LIVE Transfer Talk Liverpool Chelsea Manchester City also may pursue Gianluigi Buffon


The ESPN FC panel discuss the timing of Gianluigi Buffon’s decision to leave Juventus.
The ESPN FC crew answer your tweets on Mike Arteta to Arsenal, Anthony Martial’s omission from the France squad and much more.

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 Liverpool, Chelsea and City move for Buffon

Gianluigi Buffon could be heading to the Premier League next season.

While Paris Saint-Germain are in pole position to sign the veteran goalkeeper after he announced his departure from Juventus, Tuttosport says that if PSG don’t tempt the former Italy No. 1, then offers from Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City will arrive.

The 40-year-old spent 17 seasons with the Old Lady and amassed 300 clean sheets in the process. His final game with the team comes this weekend against Verona.

LIVE BLOG

08.52 BST: Could it be Antoine Griezmann? AS claim Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu “intends to announce” a major signing in the next two weeks.

08.29 BST: Ajax’s young star Justin Kluivert will be leaving. Which may be of interest to Manchester United and Tottenham.

“I’m not renewing my contract at Ajax. Too much has happened,” he told Volkstrant. “The decreasing morale, lack of confidence, trying to sell me to Tottenham without me knowing. I heard about that at the last minute. That says nothing about Ajax, but about the people in the club. They do want they want. I get that feeling again, they do what they want.”

08.11 BST: Superdeporte report that Valencia have rekindled their interest in Arsenal forward Lucas Perez and want to sign him this summer. Perez, who is tied to the Gunners until June 2020, spent one season at Arsenal before returning to Deportivo last summer on loan. According to Superdeporte, Valencia executives met with Perez’s representative Rodrigo Fernandez 10 days ago in London to inquire about the Spaniard.

08.00 BST: Marseille could make a move for Mario Balotelli if — as expected — he leaves Nice this summer, L’Equipe reports. However, with €120 million of the €200m owner Frank McCourt promised to invest in his first four years already spent, the French daily casts doubt on the ability of the Europa League runners-up to meet the financial demands of such a deal.

PAPER TALK (by Jack Rathborn)

Chelsea set sights on Martial

Chelsea will aim to make Anthony Martial their trophy signing this summer, with the Mail claiming the Manchester United star could arrive no matter who is the Blues’ manager. (And being pursued like that might be a salve for Martial after he was left off France’s squad for the World Cup.)

Even though Antonio Conte is almost certain to depart the sideline, Chelsea will continue their recruitment of the striker. They also think highly of Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri after Barcelona pulled out of a deal to sign the Ivorian last summer.

Dortmund turn attention to Morata

Borussia Dortmund will now make a move for Alvaro Morata after receiving no encouragement in their efforts to make Michy Batshuayi‘s loan deal permanent, the Mirror reports.

The Bundesliga giant’s interest in Batshuayi was understandable considering he scored nine times in 13 appearances on loan. But Chelsea appear more interested in offloading Morata, who had a difficult first season at Stamford Bridge.

Juventus also emerged as a potential suitor for Morata, who earlier had a productive two-year spell in Turin, but the Old Lady would prefer a loan deal, while Dortmund could tempt the Blues with a permanent offer, claims the Mirror.

United close in on another full-back

Manchester United will begin talks for Monaco star Djibril Sidibe, claims Le 10 Sport, via the Mirror.

But while a £44m deal for Juventus defender Alex Sandro looks to be edging closer, a fee for Sidibe could be tougher to agree on.

Monaco will look for a fee of around £52m, the same as they received from Manchester City last summer for Benjamin Mendy.

Tap-ins

– Leicester have struck a deal with Porto for Ricardo Pereira, with a reported £22m set to be exchanged, says the Mirror. The Foxes will sign the Portugal international for an initial £17.5m, with a further £4.3m coming in add-ons. Claude Puel worked with the 24-year-old previously at Nice, and with 12 months left on his deal, the Dragoes have agreed to cash in.

Tuttosport claim Inter Milan will pay €15m for Josip Ilicic after the Slovenian’s fine debut season for Atalanta, which included 15 goals.

– Manuel Pellegrini has emerged as the top candidate to take over from the departed David Moyes at West Ham. The former Man City boss has been in charge of Chinese Super League outfit Hebei China Fortune for the past two years, but is now set to join the Hammers on Monday according to reports in Chile.

– Arsenal are prepared to sell Aaron Ramsay for £40m this summer if the Wales international refuses to sign a new contract beyond 2019, according to the Sun.

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