Transfer Talk Real Madrid add Eden Hazard to list of Cristiano Ronaldo replacements

July 10, 2018 admin Transfers 0

The transfer window is open, and Transfer Talk has the latest rumours making the rounds. Follow along with our daily blog throughout the summer.

Hazard added to list of Ronaldo replacements

Cristiano Ronaldo’s reported move to Juventus is nearing and Real Madrid are wasting no time weighing up their options regarding a replacement with Eden Hazard emerging as the latest contender.

AS report that Paris Saint-Germain’s star duo Neymar and Kylian Mbappe remain Madrid’s top targets, but Hazard is now listed as “Plan C.” Hazard is yet to sign a new contract at Chelsea, along with Belgium teammate Thibaut Courtois, citing that the club need to be more ambitious.

The winger upstaged Neymar during Belgium’s 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal win over Brazil, and Real Madrid have history in signing players based on the tournament, bringing in James Rodriguez following his performances in 2014.

Reports surrounding Ronaldo’s mooted transfer continued to escalate in the European press on Monday, giving a sense that all parties involved are heading to an agreement.

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes is expected to meet with Real Madrid directors before Wednesday to discuss the personal terms of Juventus’ offer for Ronaldo.

Meanwhile, Spanish radio Cadena COPE claimed that Ronaldo had already spoken to Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri to discuss how the superstar would fit in at Juventus.

The matters of the transfer fee and Mendes’ sizable cut are also still to be determined. Multiple reports last week said Juventus had offered €100m to Madrid, but COPE said on Monday that the Spanish club are seeking €130m, plus an additional €20m for Mendes. La Gazzetta said that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is asking for a €150m fee (not counting the agent’s fee) but would be willing to settle around €120m or €130m.

LIVE BLOG

22.02 BST: That’s going to bring to an end Monday’s live edition of Transfer Talk. Thanks very much for joining us, and be sure to check back in a few short hours when we return with the latest gossip pulled from Tuesday’s back pages.

21.43 BST: West Ham will consider offers greater than £15 million for Michail Antonio, according to Sky Sports, and the Hammers are also open to offers for Pedro Obiang and Cheikhou Kouyate.

21.24 BST: It’s a DONE DEAL! Barcelona have confirmed the signing of midfielder Arthur from Gremio in a deal worth as much as €40 million on a six-year contract.

21.15 BST: In addition to the potential signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus are also interested in Lazio’s £130 million-rated Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Needless to say, the Old Lady could have some hefty bills to pay this summer, and talkSPORT cites Gazzetta dello Sport as reporting that she’s told Liverpool they can have Marko Pjaca for £22 million as a means of raising funds for their expenditures.

20:48 BST: Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney is firmly back on the radar of Jose Mourinho and Manchester United, report the Manchester Evening News.

20:20 BST: It looks MLS champions Toronto FC are set to lose Ager Aketxe back to Spain, with Cadiz wanting him back after a loan last year, according to Marca.

19.38 BST: Is Karim Benzema‘s time at Real Madrid over? After Los Blancos‘s No. 9 tweeted out his thanks to the club for nine years in the Spanish capital, Gab Marcotti discusses the player’s future.

19.11 BST: Chelsea’s deadlock in negotiating Maurizio Sarri’s exit from Napoli could be about to break, the Star cites Tuttosport as reporting. The Italian outlet claims that the Blues are set to bid €60 million for Jorginho, €11 million more than on offer from Manchester City, which would grease the wheels to bring both manager and the 26-year-old midfielder to West London. The report doubles down on Chelsea’s Italian proclivity by stating that the Premier League club will offer Juventus — who, remember, seem set to spend a massive amount of money on Cristiano Ronaldo — €100 million for Gonzalo Higuain and 23-year-old centre-back Daniele Rugani.

18.44 BST: Spanish radio station COPE is reporting that the deal between Real Madrid and Juventus for 33-year-old mega-star Cristiano Ronaldo is about to close, with an agreement set to be reached at €130 million — plus €20 million for Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes.

18.17 BST: Real Madrid and Manchester United have opened discussions with Lazio over the transfer of 23-year-old midfifelder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who the Serie A side values at £130 million, talkSPORT cites Italian outlet Il Messaggero as reporting.

17.50 BST: The Manchester Evening News reports that Harry Maguire had piqued Pep Guardiola’s interest in January, before Man City ultimately signed Aymeric Laporte, but after his impressive World Cup with England, the Leicester City centre-back could be a candidate to replace injury-prone captain Vincent Kompany, whose contract expires next summer.

17:23 BST: West Ham have made a club-record £40 million offer for Lazio’s Felipe Anderson, according to Goal.

17:10 BST: Manchester United confirm youngsters Zak Dearnley and Callum Whelan have signed a new contracts with the club.

16:58 BST: Roma director Monchi insists “no offers have arrived” for in-demand Alisson.

