The January transfer window may seem like a distant memory, but that doesn't mean the rumour mill has shut down! Speculation over summer moves is heating up, so check out the latest gossip below, and see all official deals here.
TOP STORY: Aguero agrees Barcelona deal
Barcelona almost have an agreement in place that will see Sergio Aguero join the club on a free transfer, AS reports.
New Barca president Joan Laporta has sanctioned a two-year contract for the 32-year-old Argentina striker, which would last until June 2023.
Aguero's contract at Manchester City expires at the end of the season, and clubs from outside England have been able to negotiate on a pre-contract agreement since Jan. 1. Aguero is looking forward to a fresh challenge after struggling for fitness and form over the last 12 months.
Barca are also reported to have agreed a five-year contract with City defender Eric Garcia.
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LIVE BLOG
20.04 GMT: Twenty-year-old left-back Chris Gloster has been in Europe for nearly three years, across stints with Hannover 96 II and Jong PSV, but the Washington Post's Steven Goff reports that the United States youth international is set to return to Major League Soccer with New York City FC trading for his rights with the New York Red Bulls, whose academy Gloster attended between 2013 and 2017.
18.17 GMT: Zinedine Zidane has apparently opened the door to a possible Real Madrid return for Cristiano Ronaldo as speculation continues about the Juventus forward's future. Read the full story.
16.30 GMT: Fabrizio Romano has again confirmed that Luka Modric has agreed a new contract with Real Madrid -- all that is left is the official announcement.
Modric, 35, is now working on rolling one-year deals as he enters the twilight of his career. He joined Los Blancos from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012 and the new contract will ensure he has been a lynch-pin of the midfield for a decade.
The extension of Luka Modric's contract with Real Madrid is done and it's not in question. The agreement has been in place since January for one more year of contract. It's just a matter of time for the official announcement. Modric is definitely staying. ⚪️ #RealMadrid https://t.co/RR5K9F1pJp
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 15, 2021
15.47 GMT: El Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona are ready to offer a new contract to Ousmane Dembele. It's fair to say the France international has never really shone at the Camp Nou, with fitness and disciplinary issues affecting him since he moved from Borussia Dortmund in 2017, but Barca are ready to stand by him.
The 23-year-old forward was strongly linked with a move away at the start of the season, with a loan move to Manchester United very close.
Dembele has little more than a year left on his deal, so Barca must tie him down to a new deal soon or consider cashing in while they still can.
He cost Barca €105m plus €40m in add-ons, of which €30m has already been reached.
15.05 GMT: England goalkeeper Sandy MacIver has signed a new two-year contract with Everton, keeping her at the club until the summer of June 2023. MacIver had spent three seasons in the United States with Clemson Tigers before returning to Everton last year, where she started her career. It comes after boss Willie Kirk also signed an extended deal.
"I'm really excited to sign this contract and be at Everton for another two years," MacIver told the club's official website. "Willie has made it clear of his intent with the players he's brought in.
"Willie signing his new contract at the end of last year was a real statement, too, and shows his belief in where the Club is going. That was another big reason for me wanting to stay."
✍️ 2⃣0⃣2⃣3⃣ ✍️@SandyMacIver_ 👏
— Everton Women (@EvertonWomen) March 15, 2021
14.24 GMT: Mark Ogden joins Gab and Juls to debate whether Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deserves a new contract and whether he can lead Manchester United back to the top.
13.40 GMT: A day didn't seem to go by in the first half of the season without a Christian Eriksen transfer rumour. But the Denmark international didn't leave Inter Milan in the winter window, and it now appears to be paying dividends in his performances.
The 29-year-old midfielder struggled badly in his first 12 months in Italian football, but the free kick he scored against AC Milan to send Inter into the semifinals of the Coppa Italia seems to have transformed his career and he looks set to stay longer.
"It was the hardest and most demanding season of my career," Eriksen told TV2 Sport. "Not because I wanted to escape, I really wanted to fight for my place and I always have. I was sure that if my chance came, I would probably try to grab it.
"I was a bit lucky [with the free-kick], but it was a new beginning. People started looking at me with different eyes. I have improved from game to game and I'm happy that things went like this. Now let's see how it goes and what the future brings."
12.54 GMT: The Daily Mirror reports that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ready to let four players leave in the summer as he reshapes his squad for next season. The Manchester United boss could net £40m by selling Jesse Lingard and Diogo Dalot -- possibly to loaning clubs West Ham United and Inter Milan respectively. Phil Jones is completely out of the picture and could be sold for £10m, with United also looking for the same amount for Juan Mata if they trigger a contract extension to prevent him leaving on a free.
Reports suggest that Solskjaer, who is set to sign a new contract, has been promising £80m to spend, and another £60m in player sales will open his options further.
12.10 GMT: Thomas Tuchel has played down suggestions he may need to enter the transfer market in the summer to cure Chelsea's goal-scoring problems. Despite spending £222m last summer in signing a raft of players, including Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Kai Havertz, all three have struggled to turn their high price tags into performances.
Chelsea drew 0-0 at Leeds United on Saturday, but Tuchel does not think he needs to be looking to the transfer market just yet.
"We're still looking a little bit for the breakthrough for one or two guys to go on a run and score consistently," Tuchel said. "Obviously that's not the case at the moment and we will not stop pushing and stop looking for solutions to create more clear chances for them.
"That's the way it is, but there's no need now to reflect for the summer or reflect on solutions other than the solutions that we have. We have guys we are happy with and who have the potential to be more decisive, and we will try to help them."
11.23 GMT: The father of Barcelona starlet Ilaix Moriba has revealed how he could have moved to Manchester City in January 2019 when negotiations over a new contract stalled -- until he took decisive action.
