Transfer news & rumours LIVE: Barcelona reach verbal agreement with Ilkay Gundogan

Posted Wednesday, May 17, 2023 by Goal.com

Barcelona reach verbal agreement with Ilkay Gundogan

Following the German midfielder's impressive performances during the tail end of the season, Manchester City have changed their stance on Gundogan, and are keen on keeping hold of his services. City boss Pep Guardiola has already publicly expressed his wish to keep Gundogan at the club in a recent press conference.

Barcelona, though, remain confident of signing Gundogan at the end of the season. And Diario SPORT reports the Blaugrana have a verbal agreement with the player. The report adds he has already agreed to join Barcelona ahead of the new season, on a three-year deal.

Although Manchester City have offered him fresh renewal terms, Gundogan remains keen on a fresh challenge after spending seven years in Manchester, and hopes to ply his trade at Spotify Camp Nou next season.

Transfer news & rumours LIVE: Barcelona reach verbal agreement with Ilkay Gundogan

Roy Hodgson set for talks to remain Crystal Palace boss

Crystal Palace interim coach Roy Hodgson could remain in charge of the Eagles next season, with the 75-year-old set for extension talks with the club, according to The Times.

The veteran arrived at Selhurst Park near the end of this campaign to replace Patrick Vieira. When he took over, the south London club appeared in free fall, and looked to be sleepwalking into relegation, but their results and form picked up almost immediately after his appointment.

The oldest manager in Premier League history has guided his team to five victories and a draw in eight games under his management, with Palace now 12th in the table and comfortably clear of relegation danger.

Chairman Steve Parish is understood to be seriously mulling over handing him a fresh one-year contract, with Hodgson himself open to staying put at Palace.

Man City tracking Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic

Manchester City are looking to sign Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, according to The Daily Mail.

Kovacic, 29, is reportedly set to leave Stamford Bridge and would be open to joining City, with Pep Guardiola a big admirer of his. With Mauricio Pochettino ready to become new Chelsea manager, the club could lose a host of talent as they look to raise funds and balance the books after £600m of spending in recent transfer windows.

Liverpool rekindle interest in Dutch midfielder Teun Koopmeiners

According to CalcioMercato, Liverpool are among the sides to be keeping tabs on Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, who is attracting strong interest from Serie A giants Napoli and Juventus. Bolstering in midfield is among Liverpool's top priorities for the coming months and 25-year-old Koopmeiners is one of a number of potential targets.

The report adds while the Reds have not taken their interest any further at this point, they could be the one to watch in Koopmeiners transfer race.

Liverpool are also interested in World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister, Chelsea's wantaway star Mason Mount, and Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch, as per recent reports.

Transfer news & rumours LIVE: Barcelona reach verbal agreement with Ilkay Gundogan

Premier League top guns monitoring Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze

Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are all keeping tabs on the situation of Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze, according to Ekrem Konur. The 24-year-old is enjoying some superb form for Palace under new boss Roy Hodgson at the moment, having recorded 10 goals and three assists in the Premier League this season.