Real Madrid and Chelsea are thought to be interested in the Brazil No. 1 who is now in a position to negotiate his future having seen his side knocked out of the World Cup by Belgium.

Asked about the likelihood of the goalkeeper leaving, he replied: “The same chance that [Kostas] Manolas, [Edin] Dzeko and [Lorenzo] Pellegrini have of leaving.

“The same chance as anyone who we haven’t had offers for. I know you don’t believe me, but I haven’t had any offers.

“If some were to arrive — and this applies to any other player — we’d evaluate them and then make a decision.

“Right now though we think he should rest after the World Cup, then come back here and have just as important a season as the last one.”

16: 40 BST: Jorge Mendes to meet Real Madrid directors before Wednesday to discuss the terms of Juventus’ offer for Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

Los Blancos want €150 million, though a deal could likely be struck for €120m.

16:29 BST: US international Bobby Wood has joined Hannover from Hamburg on a one-year loan deal with the option to buy.

16.05 BST: Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Monaco have signed Torino full-back Antonio Barreca on a five-year deal.

16.00 BST: O Jogo write that Bayern Munich have had a €35 million bid for Porto’s Alex Telles rejected.

15.55 BST:  TV magazine show “El Chiringuito de Jugones” claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo‘s agent Jorge Mendes had told Madrid that Juventus were going to present an offer for Ronaldo.

The “Jugones” show claimed that the transfer could be finalised “in the coming hours… or at some time this week”, while basing much of its report on “news coming out of Italy” and mentioning that Ronaldo’s underwear website is currently featuring a picture of the man himself modelling a pair in front of a black and white background.

Modelling underwear in front of a black and white background. The transfer window is great.

15.40 BST: The Mirror report that Everton are interested in signing Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha.

15.25 BST: Besiktas are interested in signing Swansea’s Andre Ayew, Sky Sports News report.

15.15 BST: New RB Leipzig boss Ralf Rangnick has confirmed that he would like to bring Everton’s Ademola Lookman back to the club.

14.50 BST: Done deal! Jack Wilshere has signed for West Ham United…

14.50 BST: Sky Sports News say Fenerbache are interested in signing Everton winger Yannick Bolasie.

14.40 BST: After speculation regarding his future rumbled on, Aron Gunnarsson has signed a new one-year contract at Cardiff…

14.25 BST: Are Arsenal on the verge of signing Matteo Guendouzi?

14.15 BST: AC Milan could sell Suso and Gianluigi Donnarumma this summer in order to balance the books, report Corriere dello Sport via Calciomercato.

14.05 BST: Roma’s Twitter account is at it again.

This is how they announced the signing of goalkeeper Daniel Fuzato…

14.00 BST: Gazzetta dello Sport report that Roma’s director of football Monchi has been impressed by Jordan Pickford at the World Cup, but is against signing players on this basis because of the inflated price. 

13.50 BST: Calciomercato write that Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United remain interested in AC Milan pair Leonardo Bonucci and Alessio Romagnoli.

13.45 BST: Has Jack Wilshere been spotted outside the London Stadium?

13.40 BST: Today’s edition of Record links Tottenham with a move for Benfica left-back Alex Grimaldo.

13:20 BST: Mancheser City will turn their attentions to Miralem Pjanic if Jorginho follows Maurizio Sarri to Chelsea, according to Tuttosport.

12:50 BST: Patrice Evra has urged his former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo to join Juventus.

“Everyone asks me, ‘Pat, what do you think?’” he said on his Instagram Live video. “I haven’t spoken to Cristiano about this, but my advice is, if he wants to play to 2050, he has to go to Juve. There is no other team he must join. It’s simple.

“I thank Juve, because if after Manchester I continued to win and to run, it was thanks to Juve. You should never spit on the plate that fed you, so Juve will always be in my heart.

“So Cristiano, I tell you this: make the right choice. You know how much the Italians love you, but it’s a sacrifice. If you go to Juve, it’s to work and to work hard. This lot don’t know what a vacation is.

“But that’s the choice. Either you want to continue playing to 2050 or just carry on for a bit. I can tell you this. If you go to Juve, you’ll be at the next World Cup — not as a mascot but as a protagonist.”

12.30 BST: Reports in Turkey say talks are ongoing between West Brom and Besiktas over Nacer Chadli.

12.10 BST: Sevilla are planning a swoop for Nice’s Jean-Michael Seri should they sell Steven N’Zonzi, Mundo Deportivo write.

12.00 BST: TuttoMercatoWeb report that West Ham have made contact with Sevilla regarding Franco Vazquez.

11.50 BST: Atletico Madrid are hoping to sign Gelson Martins from Sporting Lisbon without any legal problems after the winger’s contract was rescinded this summer, O Jogo write.

11.40 BST: RMC say that Marseille board members laughed out loud upon hearing English reports saying Dimitri Payet had been offered back to West Ham.

