Lionel Messi wants 6 players sold from Barcelona, Real Madrid set to sign €220 million duo and more: Transfer Roundup, 26 May 2019

Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's Daily Transfer Roundup. The summer transfer window is now wide open and clubs all across Europe are scampering about to try and sign top players who can enhance their chances next season as well as to cut some dead wood and free up that wage bill.

Real Madrid, Manchester United and Barcelona among many others are widely tipped to break the bank this summer and as such, we expect quite a few transfer records to be broken over the course of this summer transfer window.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the top transfer news, rumours and updates that made headlines on 26 May 2019.

Arsenal amp up pursuit of Bournemouth's Ryan Fraser

Eddie Howe's Bournemouth can really turn on their style on certain days. And on those days, they are greatly helped by the playmaking skills of a certain Ryan Fraser, who was only behind Eden Hazard in the 2018-19 Premier League season's assist chart.

Now, Arsenal are reportedly very interested in signing the 25-year-old Scot. In fact, he is one of Unai Emery's top targets this summer. Fraser's form in the recently concluded Premier League season has put him on the radar of some top clubs and Arsenal do not want to rest on their laurels and watch him slip away from right under their nose.

Fraser has a year left in his contract and should he choose not to extend, the Cherries face the prospect of losing him on a free next summer. Contract talks that were held between the parties have hit a stumbling block and hence, Bournemouth are seriously considering cashing in on him this summer.

Ryan Fraser has been an ever-present for Bournemouth in the recent past and has completed 7 seasons at the club.

"Borussia Dortmund CEO says Jadon Sancho will be at the club next season

Jadon Sancho in action for the '3 Lions'

Ever since Jadon Sancho completed his move to Borussia Dortmund from Manchester City, there has been no looking back for him. The Englishman had a stellar season in the German top flight and has been subjected to intense speculation with respect to his future.

Manchester United are one of the clubs that have been heavily linked with the youngster. However, the Red Devils failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League has diminished the allure of the move. With Sancho's future hanging in the balance, Borussia Dortmund CEO Joachim Watzke has revealed that Sancho isn't going anywhere.

He told Bild,

"It can be assumed that Jadon will not play more than ten years at BVB,"

"But we have clear agreements about the present.

"Jadon is not on the market and plays next season guaranteed at Borussia Dortmund."

Manchester United rule out a move for Matthijs De Ligt

Ajax's captain Matthijs De Ligt has no dearth of admirers

Manchester United are desperate to sign a quality centre-back in the summer and if the reports that have surfaced over the last couple of days were anything to go by, they looked to be frontrunners in the race to sign the young Ajax sensation, Matthijs De Ligt.

However, according to the latest reports, Manchester United have ruled out a move for the Dutchman. The Manchester United top brass believes that the 19-year-old Ajax captain is on his way to Barcelona.

De Ligt's teammate at Ajax, Frenkie De Jong, had agreed, earlier in the winter transfer window, to join Barcelona and De Ligt could very well team up with him.

Matthijs De Ligt is one of the brightest young prospects in world football right now and he has been absolutely immense for the Dutch side in the Champions League this term where they crashed out of Europe's elite competition in the semi-final by the narrowest of margins against Tottenham Hotspur.

Florentino Perez is close to wrapping up deals for Matthijs De Ligt and Paul Pogba

The Matthijs De Ligt transfer saga has already seen its fair share of twists and turns. With Manchester United and Barcelona widely tipped to be battling it out to secure the Dutchman's services, there was no telling where he is going next season. However, latest reports in Spain claim that Real Madrid are now ready to hijack the deal for De Ligt.

Though De Ligt is keen on reuniting with his former teammate Frenkie De Jong, he has revealed that he is not excited by Ernesto Valverde's Barcelona project. Real Madrid hope that they can convince Ajax to sell De Ligt for a sum in the ballpark of €80-90 million.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid are growing increasingly confident of landing Paul Pogba. Pogba's and Zidane's mutual admiration will go a long way towards the deal getting finalized. The report claims that if Pogba heeds Zizou's advice to hand in a transfer request, Perez thinks his price will drop and that they can snatch him up for €120 million.

Both the players are represented by Mino Raiola.

Messi wants 6 first team players to be sold in the summer

Philippe Coutinho (centre) and Ivan Rakitic (right)

It was all going well for Barcelona until the start of May. A dispiriting defeat at the hands of Liverpool in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final tie after winning the first leg 3-0 was a major blow for La Blaugrana. Now their defeat in the Copa Del Rey final against Valencia has proved to be the final nail in the coffin.

Lionel Messi is not at all impressed with the way the team responded to adversity. Messi believes that 6 players- Ivan Rakitic, Philippe Coutinho, Sergi Roberto, Nelson Semedo, Artur and Boateng- need to be sold in the summer. He is also concerned about the dwindling contributions of both Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

Messi wants to go out in style at Barcelona and wants the club to back him by getting some quality players on board after what has eventually become a rather forgettable season despite their LaLiga win.

Edited by Sripad