All the latest and greatest rumours and tidbits on the transfer moves that teams around the world will be making this close season.
Zidane next in line at Real Madrid?
French legend Zinedine Zidane is being groomed to take over the managerial role at former club Real Madrid, according to Sky Sports.
Zidane is currently coaching the Real Madrid "B" team and the report says he's waiting in the wings for Carlo Ancelotti to either move on or be asked to leave. The latter would seem surprising with Real Madrid battling for the La Liga crown and still alive in the Champions League and through to the last eight after beating Schalke 5-4 on aggregate in the round of 16.
The pressure is always on at the Bernabeu, though, and with Real Madrid having recently lost their La Liga lead to Barcelona along with a few "un-Real-like" performances in the process, Ancelotti might well be looking over his shoulder at Zidane should los Blancos fail to succeed on any of their competitive fronts for the remainder of the season.
Milner mulls move away from England
Manchester City's James Milner is reportedly pondering a move away from England this summer after his contract expires at the Etihad, according to the Guardian.
The midfielder has only started 13 games for Manuel Pellegrini this season, his fifth at the club, and is reportedly looking for a move to a team where he'll figure more prominently in the regular XI. Initial reports say that Milner is already in talks with Serie A clubs Inter Milan, Roma and A.C. Milan, with two unnamed La Liga teams also showing interest.
At 29, it's likely this is Milner's last chance to make a big money move. He's currently earning 90,000 pounds per week with Man City and Pellegrini said the club want to keep him if he'll stay.
"All the people at the club who decide if James stays or goes want him to stay," said the Chilean. "There are two parts to a contract and James must decide what he wants to do with his future."
Super Mario poses with El Shaarawy
A.C. Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy was spotted with another player who used to call the San Siro home, one Mario Balotelli.
@stewel92 #milan che piacere vedervi tutti❤️
A photo posted by Mario Balotelli�������� (@mb459) on
And according to a report in the Metro, El Shaarawy may soon be joining Balotelli at Liverpool. That all depends on if the latter makes it through the summer transfer window unscathed, but that's a different story.
The 22-year-old Italian has also drawn the interest of other Premier League clubs, most notably Arsenal, but the visit from his countryman may be a tip of the hand that Brendan Rodgers has an inside track on signing El Shaarawy.
Keane begins Galaxy contract talks
The LA Galaxy started their MLS Cup title defense in style on Friday night, cruising to a 2-0 win vs. the Chicago Fire thanks in part to a goal from captain Robbie Keane. The Irish international, who's contract expires at the end of the 2015 season, is already looking to his future and, for the short term at least, that future may be right in Los Angeles.
Among Keane's stated goals with the Galaxy -- winning a fourth MLS Cup and playing in the CONCACAF Champions League -- it's also presumed he's keen for a reunion with former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard, who will join the Galaxy at the end of the Premier League season.
"It's a completely different challenge than what he's used to," said Keane of Gerrard's move. "I left Ireland when I was 15, he's been in Liverpool all of his life and he's never left there, so it will be different for him."
Tap-Ins
- Italian website Forza are reporting that AC Milan may be the next stop on the line for out-of-favour Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick.
Carrick has failed to find regular minutes this season at Old Trafford and is available on a free transfer this summer with his contract expiring. Milan's Nigel de Jong is rumoured to be moving the other direction to Old Trafford, which could make this a perfect marriage of convenience for both clubs to shake things up in midfield.
- Uruguayan midfielder Christian Rodriguez has landed in Brazil to sign a loan deal with Gremio, who are managed by Luiz Felipe Scolari. Rodriguez, who was a starter for Uruguay in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, helped his national side win the 2011 Copa America and won the Spanish league title with Atletico last season.
On Monday, Gremio announced the signing of former Sao Paulo midfielder Maicon.
- Burnley have signed Norwegian Fredrik Ulvestad after the 22-year-old free agent spent a short time training with the club in recent weeks. Manager Sean Dyche plans to bring Ulvestad along slowly to allow him to adjust to the pace of play in the Premier League.