Transfer Centre

Transfer rumours: Franca to West Ham, Mavropanos to Forest, Ramos to Miami

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 03 July 2023

Sports Mole rounds up some of the latest transfer rumours, including Matheus Franca to West Ham, Dinos Mavropanos to Nottingham Forest and Sergio Ramos to Inter Miami.

West Ham United have reportedly identified Flamengo midfielder Matheus Franca as a summer transfer target.

The 19-year-old has already established himself as a key player for the Flamengo senior team with nine goals from 53 appearances across all competitions.

Franca has already become a Copa Libertadores champion with Flamengo, while he boasts three appearances for the Brazilian Under-20 side.

According to football.london, the 2004-born midfielder has caught the eye of West Ham United, whose newly-appointed sporting director Tim Steidten is working to sign young talent.

Newcastle United reportedly had a £13.5m offer for Franca turned down by Flamengo in January, and the Brazilian giants have since tied him down to a new contract until December 2027.

Crystal Palace are also believed to be admirers of Franca, who is primarily an attacking midfielder but can also be deployed as a second striker or right winger.

VfB Stuttgart's Konstantinos Mavropanos reacts after being sent off on April 15, 2023 © Reuters

Over at the City Ground, Nottingham Forest have reportedly been informed that it will take up to £17m to bring Stuttgart defender Dinos Mavropanos back to England for the 2023-24 season.

The 25-year-old was on the books at Arsenal between 2018 and 2022 but failed to win over Unai Emery or Mikel Arteta, playing just eight times for the senior team.

Mavropanos completed a permanent move to Stuttgart last summer after a successful loan, and he has impressed in Germany with eight goals and two assists from 89 appearances.

According to Bild - via the Daily Mail - the Greece international will likely be on the move again this summer, and Forest have emerged as one of several teams vying for his signature.

While Mavropanos possesses a £21m release clause in his Stuttgart deal - which runs until the summer of 2025 - the Bundesliga outfit are reportedly prepared to lower their demands and accept a fee between £13m and £17m.

West Ham, Eintracht Frankfurt and Napoli are also thought to be keeping a close eye on Mavropanos, who cost Stuttgart just €3.2m (£2.8m) to poach from Arsenal last year.

Sergio Ramos in action for Paris Saint-Germain on October 11, 2022 © Reuters

Meanwhile, MLS powerhouses Inter Miami are reported to be closing in on the signing of veteran Spanish defender Sergio Ramos following his exit from Paris Saint-Germain.

The 37-year-old is officially a free agent after running down his two-year deal with PSG, who ultimately decided against extending his stay at the Parc des Princes.

Ramos is expected to receive lucrative offers from Saudi Arabian teams, but according to Sport, the former Real Madrid man is in advanced talks over a move to Inter Miami.

Ramos had allegedly wanted to continue at PSG for one more season, but the French champions are working to rid the squad of ageing players, and he is also set to snub interest from former club Sevilla.

The four-time Champions League winner came up with six goals and one assist in 58 games for PSG and is set to reunite with Lionel Messi in Miami, while Jordi Alba is also expected to join the MLS outfit.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon pictured in March 2021 © Reuters

Finally, legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has reportedly been offered one last mammoth payday by an unnamed Saudi Arabian team as he enters the last knockings of his career.

The 45-year-old is still going strong with Italian Serie B side Parma and made 19 appearances for his boyhood club in all tournaments last season, keeping five clean sheets.

Buffon still has another year left on his contract with Parma, but according to Corriere dello Sport, the former Italy international has been identified as a marquee target for an unspecified Saudi Pro League team.

The report claims that Buffon would be in line for a €30m (£25.8m) annual salary in the Middle East, although he is also considering hanging up his boots in order to spend more time with his family.

The former Juventus shot-stopper has played in Italy throughout his entire career barring the 2018-19 season, during which he represented Paris Saint-Germain before making a swift return to Turin.