European paper round-up: Robert Lewandowski a Manchester United and Chelsea target
By Stefan Bienkowski, Football Whispers
Last Updated: 24/05/18 10:55am
The European season will come to a close this weekend with the Champions League final, yet teams across the continent have already got to work scouting out new players for next season.
We asked our friends at Football Whispers to scour the European media to round-up the latest transfer news and big stories.
Germany
Manchester United have joined the race for Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, but so too have Chelsea and PSG. The London club may be in the market for a replacement for Alvaro Morata, while new PSG coach Thomas Tuchel is well aware of the Pole's abilities from his time in the Bundesliga. (Kicker)
Bayer Leverkusen have confirmed goalkeeper Bernd Leno will leave the club this summer, but the Arsenal target's destination has yet to be confirmed. The player's agent, Uli Ferber, has stated that he is fully focused on the World Cup and will make a decision later in the summer. (Kicker)
Despite being under contract until 2019, Arturo Vidal is on Manchester United's radar and may opt to leave Bayern Munich this summer before new signing Leon Goretzka replaces him in the first team. (SportBild)
Eintracht Frankfurt forward Ante Rebic scored two goals to help his side beat Bayern Munich in the DFB Cup final on Saturday and has already stated he wouldn't be opposed to a move to Bavaria. The Croatian forward has turned his career around under former Frankfurt manager Niko Kovac and has stated that he would happily follow the coach to Munich. (Bild)
Italy
Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata has been linked with a move to AC Milan, but it seems as though representatives of the Spanish striker were in fact meeting Juventus' delegates this week in Milan. The Italian champions are reportedly interested in initially loaning the striker before signing him permanently at the end of his loan agreement as they did with former Blues wideman Juan Cuadrado. (Calciomercato)
Representatives from Lazio had a four-hour meeting with Samuel Eto'o's agent this week to discuss the possibility of signing the 37-year-old striker this summer. The Cameroon striker is close to leaving Turkish side Konyaspor and may be tempted back to Italy. (Tuttosport)
Spain
Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu confirmed on Catalonian radio that the club will not be able to speak to Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann or begin negotiating for the player until July 1. (Mundo Deportivo)
Villarreal are closing in on Newcastle target Toko Ekambi and could sign the Angers striker for €18m. According to reports a fee has been agreed and the two clubs are now ironing out the finer details. (Marca)
France
Under the threat of UEFA's financial fair play sanctions, PSG will look to push through the sale of forward Goncalo Guedes to Valencia, assuming the Spanish club are willing to pay the full €40m asking price. (L'Equipe)
Didier Deschamps has labelled Adrien Rabiot's decision to remove himself from France's list of reserves for the World Cup as a "huge mistake" before stating that he learned of the midfielder's decision through an email from the player. (L'Equipe)
