The transfer window is open, and Transfer Talk has the latest rumours making the rounds. Follow along with our daily blog throughout the summer.
TOP STORY: Pogba offered to Barcelona to escape Mourinho
After two difficult years at Manchester United under Jose Mourinho, Paul Pogba could have found a way out.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the midfielder has been offered to Barcelona by agent Mino Raiola, who has told the club that Pogba is unhappy playing for Mourinho.
The two joined United in summer 2016, with Pogba moving for what was then a record £89.3 million transfer fee, but Pogba is apparently willing to leave now because he cannot stomach the chance of returning to the club after enjoying his time playing for France in the World Cup.
Could Paul Pogba secure his Manchester United exit with a move to Barcelona?
Pogba is under contract with United through the 2020-21 season, and it would likely take even a significant increase on what the club paid Juventus in order for Barca — or anyone — to prise him away.
LIVE BLOG
14:42 BST: Liverpool’s Harry Wilson will not feature in the preseason friendly against Bury on Saturday because he is tipped for a loan move, Goal.com reports.
Wilson, who went on loan to Hull City in January, has reportedly been offered to a trio of Championship clubs — Derby County, Stoke City and Swansea City.
13:37 BST: Former England under-20 international Demetri Mitchell is being targeted for a permanent move by Derby County manager Frank Lampard, according to the Sun.
Derby could offer £500,000 for Mitchell, who went on loan from Manchester United to Heart of Midlothian last season and has one year remaining on his contract.
13:08 BST: After joining Barcelona just two days ago, Clement Lenglet has already completed his first training session with his new club:
💪🙌@clement_lenglet‘s first training session! 🏋️🏃
🔵🔴#EnjoyLenglet pic.twitter.com/KDsRIA49gg
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 14, 2018
12:21 BST: Chelsea have completed the signing of Jorginho from Napoli, adding the midfielder on a five-year contract for a fee worth around €60 million.
Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola had identified Jorginho as his top target, but Chelsea beat him to the punch after appointing Maurizio Sarri as their manager.
12:04 BST: West Ham United legend Tony Cottee said that the club’s signing of Jack Wilshere from Arsenal is their best since they added Dimitri Payet in 2015.
“West Ham have made other signings, but this signing is at last a real signal of intent from the club to show where they are going,” Cottee told SportingBet. “My only disappointment about the Wilshere move is that he didn’t come to West Ham two years ago when he went on loan to Bournemouth.”
11:38 BST: Fulham are still trying to secure the services of Matt Targett despite having a £5 million bid for the former England under-21 international rejected by Southampton, according to West London Sport.
Targett joined Fulham on loan in January and was instrumental in their promotion campaign, and they want to keep as many of their loanees — including Newcastle United’s Aleksandar Mitrovic — with them for their return to the Premier League.
11:27 BST: New Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri thanked Stoke City, his former club, with a message on Twitter.
“Although ultimately last season ended in such sadness, I have no doubt the club will be back in the Premier League in the very near future,” Shaqiri wrote. “I’ll always have a place for Stoke in my heart.”
— Xherdan Shaqiri (@XS_11official) July 14, 2018
10:57 BST: Manchester United and Ajax are near a deal that will allow Daley Blind to return to the Netherlands, a source has told ESPN FC’s Rob Dawson.
Blind, who joined United from Ajax in 2014, made just four Premier League starts last season. United paid Ajax £13.8 million for Blind and want £15 million to send him back.
10:27 BST: Roma’s Monchi laughed off claims that Alisson is set for a move away, whether it would be to Liverpool or Chelsea.
La Repubblica interviewed the sporting director following a news conference on Friday, and he said that despite Walter Sabatini, his counterpart at Sampdoria, claiming he heard the Brazil No. 1 would leave for €70 million, that claim is not true.
“Sometimes the information that spreads is not true,” Monchi said. “There’s no news about Alisson.”
10:01 BST: West Ham United’s long pursuit of Felipe Anderson appears to be nearing an end as the Lazio midfielder has arrived in London for a medial, the Evening Standard reported.
West Ham have agreed a £41 million fee for Anderson and could pay another £6 million in add-ons, beating the previous club record of £25 million paid for Marko Arnautovic last summer.
