Amid all the action at the Euros and Copa America, the summer transfer window has opened for some leagues with Europe’s biggest clubs looking to make a splash in the transfer market. Check out the latest gossip below, and see see all official deals here.
TOP STORY: Liverpool keen to sign Gladbach star Neuhaus
Liverpool are expected to table a bid to sign Borussia Monchengladbach‘s Florian Neuhaus, according to SPORT1 journalist Florian Plettenburg.
The report from Germany claims that the Bundesliga club are expecting an offer to be made from Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp set to make the final decision on a player rated at €40m. Talks over a deal are expected to run for the duration of Euro 2020, with the report confirming that Neuhaus will not decide his future until after returning from international duty with Germany.
Liverpool have been looking for a midfielder since Georginio Wijnaldum decided to leave for PSG at the end of his contract, and club owners Fenway Sports Group appear to be continuing their transfer strategy of targeting young players who they believe have high potential.
Neuhaus’ performances this season have seen the 24-year-old quickly advance through the Germany national setup to the senior team. He contributed to 11 goals in 30 starts for ‘Gladbach in the Bundesliga last season.
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LIVE BLOG
13.47 BST: Raphael Varane‘s future at Real Madrid is up in the air.
0:47
Gab & Juls wonder what Sergio Ramos’ Real Madrid exit means for fellow defender Raphael Varane.
13.00 BST: Barcelona are interested in Aymeric Laporte but Clement Lenglet would have to leave first to make room for the Manchester City defender, sources have told ESPN’s Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.
Barca have already completed the signing of Eric Garcia on a free transfer from City this summer but coach Ronald Koeman would also like to add another more experienced centre-back to his squad.
However, the La Liga side have six defenders on their books and would need to shed two before even thinking about making a move for Laporte, who is at Euro 2020 with Spain. In addition to Garcia and Lenglet, Barca also have Gerard Pique, Ronald Araujo, Oscar Mingueza and Samuel Umtiti.
Even without the addition of a new centre-back, Barca are keen to get Umtiti off the wage bill this summer.
12.21 BST: Real Madrid have held talks over a deal that could see forward Borja Mayoral stay at Roma with full-back Leonardo Spinazzola heading the other way, Diario AS reports.
According to the newspaper, a meeting took place in the south of France between former Lille sporting director Luis Campos, acting on behalf of Madrid, and agent Davide Lippi, who represents Spinazzola.
Mayoral impressed on loan in Serie A last season and Roma would be keen to keep him, while Spinazzola has shone for Italy in recent days at Euro 2020.
AS claims the left-back’s arrival at the Bernabeu to act as back-up for Ferland Mendy would allow Marcelo to leave Madrid, helping the club save on the Brazilian’s hefty wages.
11.35 BST: Manchester United are being deterred in their pursuit of Kieran Trippier and Raphael Varane because of high prices being quoted by their clubs, sources have told ESPN’s Rob Dawson.
United are interested in signing a right-back and a centre-back this summer with Trippier and Varane among the players on a list of targets drawn up by the recruitment department and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Trippier is keen to return to the Premier League after two seasons at Atletico Madrid to be closer to his family but the price being quoted by intermediaries is more than £30m, which United consider to be too much for a 30-year-old with very little sell-on value.
Meanwhile, United have been made aware that even a year away from becoming a free agent, Madrid still value centre-back Varane at more than £70m. Sources have told ESPN that, as things stand, United do not hold an interest in free agent Sergio Ramos.
10.54 BST: Aston Villa have brought in Emiliano Buendia for £33m and Ashley Young for free. But what does that mean for their star man?
1:23
Julien Laurens jokes that Aston Villa’s ambitious transfer window may be a sign they have agreed to part with Jack Grealish.
10.03 BST: Real Madrid believe Raphael Varane will leave the club, according to Cadena SER, after failing to accept two new contract offers.
Varane, 28, has just a year left on his deal, and Madrid are now convinced that he will not renew it, the radio station’s flagship show El Larguero reported on Thursday night.
The club would prefer to negotiate a departure this summer rather than have the defender leave for free next year, with Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain both reportedly interested.
Varane’s exit would leave Real Madrid with Nacho, Eder Militao, new signing David Alaba and Jesus Vallejo as their four centre-back options for next season.
09.38 BST: Manchester United “haven’t forgotten about Atletico Madrid,” Marca reports, and are keen on a move for full-back Kieran Trippier.
United’s approaches so far have been “quite far from his €40m [release] clause,” the newspaper says, and Atletico won’t let him go for less.
