The football world is awash with gossip! Transfer Talk is monitoring the whispers ahead of all the summer moves. Check out the latest deals and potential deals here.
TOP STORY: Mbappe ready to move on from Monaco
Kylian Mbappe has been linked with a mega-money move away from Monaco all summer — and the 18-year-old looks like he may now be set for the exit door.
According to reports in France, Mbappe, who inspired Monaco to the Ligue 1 title and Champions League semifinals last season, has told the Principality club of his desire to move on.
The France international will not be short of suitors, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal just some of the clubs to have been touted as a potential destination for him in recent months.
Mbappe apparently favours a move to fellow Ligue 1 side PSG, though reports claim that Monaco will not allow the youngster to move on to their French rivals.
A replacement for the outgoing Neymar at Barcelona then, anyone?
LIVE BLOG
14.50 BST: Ex-Germany international Holger Badstuber has been heavily linked with a free transfer move to Stuttgart, but director Jan Schindelmeiser said: “No decision has been made yet.”
14.40 BST: Hamburg are set to sign defender Rick van Drongelen from Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam, according to reports in Germany.
14.25 BST: Montpellier’s Algeria international Ryad Boudebouz is closing in on a move to Real Betis, according to L’Equipe. The 27-year-old is expected to complete an €8.5 million transfer to the Spanish club despite also attracting interest from Bayer Leverkusen.
14.14 BST: With Neymar‘s move to Paris Saint-Germain edging ever closer, Lionel Messi has said goodbye to his Barcelona teammate… “It was an enormous pleasure to have shared these years with you Neymar, friend,” he wrote on Instagram. “I wish you a lot of luck in the next stage of your life. See you.” Full story.
14.00 BST: After training with Birmingham City, Lazio midfielder Ravel Morrison had seemed likely to join Harry Redknapp’s team — but Sky Sports reports that an initial loan bid has been turned down.
13.50 BST: DONE DEAL Lazio have signed striker Felipe Caicedo from Espanyol for an undisclosed fee.
Benvenuto @FelipaoCaicedo ⚪️?#WelcomeCaicedo #SSLhttps://t.co/bJvVklAliQ pic.twitter.com/2XvbMV1krz
— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) August 2, 2017
13.45 BST: Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing is training with the club’s under-23s after a move to Birmingham fell through and will not be considered for first-team action for the foreseeable future, the Teesside Gazette says.
13.36 BST: West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis is interested in signing Leicester midfielder Matty James, the Leicester Mercury reports.
It says Pulis, who “is said to be increasingly frustrated at the slow speed of his club’s summer recruitment drive,” wants James as a replacement for Darren Fletcher.
13.29 BST: Neymar‘s imminent world-record move to Paris Saint-Germain is all getting too much for him, according to Marca. The Brazilian is apparently boarding a flight to London “to disconnect” after telling his Barcelona teammates that he wants to leave the club.
13.17 BST: Manchester City midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko is set to join Napoli on loan with an option for a permanent move, sources close to the player have told ESPN FC. Full story.
13.05 BST: Paris Saint-Germain won’t have too much money left in the bank once they wrap up that Neymar signing, but they are also considering a swoop for Anderlecht midfielder Leander Dendoncker, according to his agent. Christophe Henrotay has told footmercato.net that he has “talked to PSG” regarding a move for his client.
12.51 BST: Wolfsburg defender Paul Jaeckel has signed a new contract with the Bundesliga club to keep him there until 2020…
Paul Jaeckel remains a Wolf until 2020. We are delighted, Paul!?➡️https://t.co/ecNRsRzgwU We are now also on @GIPHY ?⬇️ pic.twitter.com/hfGe53AboT
— VfL Wolfsburg EN (@VfLWolfsburg_EN) August 2, 2017
12.40 BST: Atletico Madrid defender Juanfran has said he is not worried by speculation that Antoine Griezmann could join Barcelona as a replacement for Neymar. “We are not concerned as Griezmann is happy at Atleti and we want him to give everything for Atleti,” he said. Full story.
12.26 BST: Inter Milan have already made one signing today and now L’Equipe is reporting that the Serie A club are looking to make another, having made an €18 million offer for Nice left-back Dalbert.
12.12 BST: Barcelona have released a statement regarding Neymar which says that the forward has informed them “this morning of his decision to leave the club” and that his €222 million release clause will have to be met if they are to sell him.
