Good morning, Free Agents, and welcome to the The Free Transfer— your daily 5-minute football newsletter.

Big weekend of footy. Buckle up.

Saturday morning bits:

• Xavi confirms new signing will need to replace Busquets🔍️🤨

• Potential landing spots for Joao Cancelo 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇪🇸 🇩🇪 

• 60 second weekend preview— can Leipzig stop Bayern? ⏩️🏃💨 

Easy Money 💸 

• For 10 referrals you earn $10 immediately

• And once you reach 25 referrals, you get $20 more 

• Use the link below to share with your friends!💸 ⤵️

👇️👇️ 

XAVI CONFIRMS NEW SIGNING NEEDED TO REPLACE BUSQUETS ✍️ 🆕 

Who are the rumored candidates? 🔍️ 👀 

Joshua Kimmich 🇩🇪 

Is it possible?

• Kimmich has been one of the best deep-lying midfielders in Europe since he started playing there under Pep Guardiola in 2015.

• Xavi, like everyone, is a fond admirer— but Bayern are in no position to want/need to sell him this summer.

• The player would have to force a move, and Barca would have to pay up.

Does it make sense?

• No, not really. Well, at least not as a replacement for Busquets.

• Kimmich is fantastic, but he is not a ball-winning #6 who rests at the base of the midfield in possession.

• He is one of the most creative midfielders in Europe— a deeplying playmaker.

• So while the signing would be a phenomenal one, it still does not address the Busquets-sized hole in the midfield.

• Bayern have struggled in UCL in recent years without a true #6 to play alongside Kimmich.

Martín Zubimendi 🇪🇸 

Is it possible?

• Zubimendi has a reported €60MM release clause, which was revealed by Fabrizio Romano during the January transfer window when multiple clubs were interested in signing him mid-season.

  • Sociedad are said to not be willing to negotiate this clause.

• Barca allegedly don’t have a large budget for transfers this summer:

  • They still need to register new contracts like that of Gavi & others.

  • Leo Messi’s potential wages would be very expensive.

• Although, maybe they will find more “financial levers” to pull.

Does it make sense?

• Yes, Zubimendi is a:

  • Midfield pivot & anchor

  • Defender of space, but also good at tracking attackers & hunting down the ball

  • Efficient passer & dribbler

• If you were to pick out the perfect immediate successor to Busquets, it would probably look a lot like Zubimendi.

• Barca would do very well to bring in the Basque midfielder this summer.

POTENTIAL LANDING SPOTS FOR JOAO CANCELO 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇪🇸 🇩🇪 

Rumored candidates

Arsenal 🔴⚪️ 

@FabrizioRomano, “I think what happened is that Arsenal have a good relationship with his agents, so among the conversations they’re having the name of Cancelo was one of the names they discussed.”

Translation: Zero real links.

Does he fit in?— Yes

• Arteta knows him well from his years as City assistant manager.

• Most importantly, he is world class.

  • Where Arsenal are in their project, it’s important to add top quality players. They have a great base but need to bring in depth that is top-class, if they hope to compete in PL & UCL.

• Considering that he can play as an attacking fullback at either LB/RB, he would definitely fit in under Arteta.

• How could they line up with him & other potential summer signings?

  • Martinelli-Jesus-Saka; Rice-Partey-Odegaard; Cancelo-Gabriel-Saliba-White; Ramsdale

Real Madrid⚪️⚪️

Cancelo has been linked with Real Madrid since his days at Juventus. That should tell you all you need to know about his class, as Madrid are notorious for only recruiting the world’s best.

Reports from Spain are often heavily biased, but there have been numerous rumors of Madrid’s interest in Cancelo this summer.

Does he fit in?— Yes

• As Carvajal ages & Mendy’s injury woes continue, most top fullback signings could make sense for Real Madrid.

• Eduardo Camavinga has been a superb inverted left back for Madrid this season, but his future likely lies in central midfield.

• Cancelo would be the perfect fit for Real Madrid.

  • His ability to go forward & add goals + assists

  • His ability to play both left & right back to a high degree

• How could they line up with him & other potential summer signings?

  • Vinicius-Benzema-Rodrygo; Valverde-Tchouameni-Bellingham; Camavinga-Alaba-Militao-Cancelo; Courtois

  • I’d put that team up against anyone in the world.
    

Bayern Munich 🔴 ⚫️ 

Cancelo’s loan move to Bayern in the January transfer window shocked everyone. His lack of playing time has also shocked everyone. They are a crowded bunch in the fullback department— Davies, Cancelo, Pavard, & Mazraoui.

Does he fit in?— Yes

• In short, yes he definitely fits in.

  • Tuchel loves his attacking fullbacks, and Cancelo is one of the best in the world.

  • Rumors of other fullbacks being keen on leaving this summer.

• There are rumors of Pavard leaving this summer, & with just 1 year left on his contract, it would make sense.

• Mazraoui has also publicly commented on his lack of playing time.

• How could they line up with him & other potential summer signings?

  • Sane-Gnabry-Musiala; Kimmich-Laimer-Goretzka; Davies-Upamecano-De Ligt-Cancelo; Neuer

• Cancelo’s future at Bayern could be contigent on who leaves the club this summer, specifically at fullback.

• Here are more comments from Bayern’s manager and director:

Gaffer’s Bet 🃏 

• Cancelo joins Bayern after Pavard leaves for Barcelona. They can afford his fee & wages, are not a domestic rival to City, and Tuchel wants him.

WEEKEND PREVIEW— 2X SPEED VERSION ⏩️🏃💨

Set your timers. We’re going to hit all top-5 leagues in 60 seconds. ⤵️ 

Premier League 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 

• Manchester City can clinch the title with a win vs. Chelsea on Sunday.

• Newcastle can clinch top 4 with a win vs. Leicester on Monday night.

• Brighton (6th) & Brentford (9th) are separated by just 5 pts.

  • Brentford vs. Spurs is a 6-pointer for the European places.

• Leeds & Leicester could be relegated this weekend.

Serie A 🇮🇹 

• After bitter elimination from Europa League vs. Sevilla, Juventus can confirm top 4 this weekend with a win.

• Spots 3-7th are in the hunt for next seasons’ European spots.

• Cremonese can be relegated this weekend.

LaLiga 🇪🇸 

• Barca (1st) take on Sociedad (4th) at the Camp Nou for this week’s key matchup. A win for Sociedad would be a huge boost for top 4.

• Midtable scrap is getting crazy (see 7-12th).

Ligue 1 🇫🇷 

• Lyon’s big win over Monaco last night opens the top 4 race back up:

  • Lille 5 points behind Monaco with a game in hand.

  • Lille face off with Marseille this evening.

• Nantes and Auxerre are both fighting to get out of 4th relegation spot.

Bundesliga 🇩🇪 

• Europe’s match of the week: Bayern Munich vs. RB Leipzig

  • Bayern lead Dortmund by 1 point in the title race with 2 games to go. RB are Dortmund’s best hope of tripping up Bayern.

• Dortmund face 13th place Augsburg.

• Schalke & Stuttgart could be relegated with losses.

That’s all for today. Don’t forget to set your fantasy teams!

Share the love with your friends to earn free money 👇️ 💰️ 

• For 10 referrals you earn $10 immediately

• And once you reach 25 referrals, you get $20 more 

• Use the link below to share with your friends!💸 ⤵️

👇️👇️