Barcelona president Joan Laporta has thank Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski for wanting to join the Catalan club.

Lewandowski has stated his desire to leave the Allianz Arena this summer after confirming his intention to move on from Bavaria.

The Polish international wants to make the move to the Camp Nou and the Catalan giants are still working on a transfer deal for the striker.

Bayern have set their asking price at €60m, despite Lewandowski’s contract expiring in 2024, with Barcelona currently only willing to offer a maximum of €50m.

Laporta confirmed talks are progressing between all parties involved but there is still work to be done on both sides.

“Lewandowski is a Bayern player and I prefer to keep reserved on this matter”, as per reports from Marca.

“I have respect for Bayern and I would not talk about another club’s player.

“We thank him for wanting to come to Barça and we are very flattered.”

Bayern Munich’s £329,000-a-week striker has been one of the world’s very best for a number of years.

The 33-year-old star is someone Chelsea have also reportedly approached to sign, but there’s competition from Barcelona for his signature.

Chelsea are at the front of the queue to offer Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo Champions League football.

Ronaldo sensationally informed United he wishes to quit the club this summer.

The Red Devils are determined to stand firm and refuse to sell but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner insists they should give the green light to any acceptable offers.

And that could see the forward join the Blues, who finished third last season – and therefore have a seat at Europe’s top competition.

Manager Thomas Tuchel is on the hunt for a new centre-forward following Romelu Lukaku’s season-long loan to Inter Milan.

That leaves Timo Werner and Kai Havertz as the only players who can really play up front in the coming season.

Meanwhile, Napoli have sensationally entered the race to land Ronaldo and could be willing to match the Red Devils’ asking price.

Bayern Munich could also view the Portuguese as a cheap replacement for Robert Lewandowski after signing Sadio Mane from Liverpool earlier this summer.

Paris Saint-Germain super star Neymar has activated a clause in his contract to extend his stay in Paris until 2027.

The forward recently put pen to paper on a five-year extension in 2021.

But the Brazil international has now activated his annual extension option, which means his contract will stretch up until 2027, according to Sport.

That means the 30-year-old is set to earn £155million more from PSG with the ex-Barcelona star being paid £31m per year.

The Parisians are said to be looking for a buyer to take the Brazilian off their hands, with president Nasser Al-Khelaifi looking to move away from their high-earner model.

Neymar has been linked with Chelsea, but his £600,000-a-week salary is putting the Blues as well as other suitors off

Chelsea ace Hakim Ziyech has agreed to join AC Milan in the summer, according to Calciomercato.

Ziyech is set to move to Milan on a season-long loan deal, which will include an obligation to buy next year.

The fee to make the winger’s move permanent will be set at £21million though the Blues are seeking a further £4m.

That will mark another notable exit from the West Londoners’ frontline after Romelu Lukaku, who also moved on loan in the Serie A as he returned to Inter Milan.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has vowed “to do what’s in my power to keep Frenkie” de Jong at the Camp Nou this summer.

Manchester United are tracking the Dutch international as part of Erik ten Hag’s incoming squad changes ahead of the 2022/23 Premier League season.

Ten Hag is keen on a reunion with his former Ajax schemer, but the two clubs are still some distance apart in their valuations of the 25-year-old.

United are confident of reaching a compromise with the Catalan giants, but Laporta is determined to keep de Jong, despite the pressure to sell him.

“I am going to do what’s in my power to keep Frenkie, but it’s also a salary issue, and that has to be adjusted”, as per exclusive reports from Mundo Deportivo.

“He is a Barça player , one of the best in the world in his position.

“We know there are clubs who want him, not just United, but we have no intention of selling.

“He wants to stay, he’s comfortable in Barcelona, and I will do everything I can to make him stay.”

Laporta’s comments will come as a blow to United’s confidence over securing a transfer with de Jong previously hinting at a preference to stay in Barcelona.

His current deal at the Camp Nou expires in 2026, and talks are planned for a restructuring of his contract in the coming weeks, as Barcelona look for a resolution.

Other senior players have agreed to pay cuts in 2022 with high earning squad players including Ousmane Dembele offloaded by Laporta.

Chelsea have received a major boost in their ongoing transfer war with Barcelona over Leeds star Raphinha.

According to Diario AS, the Blaugrana may not need the Brazil international after all as Ousmane Dembele “has got closer to renewing” his deal.

Dembele’s contract runs out today and the Catalan giants are frantically trying to convince him to pen a new one as manager Xavi wants him in his squad this coming season.

And it seems like there is a significant possibility the forward may remain at the Nou Camp.

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