11.30 BST: The Daily Mail write that Kenedy is set to rejoin Newcastle on loan from Chelsea.

11.25 BST: Galatasaray have confirmed they are in negotiations with Everton for Henry Onyekuru…

11.10 BST: Mario Balotelli must begin talks with Nice after moving closer to a deal to seal a switch to French giants Marseille, RMC report.

Nice fans claim Balotelli has “betrayed” them after failing to show up for preseason training.

11.05 BST: Atletico Madrid and Sevilla are battling it out for Milan striker Nikola Kalinic, AS write.

The striker was booted out of Croatia’s World Cup squad this summer after refusing to come on as a substitute.

11.00 BST: Jasper Cillessen will meet with Barcelona officials to discuss his future at the club, Sport write.

The Netherlands international has been linked with a move to Liverpool this window.

10.50 BST: Turkish outlet Fanatik report that Liverpool have made an €18 million bid for Croatia defender Domagoj Vida, though Besiktas are holding out for €35m.

10.40 BST: West Ham are on the verge of signing Borussia Dortmund forward Andriy Yarmolenko, sources have told ESPN FC.

10.35 BST: Emre Can will be presented as a Juventus player for the first time at 13.30 BST following his free transfer from Liverpool.

10.15 BST: AS write that Neymar and Kylian Mbappe remain top of Real Madrid’s shopping list, while Eden Hazard is seen as “Plan C.”

10.05 BST: With the Premier League transfer window due to close on Aug. 9, where are all the big transfers? Senior Football Writer Mark Ogden takes a look…

09.50 BST: French journalist Nabil Djellit reports that Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri is in London, as speculation grows regarding interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham and Fulham…

09.40 BST: Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is the subject of interest from Napoli, Gazzetta dello Sport write.

The Serie A side are also looking at PSV and Colombia right-back Santiago Arias.

09.30 BST: Arsenal are closing on in the signings of Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi, BBC Sport’s David Ornstein reports…

09.20 BST: Sky Sports News are reporting that Southampton have agreed a deal with Borussia Monchengladbach for defender Jannik Vestergaard.

09.10 BST: Barcelona will only listen to offers of at least €30 million for Colombia defender Yerry Mina, Mundo Deportivo report.

They would also like a buy-back clause included in any deal

09.00 BST: As Antonio Conte takes charge of preseason training at Chelsea, the club’s failure to replace him could see them lose Willian, write the Manchester Evening News.

The Brazil winger has been linked with moves to Barcelona and Manchester United.

08.45 BST: Sport, on the other hand, lead with Paris Saint-Germain wanting to sign Luis Suarez.

They would reportedly sell Edinson Cavani, as Neymar does not want to play with him anymore, raising funds for a Suarez bid.

08.40 BST: Today’s cover of Mundo Deportivo says Paris Saint-Germain have told Philippe Coutinho’s agent they are ready to launch a €270 million offer to lure the Brazilian away from Barcelona…

08.35 BST: At last, there could be an end in sight regarding West Ham’s pursuit of Lazio winger Felipe Anderson.

08.25 BST: Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has revealed he would like to re-sign Manchester United defender Daley Blind.

Paper Talk

Seri nears Premier League switch

Jean Michael Seri is edging closer to a Premier League move after being spotted in London over the weekend, reports the Daily Star.

The Nice midfielder has been linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and Fulham after failing to join his OGC Nice teammates on their preseason training camp under new boss Patrick Vieira.

With the Ivorian having only one year left on his contract, it’s thought that Nice are prepared to cash in while they can still command a reasonable fee.

Mahrez move nearly done

Manchester City are finally close to sealing a £60m transfer for Riyad Mahrez.

According to the Daily Mail, the Leicester star will undergo a medical in the next 48 hours before confirming his switch to the Premier League champions.

City have been forced to remain patient in their pursuit of the 27-year-old, having seen a January bid rejected by the Foxes, which prompted Mahrez to go AWOL.

Mahrez is expected to kick-start Pep Guardiola’s summer spending spree, with Napoli’s Jorginho also set to complete his protracted move to the Etihad.

Tap-ins

– Spurs have a free run at Jack Grealish after Liverpool ruled themselves out of the running for the Aston Villa playmaker. The Liverpool Echo claims the Reds “have absolutely no interest” in the 22-year-old, and are “targeting a higher calibre of player”. Ouch.

– Ajax have confirmed their interest in Manchester United fringe player Daley Blind, reports Sky Sports. The versatile defender left Amsterdam for Old Trafford in 2014 but has struggled to hold down a place under Jose Mourinho.

– Mario Balotelli is closing in on a move to Marseille, says RMC Sport. The Italian is set to quit rival Ligue 1 club Nice after netting 33 goals in 51 matches in the past two seasons.

– Frank Lampard has gone back to West Ham to sign promising defender Reece Burke, reports the Sun. The 21-year-old will join Derby for around £1.5m as Lampard prepares for his first season as manager.

Follow @ESPNFC on Twitter to keep up with the latest football updates.

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