Transfer Gossip: Griezmann becomes Barca pawn, Haaland staying put

Football may be on hiatus, but that’s not dampening the never-ending nature of transfer talk. Here’s a look at the chatter making the rounds this week.

Areola, Onana circling in shot-stopper carousel

To the surprise of nobody, Alphonse Areola is discontent playing second fiddle to human scaffold Thibaut Courtois at Real Madrid after having the No. 1 job at Paris Saint-Germain a year ago. Areola’s missus fancies London, according to L’Equipe, which also reports that Ajax shot-stopper Andre Onana would be keen to deputize for Keylor Navas in the French capital.

Inter want Griezmann for Lautaro

Barcelona won’t stop until Lautaro Martinez is lining up alongside Lionel Messi at the Camp Nou, and Gazzetta dello Sport reports Inter have offered a swap deal involving Antoine Griezmann. Considering the Frenchman has scored three fewer league goals than Luis Suarez, who hasn’t played since January, Barcelona would presumably be willing to OK Inter’s offer.

Isak becomes Barcelona’s Plan B

Should Martinez evade Barcelona’s clutches, the Catalan giants will look to Real Sociedad forward Aleksander Isak, according to Spanish outlet Marca. Obstacles abound, however. Isak reportedly has a £61-million buyout clause and Borussia Dortmund apparently hold a £26-million buyback for the 20-year-old, because of course they do.

Nobody wants City’s Cancelo, not even City

Manchester City have reignited their interest in owning every active defender – except Joao Cancelo, who was part of a swap deal for Juventus’ Danilo last summer. The Express reports the club wants Barcelona right-back Nelson Semedo, and City are willing to ship Cancelo to the Catalan capital to get their man. Barcelona apparently want no less than £40 million for Semedo.

Haaland staying put, for now

One player everyone wants is Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland. According to the Mirror, though, Haaland won’t be heading to Manchester United or Real Madrid this summer because a £65-million buyout clause in his deal won’t be triggered until 2022. It’s hard to envision agent Mino Raiola and one of Europe’s shrewdest sides getting anything less than a nine-digit figure for the Norse deity.

More suitors join Rashica race

Sticking with developments in Germany, Milot Rashica is having a brilliant season at Werder Bremen, and Metro recently quoted his agent in reporting that the 23-year-old attacking mid fancies the Champions League. Naturally, Liverpool cited this on their official website (why are clubs doing this?), while Weser-Kurier maintains the reported Wolves and West Ham target longs for RB Leipzig.

Everton swoop for Magalhaes

A week ago, reports claimed Chelsea would nab Lille central defender Gabriel Magalhaes for a £30-million fee. The Guardian’s Andy Hunter reckons Magalhaes is off to Everton instead, and esteemed Napoli blog Arena Napoli claims the Brazilian had a medical with the Toffees in March. Either way, he’ll be wearing blue next season, if there is one.

Mane, Mbappe star in mind-boggling hearsay

An “exclusive” from The Sun indicates Liverpool will move for PSG speedster Kylian Mbappe should Real Madrid fulfill Zinedine Zidane’s long-standing desire for Sadio Mane. But Liverpool is switching to Nike kits, and Mbappe’s sponsored by the sportswear brand, and … and nothing. Here’s a list of things less likely to occur than Mbappe joining the Reds: