Transfer Talk: Real Madrid’s Mateo Kovacic ‘not interested in Manchester United move’

August 3, 2018 admin Transfers 0

Robert Lewandowski, Arturo Vidal and others make up today’s Transfer Rater, but who’s most likely to make a move before the summer window closes?

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

When does the transfer window close in the Premier League and the top European leagues?

Kovacic ‘not interested in United move’

Manchester United want Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic — but Kovacic doesn’t want to join them, according to Marca.

It reports that United have made a €60 million bid for the Croatia midfielder, but says he “isn’t interested in signing for Jose Mourinho’s side” because he sees them as “a bad stylistic fit.”

Although Kovacic will join Madrid’s preseason preparations, he will still be looking to leave.

And Marca adds that new coach Julen Lopetegui “will have the task of making him feel important in the squad in the hope that he is still open to changing his mind.”

LIVE BLOG:

23.00 BST: That will do it for another day with the Transfer Talk LIVE blog. There’s only a week left to go for Premier League sides to make additions. Remember to check back in a few hours as we pull more links, rumours and completed deals from around the world of football.

22.49 BST: With Man United linked with wingers like Willian and Ivan Perisic, a new target has emerged: Dries Mertens.

Transfer Market Web claim that the Napoli man and Belgium international could be targeted by Jose Mourinho as a backup plan if United fail to lure Willian or Perisic.

Mertens has scored 56 times over the last two seasons for the Partenopei, often playing centrally as a striker.

Napoli are thought to want around €40 million for the 31-year-old, a cheaper price tag than either Willian or Perisic would warrant.

Mourinho wants signings and with only a week left to go to bring players in, time is ticking at Old Trafford.

22.30 BST: Here’s something. Italian source Tuttomercatoweb alleges Aston Villa — yes, Aston Villa — have made a €20 million bid for Barcelona defender Yerry Mina.

The Colombian World Cup star has been heavily-linked with Everton and Manchester United so this one can be filed under the “extremely doubtful” category. Add in Aston Villa’s current financial concerns and this one seems even more farfetched.

Mina is likely to have a new club in the next month but Aston Villa? Not likely.

22.05 BST: West Ham have been busy this summer and according to ESPN FC’s Peter O’Rourke, the Hammers might soon have more news to announce.

Sources tell O’Rourke that West Ham have a contingent in Portugal working on closing a trio of deals. The Hammers are after Moussa Marega and Yacine Brahimi from Porto, as well as Benfica youngster Joao Felix.

Marega and Brahimi would certainly add some punch to West Ham’s attack as Marega scored 23 goals last season while winger Brahimi chipped in 12 goals and 10 assists.

Meanwhile, the 18-year-old Felix starred for Benfica B last season and also plays for the Portugal Under-21s.

Manuel Pellegrini is overseeing a total makeover at West Ham.

21.45 BST: Wigan are interested in signing Everton and United States international Antonee Robinson on loan from Everton.

The 20-year-old is likely set for a loan move and with Lucas Digne arriving at Goodison Park, the Liverpool Echo understands that Wigan have joined Bolton as a potential landing spot.

Robinson has yet to appear for Everton’s first team and played 34 games last season while on loan at Bolton.

21.08 BST: — DONE DEAL — CSKA Moscow have announced that they have signed striker Abel Hernandez from Hull City.

The Uruguayan had an up-and-down four-year spell at Hull, last season scoring eight goals in 10 games during an injury-shortened campaign.

20.39 BST: — DONE DEAL (s) — Sunderland have loaned Lamine Kone out to Ligue 1 side Strasbourg. 

The 29-year-old Ivorian centre-back joined Sunderland in 2015 but has seen the club relegated from the Premier League to League One over the past two seasons.

Sunderland have also announced they have brought in a player, signing former Bradford City striker Charlie Wyke.

The 25-year-old is one of the most  prolific strikers in the division and is coming off a season in which he bagged 16 league goals for the Bantams. 

20.18 BST: Leeds have announced that they have sold midfielder Ronaldo Vieira to Sampdoria for an undisclosed fee.

The England Under-21 international joins the Italian side on a five-year-deal after two full season at Elland Road.

19.54 BST: An update on Gonzalo Higuain to AC Milan. Juventus GM Beppe Marotta has told Gazzetto dello Sport that Higuain’s move is “just about completed.”

The other portion of this deal would see Leonardo Bonucci return to Juventus with Mattia Caldara going the other way and landing at Milan.

Reports in Italy state that Milan would pay €18 million to land Higuain on an initial one-year loan with a clause to make the move permanent at €36m. Caldara and Bonucci will reportedly be included as a straight swap.

