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Follow the latest updates live from the summer transfer window as the topic of Lionel Messi’s future at Barcelona continues to dominate the headlines, with the six-time Ballon d’Or winner pushing for a move away from the Spanish club. Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City are seen as the leading candidates to land the Argentine, but it will cost in excess of half-a-billion pounds to sign the 33-year-old this summer if he is not let go on a free transfer.
Despite Messi’s availability, Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho remains the top target for Manchester United, who will continue their efforts to negotiate a deal with the Bundesliga club to bring the England international back to the Premier League. Chelsea are nearing a major swoop of their own, with the £50m addition of Ben Chilwell set to be followed by the £90m arrival of Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz.
Arsenal are on the verge of announcing the signing of Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes in a £22m deal, having fought off competition from Napoli, Manchester United and Everton, while Tottenham are nearing their third signing of the summer in the form of Wolves defender Matt Doherty in a £12m switch. Follow the live updates below.
Reading are set to sign Ovie Ejaria for £3.5 million.
The midfielder was on loan from Liverpool last season with a purchase agreement included, but they hadn’t been able to complete the deal due to concerns over a possible transfer embargo from the EFL.
However, the Evening Standard report that they are clear to recruit again now, so the move should go through soon.
Another done deal for Chelsea! They have landed Malang Sarr on a free transfer.
News emerging that Paul Pogba has tested positive for coronavirus and has been left out of the France squad, as well as Tanguy Ndombele of Tottenham.
Wilf Zaha still wants out of Crystal Palace but believes he may have to wait until late in the transfer window.
The Guardian report that despite Palace trying to show him their ambition with summer signings, he still wants to depart.
However, he accepts it could take until October until a deal is readied.
SportMediaset say Chelsea are on the verge of offloading Tiemoue Bakayoko to AC Milan.
The midfielder has been out on loan after failing to impress at Stamford Bridge and has no place in Frank Lampard’s plans.
The deal is likely to be a loan with an option to buy next summer, when he will have just one year remaining on his Chelsea contract.
Liverpool defender Ki-Jana Hoever is the subject of a loan bid from Celtic.
ReadCeltic claim an exclusive that the offer is already in, with the Dutch teenager capable of playing right-back and centre-back.
West Ham are offloading goalkeeper Roberto, who had a rather difficult time of things last season.
He’s off to Real Valladolid, reports the Evening Standard, to finalise a permanent deal – but the Hammers will have to make up the shortfall in his wages.
It’ll be a free transfer, a year after arriving, bringing an end to a pretty dismal time at the club for the keeper.
We did wonder when the domino effect transfer rumours would start up – here’s the potential first.
Sadio Mane‘s “entourage” have offered the Liverpool forward to Barcelona as a replacement for Lionel Messi, according to reports out of Italy.
Tuttomercato suggest the No. 10 at Anfield can be the new No. 10 at the Camp Nou, which seems rather unlikely…but no more so than Messi leaving in the first place, perhaps.
Adama Traore is back on the radar for Liverpool and at a considerably cheaper price.
FourFourTwo report that Nuno Espirito Santo is prepared to sell the Wolves forward because he needs to raise funds for signings, with a £40m deal possible.
Manchester United will soon announce the double signing of Spanish youth pair Marc Jurado and Alvaro Fernandez, say the Manchester Evening News.
Neither have international clearance yet, as a backlog of transfers around Europe means youth deals have to wait.
Jurado will join from Barcelona, while Fernandez arrives from Real Madrid. They are a right-back and left-back respectively.
Confirmed deal for Coventry City. They have brought in Leo Ostigard from Brighton, with the 20-year-old centre-back joining on a year-long deal.
He was at St. Pauli in the 2. Bundesliga last season and is a Norway U21 international.
Newcastle are struggling for striker options after Dwight Gayle went down with a knee injury this week. Neither Yoshinori Muto nor Joelinton have been training with the club recently, leaving Andy Carroll as the only fit striker.
The Chronicle reports that Steve Bruce has been looking at the forwards relegated this year from the top flight as a solution, but Callum Wilson would “clear out the transfer budget” at £30 million and Troy Deeney would want £100,000 a week on a two-year deal, despite having been “offered” to the north east club.
Paulo Gazzaniga is a target for Fulham.
The Telegraph report that Scott Parker specifically wants the Tottenham backup to challenge Marek Rodak for the No. 1 jersey at Craven Cottage, after their promotion to the Premier League.
Gazzaniga stood in for Hugo Lloris when injured last season and Spurs have signed Joe Hart this summer, giving them ample cover.
Arsenal U23 striker Sam Greenwood has confirmed he will leave the club this summer after two years.
He is linked with Leeds United by Leeds Live, with the newly-promoted club potentially paying up to £3m for him.
The report suggests a medical is booked for this week.
Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster turned down another year on loan at Celtic and plans to fight for his future. With Angus Gunn and Alex McCarthy also at Saints, there will be a big battle for game time, but he’ll be given his chance to play, said club chief executive Martin Semmens to BBC Radio.
“There’s never been any issue with Fraser from a relationship point of view. He has always trained brilliantly and he is a fantastic guy.
“Ralph and him have never had any issues and they’ve not really had a lot of time together.”
Kim Min-Jae remains on Spurs‘ radar for this summer, but the centre-back is now wanted by PSV, too.
Football.London report on the £15 million-rated South Korean being the Eredivisie side’s “top priority” and a quick deal might be needed if Mourinho does want the Beijing Guoan defender.
Manchester United are “still in contact” with Aston Villa, report the Mail, over a move for captain Jack Grealish.
The attacking midfielder could cost up to £75 million if he makes the switch this summer, after Villa avoided relegation on the final day of last season.
Grealish missed out on the England squad again this week and he could push for a move to enhance his chances on the international stage.
French outlet RMC say Tanguy Ndombele is still firmly on the radar of Inter Milan.
The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has been linked with a quick move away, just a year after becoming Spurs’ record signing, as Jose Mourinho continually overlooked him in the second half of last season.
More recent reports from London suggest the midfielder will be staying, but it appears the Serie A side are keen regardless.
Everton are reportedly closing in on Real Madrid‘s out-of-favour Colombian attacking midfielder James Rodriguez.
The left-footed 29-year-old may have his contract paid up by Los Blancos to allow him to leave, say Marca, while he is keen to work with Carlo Ancelotti once more.
Leicester now have a gaping hole in their squad at left-back, after Ben Chilwell’s departure.
There have been a few players linked with filling that void, but the latest is Timothy Castagne. Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari says that the Foxes have “been in contact” with Atalanta over a move.
The player is open to the switch, but is also talking about a potential renewal of his contract in Serie A, says the report, with Atalanta having qualified for next season’s Champions League once more.
United meanwhile will have two leading goalkeepers at Old Trafford next season after Dean Henderson signed a new six-year deal to battle with David De Gea for the No 1 spot, with the England international set to remain with the club rather than go out on loan once again.
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