer Roundup. We are so close to the opening of the summer transfer window and obviously, the rumour mill has gone into overdrive.
With several top clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester United expected to undergo massive changes this summer, we expect quite a lot of transfer records to be broken 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 20 May 2019.
West Ham reveal they haven't decided on Marko Arnautovic's future
Marko Arnautovic has been quite impressive for the Hammers since joining from Stoke City. Using his physicality to great effect, the Austrian international has often played the role of the target man to great effect. However, Arnautovic's stay at West Ham may be coming to a close.
The Hammers' vice-chairman Karren Brady did not make any promises regarding Arnautovic's future. She insisted that West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini will take a decision regarding his future.
Karren Brady told Sky Sports News,
"It's the same with every player - their future at the club is determined by the manager. Not by the chairman, not by the board and certainly not by me.
"If he decides he wants him at the club and wants to offer him a new contract as he did a few months ago, then that's what happens. If he decides he wants a player to leave, then that's what happens.
"The board support whatever decision he makes, and that's the way it should be."
Zinedine Zidane says Gareth Bale does not fit in his team
Gareth Bale's Real Madrid career has been a roller coaster ride, to put it mildly. The Welshman has enjoyed immense success at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, his constant fitness problems have not endeared him to the fans as much as anyone would have liked and now it looks like he has fallen out of favour with manager Zinedine Zidane as well.
Gareth Bale was benched for Real Madrid's last league game of the season against 2-0 which they incidentally lost 2-0. Zizou, on being asked whether we have seen the last of Gareth Bale in a Real Madrid jersey, afforded no promises over the Welshman's future.
Zizou said,
"I don't know if it's the last game or not. I don't know what's going to happen. I'm sorry he didn't get to play, but no-one knows what will happen. If I think a player doesn't fit in the team I have to do what I think works best.
"No one can change what Bale has done for the team, but as a coach I have to live in the present. I have counted on other players more in recent weeks. I make these decisions when it is right to do so, and I must act in the best interests of the team at all times."
Manchester United ready to pay £105 million release clause of Joao Felix
If there's any club in Europe that cannot wait for the summer transfer window, it is Manchester United. The Red Devils are in one of their worst slumps of recent times (and that's saying a lot) and are expected to undergo a facelift in the summer.
With Woodward ready to back Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the transfer market, the club is willing to throw some big bucks around in order to bring in exciting, young, talent to nurture a more exciting culture of football. Latest reports claim that United are ready to activate Benfica starman Joao Felix's £105 million release clause.
Joao Felix has been an absolute revelation this season and scored 20 goals and assisted a further 11 assists from 43 appearances for the Portuguese side. At 19 years of age, Felix also has his entire future ahead of him. Manchester United have to decide for themselves whether £105 million is worth spending on a young player who may or may not take to life in the toughest league on the planet.
Kylian Mbappe drops transfer hint; says he is considering future at PSG
Kylian Mbappe is easily one of the biggest names in world football right now. Despite being just 20 years of age, Mbappe has proved that he is one of the best attackers plying their trade in the top European leagues currently.
The World Cup winner has now caused the rumour mill into a frenzy by suggesting that he is open to 'a new project'. Mbappe was selected as both the Player of the Year and the Young Player of the Year in French football. After receiving the award from Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, Mbappe said,
"It's a very important moment for me, I've come to a turning point in my career.
"I have discovered a lot here, and I feel it is perhaps the moment to have more responsibility. I hope that can maybe be at Paris Saint-Germain, that would be a great pleasure. Or perhaps elsewhere with a new project."
Samuel Umtiti tells Karim Benzema he wants to join Real Madrid
Samuel Umtiti was sitting firm in Barcelona's line up until a while ago. Now, his future is anything but secured. As per reports, the Frenchman who won the World Cup last summer has been pained by the treatment meted out to him and the lack of support in the dressing room and has revealed to his mates that he wants to jump ship and join Real Madrid.
With Raphael Varane expected to be shipped out of the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer, Real Madrid will be looking to strengthen in the centre-back area. Umtiti feels hard done by the fact that Messi did not stand up for him despite the Frenchman believing they shared a close friendship.
Umtiti is valued at €72 million and will have no trouble finding suitors if the report is to be believed.
Raphael Varane, Marcos Llorente and Keylor Navas to leave in the summer
A huge clearance sale is expected to happen at Real Madrid. With Zinedine Zidane preparing to oversee a massive squad overhaul in the summer, the fans have had their ears perked up to know who are the ones that will be packed off from the Bernabeu.
According to reports, Zinedine Zidane wants Raphael Varane sold while Marcos Llorente and Keylor Navas have decided to leave the club. Earlier, Zidane had insisted on keeping Raphael Varane beyond the summer. But the latest reports claim that Zizou is now growing increasingly frustrated with the Frenchman as he has shown no signs of progress.
Zidane is resigned to seeing him leave provided Perez can bring in a good replacement. Marcos Llorente wants to leave in search of more game time and in Pep Guardiola, he has an admirer. Guardiola wants to bring Llorente to Manchester City and the former Barcelona manager believes that Llorente will be a great addition to their side.
Keylor Navas has decided to leave Real Madrid in the wake of the growing scepticism around his future. Reports have claimed that Zidane has been asked by the top brass to make Thibaut Courtois the first choice goalkeeper. Navas, however, wants to remain in Spain and Valencia, Sevilla and Celta Vigo have already registered their interest in the goalkeeper.
