Liverpool have initiated discussions with Barcelona regarding a potential transfer of Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, according to El Nacional. The Merseyside club has emerged as the latest contender for the 27-year-old's signature, who has been previously linked with Manchester United.
Barcelona's sporting director Deco has reportedly received interest from Liverpool and preliminary talks have already taken place. The Catalan giants are seeking a transfer fee of €40m for de Jong, though their negotiating position is weakened by the fact that the midfielder has only 16 months remaining on his current contract.
In other transfer news, Chelsea are making progress in their pursuit of Sporting CP's promising talent Dário Essugo. The 19-year-old midfielder, who has impressed during his loan spell at Las Palmas with 14 appearances and one goal in LaLiga, is reportedly open to the move but insists on being part of the first-team squad. Essugo holds the record as Sporting's youngest-ever player, having made his debut in 2021 at just 16 years and six days old.
Manchester United could be involved in an interesting swap deal, as Juventus considers offering Douglas Luiz as part of a potential transfer for Joshua Zirkzee. The Brazilian midfielder, who moved to Serie A from Aston Villa last summer, has started only three league games since his arrival in Turin.
Manchester City are setting their sights on Serie A full-backs Andrea Cambiaso and Theo Hernández for the summer transfer window. Cambiaso nearly joined City in January, while Hernández, whose AC Milan contract expires in June 2026, has attracted interest from Real Madrid and Manchester United.
In other developments, Besiktas have approached Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Florian Neuhaus regarding a potential loan move. The Germany international has seen limited action this season, appearing in just eight Bundesliga matches. Discussions are ongoing about including a permanent transfer clause for the summer.
The transfer market continues to buzz with additional rumors, including Chelsea's interest in Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande and Liverpool's consideration of Feyenoord defender David Hancko. FC Dallas is close to securing Amiens centre-back Osaze Urhoghide, while several Premier League giants, including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United, are monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt's €60m-rated midfielder Hugo Larsson. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has remained tight-lipped about a release clause that could facilitate a Premier League return, and Barcelona's Ansu Fati has dismissed the possibility of a loan move to Turkey.