We will be keeping a close eye on this one over the next few hours. Full story.

19.32 BST: According to Major League Soccer’s official website, talks between the Chicago Fire and Nancy-Lorraine have broken down over French-born Moroccan midfielder Amine Bassi. 

French outlet L’Est Republican had reported last week that Bassi had been held out of a game with Nancy with a move seemingly imminent but now it looks like the deal has broken off.

18.56 BST: WalesOnline writes that newly-promoted Cardiff City have given up in their pursuit of Watford striker Troy Deeney.

Rumours on Tuesday suggested that Cardiff could bid £15 million for the proven Premier League goalscorer but those talks have come to an end.

Cardiff currently have Kenneth Zohore, Gary Madine and Danny Ward on the books in terms of forwards.

18.29 BST: — DONE DEAL — Updating this one from earlier: Lyon have signed highly-rated Tottenham youngster Reo Griffiths to a four-year contract.

The 18-year-old quit Spurs this week after scoring 33 times last season for the Under-18s and was also being chased by PSG and Real Madrid.

18.04 BST: The Guardian suggest that Crystal Palace are nearing deals with West Ham central midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate and Swansea forward Jordan Ayew.

Kouyate is reportedly set for a medical after the club agreed to a £9.5 million plus £1.5m in add-ons deal with West Ham.

Ghana international Ayew is also close to a move with Jairo Riedewald set to head the other way to South Wales.

17.30 BST: The Times report that Tottenham are closing in on a £20 million move for Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish. 

The 22-year-old has been linked with a move to Spurs amid Aston Villa’s finance problems.

Tottenham have yet to sign a player this summer.

16:17 BST Various reports in Italy are suggesting a swap deal which will see Leonardo Bonucci go back to Juventus with Mattia Caldara and Gonzalo Higuain heading for AC Milan is done

15.55 BST: Jerome Boateng’s move from Bayern Munich to PSG is edging close, according to Le Parisien.

15.39 BST: Reported Fulham target David Lopez has signed a new deal with Espanyol.

15.21 BST: Following earlier reports that Gonzalo Higuain had turned down a move to AC Milan, Sportmediaset are reporting that Juve director Beppe Marotta has moved to “repair” the situation and the transfer is now back on.

15.00 BST — DONE DEAL: Aston Villa have made their first signing of a difficult summer, bringing in Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Andre Moreira on a season-long loan.

14.35 BST: Tosin Kehinde has joined Primeira Liga side CD Feirense after leaving Manchester United. 

14.15 BST: Sebastian Giovinco says he is settled in the MLS, but confesses that he did consider a return to Serie A.

13.55 BST: Defender Ben Purrington has moved from Championship newcomers Rotherham to League One AFC Wimbledon on a season-long loan.

13.45 BST: West Ham have seen a £27 million offer for Maxi Gomez rejected by Celta Vigo, who want £35 million for him, the London Evening Standard reports.

13.30 BST — DONE DEAL: Championship side Bristol City have signed former Brighton keeper Niki Maenpaa on a free transfer after a successful trial spell.

13.15 BST: Tianjin Quanjian coach Paulo Sousa has said he expects midfielder Axel Witsel back in China this weekend despite reports linking him with Borussia Dortmund.

12.30 BST: Sevilla are set to sign Aleix Vidal from Barcelona in a deal worth €10 million, Sport reports.

12.15 BST: Chelsea will risk the possibility of losing goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois on a free if they cannot recruit a replacement by the time the window closes, says the Mail.

11.50 BST — DONE DEAL: Championship side Sheffield United have signed Liverpool’s Wales international forward Ben Woodburn on a season-long loan deal.

11.30 BST: Stoke want to sign defender Ashley Williams on loan from Everton, according to the Mail, which reports that “negotiations centre on whether Everton will accept terms that see Stoke pay a portion of Williams’ £65,000-per-week wages.”

11.15 BST: Sky Sports reports that Brighton have turned down a bid from Championship side Hull City for midfielder Oliver Norwood.

11.00 BST — DONE DEALS: Lazio have announced the signings of midfielders Milan Badelj, a free agent after his Fiorentina contract expired, and Carlos Joaquin Correa, who joins from Sevilla.

10.45 BST — DONE DEAL: Celta Vigo have signed of 19-year-old Fran Beltran from Rayo Vallecano.

10.30 BST: Italian publication Tuttosport claims Barcelona technical secretary Eric Abidal held a secret meeting with Manchester United’s Paul Pogba in Los Angeles last week. Make of that what you will…

10.05 BST — DONE DEAL: Everton have wrapped up the transfer of Lucas Digne from Barcelona, with the left-back moving to Goodison Park for an undisclosed fee.

