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Despite a breakthrough season at Paris Saint-Germain, where he registered double digits for both goals and assists in Ligue 1 and made a sizeable contribution to the club’s maiden Champions League triumph, Bradley Barcola finds himself as the odd one out in Luis Enrique’s forward line. Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia appear to be in the box seats for PSG’s starting XI, the latter signing in January from Napoli, which has meant the absurdly talented Barcola could move on this summer. Europe’s elite are lining up, fluttering their eyelashes at the 22-year-old, with Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Liverpool all seen as frontrunners, should Barcola (and PSG) decide to move on.
Nothing stirs the heart quite like the words “Japanese wonderkid” and the latest J1 League star to make his way to England is Kōta Takai, who is on the verge of a £5m move to Tottenham from Kawasaki Frontale – which would constitute a record sale from the Japanese league. The 20-year-old centre-back is already a senior international and, standing at 6ft4in, is expected to slot straight into Thomas Frank’s first team, competing for a place alongside Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin.
After sulking through Manchester United’s post-season tour of Asia and recently posing and posting a picture of himself in Ibiza wearing an Aston Villa shirt (with Marcus Rashford’s name on the back), it’s fair to say Alejandro Garnacho isn’t exactly flavour of the month among Old Trafford bigwigs (or even United’s fanbase). A summer exit looks likely, and an old-fashioned swap deal has even been suggested, with Chelsea reportedly keen to take the Argentinian in exchange for Christopher Nkunku. The Frenchman has been a disappointment since his £52m move from Leipzig two years ago, with fitness and form deserting the now 27-year-old. United want a striker, and Chelsea want another left winger (after sending Jadon Sancho packing back to United), so this seems like a sensible bit of business for once, and would potentially mean Chelsea don’t have to spent the best part of £50m on either Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens or Lyon’s Malick Fofana, two other expensive transfer targets that operate on the left wing.
Regarding a potential exit from Manchester City, John Stones made his feelings clear on Sunday, saying: “I’m here, I want to stay here, I love it. I’m here to help the team, and I don’t know what’s been said or speculated, but I hope that kind of shuts it down.” So, naturally, the injury-prone defender is now being linked with a return to his former side Everton. Stones is out of contract next summer, so any fee would be affordable for David Moyes and co, should City be open to a sale and the 31-year-old change his mind.
Luka Modric is a part-owner of Swansea and now his former teammate Gareth Bale is aiming to become a part-owner of Cardiff, who have just been relegated to League One. “It’s my home club, it’s where I grew up and my uncle [Chris Pike] used to play for them,” said Bale on Monday night, while attending the premiere of F1 The Movie. “To be involved with an ownership group would be a dream come true. It’s a club close to my heart. It’s where I grew up and I would love to be able to be a part of growing Cardiff and taking it to the Premier League where it belongs.”
Jordan Henderson can leave Ajax for free this summer, owing to a clause in his contract, and Nottingham Forest and Marseille are interested. Having lived in Nottingham and visited Marseille, the Mill knows which of those two suitors it would choose (clue: said city doesn’t claim to have the oldest pub in England).
And the Wrexham legend Paul Mullin has completed a loan move to Wigan, with the now Championship club’s celebrity owner Ryan Reynolds posting a heartfelt farewell message to the striker: “I can’t imagine seeing Mulls on loan and in another kit,” wrote the American actor. “We wouldn’t be where we are without his heart, skill and work ethic. We love you, Paul Mullin. SPM.”
