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: Zidane ‘quit Real over Hazard, De Gea disagreements’
Zinedine Zidane resigned as Real Madrid coach after a row over transfer policy — and over Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard and Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea in particular — according to the Sun.
Zidane and Madrid president Florentino Perez “clashed over plans” the night before the former France international announced he was quitting.
The report says Zidane told Perez he wanted to bring in Hazard — heavily linked with a move to the Bernabeu — only for the president to say no, and adds that “when Perez told Zidane he wished to bring in long-term target De Gea, the manager said he had faith in Keylor Navas.”
Meanwhile, the London Evening Standard says Chelsea’s hopes of keeping Hazard “have been given a significant lift by Zidane’s decision to step down.”
It reports that the coach had been “pushing the Real Madrid hierarchy to make a bid.”
LIVE BLOG
11.45 BST: Terence Kongolo could make his move to Huddersfield Town permanent, with Monaco willing to sell the Netherlands international, France Football reports.
11.30 BST: Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois “is still planning to hold contract talks and has been left mystified at suggestions that the club have begun the search for his replacement,” the London Evening Standard reports.
11.00 BST: To France, where L’Equipe reports that both Lyon and Rennes are interested in PSG outcast Hatem Ben Arfa.
10.45 BST: West Bromwich Albion have turned down a £4 million bid for James McClean from Stoke City because they want around £6m, according to the Express and Star.
10.30 BST: The father of Borussia Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos has told Greek radio station Radio 24/7 that his son turned down Manchester United, preferring to move to Arsenal. “United were also interested but he would have had to wait until July,” he said. “United has a good relationship with Dortmund and the two clubs spoke, but Sokratis decided to join Arsenal.”
10.15 BST: Oliver Norwood wants to return to Fulham on a permanent basis after helping them reach the Premier League while on loan from Brighton last season, Football London reports.
10.00 BST: It had seemed likely that Mario Balotelli would return to Italy after leaving Nice — but now L’Equipe reports that he could stay in Ligue 1, with Marseille ready to pay €10 million for him.
09.45 BST: Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Inter Milan’s sporting director Piero Ausilio has met Bordeaux general manager Alain Deveseleer to discuss the Italian club’s interest in Malcom, who would cost €40 million.
09.30 BST: Boca Juniors president Daniel Angelici has denied reports that his club will sign Sevilla midfielder Guido Pizarro, telling TyC Sports: “There’s no possibility for Pizarro.”
09.15 BST: Bologna forward Simone Verdi, speaking after the Italy-Netherlands friendly, confirmed that he will join Napoli and has already had “an informal chat” with newly-appointed coach Carlo Ancelotti.
08.55 BST: Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing out-of-contract Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini, according to RMC, but new coach Thomas Tuchel has not given the green light to the move.
The Manchester United man — also linked with a move to Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea — is advised by Raul Costa, who is close to PSG’s sporting director Antero Henrique and worked with the French champions to help bring Neymar to the Parc des Princes last summer.
08.30 BST: It’s not just Hazard and De Gea who have reportedly been attracting Real Madrid’s interest in the Premier League. According to France Football, Liverpool’s Sadio Mane was being lined up as Real’s first big transfer of the summer, only for Zidane’s surprise exit to scupper the move.
PAPER TALK: Foxes set to land City’s Roberts in Mahrez deal
Leicester want Manchester City forward Patrick Roberts as part of the deal that takes Riyad Mahrez to the Premier League champions, the Telegraph reports.
England under-20 international Roberts spent last season — and part of the campaign before that — on loan at Celtic, where Leicester scouts kept tabs on his performances.
And as manager Claude Puel looks to add to his attacking options, and plans for life without Algeria international Mahrez, the Telegraph says Roberts “is expected to join Leicester when the protracted £60 million Mahrez deal is finally thrashed out.”
It adds that “there remains an expectancy that Mahrez will team up with Pep Guardiola” after what had appeared to be a likely winter deal fell through.
Saints’ Hughes in line for Shaqiri reunion
Could Southampton boss Mark Hughes be set for a swift reunion with Xherdan Shaqiri, one of his former Stoke players?
Indeed he could, says the Mirror, which reports that he “will step up his interest in Shaqiri after the Swiss playmaker confirmed that he plans to quit the Potters.”
Hughes, who brought Shaqiri to Stoke in 2015, preserved Southampton’s Premier League status after taking over towards the end of the season and “is ready to activate Shaqiri’s £12m release clause.”
But he is not the only manager interested, with the Mirror reporting that Tottenham are monitoring the situation and could line up a move of their own.
Tap-ins
— With Stoke already poised to sign striker Benik Afobe days after he arrived at Wolves, the Telegraph says they will also battle Cardiff to sign West Bromwich Albion’s James McClean.
Republic of Ireland winger McClean “is firmly on Stoke’s radar” but could opt to make a return to the Premier League with newly promoted Cardiff, who have registered an interest with the relegated Baggies.
— Hull City striker Abel Hernandez is in demand after confirming that he will leave the club, and the Hull Daily Mail reports that he might already be on the verge of agreeing a deal with Championship rivals Leeds.
It says Uruguay international Hernandez “could be a Leeds player this week, as negotiations have reached the point of finalising personal terms.”
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