The transfer window is open, 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 Premier League and the top European leagues?
TOP STORY: PSG happy to spend big on Kante
With money apparently no object, Paris Saint-Germain are preparing to flex their financial heft in a bid to lure N’Golo Kante from Chelsea, having installed the World Cup winner as their main transfer priority.
Chelsea had hoped to curb PSG’s interest by making Kante their highest-earning player with a new contract worth £290,000 per week, but the Daily Mail reports that the Ligue 1 champions are preparing a massive offer of their own.
Indeed, it has claimed PSG would be willing to offer the diminutive midfield scrapper an “even better salary” than the enormous deal on the table at Stamford Bridge.
Of course, the real winner — whichever way this pans out — is Kante, and who could possibly argue that he doesn’t deserve it?
LIVE BLOG
11.45 BST: Liverpool would consider a £15 million bid from West Brom for Sheyi Ojo if they approach them regarding a permanent transfer, Goal write.
11.35 BST: Manager Javi Gracia bringing a part of Spain to Hertfordshire? Sport say that Barcelona and Watford are currently negotiating a deal for Paco Alcacer to move to Vicarage Road on an initial two-year loan deal, with the Hornets having a mandatory option to buy him later.
11.25 BST: Mauricio Pochettino admitted that Tottenham may not make any signings this window, but the Evening Standard write that they expect to complete a deal for Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, while they also look to sign another midfielder and a forward before next Thursday’s deadline.
Toby Alderweireld, Mousa Dembele and Danny Rose are all still expected to leave the club this summer, with Vincent Janssen and Fernando Llorente also for sale.
11.15 BST: Adnan Januzaj to replace Riyad Mahrez?
Leicester are seriously interested in signing Adnan Januzaj. Man United have a first option to sign him back. #lcfc #mufc (via @niels_27) pic.twitter.com/R4AsVhBbOZ
— Kristof Terreur ? (@HLNinEngeland) August 2, 2018
11.05 BST: A breakthrough in the window for Manchester United? Sky Sports News report that their interest in Leicester’s Harry Maguire has cooled, and are instead targeting Barcelona’s Yerry Mina. Sport also add that officials from United and Barca will meet regarding a potential deal.
10.55 BST: After selling Yuri Berchiche to Athletic Bilbao, Paris Saint-Germain are readying a €30 million bid for Bayer Leverkusen left-back Wendell, kicker report.
10.45 BST: Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has aired his criticisms of his club’s lack of transfer activity, and Burnley boss Sean Dyche has echoed a similar sentiment, saying that they are being left behind in the transfer market and that it could compromise their status as a Premier League club.
10.35 BST: It looks like Milan are ready to announce Gonzalo Higuain…
Milan’s account on Instagram ??? pic.twitter.com/4SC6yQlyPj
— Milan Eye (@MilanEye) August 2, 2018
10.30 BST: Are Tottenham finally about to enter the transfer market? After making no signings in June and July, the start of August has brought fresh rumours about their activity, with The Sun writing that they are preparing a bid for Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook. His teammate, Simon Francis, previously told the Bournemouth Echo that Cook is worth “£20 million or £30m.”
10.20 BST: Leonardo Bonucci’s return to Juventus edges closer…
? @bonucci_leo19 touches down in Turin. pic.twitter.com/71g0kF0ai1
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) August 2, 2018
10.15 BST: A done deal in the Championship, where Sheffield United have signed England youth international Kean Bryan from Manchester City…
⚔️? DONE DEAL | Another one through the door ahead of Saturday’s @SkyBet Champ opener… ?⚪️⚫️⚔️ #twitterblades #ForgedinSteel #sufc pic.twitter.com/MQIUtgL8cM
— Sheffield United (@SUFC_tweets) August 2, 2018
10.05 BST: Over in Spain, Mundo Deportivo write that Barcelona have turned their attentions to Manchester United’s Paul Pogba. They add that the France midfielder was offered to the club last month by his agent, Mino Raiola, and pick up a report by Tuttosport that Pogba met Barca technical director Eric Abidal recently in Los Angeles.
09.55 BST: Worrying times on Tyneside, as Rafa Benitez admits he has “no idea” how close Newcastle are to making any new signings and understands why fans are concerned over their lack of activity in the transfer market.
09.45 BST: How about this for a Dutch dream team? Erwin Koeman has joined Phillip Cocu’s Fenerbache as assistant coach…
? Hollandalı başarılı futbol adamı Erwin Koeman, Futbol A Takımımızın yardımcı antrenörü olarak teknik direktörümüz Philip Cocu’nun ekibinde görev yapacak.