Trippier has two years left on his Atletico contract but would be open to a move back to the Premier League.
Marca also claims that despite reports linking United with Jan Oblak, “the reality is that the English club haven’t made a move” for the goalkeeper.
08.59 BST: The Athletic reports that “Tottenham have decided against appointing Gennaro Gattuso to their vacant managerial position.”
In a dramatic turn of events, former Italy midfielder Gattuso is available having left Fiorentina just 23 days after his appointment was announced. The 43-year-old was due to begin work on July 1 and although Fiorentina refused to give a reason in their official statement, sources told ESPN there was a disagreement over the club’s summer transfer strategy.
On Thursday, Gattuso emerged as the leading candidate to take over in north London after negotiations stalled with former Roma boss Paulo Fonseca, who had widely been expected to end what has become a convoluted and troubled search to succeed Jose Mourinho following his sacking in April.
But now Gattuso is reportedly not an option either.
08.37 BST: Inter Milan want left-back Marco Alonso included in any transfer deal for Achraf Hakimi to Chelsea, according to Sky Italia.
Chelsea are leading the race ahead of Paris Saint-Germain to sign the Morocco international right-back but are negotiating over Inter’s €80m demands.
Hakimi, 22, joined Inter in a €40m transfer from Real Madrid in September and scored seven goals and set up 11 more in a total 45 appearances for the Serie A champions. He is under contract with the Nerazzurri until June 2025 but is expected to leave this summer due to Inter’s financial woes.
Chelsea are looking to reduce Inter’s asking price by offering one of their own players as part of the deal and Inter would welcome the arrival of Alonso, who has already played in Serie A with Fiorentina from 2013-2016.
08.20 BST: Sergio Ramos has insisted that he “never wanted to leave Real Madrid” and claimed he would have accepted the club’s offer of a one-year contract extension, but was told it had expired.
Madrid announced on Wednesday that captain Ramos, 35, will leave when his deal runs out at the end of this month.
The defender broke down in tears during a farewell ceremony on Thursday — attended by club president Florentino Perez, board members, club staff and Ramos’ family — at the Real Madrid City training complex.
“I never wanted to leave Real Madrid, I always wanted to stay here,” Ramos said. “In the last few months the club made me an offer of one year, with a pay cut. I want to highlight that money has never been a problem, the president knows that.
“It wasn’t a financial problem. They offered me one year, I wanted two. I wanted calm and continuity for my family … In the latest conversations, I accepted the offer with a pay cut, and I was told there was no longer an offer. I was told that despite having given the OK to the proposal, it had an expiry date and I didn’t realise … It surprised me.”
1:07
Sid Lowe explains the next steps for Sergio Ramos after the club legend has decided to leave Real Madrid.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Adam Brown)
– Leicester City have won the race for FC Salzburg hitman Patson Daka, claims Fabrizio Romano. The Foxes fought off interest from multiple clubs with Liverpool, Chelsea and RB Leipzig all recently connected with the striker. The 22-year-old’s prolific form has seen him at the heart of speculation throughout the transfer window, having scored 42 goals in his last 59 games.
– Conor Coady could leave Wolves with Everton interested in the England defender’s services, writes Football Insider. The Goodison Park hierarchy are reportedly keen on the centre-back, and it is believed that reported incoming new manager Rafael Benitez has already given the green light for the transfer. The 28-year-old has played a big part in Wolves’ resurgence to the Premier League, featuring 37 times last season as captain.
– Calciomercato reports that former Crotone goalkeeper Alex Cordaz has agreed a deal to join Internazionale. The Italian goalkeeper has signed a one-year deal with Inter until 2022 and will play a backup role to Samir Handanovic. The 38-year-old is one of Simone Inzaghi’s first signings as manager, and will add plenty of experience having started 36 games in the Serie A last season.
– AC Milan will have to double their offer if they are to secure the signing of Marseille‘s Boubacar Kamara. That’s according to Calciomercato, which says the Serie A club are keen on the defender, who could cost around €25m to sign. The 21-year-old has established himself in Ligue 1 since joining Marseille in 2017, becoming a regular in the first team that has seen him attract interest from around Europe.
– Jerome Boateng‘s next career move could be in France with AS Monaco on the lookout for a centre-back. Le10 Sport says the Ligue 1 club are keen to add an experienced player to their ranks, and that the German defender has already received a contract offer from Niko Kovac’s side. The 32-year-old remained a key feature in Bayern Munich‘s title run last season, as well as starting six games in the Champions League.