FC Barcelona communiqué on Neymar https://t.co/3gUqCGv5P8
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 2, 2017
12.03 BST: Sources have told ESPN FC that Newcastle striker Ivan Toney is having a medical at League One club Wigan ahead of a loan move.
11.51 BST: Wagner Ribeiro, who is no longer officially Neymar‘s agent but does still work for his father’s company, N&N Consultancy, has confirmed to ESPN FC that he is in Paris to finalise the Brazil international’s transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.
Ribeiro appears to be enjoying his time in the French capital, having tweeted: “Marvellous Paris, of the Eiffel Tower, of wine, of gastronomy and of FOOTBALL.”
Paris maravilhosa , da Torre Eifel, do vinho, da gastronomia e do FUTEBOL. pic.twitter.com/iuWuRM6moW
— Wagner Ribeiro (@wagneribeiro_) August 2, 2017
11.43 BST: Timothy Fosu-Mensah could be on his way to Watford, according to The Sun, which claims that the Hornets want to take the Manchester United teenager out on loan for the season.
11.30 BST: DONE DEAL Inter Milan have completed the signing of midfielder Matias Vecino from Serie A rivals Fiorentina on a four-year contract… Full story.
?? | @MatiasVecinoUy officially seals #Inter switch, signing a four-year deal!
?https://t.co/Z6ZgqXrRtV#WelcomeVecino #InterIsComing #FCIM pic.twitter.com/gI9jABZAgr— F.C. Internazionale (@Inter_en) August 2, 2017
11.18 BST: Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina says he wants to stay at the club, despite reported interest from Fenerbahce. “I have a contract here, I’m happy and I’m going to fight to the end,” he said. Full story.
10.59 BST: The Neymar saga takes another twist… La Liga president Javier Tebas has told AS that he will report Paris Saint-Germain to UEFA over their pursuit of the Brazilian, while saying that the league will not accept the €222 million for the Barcelona man’s release clause should PSG meet it. Full story.
10.41 BST: Barcelona ambassador Eric Abidal doesn’t seem too pleased with the news of Neymar‘s imminent exit…
@FCBarcelona_cat #why https://t.co/keaUS7Bb36
— Eric Abidal (@EAbidalOfficial) August 2, 2017
10.29 BST: Former Tottenham director of football Damien Comolli has defended the club’s quiet summer in the transfer market, saying it is an “impossible task” to improve their first XI. Full story.
10.04 BST: A Barcelona spokesperson has told ESPN FC this regarding Neymar… “Firstly, the player came to training today as expected; secondly, he spoke to his teammates to say goodbye because his intention is to leave the club; and thirdly due to the situation the manager has given him permission not to train.”
09.53 BST: Reports in Spain have claimed that Liverpool want one of Barcelona’s Rafinha or Andre Gomes as part of a deal that would see Philippe Coutinho head to the Camp Nou, however, the Liverpool Echo states that Jurgen Klopp has no interest in either player.
09.34 BST: Premier League trio Arsenal, Tottenham and Swansea are all chasing Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri, L’Equipe reports, with the Swans having already made a €17 million bid.
09.18 BST: Sky Sports’ Guillem Balague has an update on the Neymar-missing-training situation…
Neymar didn’t train today + told team mates he’s off to PSG. Key players were fed up with situation and wanted him to say it to the group. pic.twitter.com/MDlavOeiSd
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) August 2, 2017
09.12 BST: Barcelona have just tweeted that Neymar has been given permission to miss today’s training session… One would guess that is so he can formalise his move to Paris Saint-Germain. Watch this space. Full story.
Neymar Jr no se entrena con permiso del técnico #FCBlive
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) August 2, 2017
09.07 BST: Recent reports in Italy have linked Borussia Dortmund midfielder Emre Mor with a €13 million switch to Fiorentina, and BVB sporting director Michael Zorc has failed to rule out a transfer. “Many clubs are interested in Emre Mor…” Zorc told kicker.
08.53 BST: Mundo Deportivo’s front cover for Wednesday leads off Barcelona apparently targeting Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele, Angel Di Maria and Kylian Mbappe as a replacement for Neymar, though Antoine Griezmann is now said to be off their radar…
MD – #FCB target Coutinho, Dembele, Di Maria and Mbappe, but Griezmann has been ruled out; #MUFC want Andre Gomes https://t.co/l3nq5qnFCE pic.twitter.com/8CXUcaPtTB
— footballespana (@footballespana_) August 2, 2017
08.36 BST: Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al Khelaifi played it cool when talking to Moroccan TV about Neymar… “Today, Neymar is a Barcelona player and we will see what will happen with him…”
08.20 BST: Manchester Evening News claims that Manchester United have enquired about Anderlecht midfielder Leander Dendoncker, though the report adds that the Premier League club are unlikely to sign him this summer.
