The summer transfer window is here, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Rabiot, Man Utd near deal
Manchester United have reached a full agreement with Juventus for a transfer that would see Adrien Rabiot join them for €17 million, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Red Devils director John Murtough now has a meeting scheduled with the midfielder’s mother and agent, Veronique Rabiot, in order to agree terms for the France international.
It is stated by Romano that the upcoming days will be key for the negotiations if Rabiot is to move to Old Trafford now that United are meeting his camp, which is set to happen on Friday.
Sources had previously told ESPN that United had interest in Rabiot, as well as in Bologna forward Marko Arnautovic.
But while talks over Arnautovic fell away quickly, it seems as though the Red Devils are now closer to bringing in Rabiot.
This comes at a time in which Erik ten Hag’s midfield options — especially Scott McTominay and Fred — have come under intense criticism following United’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion as they opened their Premier League campaign.
If Rabiot does join, he will become United’s fourth signing after Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malacia.
Rabiot made 45 appearances for Juventus in all competitions last season with six of those coming off the bench, recording two assists.
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10.49 BST: Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel wants three additional signings before the transfer window closes next month, sources told ESPN’s James Olley, with Wesley Fofana, Frenkie de Jong and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang his key targets.
The Blues are keen on bringing in a centre-back, a central midfielder and a striker as the club continue to play catch-up in the transfer market. Although Chelsea have made five signings including Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella, Tuchel is concerned about the depth and quality of his squad if they are to compete for the Premier League and Champions League titles.
Leicester City’s Fofana is his top centre-back target although Leicester are demanding a world-record fee for a defender, in excess of the £80m Manchester United paid them for Harry Maguire in 2019.
The Blues are also interested in De Jong and have indicated to Barcelona they are willing to match United’s bid for the Dutchman, which stands at €63m rising to €75m. Sources have also indicated De Jong wants to stay at Barcelona, but if he is forced to leave, the 25-year-old would prefer a move to Chelsea over United.
Chelsea are also exploring a deal to sign striker Aubameyang, but similar to De Jong, he wants to stay at Camp Nou and his departure is only being considered due to Barcelona’s ongoing economic difficulties. Chelsea suffered a further blow earlier this week when another forward under consideration, Benjamin Sesko, agreed a deal to move from FC Salzburg to RB Leipzig next summer.
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10.28 BST: Daniel Wass is set to leave Atletico Madrid to return to Brondby in Denmark, according to multiple reports.
The 33-year-old has had a disastrous time at Atletico since joining from Valencia in January, suffering a serious knee injury just minutes into his only LaLiga appearance for the club.
Wass was intended to act as a short-term replacement for Kieran Trippier at right-back, but has failed to convince coach Diego Simeone since returning to fitness.
Fabrizio Romano reported on Friday that the Denmark international had already travelled home to undergo a medical before signing for his first club, who he left in 2011.
09.57 BST: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has appeared to not rule out making another signing late in the transfer window.
With injuries to Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Klopp’s options in midfield are depleted, although the club reaffirmed their faith in youngster Harvey Elliott by handing the 19-year-old a new contract on Thursday.
“I’m happy with the strength, size and quality of our squad,” Klopp told a news conference. “But we have injuries.”
“There are different solutions for them, one of them is the transfer market. But it only makes sense if you can bring in the right player.”
09.33 BST: Paris Saint-Germain have banished Mauro Icardi from first team training, sources told ESPN’s Julien Laurens, along with a collection of other players they are keen to move on.
Icardi is on the transfer list after manager Christophe Galtier decided to drop him from the first team squad. The striker, 29, is now training separately alongside Ander Herrera, Idrissa Gueye, Thilo Kehrer and Julian Draxler in a second group dubbed “The Loft.” Icardi was omitted from the squad for PSG’S Ligue 1 opener against Clermont last weekend and decided to spend two days in Ibiza with his family.
