TRANSFER NEWS & RUMOURS
PSG MAKE €270M COUTINHO BID
PSG have made a bid of €270 million (£238m/$317m) for Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho, reports Mundo Deportivo.
Coutinho’s contract has a €400m (£353m/$470m) release clause, but PSG have sent the offer to one of the former Liverpool midfielder’s agents, for it to be forwarded to Barcelona.
Neymar, who joined PSG last summer, is close friends with Coutinho and the French side plan to reunite the pair in an extravagant bid to keep the Brazil winger at the club, amid interest from Real Madrid.
RONALDO AGENT SET FOR KEY MEETING WITH MADRID
Cristiano Ronaldo’s agent will apparently meet with Real Madrid today as the player’s move to Juventus moves closer to being finalised, according to Corriere dello Sport.
As reported by Goal, Ronaldo has already agreed a switch to the Serie A champions, with Jorge Mendes apparently now seeking the final go-ahead over the transfer as he meets with Real chiefs.
Despite suggestions that the transfer is close to happening, Cadena COPE have reported that Juve have yet to make a bid for Ronaldo.
ABRAMOVICH CALLS NAPOLI TO SORT SARRI MOVE
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has made contact with Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis as he attempts to convince the Serie A club to release Maurizio Sarri from his contract, Corriere dello Sport reports.
As revealed by Goal, Sarri is still the No.1 choice to replace Antonio Conte but talks have stalled over Napoli’s demands to receive a significant fee from the Blues for their manager, despite Carlo Ancelotti already confirmed as his replacemnet.
And Abramovich is now attempting to seek a resolution by calling De Laurentiis directly, while Tuttosport reports that the sale of Jorginho to Stamford Bridge could also be a topic of conversation.
HAZARD IS MADRID’S PLAN B
Real Madrid will target Chelsea star Eden Hazard if Neymar doesn’t arrive, according to Marca.
Madrid president Florentino Perez has long dreamed of bringing Neymar to the Bernabeu, but understands that PSG won’t part with their star easily.
If a move for Neymar doesn’t materialise, Madrid will go all out to sign Hazard, who has hinted at a possible departure from Chelsea.
DEMBELE STILL WAITING FOR INTER
Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele is still awaiting an offer from Inter, with Friday set to be a turning point in negotiations, reports Gazzetta dello Sport.
There have, thus far, been no huge offers coming in from China, and with the transfer window closing in the Asian country on July 13, time is running out for any move to be finalised.
And Inter could take advantage of that, with new signing and fellow Belgian Radja Nainggolan potentially proving decisive in tempting Dembele to move to Serie A.
BARCA TARGET WILLIAN & RABIOT
Chelsea star Willian and Adrien Rabiot of PSG top Barcelona’s midfield wish-list, according to Mundo Deportivo.
With Andres Iniesta and Paulinho already leaving, and Andre Gomes and Rafinha likely to follow, the Blaugrana feel the need to add players in the centre of the park.
Willian, 29, and Rabiot, 23, are seen as options for the present, with Ajax’s Frenkie de Jong, 21, also targeted as a player for the future.
NAPOLI MAKE OFFER FOR DI MARIA
Napoli have offered PSG’s Angel Di Maria a three-year contract worth €5 million per season, reports Mediaset Premium.
New Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti managed Di Maria when the pair were at Real Madrid, and the Italian wants to be reunited with the 30-year-old.
Di Maria’s deal with the Ligue 1 side expires next summer.
CITY AGREE £60M MAHREZ DEAL
Manchester City have agreed a £60 million (€68m/$80m) deal with Leicester for Riyad Mahrez, claim the Daily Mail.
The Premier League champions fell short with a January bid for the Algeria star, but are now set to land the the 27-year-old winger.
Mahrez is set to undergo a medical at City on Monday or Tuesday.