08.07 BST: Nottingham Forest are set to sign Kieran Dowell on a season-long loan from Everton on Wednesday, the Nottingham Post reports, with the 19-year-old midfielder having caught the eye as England won the Under-20 World Cup this summer.
06.34 BST: We’re kicking today’s Transfer Talk off nice and early with some news out of Nigeria. Sources have confirmed to KweséESPN that Kelechi Iheanacho’s £25 million move from Manchester City to Leicester City has been completed.
The 20-year-old has reportedly signed a five-year contract, in which City have inserted a £50m buy-back clause.
United line up £27 million deal for Aurier
Manchester United have agreed to a £27 million deal to bring Paris Saint-Germain right-back Serge Aurier to Old Trafford, but only if his appeal against a conviction succeeds, reports the Mirror.
The Ivorian was convicted of assaulting a police officer at a Paris nightclub last September and is currently banned from entering the UK.
An appeal has been lodged though, which could allow Aurier to complete his move and reignite his career after a series of controversies in the French capital in addition to being relegated to second choice after the arrival of Dani Alves from Juventus.
The 24-year-old’s case will be concluded next week in the French courts and, if successful, lead to him penning terms on a £90,000-per-week deal.
Barcelona see Dembele as Neymar replacement
Barcelona appear resigned to losing Neymar, with Paris Saint-Germain ready to trigger his astronomical buyout clause, meaning a search for a replacement is imminent, and the Independent reports that Ousmane Dembele is their ideal man.
The Borussia Dortmund starlet would not come cheap, but neither would another target, Paulo Dybala, with the Juventus striker likely to fetch in excess of £100m.
The 20-year-old could cost closer to £70m, and would appear to be a more realistic target too, given the Bianconeri have already lost Leonardo Bonucci to rivals Milan and would be unlikely to entertain selling more key players from the side that reached the Champions League final last term.
Chelsea to reignite deal for Candreva
Chelsea have received encouragement in their pursuit of Inter Milan winger Antonio Candreva, reports the Mirror.
The Italy international will be allowed to depart, likely for around £23m, but only if the Nerazzurri can secure Lazio star Keita Balde as a replacement.
The Senegalese is also wanted by Juventus, but Antonio Conte has tracked the 30-year-old since last summer.
The Blues boss would likely utilise him less in an attacking role than Luciano Spalletti, potentially as cover for Victor Moses at wing-back, though the former Lazio star could play in either of the two attacking midfield roles behind the striker in his 3-4-3 system.
Roma bid for Liverpool target Mor
Roma have grown frustrated by Leicester’s stubbornness to agree to a fee for Riyad Mahrez, and Gianluca Di Marzio believes focus has shifted to Borussia Dortmund’s Turkish winger Emre Mor, previously linked to Liverpool.
The story claims the Bundesliga side have rejected the Giallorossi’s offer of €20m with future add-ons and are instead demanding €25m plus a further €5m in bonuses — almost double what Fiorentina bid earlier in the summer.
A deal for Mahrez is not dead just yet but is proving especially difficult for the club’s director of football Monchi, who has prepared a Plan B in the form of Real Madrid star Lucas Vazquez.
Tap-ins
– Derby have failed with a £7m bid for Leicester’s Tom Lawrence, with the Mirror reporting that the Rams fear Premier League interest could see their pursuit end in failure.
Brighton are also keen on the Wales international and could table a club record £8m offer, and with the 23-year-old having just 12 months left on his deal at the King Power Stadium, a summer exit looks probable.
– AC Milan are prepared to save Diego Costa from his Chelsea nightmare, but the Standard reports that the Rossoneri will not consider a loan move.
Atletico Madrid, the player’s preferred choice, cannot play Costa until January due to their transfer ban, creating a dilemma for the Spain striker with the World Cup on the horizon, which has brought Milan into play.
– Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho is undergoing a medical at Leicester City on Tuesday ahead of a £25m move from Manchester City, sources confirmed to KweséESPN.
Iheanacho, 20, is expected to sign a five-year contract with the Foxes, calling time on his three-year career with City and ending uncertainty over his future.