European Papers: Liverpool suffer blow in bid to sign Roma's Alisson
Sunday 1 April 2018 12:17, UK
As the end of the 2017/18 campaign approaches, clubs across Europe will be assessing their squads and deciding which areas they need to improve when the summer transfer window opens.
The World Cup means many sides will be wanting to get their deals done early, and that has cranked up the rumour mill far earlier than normal.
So we asked our friends at Football Whispers to scour the European newspapers and websites to bring you all the news and gossip from the continent.
Italy
Roma sporting director Monchi has ruled out Liverpool transfer target Alisson leaving the club this summer. He said: "We've not received any offers and have no intention of selling. We're happy to have Alisson." (Mediaset Premium)
Juventus CEO Giuseppe Marotta says he is happy to let versatile midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah leave the club for nothing this summer. "We don't try to convince players who no longer feel happy to continue here, we just let them go," Marotta said. (Mediaset Premium)
Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon admits he will be having a few "sleepless nights" ahead of facing Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League on Tuesday. (RMC Sport)
Roma could be without key trio Radja Nainggolan, Cengiz Under and Lorenzo Pellegrini and their Champions League clash against Barcelona. (Il Tempo)
Germany
Borussia Dortmund are set to go head to head with Manchester City, Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven in the race to sign Fenerbahce's Eljif Elmas. The 18-year-old has made five appearances for the Turkish club's first team and has been capped twice by Macedonia (Sport Bild)
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says the club will appoint and announce their new head coach by the end of this month. Former Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel was expected to take over from Jupp Heynckes but, according to Rummenigge, has "signed with another club". (Sport Bild)
Arsenal transfer target Bernd Leno has refused to commit his future to current club Bayer Leverkusen. The goalkeeper, who is also wanted by Napoli and Atletico Madrid, has a £25m release clause in his contract. (Bild)
Spain
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone claims he did not plan to meet Juventus star Paulo Dybala this week. "We bumped into each other at a restaurant," he said. "I was eating alone and he was with two friends. I told him that he was a fine player and that's the extent of it." (AS)
Barcelona are set to welcome Sergio Busquets back to training on Monday and the Spain star is expected to be fit for the club's Champions League clash against Roma on Wednesday. (AS)
France
PSG midfielder and Barcelona transfer target Adrien Rabiot admits he does not know if he will stay with the club beyond this summer. The France international's contract expires in 2019 and talks over extending his deal have stalled. "Will I still be here next year? I do not know, we'll see," he said after PSG clinched the Coupe de la Ligue title. "But I enjoy every moment and every trophy that I win with my club. " (Canal+)
Portugal
Former Arsenal Quincy Owusu-Abeyie will rejoin Portuguese side Boavista this summer after signing a pre-contract agreement with the summer. (A Bola)
