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Euro papers: Tottenham step up interest in Benfica winger Jota

Jota
Image: Joao Filipe, also known as Jota, is a reported target for Tottenham

Many clubs across Europe, especially those whose seasons have finished, will have already turned their attention to the summer and planning for the 2019/20 campaign.

Our friends at Football Whispers have rounded up all the latest news, views and gossip from across the continent…

Portugal

Tottenham have stepped up their interest in Benfica winger Jota.

The 20-year-old has impressed after being promoted from the Portuguese side's youth academy and reportedly has a £26.3m release clause in his contract. (Record)

Spain

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde says the club will find a place for Antoine Griezmann if the Frenchman joins from Atletico Madrid this summer.

Barca have been tipped to sign the 28-year-old for £108m after he announced his desire to leave Atleti. "I've always said that [Griezmann] is a great player," Valverde said. "If he ends up coming to Barcelona, we will see [where we will fit him in the team], but now we are talking about assumptions and about a player who may come or may not." (Marca)

A report has suggested, however, that Barcelona's players are less than enthused by Griezmann's prospective arrival. Griezmann, they feel, is 'persona non grata' with additional question marks over his commitment given how he snubbed Barca's interest last summer. (Sport)

Also See:

Griezmann
Image: Antoine Griezmann has been linked with a move to Barcelona

Real Madrid fans would prefer their club to move for Eden Hazard as opposed to Paul Pogba. In a survey involving 160,000 supporters, Chelsea's Belgian forward topped the poll with 30 per cent of the vote. Luka Jovic was second with just over 20% while Manchester United midfielder Pogba finished last, managing just over 11 per cent. (AS)

But Real boss Zinedine Zidane may have the budget to finance deals for both Hazard and Pogba. The Frenchman will reportedly have as much as £260m to spend on new players with Los Blancos expected to have one of their busiest summers in years.

Pogba and Hazard have been heavily linked while the Spanish giants are also credited with an interest in Jovic and Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen. (Marca)

Papers: Pogba must request Real move

Italy

Simone Inzaghi, Maurizio Sarri and Sinisa Mihajlovic are the three frontrunners to replace Massimiliano Allegri at Juventus. Inzaghi is fresh from guiding Lazio to Coppa Italia glory, Sarri's future at Chelsea is uncertain while Mihajlovic returned to Bologna in January following a brutally short-lived spell as Sporting Lisbon boss. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Allegri, meanwhile, has emerged as a contender to take over at Roma. Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini has also been linked with the Giallorossi job. (Corriere dello Sport)

Napoli are set to offer Dries Mertens a one-year contract extension, which would keep the Belgian at the club until 2021. The 32-year-old has scored 17 times in all competitions for Carlo Ancelotti's side this season, helping them secure second place in Serie A behind Juventus. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

France

Chelsea have triggered a clause in Olivier Giroud's contract which will see the Frenchman stay at Stamford Bridge until 2021. The former Arsenal man has scored ten times to help the Blues reach this year's Europa League final. (Telefoot)

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas confirms he has already received multiple offers for midfielder Tanguy Ndombele. Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham are among the clubs thought to be chasing the 22-year-old France international's signature. (L'Equipe)

Germany

Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Thorgan Hazard has announced his transfer to Borussia Dortmund.

"When a club like Borussia Dortmund calls you, the motivation is clear," the 26-year-old said. "It is good to have someone that I know [Axel Witsel] there. I hope that I will adapt easily, but I don't think there will be any issues." (Sport Bild)

Bayer Leverkusen CEO Rudi Voller says a decision on Julian Brandt's future will be made over the course of the next week. The 23-year-old has been linked with Tottenham, Dortmund and Liverpool.

"Julian Brandt has some requests, we know that, and there will be a decision over the next five, six or seven days," Voller said. Voller also confirmed that highly rated 19-year-old Kai Havertz will stay at the club this summer. (Sky Germany)

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