Moriba, 18, has broken into the Barca first team this year, making his La Liga debut in February in a 5-1 win over Alaves. But it could have been very different for the central midfielder.
"With Barca, negotiations were not advancing," Mamady Moriba told Dario Sport. "We met Txiki Begiristain [City's sporting director] and he explained the project to us. We liked it because they were betting big on Ilaix. A few weeks later we had our tickets to Manchester to go and sign the contract.
"I cancelled it that same morning we were supposed to go there. I wanted Ilaix to be a reference point for the upcoming Barca generations. His friends had gone. If he stayed it was proof that Barcelona bet on young players. And we reached a deal where everyone won."
10.40 GMT: Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici has all but ended speculation that Cristiano Ronaldo could leave the club this summer.
Ronaldo, 36, has a contract with Juventus until June 2022 and the Portugal captain came under fire after Juve's elimination from the Champions League at the hands of FC Porto last week, fuelling speculation that he may depart. Ronaldo then scored a hat trick in Juventus' 3-1 victory over Cagliari on Sunday.
"We are talking about a player that has scored 41 goals in 38 games in 2020 with Juventus," Paratici told Sky Italia. "He is the Serie A leading scorer and has won five Ballon d'Or awards and I've lost count of the Champions Leagues.
"With us he has won many titles and it's a privilege to have him in our squad. We are keeping him close to us and we will enjoy him for as long as possible. We are delighted to have him with us. Does he represent the future of Juve? Without a doubt."
That hasn't stopped the Spanish newspapers continuing to speculate about a return to Real Madrid, though.
The frontpage of Diario AS on Monday insisted that "Cristiano is possible" while admitting that "the financial fit is difficult, because of his salary and image rights."
🔙🇵🇹Cristiano es una posibilidad real: el sueldo, números del fichaje y la clave para su vuelta a Madridhttps://t.co/Mz4DNr62NW
— Diario AS (@diarioas) March 15, 2021
Marca took a more realistic tone, saying that "Jorge Mendes' offering of the possible return [of Ronaldo] hasn't changed Madrid's plans," naming Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland as more likely summer targets.
#ConfidencialMARCA 👀 El plan de Florentino ante la vía Cristiano https://t.co/K5d7dx58V8 por @jfelixdiaz
— MARCA (@marca) March 15, 2021
09.52 GMT: Lautaro Matinez has again insisted he is eager to sign a new contract with Inter Milan, despite the club's financial difficulties. He has already said that the door is closed on a move to Barcelona, which 12 months ago seemed a mere formality before the coronavirus crisis took hold.
"The contract renewal? We're working on it. Inter at the moment are in a bit of financial difficulty but I am calm because the agreement can be found," the 23-year-old Argentine striker told Sky Sport Italia.
09.14 GMT: Arsenal have identified Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan N'Dicka as a key transfer target, while Yves Bissouma of Brighton is also being tracked, reports the Daily Express.
N'Dicka, 21, moved to the Bundesliga from Auxerre in 2018 for £4.7m and has excelled on the left side of a back three. The Express says talks have already taken place with N'Dicka's agents, with a fee of £19m suggested. Bissouma, 24, is seen as a back-up target.
08.30 GMT: Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has said only a few clubs will be able to sign Erling Haaland when he decides to leave the club.
"I have never seen someone like him. We can search Europe-wide," Zorc told Welt am Sonntag. "If he ever left us somewhere, there would only be a handful of clubs, but we'll try to keep him as long as possible for sporting reasons."
Dortmund are fifth in the Bundesliga table and in danger of missing out on the Champions League next season, and Zorc knows that being among Europe's elite is crucial.
"We don't want to play in the Europa League on Thursdays. We want to give our calling card in the Champions League," he added.
Haaland has been linked with Barcelona, Chelsea, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. Check out Mark Ogden's run down of where he might end up.
PAPER ROUND
United's insider info on target Collins
Manchester United could make a bid for Stoke City defender Nathan Collins on the recommendation of new technical director Darren Fletcher, reports The Sun.
Fletcher is known to be a big admirer of the 19-year-old from his time with the Potters. Fletcher spent two years at the Bet365 Stadium around the same time Collins was climbing the ranks in the club's youth academy.
Collins made his Stoke debut in 2019 and he has since become one of the most sought-after defenders in the Championship.
The Irishman has made 27 appearances for Michael O'Neill's team this season and now it seems he could be ready to step up into the top flight.
United are reportedly looking for a long-term partner for Harry Maguire, and though Collins might not be ready to step in straight away, he is considered one for the future.
Guardiola eyes Mendes move
Manchester City are set to make an official approach for Sporting CP left-back Nuno Mendes, according to AS.
The City boss is keen to get ahead in the race to sign a player who is viewed one of the best full-backs in Europe, with several clubs interested in the 18-year-old.
Guardiola has asked City officials to initiate negotiations for a player who has made 24 appearances this season, scoring one goal and adding two assists.
Mendes has established himself in Sporting's first team on the left of the defence, but he can play in the centre.
Real Madrid have also identified the youngster as a potential replacement for Marcelo, who is out of contract at the end of next season.
Tap-ins
- Leeds United are targeting Liverpool starlet Yasser Larouci and Crystal Palace's Patrick van Aanholt as potential full-back options for the 2021-22 season, according to The Sun. Larouci, 20, made two appearances last season for Liverpool but has found opportunities at a premium this time around. He is available on a free transfer in the summer. Palace's Van Aanholt is a backup choice, with the Dutchman set to leave Selhurst Park this summer.
- AC Milan are considering a move for Santos starlet Kaio Jorge in 2022, when he is available on a free transfer, or they could move before. The 19-year-old attacking player is the latest star from Brazil to wear the fabled No. 9 shirt for the national team. And as well as Milan, Jorge is also being watched by Arsenal and Chelsea.