09:36 BST: Leicester City will do their best to keep Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire with the club after they return from the World Cup by handing them new contracts, according to the Sun.
Vardy, who was engaged in contract talks before the World Cup began, will be offered a deal worth £120,000 a week, and Maguire will pull in a deal worth £80,000 a week — money that Leicester can afford to spend on the two players after the £60 million transfer of Riyad Mahrez to Manchester City.
PAPER TALK
TOP STORY: Chelsea in fight to keep stars from Spain
After being thoroughly impressed by his performances at the World Cup, Barcelona have come to the conclusion that N’Golo Kante would be the perfect addition to their midfield ahead of the new season, according to the Sun.
The Catalan giants have already signed Brazilian schemer Arthur as a direct replacement for Paulinho, and they have now identified Chelsea destroyer Kante as the man to supplement their engine room.
While heavily linked with Paris Saint-Germain’s Adrien Rabiot last week, Ernesto Valverde also is mulling over the prospect of signing a tough-tackling anchor man like Kante to play in Andres Iniesta’s place, thus transforming the dynamic of his midfield.
Such a deal would require Barcelona pay big money to prize Kante from Chelsea, but they are hoping a swap deal including Andre Gomes could help grease the wheels.
Meanwhile, Maurizio Sarri will have to fight to keep two of his most important players.
In addition to Barca’s interest in Kante, the Telegraph is reporting the new Blues boss has a job on his hands to convince Eden Hazard to commit his future to the club.
La Liga’s two biggest clubs are reportedly interested in bringing Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante to Spain.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are reportedly sniffing around Hazard, who is yet to sign the new £300,000-a-week contract that Chelsea have offered to ward off any advances.
The 27-year-old is said to be interested in a new challenge, but it’s hoped that Sarri’s appointment, coupled with moves for Jorginho, Daniele Rugani and Aleksandr Golovin, will coax the Belgian winger into extending his stay at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea want Higuain to replace Morata
The Mail reports that Chelsea have identified Gonzalo Higuain as the man to lead their attack next season and are willing to include Alvaro Morata as a makeweight to get their man.
Higuain is valued at £53 million by Juventus, and the Blues are hoping that offering Morata in the negotiations will strengthen their bargaining position.
After Morata’s less-than-prolific debut season in the Premier League, Chelsea are willing to let the 25-year-old leave this summer, if they can recoup the lion’s share of the £65m they paid Real Madrid for his services.
However, Juve are open to selling Higuain for two reasons: to get his £240,000-a-week wages off the books; and to use the money from his sale to help balance the extravagant capture of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Juventus still chasing Golovin
While Aleksandr Golovin has been strongly linked with Chelsea, reports emanating from Italy claim that West London club might face competition from Juventus for the Russian World Cup star.
They might have just spent more than €100m on Ronaldo, but Calciomercato cites unnamed reports that state that the Bianconeri aren’t finished with their summer spending quite yet and are keen to pip their Premier League rivals to sign Golovin from CSKA Moscow.
The report also suggests that the reigning Serie A champions might need to sell off a few of their fringe players quickly if they hope to raise the required cash and beat the Blues to the punch.
Inter in pole position for Malcom
Inter Milan are working hard to fend off Tottenham in the race to snap up Bordeaux’s Brazilian winger Malcom, according to the Times.
The Nerazzurri have offered £8.8m for an initial loan, with the option to sign Malcom next summer for a further £26.5m. Spurs also are said to be mulling an offer for the 21-year-old who Arsenal tried so desperately to purloin in January.
Tap-Ins
– Lille midfielder Yves Bissouma is on the verge of becoming Brighton’s record signing after the Premier League side lodged a £15m bid for the Mali international, the Mail writes. However, the French club are digging in their heels and holding out for £17.5m, secure in the knowledge that scouts from Everton, Tottenham and Schalke have all watched their man play in recent months.
– As well as Malcom, Inter also are planning to splurge on a couple of new full-backs in Sime Vrsaljko and Matteo Darmian, of Atletico Madrid and Manchester United respectively, reports Gianluca Di Marzio. Luciano Spalletti also has identified Spurs midfielder Mousa Dembele as a potential target, but things are on hold for the time being, as nobody is quite sure if the Belgian intends to sign a new contract at White Hart Lane.
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