Transfer Centre LIVE! Football transfers, news, updates and rumours

The top stories and transfer rumours from Monday's newspapers...

Football gossip, paper talk and transfer rumours: Viktor Gyokeres, Milos Kerkez and Jules Kounde

Sky Sports

Arsenal are developing a strong interest in Sporting forward Viktor Gyokeres as they consider their options to sign a striker this summer, according to The Athletic.

It is claimed Arsenal’s new sporting director Andrea Berta - whose appointment was confirmed on Sunday - is a long-term admirer of Gyokeres.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is reportedly a huge fan of Alexander Isak, but Newcastle have no intention of letting the Sweden international leave.

Arsenal have held a long-term interest in RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, with Sky Sports News reporting in January that the club were considering a move for the Slovenian then. However, his agent ruled out a move due to a gentleman’s agreement with Leipzig to stay at least until this summer. 

A £62m (€75m) release clause for Sesko can be activated this summer, Sky Sports News understands. 

But The Athletic are claiming Gyokeres has become a more prominent candidate than he might have been in the past. 

Since moving to Sporting from Coventry in the summer of 2023, the Sweden international has scored 85 goals in 92 games for the Portuguese club, with 42 of those goals coming this season in 42 appearances.

Matheus Cunha says he has made it clear to Wolves he wants to move to a bigger club this summer.

His comments come despite signing a contract extension at Molineux until 2029 during the January transfer window when he was the subject of interest from other clubs.

Sky Sports News understands Cunha has a £62.5m release clause in his contract that can be activated this summer.

The 25-year-old says he did not feel right leaving Wolves in the middle of the season while the club’s Premier League safety was not assured.

In an interview with The Guardian on Sunday, Cunha said: “Now we’re close to achieving our goal [of staying up]…I’ve made it clear that I need to take the next step.

"I want to fight for titles, for big things. I have potential."

The Brazil international continued: “I had a lot of offers but I wouldn’t feel well if I had done it [moved].

“Some things you can’t control but I couldn’t leave the club in the middle of the season, in a difficult situation, in the relegation zone.”

Cunha is currently banned from domestic football until the game against Tottenham Hotspur on April 13 for his reaction to being sent off against Bournemouth earlier this month.

“Sometimes all we want in life is affection,” Cunha said. “People think we have everything, but we’re human beings, too. We need a bit of understanding – we have our difficulties.

“Wolves gave me that joy back. The fans [have given] me a lot. The status I have today, the player I am now and the happiness I’m feeling, it’s because of them. I’m really grateful to Wolves.”

The Soccer Saturday panel discuss Andrea Berta's arrival as Arsenal sporting director and what the Italian's top priorities should be at the Emirates:

Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher cannot understand why local boy Trent Alexander-Arnold does not see his long-term future at Anfield amid reports of a switch to Real Madrid moving closer this week.

The 26-year-old England right-back, along with other key players Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, is out of contract this summer and has reportedly agreed terms on a free transfer to the Spanish giants.

Liverpool-born Alexander-Arnold made his debut for the club as an 18-year-old in 2016 and has won the Champions League, Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup, with a second league title now likely as the club are 12 points clear at the summit.

The news of Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave has not been welcomed by Liverpool fans.

In the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast, former Liverpool defender Carragher said: “It seems like there’s not one thing people are unhappy with – it’s leaving on a free or that he should have come out and told the club earlier – people are angry for three or four different things.

“I’m not angry about him going on a free. Where I’m at is that, as a local player and a Liverpool fan, Liverpool are in a position where they’re competing for the league and a European Cup every year.

“So, if you’re a Liverpool fan and a local player, I’m just disappointed that he doesn’t think that this is it.

“I’m putting myself in his position, where I’d be thinking that we could go level with Manchester United in league trophies, I’ve got another seven or eight years at Liverpool and want to get three or four ahead of them, with a couple more European Cups.”

The top stories and transfer rumours from Sunday's newspapers...

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes emerges as Real Madrid transfer target - Paper Talk

Sky Sports

James Allcott and Lyes Bouzidi join Saturday Social to go through every Premier League club and pick one perfect player each club should sign, including the likes of Brahim Diaz, Victor Osimhen, Mike Maignan, Dani Olmo and more!

Paul Merson discusses Trent Alexander-Arnold's potential free-transfer move from Liverpool to Real Madrid and believes Reds fans should be happy for the right back.

In the latest episode of the Next Up podcast, we take a closer look at Geovany Quenda after Chelsea agreed a deal with Sporting for the exciting teenager.

Ron Walker and Zinny Boswell look at how Chelsea moved quickly to sign Quenda amid interest from Man Utd, his rise to prominence and where he might fit in at Stamford Bridge.

The Soccer Saturday panel discuss Andrea Berta's arrival as Arsenal sporting director and what the Italian's top priorities should be at the Emirates:

Sky Sports' Peter Smith:

"Andrea Berta arrives from Atletico Madrid with an exciting reputation for Arsenal supporters in the transfer market. He also has a ringing endorsement from those he has done deals with, praised for his meticulous approach but also the way he conducts business.

"The man who signed Rodri, Antoine Griezmann and Jan Oblak in bargain deals - and sold two of those three on at a substantial profit - will be expected to live up to that billing in north London.

Antoine Griezmann has been a huge success since Berta first brought the France forward to Madrid more than a decade ago
"The pressure will be on to deliver a summer window which brings an out-and-out No 9 and a midfield refresh to allow Mikel Arteta's team to take the final step in their pursuit of the Premier League title.