? https://t.co/ISVejIilgK pic.twitter.com/1ZquuYVVmY
— Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) August 2, 2018
09.35 BST: It has not been a good summer for Jose Mourinho. After a string of bad results on tour in the United States, Manchester United’s hopes of signing Real Madrid’s Mateo Kovacic have reportedly been dashed, according to Marca, who say the midfielder does not want to play Mourinho’s brand of football. Ouch.
09.25 BST: It appears Borussia Dortmund’s bid to bring Axel Witsel back to European football has prematurely ended, as the Chinese transfer window to bring in players has closed, though they can still sell.
“As far as I know, Witsel has a release clause in his contract, but this can only be activated during the Chinese transfer period,” Tianjin Quanjian coach Paulo Sousa told Chinese TV station CGTN.
09.15 BST: While Bournemouth’s pursuit of Colombia midfielder Jefferson Lerma seems relentless, Levante continue to stand firm. Marca report that the Spanish side rejected a €30m bid, insisting that any transfer for that fee comes with a set of variables.
Lerma would reportedly earn three times his current wage should he join Bournemouth, and is apparently keen on a transfer.
09.02 BST: West Ham United have released a short video thanking Cheikhou Kouyate, who signed for Crystal Palace last night after four seasons in east London:
#ThankYouCheikhou pic.twitter.com/dM93sim0l3
— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) August 2, 2018
08.57 BST: The Premier League transfer window closes on Aug. 9, meaning there’s still plenty of time for players to secure new homes before the season begins.
But what do the league’s largest clubs need to accomplish within the next week? Evaluate their transfer progress here.
08.38 BST: Everton are close to sending Antonee Robinson to Wigan on a season-long loan, sources told ESPN FC’s Peter O’Rourke.
Robinson, who made his United States debut in the friendly against Bolivia on May 28, was loaned to Bolton Wanderers last season.
08.21 BST: Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld told Het Laaste Nieuws that he plans to return to London and begin training this weekend.
Alderweireld, who has been on holiday since the World Cup ended, has been the subject of much speculation regarding his future at Spurs, with Manchester United heavily linked to a move.
08.06 BST: Everton defender Ashley Williams has agreed to accept a season-long loan to Stoke City, sources told ESPN FC’s Peter O’Rourke.
Williams, the Wales captain, has lost his first-team role under Marco Silva and is keen to play regular first-team football.
PAPER TALK (by Chris Wright)
Man United shift focus to Mina
After being told in no uncertain terms by Leicester City that Harry Maguire is not for sale, Manchester United have made Yerry Mina their prime defensive target, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Jose Mourinho has balked at the €90 million price tag for Maguire and will “focus all his attention” on completing a more reasonable €40m deal for Mina, over whom Barcelona are willing to barter.
However, it’s also mentioned that Everton and Lyon are interested in acquiring the Colombian international’s services, so United are likely to have to move quickly if they want to get their man before the window closes on Aug. 9.
Chelsea refusing to give up on Higuain
Returning to Chelsea, they are still convinced they will be able to sign Gonzalo Higuain, despite the Argentine having agreed to join AC Milan.
Higuain is on the cusp of joining Milan on a season-long loan from Juventus, but the Mirror claims that Chelsea are planning to throw a late, late spanner into the works by submitting a rival offer at the 11th hour.
The initial phase of the ploy would involve concluding a deal to sell Olivier Giroud to Marseille for around £20m (negotiations are said to be “active”), with that money then used to gazump the financial package Milan are offering for Higuain.
With Alvaro Morata once again misfiring in front of goal in Wednesday’s International Champions Cup defeat to Arsenal, perhaps it’s little surprise that Maurizio Sarri is so desperate to sign an alternative.
Tap-ins
— The Sun reports that West Ham have failed with their opening attempt to lure Celta Vigo striker Maxi Gomez to the London Stadium after having a £25m offer rejected by the Spanish side. However, with manager Manuel Pellegrini desperate to bolster his attacking ranks, the Hammers are likely to return with an improved offer for the Uruguay international.
— West Ham man Cheikhou Kouyate is close to joining Crystal Palace, with the Mirror reporting that the Senegal international is due to undergo a medical on Thursday, and the fee is expected to be in the £10m range. After losing Yohan Cabaye to Al Nasr at the start of the month, Palace are hoping to bring in another central midfielder alongside Kouyate before the start of the season, with Maxime Gonalons (Roma) and Danny Drinkwater (Chelsea) mentioned in passing.