The summer transfer window is into its final month for the major European leagues, which means the biggest clubs are looking to make a splash in the market before the new season begins. Check out the latest gossip below, and see all official deals here.
TOP STORY: Chelsea still eye Sevilla’s Kounde
Chelsea are still interested in Sevilla FC defender Jules Kounde, even though Trevor Chalobah has burst into the Blues’ first team this season.
That is according to the Daily Telegraph, which reports that Thomas Tuchel is looking to add the 22-year-old Kounde as a long-term solution. Sevilla are still holding out for the £68 million release clause in his deal before letting the France international leave.
Chelsea are hoping to move on a defender before they commit, with Kurt Zouma reported as the most likely to leave. Tottenham Hotspur is one of a few clubs linked with the 26-year-old Zouma.
The move for Kounde would solve another issue Chelsea have with dwindling contracts with Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, Thiago Silva and Andreas Christensen all entering the last year of their deals.
The report also claims that Chelsea are interested in a move for a midfielder but aren’t actively pursuing a target. It is believed that the Blues do have a keen eye on AS Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni but are one of many suitors for the 21-year-old.
The Stamford Bridge outfit are also one of many English clubs being offered Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez. The 26-year-old midfielder has been linked with a move away from the Wanda Metropolitano this summer after the arrival of Rodrigo de Paul from Udinese.
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11.00 BST: Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on the transfer of Metz midfielder Pape Sarr, sources have told ESPN. Spurs have agreed to a €10 million transfer fee with €5m in add-ons with the French club for the talented prospect.
Manchester City were also keen on the 18-year-old but Spurs have been the quickest to negotiate a deal, with it now very likely that Sarr will join the north London club.
10.16 BST: The Daily Mail reports that Manchester City will be willing to accept a transfer bid of around £60m for Aymeric Laporte. After Ruben Dias and John Stones emerged as Pep Guardiola’s first-choice central defensive pairing, the 27-year-old Laporte found himself on the bench for much of the season. Juventus and Real Madrid have previously been linked with the Spain international, but neither would be able to fund the transfer this window.
09.30 BST: Kylian Mbappe is on Manchester United‘s list of potential targets as they plot a move for a big-name forward next summer, sources told ESPN.
Mbappe has entered the final year of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain, and United are maintaining a watching brief on his situation. Real Madrid officials openly discussed the possibility of signing the 22-year-old, who has also been linked with Liverpool, this summer during the negotiations for the transfer of Raphael Varane from the Bernabeu to Old Trafford. A source said that Madrid required funds generated from Varane’s departure for their “Project Mbappe” initiative, though the LaLiga side privately admit a transfer this summer is unlikely.
United are open to the possibility of adding another player to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad in this transfer window, with the club holding an interest in the central midfield and right-back position ahead of the Aug. 31 deadline.
PAPER GOSSIP
– Southampton are close to finalising a deal to sign Torino defender Lyanco, according to the Daily Mail. The 24-year-old is linked with the Saints following the departure of centre-back Jannik Vestergaard to Leicester City earlier in the window. The Brazilian made 23 appearances in Serie A for Torino last season and would be Ralph Hasenhuttl’s sixth signing of the summer.
– RB Leipzig have made first contact over a move for Barcelona‘s Ilaix Moriba, according to Mundo Deportivo. The 18-year-old has been involved in a contract stalemate with the Nou Camp outfit with only a year left on his deal. It is believed that Ronald Koeman’s side are shutting down negotiations with the player as Leipzig close in on taking the youngster for the future.
– AC Milan are looking to make another addition to their strike force this summer in the form of Pietro Pellegri. Tuttosport reports that the forward is out of favour at Monaco with the Rossoneri outfit hoping to add to their current strikers in Olivier Giroud and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Milan had hoped to sign the 20-year-old when he was at Genoa and look set to bring him back to the Serie A in this transfer window.
– With speculation surrounding his future, Tottenham’s record signing Tanguy Ndombele wants a move to Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich according to AS. The Spanish outlet claims that the 24-year-old is looking at the clubs as a possible move but his wage could be a stumbling block, especially for the LaLiga clubs. It is believed he is one £200k-a-week, which wouldn’t work for Barcelona and Real Madrid, who have both had to cut their wages.The £55m-signing from Lyon hasn’t played a single minute of pre-season and is yet to be involved with Spurs this season in the league.
– AC Milan are close to closing a deal for Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko and could confirm it as soon as Monday. That is according to Calciomercato, which reports that the 27-year-old would join on loan for the season, which would cost around €1.5m, with an option to sign permanently for between €7-8m next season. The France midfielder has spent the past three seasons on loan in both Serie A and Ligue 1. A move away may spark hope in more game time and a push to reignite his international career.
