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: Fekir deal hits roadblock
Just when it seemed like a deal to bring Nabil Fekir from Lyon to Liverpool was all but done, the Reds have pulled back following the player’s medical evaluation in France, reports the Telegraph.
With the clubs in agreement on a £53 million fee and Fekir ready to sign off on contract details, the outlet says “enough concerns have materialised over the last 24 hours to ensure the signing has not gone ahead as planned” and “Liverpool are offering no indication as to the nature of the problem.”
The France international, who is ready to head to Russia to take part in the World Cup next week, was meant to be the third piece of high-profile business for Jurgen Klopp’s side this summer along with Naby Keita and Fabinho. Instead, it might be a case of Liverpool having to “switch to alternative targets as they continue the hunt for a new No. 10,” says the report.
Herrera set for Bilbao return?
Ander Herrera could be headed back to the club he joined Manchester United from, with AS suggesting Athletic Bilbao are ready to make their former midfielder the team’s highest-paid player to lure him back to La Liga.
The 28-year-old was United’s player of the year two seasons ago, but was in and out of the lineup in the latest campaign and his place could be further complicated by the arrival of Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk.
But even if Herrera were surplus to requirements in Jose Mourinho’s midfield, the story says that the Portuguese boss is hesitant to let him go without a like-for-like replacement in the team.
Finances could further complicate the move as “Bilbao are also unlikely to be able to have the money to tempt United to sell,” meaning both club and player might have to wait until Herrera’s contract expires at the end of next season to be reunited.
Real to break bank for Neymar
The Sun claims to have a source close to Real Madrid that says Florentino Perez is willing to pay £307m to bring Neymar to the Bernabeu this summer before a £263m release clause kicks in with PSG as soon as the window closes at the start of September.
The report claims that “Real are unwilling to wait until January for their Galactico” and that the “free-spending suitors would break the current transfer record by £109m to get him before the new season begins.”
PSG reportedly put the Sept. 1 release clause in place to prevent Neymar leaving before 2019, but the rumour mill continues to swirl around the Brazilian’s future after returning from injury with the whispers surrounding a move to Real refusing to go away.
Tap-ins
– Harry Kane has penned a new deal with Tottenham and, according to the Mirror, that will have a knock-on effect and persuade both Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen to follow suit. The England frontman has committed himself to the club until 2024 and the Mirror says his two teammates “are the next in line to get bumper new pay deals.”
– Benfica forward Anderson Talisca has opted to join Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande on a six-month loan following links to Manchester United.
The Brazil youth international had been linked to a move to the Premier League, with Portuguese outlet O Jogo claiming last month that United submitted a £35 million offer for the 24-year-old.
– Juventus have signed Italian goalkeeper Mattia Perin from Serie A rivals Genoa for an initial fee of €12 million after he successfully passed a medical on Friday.
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