10.00 BST — DONE DEALS: Nottingham Forest have signed goalkeeper Luke Steele, a free agent since leaving Championship rivals Bristol City at the end of last season, on a two-year contract. Forest keeper Stefanos Kapino, meanwhile, departs for Werder Bremen for an undisclosed fee.

09.30 BST: The ongoing changing of the guard at Sunderland following their relegation to League One continues apace — defender Lamine Kone is on his way to Strasbourg on loan, the Chronicle reports.

09.15 BST: Stoke manager Gary Rowett has said he hopes goalkeeper Jack Butland will reject interest from Premier League sides and stay at the club. England international Butland has been linked with a move after Stoke’s relegation to the Championship.

08.45 BST: Borussia Monchengladbach have put a €20 million price tag on Thorgan Hazard, Footmercato reports, with both Sevilla and Roma interested in the Belgium international.

08.30 BST: Radio Galega claims West Ham are closing in on the signing of Celta Vigo striker Maxi Gomez. The 21-year-old had an impressive debut season in La Liga, scoring 17 goals and setting up four more.

08.15 BST: French champions Paris Saint-Germain have agreed terms for the transfer of Bayern Munich and Germany defender Jerome Boateng, Le Parisien claims.

However, Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says, however, he has not had any contact with PSG, who would be likely to have to pay around €50 million for Boateng.

08.00 BST: To Germany first, where Sport Bild reports that RB Leipzig are after Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Sebastian Rudy, who could be reunited at RB with his old coach Julian Nagelsmann next summer.

Inter make move for Modric

Inter Milan have made contact with Luka Modric‘s representatives over a potential move, according to Sky Italia, with the Real Madrid midfielder thought to be open to the switch.

Modric, 32, helped Madrid to a third straight Champions League title last season and captained Croatia to the World Cup final, winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.

Inter, who will compete in the Champions League for the first time in six years, have made midfield targets a priority.

However, a deal could prove difficult if Madrid resist the prospect of losing another star name after Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Juventus, and Inter have lined up Bayern Munich’s Arturo Vidal if a Modric move does not work out.

Barca keen on Liverpool’s Mignolet

After speculation that Simon Mignolet will leave Liverpool in the near future, Sky Sports says the goalkeeper’s next destination could be the Camp Nou.

Reports on Monday said Belgium international Mignolet was not part of Liverpool’s preseason trip to France after he fell to third in the goalkeeping order behind Alisson and Loris Karius.

He has been linked with Besiktas, but Sky says the Turkish club have yet to make a firm offer — and Barca are now interested. The Spanish champions’ second-choice keeper Jasper Cillessen could soon be on the move, opening up a vacancy for Mignolet.

The Telegraph reports that Jurgen Klopp could consider letting both Mignolet and Karius go, with Karius interesting Bayer Leverkusen.

The Bundesliga side, who have sold Bernd Leno to Arsenal, are on the hunt for another keeper, and the Telegraph says Karius “is understood to be on their list of targets” and is considering his future after the arrival of Alisson.

Chelsea facing Milinkovic-Savic setback?

Chelsea’s hopes of signing Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic could have taken a knock after he suggested to fans that he would stay in Italy, the Independent reports.

It says that although sources close to the midfielder have indicated that he would favour a move to Stamford Bridge despite interest from Manchester United, he may opt to remain in Serie A.

Chelsea “are closely monitoring the Serbia international’s situation” and the Independent adds that boss Maurizio Sarri sees him as a player “who could potentially be a focal point in the mould of Eden Hazard,” who continues to be linked with Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, the Evening Standard says Chelsea are optimistic that Hazard can be persuaded to commit his future to the club if N’Golo Kante signs a new long-term contract.

It reports that Kante “has been offered a five-year deal worth a club-record £290,000 a week” — and with the France star said to be prepared to sign, Chelsea believe that “sends a strong message of intent to Hazard.”

Tap-ins

– Crystal Palace are in advanced talks to sign former Schalke attacking midfielder Max Meyer, a free agent since leaving the Bundesliga side. The Mirror reports that Palace boss Roy Hodgson sees Germany international Meyer, previously linked with Liverpool and Arsenal, “as an ideal candidate to beef up his squad.”

– Melbourne Victory have signed former Japan star Keisuke Honda for $2.9 million, according to SBS. Honda, who retired from international duty after the World Cup, had been a free agent after leaving Mexican side Pachuca.

– Fulham’s busy summer could get even busier, with Sky Sports saying the Londoners are keen on Wolfsburg’s Joshua Guilavogui. The defensive midfielder has two years left on his contract in Germany and Fulham are considering tabling an offer.

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