"Edu, Berta's predecessor, overhauled the club with Arteta during his five-year spell at the helm. Now, with a talented young squad, including a depth of defensive options, the finishing touches need to be applied to turn Arsenal into champions.

"Those missing pieces won't be easy to find, with the striker market limited and expensive, and rivals also on the lookout for a ball-playing No 6. The latter will be a key position to address should Jorginho and Thomas Partey leave at the end of their current contracts, as expected.

"A back-up in goal for David Raya, with Neto only on loan from Bournemouth, will also be a requirement.

"There will also be internal contracts to juggle, with star players Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes having just two years on their current terms by this summer, and youngsters Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri pushing to be rewarded for their impressive performances this season.

"A source who has worked with Berta believes he will prove to be a shrewd appointment for Arsenal. If he can replicate his title-winning project at Atletico with the Gunners, his acquisition could be one of their best signings of all."

Arsenal have confirmed the appointment of Andrea Berta as their new sporting director, so what’s on the former Atletico Madrid chief’s agenda at the Emirates Stadium?

Sign a forward (at least one!)

Berta’s most pressing task will be to strengthen Arsenal’s attack. Their injuries this season have exposed a lack of depth in their forward line. The need for more firepower is clear.

Kai Havertz was on track for the highest-scoring season of his career before his knee injury but Arsenal have become too dependent on him. Having sold Eddie Nketiah without replacing him last summer, and having lost Gabriel Jesus to a knee injury too, they are light on numbers as well as killer quality.

Can Berta help Arsenal broker a deal for one of their top targets? Alexander Isak reportedly figures highly on the club’s shortlist and there has also been interest in RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko. The Gunners can’t afford to draw another blank this summer.

Get Zubimendi deal over the line

Arsenal had been closing in on a deal to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi in the summer, Sky Sports News understands - only for recent reports to claim Real Madrid were now looking to also sign the Spain international.

Zubimendi, 25, is under contract at La Real until the summer of 2027, but has a £51 million release clause and Arsenal will be hoping their new sporting director, who worked in the same role in the Spanish capital for 12 years while at Atletico Madrid, will be able to use his experience and connections to get this transfer finalised this summer.

Tie stars to new deals

It's not just about getting players through the door at Arsenal with key figures like Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli all entering the final two years of their contracts this summer.

The north London will also want to tie down youngsters Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri after their stunning breakthrough seasons at the Emirates, while they will have to decided what to do with midfielders Thomas Partey and Jorginho as their contracts expire in the summer.

Securing the futures of key players will be of high importance for Berta and Arsenal so that Mikel Arteta can continue to build on the foundations built over the last few seasons.

Raise funds through sales

There are players that need to be moved on too.

Criticism has been labelled at Arsenal in the past for not generating enough through player sales so Berta can look to have a big impact in this area.

Kieran Tierney looks poised to join Celtic, while Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior haven't had the first team opportunities they would have liked this season and could be two of the names surplus to requirements.

Facilitate a trophy charge

At the crux at the task facing Berta is the need to equip Arteta with the tools to end Arsenal’s wait for major silverware. Arsenal’s recruitment has been too heavily skewed towards defensive signings in recent years. There is a need to rebalance the squad.

To do so, he must develop a strong relationship with Arteta. The pair must be aligned, as Arteta was with Berta’s predecessor, Edu, as they prepare to attack their trophy targets next season.

Arsenal have appointed Andrea Berta as their new sporting director.

Arsenal transfer news: Andrea Berta appointed new sporting director following Edu's departure

Sky Sports

RB Leipzig have sacked head coach Marco Rose. 

Rose joined the club in September 2022 and helped the side to qualify for the Champions League twice, win the second DFB-Pokal in the club’s history and emerge victorious in the Supercup for the first time.

RB Leipzig are sixth in the Bundesliga following Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Borussia Monchengladbach. 

Marcel Schafer, managing director for sport, said: "We have believed in our co-operation with Marco and his team for a very long time and, up to now, tried everything to turn things around together. 

"Given the development and the continued lack of results, we’re all firmly convinced that we need new impetus for the remainder of the campaign in order to achieve our aims for the season. 

"We’d like to thank Marco and his coaching team for the past two and a half years, the success we enjoyed together and their commitment to the club.”

The club will announce who will take over the head coach role on an interim basis in due course.

The top stories and transfer rumours from Sunday's newspapers...

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes emerges as Real Madrid transfer target - Paper Talk

Sky Sports

Fenway Sports Group are looking into the possibility of buying a controlling stake in Spanish club Malaga, according to The Mirror.

The report says FSG have been looking for a European club to add to their portfolio as part of a multi-club model, with Malaga emerging as a viable option.

Liverpool’s owners previously considered investing in French side Bordeaux, but pulled out due to the high costs associated with the stadium and the gloomy economic outlook in French football. 

FSG have reportedly been looking at other clubs in Portugal and Belgium, but Malaga is now the main focus after doing due diligence and site visits on Levante, Elche, Espanyol, Getafe and Valladolid.

Talking on Sky Sports Football, Jamie Mackie and Chris Iwelumo react to the job Chris Wilder has done at Sheffield United after 'statement' win vs Coventry City.

Latest from Sky Sports News senior reporter Rob Dorsett:

Veteran striker Martyn Waghorn has come out of retirement in an attempt to help Derby County survive relegation from the Championship.

EFL transfer news, rumours and gossip for Championship, League One and League Two

Sky Sports

Brendan Rodgers insists Celtic will do everything they can to keep Daizen Maeda after the forward scored twice in Saturday's 3-0 win over Hearts.