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: Vlahovic in Spurs’ sights if Kane leaves
Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic if Harry Kane joins Bayern Munich, according to Foot Mercato.
Bayern have made the England captain their priority signing this transfer window and continue to push for the 29-year-old despite already seeing two offers turned down, including the latest €94 million offer.
Even though Spurs don’t see their talisman’s departure as a certainty, they are still looking for possible replacements and Vlahovic is first choice. The North London club have a positive relationship with Juventus after signing Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur, while Vlahovic could be allowed to leave for a €70m fee.
Spurs have held a long-term interest in the Serbia international and tried to sign him when he was playing for Fiorentina. But Paris Saint-Germain have also monitored the striker’s situation for several months.
The report says that Kane and Vlahovic could be the two moves that begin “a real game of musical chairs” when it comes to strikers this transfer window, involving the likes of Benfica‘s Goncalo Ramos, Napoli‘s Victor Osimhen, Eintracht Frankfurt‘s Randal Kolo Muani, Chelsea‘s Romelu Lukaku and Atletico Madrid‘s Joao Felix.
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08.56 BST: Vitor Roque turned down higher offers from Premier League sides and Paris Saint-Germain to sign for Barcelona, according to one of his agents Andre Cury.
Barca confirmed on Wednesday that the Brazilian forward will join the club on a permanent transfer for an initial €30m from Athletico PR in the 2024-25 season.
“There were higher offers that the club received but Barca always came first,” Cury said. “His desire was to come to Barca. We are very enthusiastic. He came to Barcelona ready to earn less at this time in order to succeed. He will arrive in less favourable conditions financially but with a lot of enthusiasm, ready to have a big project with Barca.”
Asked if those offers were from Premier League clubs and from PSG, he said: “Yes.”
Barca will reportedly pay €30m plus €31m in add-ons, a deal that Cury said “is good for Barca in every sense.” He added of the add-ons: “He will have to play games, win titles, be in top three of FIFA [Ballon d’Or voting]. The club will pay it happily if all those are reached.”
Roque, 18, would have liked to have arrived this summer but Barca’s finances prevent him from signing up immediately.
“The way to make it happen was this way,” Cury said. “He’s had to adapt. He has a strong mentality, very humble, hard worker and is eager to succeed. If he arrives on a Friday [to Barca], he will play on Sunday.”
08.24 BST: Chelsea are preparing to make an opening offer for Lyon wonderkid Rayan Cherki as they seek a replacement for Christian Pulisic, sources have told ESPN.
Pulisic is closing in on a move to AC Milan, with the United States midfielder due to undergo a medical with the Serie A giants in the next 24 hours, ESPN reported on Tuesday. And Chelsea are already moving to replace Pulisic, with Cherki one of the targets.
Elye Wahi, the talented Montpellier centre-forward, is also on the London club’s shortlist.
Cherki is keen to join Chelsea, sources have told ESPN. Born in Lyon and a product of the club’s youth system, he is valued at around €40m and is under contract until June 2025 after an automatic one year extension was triggered in April when he reached 15 Ligue 1 starts.
08.00 BST: Serbia midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has joined Al-Hilal from Serie A side Lazio, the Saudi Arabian club announced on Wednesday.
“Coming from Italy’s eagles. Savic represents Asia’s Leader,” Al-Hilal said on their Twitter account. Italian media reported that Al-Hilal would pay around €40m for the 28-year-old.
Milinkovic-Savic has signed a three-year contract with an option for a fourth and will be teammates with Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly and Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves, both of whom joined the club in June.
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PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)
– Atalanta‘s Rasmus Hojlund remains Manchester United‘s first option to sign a striker, according to Fabrizio Romano, although he adds that no official offer has been made yet as the Red Devils’ priority is to bring in a new goalkeeper. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue as Hojlund is very keen on moving to Old Trafford, while PSG have also enquired about the 20-year-old.
- RB Leipzig have reached an agreement with Lens to sign striker Lois Openda for a club record €40m plus add-ons, as reported by Sky Sports Deutschland. The deal had threatened to fall through when the Ligue 1 club demanded €50m, but it has now been completed and Openda will become Leipzig’s sixth signing of the summer.
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Aston Villa want to sign Juventus winger Federico Chiesa and are not put off by his transfer valuation of €60m, according to Calciomercato. However, the 25-year-old is not interested in joining the Premier League side as he wants to be part of a bigger team.
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AS Monaco have been looking to replace goalkeeper Alexander Nubel after his loan from Bayern Munich ended and are close to signing FC Salzburg‘s Philipp Kohn, reports L’Equipe. Negotiations between the two clubs are close to reaching a positive conclusion and the 25-year-old would be keen to join the Ligue 1 club.
– Lazio have made Metz an offer to sign striker Georges Mikautadze as they aim to strengthen Maurizio Sarri’s attack, reports Sky Sports Italia. The 22-year-old Georgia international caught the eye by scoring 23 goals and adding a further eight assists in Ligue 2 last season.
