The summer transfer window is now open in Europe, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: PSG’s Hakimi on Man City’s radar
Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi has been identified by Manchester City as a possible replacement for Kyle Walker, according to Football Insider.
Walker has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich this summer, with sources telling ESPN last month that the Bundesliga champs were keen on signing the England international.
The 33-year-old struggled for consistent starts under Pep Guardiola last season, which culminated in the full-back being named as a substitute in the team’s Champions League final triumph over Internazionale, adding to the rumours of a potential exit.
Whilst Walker has not yet departed the Etihad, the report suggests that the treble winners have wasted no time in earmarking potential replacements. The report states that the 24-year-old would be keen on the move but PSG would demand a hefty fee for the Morocco international.
Alongside Hakimi, the report also states that Bayern’s Benjamin Pavard is being monitored by City, who could propose a swap deal if Walker does head to the Allianz Arena.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)
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10.25 BST: We’re only two weeks into the transfer window, and according to some estimates, there have already been 450-plus deals involving teams from Europe’s Big Five leagues, with associated fees totaling up to about €2 billion. It hasn’t felt like that, though, has it?
One of the two biggest moves, Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid, was all but confirmed before the season ended, while the other, Declan Rice to Arsenal, has only just happened but also feels like it was completed a month ago. Beyond those two deals, nothing groundbreaking has happened quite yet. A lot has happened, though.
Twenty-one players have moved for a transfer fee of at least €30m. Ten years ago — in an especially lively window that saw Gareth Bale join Real Madrid, Neymar join Barcelona, Edinson Cavani join Paris Saint-Germain, Mesut Ozil join Arsenal, Fernandinho join Manchester City, and the pair of Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez join AS Monaco — only 16 players moved for that much money over the course of the entire summer.
With 450-something players changing teams for billions of dollars across just 14 days, some trends have already begun to develop. Plenty is still likely to change in the next month and a half, but here’s what we can learn from all the activity we’ve seen so far.
– O’Hanlon: What trends of the transfer window reveal about the market (E+)
09.42 BST: Wales captain Aaron Ramsey is returning to his boyhood club Cardiff City on a two-year contract, the Championship side said on Saturday.
The announcement came shortly after Nice confirmed that Ramsey had left the French club by mutual agreement.
The 32-year-old midfielder and former Arsenal player had arrived in Nice last August on a free transfer and made 34 appearances, scoring once.
Ramsey made his first-team debut at the age of 16 for Cardiff in 2007, having progressed through the ranks of the club’s youth academy. He then made a move to Arsenal just a year later.
Inter Miami announces Lionel Messi signing in style
Inter Miami announces the signing of Lionel Messi ahead of his official presentation on Sunday.
09.00 BST: Inter Miami CF has confirmed the signing of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, ahead of unveiling the blockbuster new arrival to MLS at its DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday.
Messi, who officially joins Miami after leaving French champions Paris Saint-Germain following two seasons at the club, has signed a contract through the end of the 2025 MLS season.
Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas, who said it took three years of negotiations to bring the 36-year-old to the club, has stated that Messi will earn “between £50m and $60m per year.”
Sources told ESPN that terms of the deal include an option for part-ownership of Inter Miami, but it would not be subsidized by the league as it was for David Beckham in 2007. When Beckham — now a co-owner of Inter Miami — moved to the LA Galaxy, he was given the option to purchase an MLS team for a discounted price of $25 million.
ESPN also confirmed that a cut of revenue from new subscribers to Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass streaming service was part of negotiations.
Miami confirmed that Messi will first be available for selection in a July 21 Leagues Cup match against Mexican side Cruz Azul.
– GOAT at the grocery store: Messi spotted at Publix in Miami
PAPER GOSSIP (by Rajan Hothi)
– Atletico Madrid‘s Joao Felix dreams of a move to Barcelona but the finances at the Catalan club make a deal for the forward unlikely this summer, reports AS. The Portugal international will likely depart Atleti this summer due to falling out with manager Diego Simeone last season, which saw him go to Chelsea on loan. The report suggests that whilst PSG is Felix’s most probable destination this transfer window, the 23-year-old would prefer a move to Barça.
- Arsenal‘s Folarin Balogun and Sevilla‘s Youssef En-Nesyri are being monitored as potential forward options for Internazionale this summer, per Rudy Galetti. Inter will reportedly no longer pursue a deal for Romelu Lukaku, with the club unable to contact the forward to discuss personal terms, leaving the Italian giants still in the market for attacking reinforcements. Kai Havertz‘s arrival to Arsenal has seemingly pushed Balogun further down the pecking order at the Emirates despite his stellar season on loan at Reims. En-Nesyri, meanwhile, has been strongly linked with a move due to Sevilla’s financial troubles. Inter will look to persuade Arsenal to lower their asking price for Balogun, which the Serie A outfit feel is too high currently.
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Dusan Tadic is closing in on a deal to Fenerbahce, with the forward eager to stay in Europe, per Fabrizio Romano. The 34-year-old departed Ajax Amsterdam as a free agent, and despite interest from Saudi Arabia, the Serbian star has traveled to Istanbul to finalise the deal. Tadic endured a stellar season with Ajax last term, notching 13 goals alongside 21 assists in all competitions, attracting considerable interest in the process.
– Talks between winger Riyad Mahrez and Al Ahli are progressing, with the player prepared to accept the approach from the Saudi outfit, according to Fabrizio Romano. The report states that whilst personal terms have advanced, Manchester City have not yet received an official proposal from. The 32-year-old is under contract at the Etihad until June 2025, meaning the club will likely demand a high transfer fee for the Algeria international.
