The English transfer window is closed, but the rest of Europe is still open for business, 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 top European leagues?
All completed moves: Prem | Champ | La Liga | Serie A | Bundesliga | Ligue 1
TOP STORY: Modric to stay at Real Madrid
Throughout the summer, there has been speculation that Croatia midfielder Luka Modric is on his way out of Real Madrid — but he’s going nowhere, Spanish paper AS reports.
Modric has been strongly linked with Inter Milan, but AS says that “after evaluating everything with his family, he has taken the decision to remain with Madrid.”
The former Tottenham Hotspur star has “committed to trusted people” that he will stay at the Bernabeu — and will be paid the same as teammates Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos to do so.
Earlier this month, reports said Modric was planning to ask Madrid president Florentino Perez for permission to leave, despite Perez saying that only another club triggering his €750 million release clause could bring about an exit.
United rebuffed in approach for Mbappe
Manchester United tried and failed to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s France forward Kylian Mbappe during their frustrating window, the Mirror reports.
It says United “approached PSG over star asset Mbappe after he helped France win the World Cup” only for their interest to be rebuffed.
The Ligue 1 champions told United they were not prepared to part with former Monaco man Mbappe, who cost them £160 million “for any amount”.
United manager Jose Mourinho had also wanted to sign a central defender before Thursday’s deadline, but the 5 p.m. BST cutoff passed without any further players arriving at Old Trafford.
Milan’s Bakayoko loan bid stalls
Chelsea seemed set to loan midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko to AC Milan, but the London Evening Standard reports that the deal could be in danger.
It says midfielder Bakayoko’s switch “is at risk because the two clubs have hit a stalemate over finances.”
With Italy’s transfer window not closing until the end of next week, the Blues were prepared to allow Bakayoko to move to Serie A on a season-long loan with an option to buy at the end of that spell.
The Standard says Chelsea and Milan “discussed a £31.5m fee for next summer, with the loan fee covering the rest, or a higher final sum of £35m plus a £5m loan fee,” but Milan were “reluctant to agree such a price” and may want Chelsea to pay some of Bakayoko’s salary.
Tap-ins
– Thursday’s transfer deadline came and went without Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish moving to Spurs, and now the Birmingham Mail says he wants to persuade West Ham’s Robert Snodgrass to return to Villa. Snodgrass scored seven times on loan last season, helping Steve Bruce’s side reach the Championship playoff final, and Bruce is keen to add the Scotland winger to his squad again this season.
– West Bromwich Albion boss Darren Moore wants to bring in two more players before the deadline for loans at the end of the month, the Express and Star reports. Moore has said he does not feel Albion’s transfer business is over yet, and the report says the Baggies are in talks with a right-back and want another striker.
Be the first to comment