Fabrizio Romano has provided some massive updates on the biggest transfer stories from around Europe, including the latest on Victor Osimhen, Raphinha and Sverre Nypan.
Newcastle sign Cordero
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Newcastle are set to sign young attacker Antonio Cordero from Malaga.
Transfer news and rumours today – Osimhen, Rashford, Guirassy and more
part of the academy, conversations with Barca to eventually be part also in the future of the first team, the player is Antonito Cordero, a very talented player, 18 years old, from Malaga.
“Out of contract, approached by several clubs around Europe, but especially Real Madrid and Barcelona wanted to bring in this player on a free. It was a big opportunity, but Cordero has agreed to become a new Newcastle player. Newcastle fans can be excited because Cordero, in his position – he’s a winger – can be a really interesting player for the future with big potential.
“The expectation, from what I understand, is for Cordero to go on loan. He’s very young, obviously the Premier League level is different, so he will need some time to adapt, to understand what it means to play at that level and so a loan is the most likely solution.”
€250m Florian Wirtz offer prepared
Villa closing in on Nypan
Romano then confirmed that Aston Villa are closing in on the signing of Sverre Nypan.
“Sverre Nypan, this Norwegian talent from Rosenborg – Aston Villa are close to reaching an agreement for Nypan to join the club, winning a crazy race because for Nypan there was interest really from several clubs.
“He’s another gem on the market, in this case not on a free so there is a negotiation needed club-to-club, and the conversation is still ongoing between Aston Villa and Rosenborg. The player visited Aston Villa recently to see their training ground, to understand the project directly from the director Mochi, from the coach who also met the player, so Nypan is close to joining Aston.
“On Nypan, we can say that Manchester City – so City Football Group, Girona – wanted to sign the player. They were in conversations in January, then the player decided to wait a bit because there was also interest from Arsenal. So these two clubs were offering different projects to the player.
“For Arsenal, it was the case to bring him in as part of the first team and to start adapting. For Man City, the idea was to go to Girona and then have a future at Man City under Pep Guardiola. Two different projects but Aston Villa can probably offer game time with the first team, and so they are working to convince the player.”
Evans to leave Man Utd
Next up, Romano announced that Jonny Evans is leaving Man Utd this summer.
“On Man Utd, first of all Johnny Evans is about to leave the club. We already said about Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof, these players will go. We have to add also Evans to this list. Maximum respect from Man Utd, but the idea is now to move on and for next season to trust young players
“They prefer to include young players as part of the team as Ruben Amorim did this season with Ayden Heaven and more players, so that’s the view more than trusting old players. That’s what Ruben wants to do. Again, with maximum respect for Johnny. He’s about to leave the club at the end of the season.”
Raphinha not heading to Man Utd
Regarding Man Utd, Romano also addressed the rumours linking Raphinha to a move to Old Trafford.
“Let me clarify one thing: Raphinha is more than happy at Barcelona. He’s having an incredible season. Raphinha is in initial conversations with Barcelona over a new deal, so there was some contact like, ‘okay, let’s discuss the contract.’ Let’s see what can happen in the next months, it’s
not something that is being agreed now or is being closed now.
“Raphinha is under contract at Barcelona until 2027, so there is still plenty of time and also remember what Hansi Flick did one year ago when he arrived at Barcelona. He called Raphinha and said: ‘You stay here, you are part of my team, you are a crucial part of this squad.’
“The intention from Barca is absolutely to trust Raphinha, and also financially for Man Utd to go and sign a player like Raphinha would be quite complicated because we know they have to respect the balance.
“The Financial Fair Play will be important, so this kind of signing would be really, really complicated, not just unlikely but also not so realistic. Raphinha in this moment is probably out of reach and also I’m not aware of any concrete conversation.”
Osimhen won’t stay at Galatasaray
Lastly, Romano set the record straight on Galatasaray’s chances of keeping Victor Osimhen.
“We saw some news saying that Galatasaray want to keep Victor Osimhen. We can understand their desire because Osimhen is doing fantastic, he’s a superstar, he’s beloved by the fans, so it’s absolutely normal, the desire from Galatasaray to keep the player at the club.
“But I can tell you also that in this case it’s really not realistic. The reality is that Osimhen is fully expected to leave Galatasaray to return to Napoli and leave Napoli. Osimhen is not staying at Napoli, Osimhen is most likely not staying at Gatasaray and Osimhen is going to assess, starting from the next weeks, from May, the potential options on the table.
“The Premier League is still a possibility for Osimhen. Saudi because remember on Deadline Day 2024, Osimhen almost joined Al-Ahli. Osimhen had an agreement with Al-Ahli, so Osimhen wanted to go to Al-Ahli. The deal collapsed because Al-Ahli and Napoli were fighting over the price, and then Al-Ahli got tired and decided to close the deal for Ivan Toney.
“Osimhen wanted to go to Al-Ahli. Saudi is an option, the Premier League is an option and then also let’s see what happens in Serie A because, for example, Juventus are looking for a striker. Obviously, Napoli hope not to sell the player to Juventus, that’s the clear message coming from Napoli, so it’s surely not an easy one.
“But Osimhen’s situation in general will be really interesting. Remember that the release clause is €75m and Napoli want to sell the player as soon as possible. The intention of all parties involved is not to have another saga with Osimhen until mid-August, the end of August, the final days of the market.
“The intention is to sort the situation already in June to let the player settle in a new club in the best way possible. Napoli will make a profit and they will be all happy with the situation, that’s the view, that’s the approach, but in this moment, I’m not aware of anything being agreed for Osimhen.”
