Transfer news UPDATES: Liverpool £96m injection, £150m Man Utd double raid, Arsenal, Chelsea
Posted Thursday, May 02, 2019 by Express.co.uk
Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip coming out of the Premier League.
Ozil staying at Arsenal
Mesut Ozil insists he will remain an Arsenal player next season.
The 30-year-old is the highest-paid player in the history of the club but has been dropped several times this season.
He signed a new deal last season which ties him to the Gunners until 2021 and, despite some suggestions he could be sold in the summer to boost the club's transfer kitty, he told Sky Sports he intends to stay put.
"Yes absolutely," he replied when asked if he will be at Arsenal next season.
"I have two years left on my contract. I don't know about after that but yes, absolutely. I'm 30 now and I've still got two years in front of me and what happens after that I don't know myself."
Juan Cuadrado latest
Juan Cuadrado has distanced himself from a Premier League return.
The Colombia international made just 15 appearances during his three-year spell at Stamford Bridge before being sold to Juventus.
Sky Sports claim West Ham and West Ham are interested in the 30-year-old - but Cuadrado isn’t interested in leaving Turin.
"I'm very happy with the club, the city and the people. My family is happy here, I still have one year until my contract runs out but it doesn't only depend on me,” Cuadrado told Sky Sports Italia. "I always try and do my best and I would be very happy to stay here."
Liverpool cash boost
Liverpool could receive a £96million financial boost to take into the upcoming transfer window.
Notable football finance writer @SwissRamble broke down the earnings that this season’s Champions League has on offer on Twitter and just how much of that money Liverpool could earn.
This season UEFA have changed the way the Champions League money is split and Liverpool have already earned more money reaching the semi-finals this year than they did by making the final in 2018.
It is estimated that Liverpool have made €92m (£79m) in total from the tournament so far - €10.7m (£9.2m) more than they got for going all the way to the final last year.
That could, of course, rise to a total of just under €112m (£96m) should they win the competition.
Man Utd double deal
Manchester United are looking to complete a double raid for Portuguese duo Joao Felix and Bruno Fernandes.
That’s according to the Evening Standard, who claim Manchester United are currently exploring the possibility of signing the £150m-rated duo.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are looking to strengthen with more than five recruits expected to arrive at Old Trafford.
Benfica's Felix, who has registered 18 goals and provided 11 assists this season, is valued at £100m and is being courted by a number of European heavyweights including City.
Fernandes, meanwhile, has scored an incredible 28 goals for Sporting Lisbon from an attacking midfield role.
Christopher Nkunku exit approved
PSG are prepared to sell midfielder Christopher Nkunku.
That’s according to publication Le Parisien, who claim the French champions will allow their 21-year-old to leave for £17million.
Nkunku’s contract will expire in June 2020 and has reportedly refused to sign an extension with the club.
Unai Emery is behind the interest having brought Nkunku through the club’s academy during his tenure in the French capital.
And having already seen a January loan offer rejected - will try his luck again when the transfer window opens.
Ryan Kent future
Rangers loan ace Ryan Kent admits it is still possible he could be back at Ibrox next season.
Asked if a return to Rangers was still on the table, he said: "It's something that we've spoken about and it's something we're still speaking about. Yeah, it's a possibility. Would I consider another loan at Rangers? That's something I would consider."
But it seems clear the one jersey he will not be wearing next year is the red of Liverpool.
When it was put to him that he might still have ambitions of starring in front of the Kop, he replied with a "no" before adding: "I just want to play football, to find my happiness and I want to remain happy, which means playing football at the highest level possible."
Never say never…
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has refused to rule out a future bid to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich.
Britain's richest man was speaking at the launch of Team Ineos, the rebranded Team Sky, following his takeover of cycling's dominant force.
During the press conference Ratcliffe appeared to laugh off suggestions he was interested in Chelsea, but later told BBC Sport he would not close the door on the idea.
"You never say no, but I don't know where those conversations will finish," Ratcliffe said.
New deal for Bong
Brighton defender Gaetan Bong has agreed a one-year contract extension to keep him with the Premier League strugglers until June 2020.
Cameroon international Bong has made 22 top-flight appearances for Chris Hughton's side this season, contributing to four clean sheets.
"Gaetan has been part of the squad for the majority of my time here, and he's proven to be an important player for us in both the Championship and Premier League," Hughton said.
"He gives everything on the field and sets a great example. His professionalism in training every day is commendable, and he thoroughly deserves his new deal."
Rambo’s finished at Arsenal
Unai Emery has confirmed Aaron Ramsey has played his last game for Arsenal.
Ramsey will leave for Juventus in the summer, having agreed to join the Serie A giants on a free transfer when his Gunners contract expires.
The 28-year-old injured his hamstring during the second leg of Arsenal's Europa League quarter-final victory over Napoli and, while Emery's original estimate was that Ramsey could be back within two or three weeks, he will now miss the remainder of the season.
Asked if there was any chance of Ramsey playing in the final, Emery replied: "At the moment we are only in the semi-final, and secondly the prognosis is not okay for this date.”
Done Deal: Zabaleta signs
West Ham have handed veteran defender Pablo Zabaleta a new one-year deal.
The Hammers have exercised an option in the 34-year-old's contract to keep him at the London Stadium until next summer.
"It's great news and I'm so happy," said Zabaleta.
"I'm enjoying my time at West Ham and I've got so much respect and so much passion for this profession. I'm still enjoying it and it's made me feel I can go for another year.
"I just want to focus on what we're doing with the club and with the team this season and be ready to go again next season, because I just want to enjoy every single moment."
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