AJAX ‘DOING EVERYTHING’ TO LAND BLIND
Ajax coach Erik Ten Hag says the Dutch club is “doing everything” to try and sign Manchester United’s Daley Blind, citing the defender’s versatility as a potential asset to his squad.
Blind moved to Old Trafford from Ajax in September 2014 and enjoyed three seasons as a regular first-team player before finding his opportunities in Jose Mourinho’s side limited in 2017-18.
ARSENAL CLOSE IN ON FRANCE U-20 STAR
Arsenal are nearing the signing of Lorient midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, according to Sky Sports News.
The two clubs are deep in talks over the 19-year-old, who has impressed with his club and the France U-20 side.
Guendouzi made his senior debut with Lorent in 2016-17, and played 20 times last season for the Ligue 2 side.
KENEDY SET FOR ANOTHER NEWCASTLE LOAN
Chelsea winger Kenedy will seal a season-long loan move to Newcastle, claims the Daily Mail.
The 22-year-old impressed in 2017-18 during a half-season loan with the Magpies, and is understood to be keen to return for a full campaign.
RB Leipzig, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich were also interested in signing Kenedy on loan ahead of next season.
TORREIRA CONFIRMS ARSENAL MOVE
Sampdoria midfielder Lucas Torreira has confirmed he was close to completing a move to Arsenal.
The 22-year-old made five appearances with Uruguay in the World Cup, which ended for his country after a defeat to France in the quarter-final on Saturday.
Torreira will now head to London for a medical.
SERI NOT IN NICE PRE-SEASON CAMP
Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri has not joined up with the Ligue 1 side’s pre-season camp ahead of a likely transfer, reports Sky Sports News.
The 26-year-old has drawn interest from a number of sides across Europe, including Chelsea, Fulham, West Ham, Napoli and Sevilla.
YARMOLENKO SET FOR WEST HAM MEDICAL
Borussia Dortmund winger Andrey Yarmolenko is in London ahead of a move to West Ham, according to Kicker .
The 28-year-old joined Dortmund last summer from Dynamo Kiev, but injuries and ineffectiveness held him back during his first Bundesliga campaign.
Yarmolenko is set to undergo a medical with the Hammers on Monday.
WOODBURN WANTED BY CHAMPIONSHIP DUO
Liverpool have received loan offers from Norwich and Sheffield United for teenage star Ben Woodburn.
But the Reds are ready to delay a decision over the Wales international’s future until later this month, as they plot the best development path.
HART TO LEAVE MAN CITY
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is set to end a 12-year stay at the club, according to the Daily Mail.
The 31-year-old will seek a permanent move away after spending the past two seasons on loan at Torino and West Ham.
Hart, who is not in Pep Guardiola’s plans moving forward, is keen on a long-term project where he can put down roots for several seasons.
EVERTON REJECT SECOND LEIPZIG BID FOR LOOKMAN
Everton have turned down RB Leipzig’s bid of £14 million (€16m/$19m) plus add ons for Ademola Lookman, reports the Mirror .
The 20-year-old impressed on loan with the Bundesliga side last season, and Leipzig are now hoping to land the forward permanently.
Everton had previously turned down a £12m (€14m/$16m) bid for Lookman, with the Toffees reportedly holding out for at least £20m (€23m/$27m).
VESTERGAARD TO HAVE SAINTS MEDICAL
Southampton are nearing a move for Borussia Monchengladbach defender Jannik Vestergaard, according to ESPN FC.
The 25-year-old was a member of Denmark’s World Cup squad but did not play in Russia as his country fell in the last 16.
Everton, West Ham and Watford had also been linked with a move for Vestergaard, who is set for a medical with Saints on Monday.
PAULINHO RETURNS TO CHINA FROM BARCA
Paulinho has returned to the Chinese Super League, agreeing a move from Barcelona to Guangzhou Evergrande after less than a year in La Liga.
In total the Brazilian made 49 appearances for Barca, scoring nine goals and adding a further three assists in all competitions.
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