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: Madrid enter race for Dembele
Barcelona’s attempts to replace Neymar are not proving to be easy, and now, according to Catalan broadcaster RAC 1, Real Madrid look to be adding to their rivals’ problems by registering an interest in Ousmane Dembele.
The 20-year-old forward was suspended and fined by Borussia Dortmund after failing to report for training on Thursday amid speculation that he wants to join Barcelona. It is claimed that Barca remain Dembele’s preferred move, but Madrid president Florentino Perez has asked his counterpart at Dortmund, Reinhard Rauball, to keep him abreast of the France international’s availability before a move is made.
Madrid-based AS reckons that Barca, having seen a bid knocked back already, will return with a new offer for Dembele closer to Dortmund’s asking price of €120 million-€150 million in an effort to get the deal done.
Spurs plot a pair of signings
Like London buses, you wait all summer for a Tottenham signing, and then two come along at once.
The Mirror reports that the first new arrival will be Ajax defender Davinson Sanchez in a club-record £35m deal. It is claimed Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is in Amsterdam negotiating the finer points of a deal for Sanchez, the 21-year-old Colombia international who can play centre-back or right-back.
Meanwhile, sources tell ESPN FC that Tottenham is hopeful of completing a deal for Celta Vigo midfielder Pape Cheikh Diop in the face of competition from Lyon. Diop just turned 20 on Tuesday, but he has been told he can compete for a first-team place this season.
Mangala to have City future yet?
Manchester City’s lack of depth in defence means Eliaquim Mangala could earn a second chance at the club, according to the Guardian.
Manager Pep Guardiola has invited Mangala back to train with the main group at City, but he has not been so generous with Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony and Jason Denayer, who are still frozen out and free to move on.
City, whose senior options in defence are Vincent Kompany, John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi, could still sell Mangala if the right offer is made. But given the £32m contract he signed with City in 2014, that seems unlikely to happen.
Tap-ins
— In Portugal, A Bola writes that Barcelona right-back Douglas is almost a Benfica player after his management team met with the Portuguese club’s brass on Friday. Douglas, who spent last season on loan at Sporting Gijon, is surplus to requirements at Barca after they recently signed Nelson Semedo.
— The Mirror reports that Kieran Gibbs‘ move to Watford is off after the Arsenal left-back refused to take a pay cut on his £80,000-a-week wages. Gibbs, who is also a target for West Brom, is in the final year of his contract, and Arsenal are willing to listen to offers for him.
— Jack Colback looks to be on his way out of Newcastle, with the Daily Mail reporting a bust-up with manager Rafa Benitez. Colback, 27, has been training alone and has already been offered to other clubs; he will be left out of Newcastle’s 25-man Premier League squad.