Transfer Centre

Transfer rumours: De Ligt to Bayern, Pjanic to Sporting, Reyna future

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 14 July 2022

Sports Mole rounds up the latest transfer rumours, including updates on Matthijs de Ligt's move to Bayern Munich and Roma's interest in Wilfried Zaha.

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed that Bayern Munich have been in discussions with his side over a move for Matthijs de Ligt.

The 22-year-old is out of contract at the Allianz Stadium in 2024 and has allegedly informed the Old Lady that he has no intention of extending his current deal.

Chelsea and Bayern have been the two sides most strongly linked with a move for De Ligt, but the Blues are now close to signing Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli.

Allegri has now hinted that the Dutchman could head for Munich, telling the press: "As you know, there was a meeting with Bayern yesterday.

"For now he is a Juve player and I treat him so. The transfer market is open until August 31 and anything can happen. If he were to leave, the club is ready to replace him in the best possible way."

Juventus are thought to be prepared to demand as much as £103m for De Ligt, who has eight goals to boast from 117 games in black and white.

Miralem Pjanic in action for Besiktas in November 2021 © Reuters

Meanwhile, Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic has returned to Camp Nou following his loan spell at Besiktas, but he is expected to end his nightmare stint at the club soon.

The 32-year-old is under contract with the Blaugrana for another two years, but he has failed to register a goal or assist in 30 appearances for Barcelona in all tournaments.

According to AS, Sporting Lisbon are prepared to spend as much as €10m (£8.5m) to prise Pjanic away from Barcelona for the 2022-23 season.

The report claims that Barcelona are prepared to leave Pjanic out of their squad for their pre-season tour of the United States in order to try to fast-track an exit.

Pjanic, who is not in the plans of Barcelona boss Xavi moving forward, could supposedly arrive in Portugal as early as Monday to finalise his move to Sporting.

Borussia Dortmund coach Marco Rose and Borussia Dortmund's Giovanni Reyna on August 7, 2021 © Reuters

Over in Germany, Borussia Dortmund starlet Giovanni Reyna is finally hoping to kick on for the 2022-23 season after an injury-hit start to life at the Westfalenstadion.

The 19-year-old has already missed 39 games through injury for the Black and Yellows but has amassed nine goals and 12 assists for the club when fully fit.

According to Fabrizio Romano, numerous clubs have approached Dortmund with a proposal to sign Reyna on loan for the 2022-23 season.

However, Dortmund are not planning to sanction a temporary exit for the United States international, who is in the plans of newly-appointed manager Edin Terzic.

Reyna has only just returned from a muscular injury sustained in April, and he was restricted to just 13 appearances in all competitions in 2021-22.

Ivory Coast's Wilfried Zaha is seen inside the stadium on March 29, 2022 © Reuters

Finally, talk surrounding a potential exit for Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha is hotting up, as has been a common theme for the past few summer transfer windows.

The Ivorian attacker has been left out of Patrick Vieira's pre-season tour squad for the Eagles' trip to Singapore and Australia and has been strongly linked with a move to Roma in recent days.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Palace could potentially be interested in a deal that would see 19-year-old Felix Afena-Gyan move in the opposite direction.

Should Zaha's move to Jose Mourinho's side not materialise, Di Marzio adds that Palace could be prepared to pay as much as €12m (£10.2m) to sign Afena-Gyan.

The Ghana international scored two goals in 17 Serie A appearances last term and extended his deal with Roma until 2026 earlier this month.