The transfer window is open, and Transfer Talk has the latest rumours making the rounds. Follow live with our daily blog throughout the summer.
TOP STORY: Rooney wants to come to MLS
After Wayne Rooney’s whirlwind visit to the United States on a fact-finding mission to see if he’d be interesting in a move to Major League Soccer, the Washington Post is reporting that the former Manchester United striker wants to join D.C. United.
Rooney, 32, scored a team-high 11 goals for Everton this season, making 37 appearances for his boyhood club. And he spent his time on this side of the pond checking out D.C. United’s new stadium Audi Field — still under construction — talking with head coach Ben Olsen and the team’s general manager and exploring neighborhoods in northern Virginia ahead of the possible move.
The Everton academy graduate still has one year left on his contract at Goodison Park, but the club gave Rooney their blessing to explore his options in America, and it looks like he could indeed swap England for the U.S. this summer. If Rooney were to move to D.C. United, he would not be eligible to play until the league’s transfer window opens on July 10.
LIVE BLOG
09.57 BST: Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti says he wants his new contract sorted before he heads to Russia with France, but won’t be too unhappy if it’s not. “There’s no news,” he said, in quotes reported by Marca. “I keep an eye on my mobile but nothing’s advanced. It won’t annoy me if it’s not sorted before the World Cup because it’s been a few months since the negotiations began now. But it is important for things to be resolved before the World Cup. On my side of things, there will be [an agreement].”
09.50 BST: West Ham might be a little concerned about Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez‘s comments about whether he will play for former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini.
“Of course I am a West Ham player still, but we’ll see,” the Mexico striker replied when asked about his future at a news conference in Los Angeles ahead of Mexico’s friendly against Wales on Tuesday morning. “Right now what can I tell you? I’m glad there’s a new manager? I’m sad there’s a new manager? It’s not the moment to speak about this. My mind is 100 percent on the World Cup.”
Asked if Pellegrini was a good appointment by West Ham, Hernandez replied: “I don’t know.”
09.37 BST: “Maurizio Sarri is growing increasingly hopeful that he will be granted his dream move to Chelsea,” according to the Daily Telegraph. Transer Talk is growing increasingly certain that if he does get hired then he’ll be the next neck on the chopping block for owner Roman Abramovich in six months’ time.
09.16 BST: LA Galaxy don’t have plans to offload Mexico internationals Jonathan and Giovani dos Santos, team president Chris Klein confirmed on Friday.
09.00 BST: Marco Asensio‘s agent has told Cadena Ser that Real Madrid have turned down two offers from Premier League clubs worth up to €160m. Manchester United and Chelsea are reported to be interested in the 22-year-old.
PAPER TALK
Guardiola wants Isco at Man City
Surely there are bigger things on Isco’s mind right now than where he will play next season, but the Real Madrid playmaker — readying for the Champions League final against Liverpool — should take solace in knowing that if he’s excess to requirements for Zinedine Zidane, he could wind up in England next season.
Mundo Deportivo is reporting that the Los Blancos midfielder has an admirer in Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, with the club confident that they can seal an 80 million deal for the 26-year-old this summer.
It seems certain that some top players will be leaving the Bernabeu — with Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema both linked with moves to other teams — and fans could get a serious tell from Zidane as to his future plans after finding out who starts in the Kiev final.
As if you needed one, there’s another reason to watch on Saturday.
Barca offer for ‘New Neymar’ knocked back
Santos have refused Barcelona’s initial proposal for their newest “New Neymar,” Rodrygo, reports Gazeta Esportiva.
The 17-year-old winger has been a breakout star in the Sao Paulo club’s young season, scoring sensational goals and routinely showing his promise on the ball at the senior level this term.
However, the outlet reports Neymar’s former club were not moved by the Blaugrana’s recent offer of close to €30 million, with “O Peixe” determined to accept nothing less than the €50m stipulated in his release clause.
The tricky attacker, who can’t move abroad until his 18th birthday, is said to have a contract with Santos until 2022. However, a FIFA loophole could see him leave the club in 2020.
Tap-ins
– L’Equipe claims Marseille are interested in the services of Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini, with the Belgium midfielder seemingly headed for the exits at Old Trafford as his contract expires The outlet reports that OM sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta “has spoken with representatives of the 30-year-old.”
– Arsenal could make a play for RB Leipzig’s Emil Forsberg in the summer window, according to Swedish outlet Sport Expressen. Juventus and Atletico Madrid have also weighed moves, says the report, but all three teams could be disappointed as the Bundesliga outfit are ready to dig in their heels and offer the 26-year-old a new deal to stay with the club.
– Defender Joe Riley has left Manchester United to join League One side Bradford City on a two-year contract.
The 21-year-old right-back, who captained United’s under-23s last season, made two first-team appearances for the Premier League club.
– Michy Batshuayi has said that he is happy to wait until after the World Cup to find out whether his future lies at Chelsea or Borussia Dortmund.
Batshuayi, 24, was sent on loan to Dortmund for the second half of the season and scored nine goals in 14 matches before suffering an ankle injury in a game against Schalke in April.
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