The Transfers Podcast: Wirtz future DECISION, Yamal contract CLOSE, Iraola REJECTS Tottenham

Suraj Radia

18 Apr 2025 00:30 CDT
6 min read

Andoni Iraola, Transfers Podcast — © IMAGO

The Transfers Podcast, powered by FootballTransfers.com and hosted by Duncan Castles, brings you the latest news and insight from the world of football.

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With the summer transfer window fast approaching, Duncan Castles explains the latest with Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid, as well as Lamine Yamal’s future at Barcelona.

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Saudi Arabia target Ancelotti

Saudi Arabia will rival Brazil in trying to lure Carlo Ancelotti to manage their national team this summer if the Real Madrid coach leaves his role, The Transfers Podcast understands.

Brazil have been targeting Ancelotti as their ideal managerial appointment for a number of years but Duncan Castles told The Transfers Podcast that the 65-year-old coach has always been open to his next job being in Saudi Arabia.

“The Saudi Arabians have been in contact with Ancelotti for some time now, making it clear that they want him and would out pay any other employer to get him to be the first part of their programme to prepare a national team for the World Cup that they will host in 2034,” Castles said.

“Interestingly, when Ancelotti has been asked about working in the Saudi Pro League, his response has been ‘why not? If I want to keep coaching after I finish here, why not coach in Saudi Arabia?’

“This is definitely something to pay attention to. Ancelotti has encouraged that interest from Saudi Arabia and they have been working in the background now for a while by saying to him that, should he become free, they would like to take him.”

Barcelona get creative to seal Yamal contract

Lamine Yamal is on course to sign a five-year contract with Barcelona this summer despite the La Liga side’s ongoing financial issues, The Transfers Podcast understands.

Barcelona’s long-documented financial troubles has prompted speculation that teams such as Manchester City will look to take advantage of the situation by making a €200 million bid for Yamal but Duncan Castles told The Transfers Podcast that plans are in place to ensure there are no problems with the teenager’s new deal.

“The guidance I have is that Yamal will sign for Barcelona,” Castles said. “The new contract is essentially agreed in all parts, which has actually seen Yamal talk about hoping he would sign the contract soon.

“The block has been that he doesn’t turn 18 until July. Once he turns 18, he can sign a five-year contract. Barca are waiting until the second accounting date with UEFA before formalising a deal that has already been there to announce his stay with the club.

“I think Barcelona have no choice in this, and that's where Yamal has been in a strong position, even though he's talked about wanting to stay there. You can't afford to lose a player of that level. You have to do whatever is required.”

Current ETV

Lamine Yamal

M, AM (R)

Barcelona

Lamine Yamal

M, AM (R)

Barcelona

ETV Range

€156.8M - €191.7M

Premier League sides fight for Simons

Xavi Simons is set to leave Leipzig this summer, with Premier League sides such as Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool interested in a deal, The Transfers Podcast understands.

Leipzig are willing to cash in on Simons for the right price and the Dutch wonderkid has emerged as a candidate to replace Kevin de Bruyne at Man City, while Duncan Castles revealed that Bayern Munich are also in the mix.

“Manchester United are also very interested in Simons,” Castles said. “Their problem is an obvious one in that they don't have much money to play with, certainly not the kind of money that Leipzig are looking at as a sell fee. They will need to win the Europa League and to qualify for the Champions League to be able to afford such a deal. But he's on a list of players that they're looking at.

“I'm also told that Liverpool have asked questions about the player. And again, you look at the style of his play and you could see why he would be a fit to the way Liverpool plays.

“I think everything is set up for a sale this summer if Leipzig can convince one of those clubs to come in and spend the money that that they want for him.”

Iraola rejects Tottenham advances

Tottenham’s desire to appoint Andoni Iraola as their new manager this summer has been thwarted by the Spaniard, who is eyeing a longer stay with Bournemouth.

Spurs are believed to be considering the future of Ange Postecoglou after a disastrous campaign and Iraola is understood to be among the club’s top targets, however Castles explained that the Bournemouth boss could extend his contract with the Cherries.

Castles said: “My guidance on this is that Tottenham's approaches to Iraola have been rebuffed by the manager. He has been invited, I'm told, to speak to them about that position and has actually declined to do so.

“Instead he has been having informal conversations with Bournemouth for several weeks now about not only continuing on his current contract, but signing a new contract to extend there.

“Whether there'll be a defined release clause written into the contract, whether Iraola will look to give himself that relatively easy way out, we'll see when the formal negotiations begin.”

Wirtz won’t force Bayer Leverkusen exit

Florian Wirtz is unlikely to force an exit from Bayer Leverkusen this summer despite reported interest from Bayern Munich, The Transfers Podcast understands.

Leverkusen are understood to have placed a pricetag of around €150 million on their talismanic playmaker, who is also a top target to replace Kevin de Bruyne at Manchester City.

However, despite entering the final two years of his contract, Ronan Murphy of The Transfers Podcast believes Wirtz will look to do right by Leverkusen and allow them to receive a big fee for his sale instead of running down his contract.

“I think he will want to move but he also will want Leverkusen to get a decent amount of money for him because he knows what they've given him,” Murphy said.

“He will want to repay that faith somewhat. So I don't think he's kind of the player that will just kind of pick up tools and force the move.

“I think he is a player that can, that will want to reward the job for showing, giving them faith in him.”