Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Gyokeres move CONFIRMED, Barcelona deal SOON, Real Madrid TOP TARGET

Tom Weber

• Updated: 30 Mar 2025 10:07 CDT
• 6 min read

News

Fabrizio Romano has provided some massive updates on the biggest transfer stories from around Europe, including the latest on Viktor Gyokeres, Wojciech Szczesny and Carlo Ancelotti.

Arsenal appoint Berta

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano addressed Arsenal's appointment of Andrea Berta as their new sporting director.

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"Arsenal have a new director of football. The director is Andrea Berta, former Atletico Madrid director, who did an impressive job at Atleti together with Diego Simeone by signing important players, building the structure of a squad which did really well by winning titles, Champions League finals and more.

"Now Berta joins Arsenal as a crucial part of the project because he will be working next to Mikel Arteta on planning the squad for the present and future. He's going to be really busy because many changes are expected in the summer.

"We expect Arsenal to be really, really busy in this window, obviously to sign a centre strike, but not only. The Winger position [as well]. Let's see what happens with Jorginho, Thomas Partey, players who could leave. The new contracts of Bukayo Saka, William Saliba. It's going to be one of the priorities for the new director."

READ MORE: Arsenal and Man Utd on RED ALERT as Cunha admits: 'I need the next step'

Barcelona close in on Szczesny deal

Romano then provided an update on Barcelona's contract talks with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

"According to my information, it's true that Barcelona are closing in on the agreement to extend the contract of Szczesny for one more season. What they are waiting for are two final details. The first one is to understand when Szczesny will say, 'OK, let's proceed.'

"They already spoke to his agent, they prepared the details of the contract, so they've been working on the contract structure, just waiting for the player to give the final approval, the final green light, and then everything will be ready to be signed. And then it's about the option in the contract.

"So they have to decide whether to extend for one more season, 2026, and that's it, or maybe include an option for one more season, valid for both sides, player and club. It's about the final details. The expectation at Barcelona is to extend the contract of Szczesny.

"Hansi Flick gave his own green light to Szczesny staying at Barcelona. Even with [Marc-Andre] ter Stegen ready to return from his injury, the idea is to have two very important and competitive goalkeepers, and so Szczesny is absolutely approved by Flick.

"In general, internally at Barcelona, they're very happy with Szczesny also in terms of attitude, in terms of leadership. With this dressing room full of young players, of super talented kids, it's important for Barca to have a leader like Szczesny, a player with big experience."

Gyokeres to leave Sporting

Next up, Romano confirmed that Viktor Gyokeres can leave Sporting CP for a fee lower than his €100 million release clause.

"This weekend, Viktor Gyokeres scored again, his numbers are really unbelievable. Imagine he has scored 42 goals in 42 games for Sporting this season, plus he has 11 assists, so it's 53 goal contributions in 42 games. It's unbelievable what Gyokeres has been doing in the last few years because also last season he was top.

"Two points to clarify. The first one, the verbal pact for the exit of Gyokeres this summer is for the player to leave for less than the release clause, so for something around €65m, €70m with add-ons as part of the package. Gyokeres could leave sporting this summer. And the expectation is for Gyokeres to go and to try a new experience in the summer.

"The verbal pact was Gyokeres was not going to force an exit one year ago. Gyokeres was not even forcing an exit in January when they lost Ruben Amorim. Imagine what kind of change, a shock, that was for Sporting and for a top player like Gyokeres. He decided to respect that, but now in the summer, the exit is almost guaranteed.

"Many stories, many rumours on Man Utd. For sure, they appreciate the player. For sure, Ruben Amorim is obviously a big fan of Gyokeres. But at the moment, it's not something guaranteed. Man United have not agreed anything at this stage for Gyokeres. He's one of the names on the list for sure.

"But we have to see when Man Utd will approve the budget to understand how much they can spend on the striker. So they like Gyokeres, yes. But it's not only Man Utd. There are more clubs, so it's going to be an important fight in the next months for Gyokeres."

Ancelotti to Brazil, Alonso to Real Madrid?

Lastly, Romano provided an update on Brazil's interest in Carlo Ancelotti, who could be replaced at Real Madrid by Xabi Alonso.

"Brazil decided to fire manager Dorival Junior after the terrible performance against Argentina [4-1]. Now, they have two main options. The dream target is Carlo Ancelotti internally at the federation. They wanted Ancelotti two years ago. You probably remember that they were already announcing Ancelotti in public with the president of the federation, but then the deal was not done.

"The appreciation for Ancelotti remains from Brazil. But at the moment, Ancelotti doesn't want to entertain any negotiation, any approach, any contact. Full focus on Real Madrid, too many important titles to focus on and to have conversations with any other side, national team, clubs is not Ancelotti's style.

"So no conversations ongoing with Brazil, but he remains the big dream target. But Brazil now have to decide: wait for Ancelotti until the end of the season, the end of the Club World Cup, see what happens, or go for an instant solution like Jorge Jesus, who is ready to say yes to Brazil after the end of the season, so beginning of May.

"We know at Real Madrid, despite the public statements from Germany, the idea is that as soon as they have cleared the situation with Ancelotti -could be this summer, could be next summer, could be in any moment - the top target remains absolutely only Xabi Alonso.

"Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen already know, they both know, that Alonso is the candidate for Real Madrid. So Leverkusen absolutely know that Alonso is more than tempted by this opportunity, but it depends on Real Madrid. It's in the hands of Real Madrid.

"When Real Madrid call for Alonso, everything will be set [for him] to be the new coach, but it has to be at the right moment. At the moment, the call hasn't arrived yet, and so that's why Alonso goes public and says, 'There is nothing to say, there is nothing to update.'

"Alonso remains, despite the public statements, the top target for Real Madrid's job when they will part ways with Ancelotti. But again, full focus on the present and Real Madrid are still giving full confidence to Ancelotti."