Brighton remain adamant on De Zerbi's release clause

Barcelona's pursuit of Roberto De Zerbi as their next coach has hit a stone wall due to Brighton & Hove Albion's steadfast stance on his €15m release clause, reports Diario Sport.

De Zerbi, a frontrunner to succeed Xavi Hernández at Barcelona, has a contract until 2026 stipulating the compensation package if he moves to another club.

Barcelona's financial constraints make meeting the release clause challenging. Meanwhile, Liverpool and Bayern Munich have also expressed interest in De Zerbi for their managerial vacancies.

Mbappe & Enrique hold talks following Monaco substitution row

Kylian Mbappe has reportedly held talks with Luis Enrique following their row involving the forward's substitution against Monaco on Friday night.

Athletic set to sign Djalo from Braga

Athletic Club have finalized a deal with Portuguese club Braga to secure the services of forward Alvaro Djalo, as reported by Diario AS.

After joining Braga's youth academy in 2017, Djaló steadily progressed through the ranks to earn a spot in the first team.

While Djalo made his debut last season with four goals to his name, his breakout performance has occurred this season, where he has already netted an impressive tally of 12 goals. Notably, five of these goals were scored in European competitions, including a standout performance against Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage.

The Spanish side has agreed to pay Braga an initial €15 million for Djalo's transfer, with an additional €5 million potentially payable in add-ons.

Tuchel to be sacked early if Bayern exit UCL to Lazio

Thomas Tuchel may be sacked before his prearranged summer exit from Bayern Munich should his team be knocked out of the Champions League by Lazio.

De Zerbi focused on Brighton amid Barcelona links

Roberto De Zerbi, the manager of Brighton, has quashed rumours about his departure from the club amid speculation linking him to Liverpool and Barcelona.

Despite interest from these prestigious clubs, De Zerbi affirmed his commitment to Brighton, stating that he is solely focused on the team's endeavours for the remainder of the season.

“I have only Brighton in my head," he told reporters.

“I would like to finish the season in the best way with our young players – to compete and win as many games as we can.”

When asked about his future, he added: “Yes, I have a contract. I have decided nothing. My focus is on Brighton – 100 per cent.”

Howe insists Ashworth's exit would not trouble Newcastle's summer business

Eddie Howe assures that Newcastle United's summer transfer plans will proceed as intended despite the departure of sporting director Dan Ashworth.

Newcastle took action by placing Ashworth on gardening leave after he disclosed an approach from Manchester United.

"I haven't had too many meetings regarding the summer as of yet, I'm sure they'll gather pace as we get closer to the summer window," said Howe.

"They'll be unaffected by Dan's exit."

While Newcastle has not specified the buyout price for Ashworth's contract, reports suggest it could amount to £10 million.

Dortmund & Spurs monitoring Brugges striker Denkey

Cercle Brugges striker Kevin Denkey has attracted interest from top clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund, as reported by Foot Mercato.

Denkey, at 23 years old, has emerged as a prolific goal scorer in Belgium's Jupiler League, leading the scoring charts with an impressive tally of 22 goals in 26 appearances this season. Scouts from both Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund have closely monitored Denkey's performances, attending several of his matches, including the recent city derby against Club Brugge

Arsenal closing in on signing Chelsea target Gyokeres

According to Football365.com, Arsenal are inching closer to signing Sporting CP forward Viktor Gyokeres in the summer.

The Portuguese forward has displayed outstanding form this season having already scored 31 goals. The Gunners, though, will face competition from Chelsea are also keen on roping in the player next season.

Gakpo reveals how close he came to joining Man Utd

Cody Gakpo has revealed how close he came to joining Manchester United before putting pen on paper for Liverpool in January 2023.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Gakpo said: "I think it was the summer before that I was in contact with the club [Manchester United] and spoke to the manager as well, obviously he's Dutch. But, at the end it didn't go through and that's just it. And in the winter Liverpool came. [It was the] Best decision for me."

Xavi remains firm on his decision to quit Barcelona

Barcelona boss Xavi has once again claimed that he remains firm on his decision to quit Barcelona at the end of the current season. Speaking to reporters, the Barcelona legend said, "I stand firm on my decision to leave the club at the end of the season. There are no changes. I’m gonna leave."