The Argentina international has endured a difficult spell in Paris following his move from Inter Milan in 2019. He scored 12 in his first season at the club and then seven the following year. Icardi scored four last season and PSG have tried to drum up interest in the player this summer, but so far no club has come forward for a player who has a contract at PSG until 2024.
08.46 BST: Napoli and Villarreal are leading the way to bring in Tottenham Hotspur’s Tanguy Ndombele, according to Foot Mercato, who add that both clubs favour a loan with an option to make the deal permanent.
The report also says that the midfielder has received some form of interest from Marseille, Real Betis, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Everton, Bayer Leverkusen, AC Milan and Galatasaray — although none of those clubs have taken any action yet.
Meanwhile, Villarreal president Fernando Roig will consider offers that arrive for some of his players but insists his club has no need to transfer players.
Reports in Spain claim that Villarreal are prepared to let Arsenal target Yeremi Pino go to free up funds to sign Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.
“We will see if offers arrive and if they do, we will analyse them and see,” Roig said. “We are going to try to keep all of our players. But if an interesting offer comes along, we will see if an agreement can be reached. We don’t have the need to sell.
“We have a good squad and before thinking about buying (players), we have to readjust.” Pino, 19, is one of LaLiga’s most promising players and is under contract with the Yellow Submarine until June 2027.
He has an €80m release clause and Villarreal would only be willing to let him go for a minimum fee of €45m.
08.00 BST: Marcus Rashford is not for sale this summer despite interest from Paris Saint-Germain, sources have told ESPN’s Rob Dawson.
Manchester United have issued a hand-off warning after it emerged Rashford’s representatives met PSG chiefs in Paris last week to discuss a potential move.
Sources told ESPN’s Julien Laurens on Thursday that the French side are looking to sign a forward before the close of the transfer window and have made Rashford one of their top targets. But United have no intention of entering negotiations or entertaining bids.
The 24-year-old has a year left on his contract at Old Trafford, plus the option of another season, meaning United can keep him at the club until 2024. Sources have told ESPN United are keen to agree a new contract with the England striker.
Rashford and his representatives, according to sources, have been aware of interest from PSG dating back to when Mauricio Pochettino took over as manager in January 2021. PSG have indicated they would be willing to hand Rashford a significant pay rise but there has been no contact with United over a potential fee. Sources have told ESPN the Ligue 1 champions value Rashford at around £60m while United’s valuation is likely to be more than double at in excess of £120m.
Rashford has been central to Erik ten Hag’s plans throughout the summer and started the 2-1 defeat to Brighton on the opening weekend of the season. Ten Hag is looking to bolster his forward line before the transfer deadline and is keen to land a versatile winger and a back-up striker.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)
– Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Leandro Paredes has reached a full agreement with Juventus ahead of a possible transfer, reports Fabrizio Romano. The Argentine is now waiting for the two clubs to come to an agreement on how much the Turin side will pay. As well as the aforementioned Rabiot, Juventus are looking to offload Arthur.
- Le Parisien suggest that Napoli have reached out to PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas, and that the Costa Rica international could be tempted to join them. The 35-year-old had not initially planned on leaving Parc des Princes despite his new backup status to Gianluigi Donnarumma, but Napoli’s interest seems to have turned his head.
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PSG will move to sign RB Leipzig defender Mohamed Simakan if they are unable to bring in Milan Skriniar from Internazionale, reports L’Equipe. The Slovakia international remains the Ligue 1 champions’ priority, but they are studying Simakan in case a move does not materialise.
— With Barcelona wanting to transfer Memphis Depay, La Gazzetta dello Sport have reported that Tottenham Hotspur have made enquiries about the Netherlands international. Juventus remain his most likely destination, though, as they are willing to put all of their efforts into the forward.
– Everton have made their move in an attempt to sign Southampton striker Che Adams, according to The Daily Mail, who add that the Scotland international is interested in heading to Goodison Park. However, the Toffees face competition from Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest.
