The summer transfer window is here, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings and goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Bayern to improve De Ligt offer
Bayern Munich are set to make a second offer to sign Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt but will need to offload Robert Lewandowski first, according to Calciomercato.
The Serie A giants are demanding a total transfer fee of €90 million, which would include any add-ons, for the Netherlands international defender.
Bayern had initially proposed €60m plus a further €10m for the 22-year-old, but a total package of €70m was turned down by Juve.
The Bundesliga champions’ next proposal will come closer what Juve want, with Bayern safe in the knowledge that De Ligt has already agreed a multi-year contract worth €10m-per-season.
Regarding Lewandowski, Barcelona had an initial offer of €40m, plus €5m in add-ons, rejected by Bayern, while Paris Saint-Germain have now shown a willingness to get involved at around €50m. As soon as Bayern have reached an agreement over a deal for the Poland international, the incoming funds can then be diverted into the De Light transfer.
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LIVE BLOG
17.39 BST: Leeds United have stepped up their interest in Paris Saint-Germain forward Arnaud Kalimuendo, reports L’Equipe. The 20-year-old spent the past two seasons on loan with Lens, scoring 21 goals in his 65 appearances, and is under contract with the Parisians until 2024. Jesse Marsch’s side are negotiating a €25m transfer fee, but the France U21 international may have to be persuaded into a move to Elland Road, having already been linked with a move to Internazionale as part of an swap deal for centre-back Milan Skriniar.
17.22 BST: Brentford have signed goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha on a free transfer, the Premier League club announced on Thursday. The 27-year-old Albania international has joined on a four-year deal, having kept 62 cleans sheets in 208 appearances across a 10-year career with Lazio, and will compete to be the Bees’ No. 1 as speculation continues over the future of current first-choice goalkeeper David Raya.
✍ Welcome to Brentford, Thomas Strakosha#StrakoshaSigns pic.twitter.com/3mYtapDAql
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) July 14, 2022
17.06 BST: United States goalkeeper Zack Steffen is in Middlesbrough for his medical ahead of a season-long loan from Manchester City, according to the Athletic’s Paul Tenorio. The 27-year-old former Columbus Crew shot stopper is in search of more first-team minutes ahead of this winter’s World Cup, and is now in the final stages of his move to the Championship to help cement his status as the USMNT’s No. 1.
16.33 BST: With Chelsea looking set to sign a trio of centre-backs in Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli, Presnel Kimpembe of Paris Saint-Germain and Nathan Ake of Manchester City, the Evening Standard reports that Crystal Palace lead the race to sign up-and-coming central defender Levi Colwill, with Arsenal also credited with interest.
The 19-year-old impressed on loan with Huddersfield Town in the Championship last season, earning comparison to Stamford Bridge icon John Terry. If Chelsea succeed in signing all three of their targets at centre-back, then the England youth international would be left with few first-team opportunities.
CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs adds that Colwill has not asked for a permanent move away from the club, but multiple reports suggest that outcome is more likely than another loan. Jacobs also wrote that Southampton and Leicester City are both keen on signing the defender who’s been in the Blues’ setup since 2011.
16.00 BST: Luis Suarez is a free agent after leaving Atletico Madrid. Could he move to MLS?
1:27
Herculez Gomez and Sebastian Salazar debate which club would suit Luis Suarez if he moves to MLS.
15.20 BST: Marca says new D.C. United manager Wayne Rooney is keen on ex-Man United teammate Jesse Lingard.
Lingard, 29, is a free agent after leaving United this summer and is attracting interest from MLS clubs, with offers from Premier League sides West Ham and Everton as well.
Rooney is also eyeing ex-Man United winger Ravel Morrison, whom he signed when manager of Derby County.
The Sun claims the 29-year-old Morrison, who is also a free agent, could make a move to the 13th club of his career.
14.43 BST: Manchester United forward Anthony Martial looks set to stay at the club for the 2022-23 season, according to talkSPORT.
Martial, 26, provided one assist in nine games during a low-key loan at LaLiga side Sevilla last season, but he will reportedly be given a chance to prove his worth to new United boss Erik ten Hag.
The France international has 79 goals in 269 games for United so far in his career, but isn’t going to leave yet.
14.00 BST: Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been the subject of interest from Chelsea, but the club have decided not to make an attempt to sign him, says The Athletic.
Ronaldo, 37, netted 24 goals for Manchester United last season but wants to leave this summer in order to play in the Champions League.
Chelsea are looking for a replacement for Romelu Lukaku, who rejoined Inter Milan on loan, and the Blues’ new co-owner Todd Boehly reportedly met with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes in Portugal last month. However, Chelsea have decided against making an offer for the Portugal international.
Ronaldo has cited “family reasons” for his decision not to travel on United’s preseason tour, with a potential transfer still an option before the end of the window.
13.22 BST: Arsenal are keen to sign Manchester City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko, says The Athletic.
Zinchenko, 25, has not cemented his place in the City side since arriving from Russian side FC Ufa in 2016 and the Premier League champions are open to letting him leave if a suitable offer comes in.
The Ukraine international has two years left on his contract at City, where he has played left-back and in midfield.
12.53 BST: Manchester City will join Barcelona in the race for Sevilla’s Jules Kounde if centre-back Nathan Ake leaves the Etihad this summer, sources have told ESPN.
Sources have said that City will also consider a move for Villarreal’s Pau Torres as a replacement for Ake if the Netherlands international moves on.
Sevilla are looking to offload Kounde, 23, to balance their books, but Barca have so far been unable to act on their longstanding interest due to their precarious financial situation.
That could open the door for City to move for Kounde, although sources said that they will only move for the highly rated France centre-back or Torres, 25, if Ake departs.
12.30 BST: Why aren’t PSG interested in signing Cristiano Ronaldo?
1:57
Julien Laurens explains why PSG have rejected the chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.
11.51 BST: RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol is now on the radar of Arsenal, claims Media Foot.
Gvardiol, 21, has been tracked by Tottenham and Man City, with the Croatia international, who can play at centre-back or left-back, a player of huge potential.
Arsenal have seemingly lost out to Man United over a €55m deal for Ajax’s Lisandro Martinez, so are reportedly turning their attention to Gvardiol.
11.16 BST: Paris Saint-Germain want to discuss a new deal with Lionel Messi, as his contract expires in 2023 — though there is an option for another year.
However Messi, 35, is only willing to think about his club future after the 2022 World Cup, says Fabrizio Romano.
10.50 BST: Leeds winger Raphinha is expected to be unveiled as a new Barcelona player on Friday, after a €68m move, but spoke to Barca TV about his dream transfer to Camp Nou.
He said: “This is a dream come true for me, not just for me also my friends and family. They’ve seen me playing since I was a kid. They knew this was a dream of mine to come here. All I can do now is give my best and try to help Barca be what it’s always been.
“What I can say about myself is that I’m very excited to win. I like to win, any time I lose it’s very difficult to accept. So, you can expect a player who will always be fighting, always try to win, in training sessions as well. I will fight to become a better player.
“For me it’s a tremendous honour. I saw Ronaldinho come here and achieve so much and after that Neymar as well. For me as a Brazilian to come here it’s an honour. I hope to reach the same objectives that those two players achieved.”
10.28 BST: Ousmane Dembele has signed a new contract with Barcelona until June 2024.
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— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_cat) July 14, 2022
10.03 BST: Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera has stated he will not leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
Herrera, 32, has two years left on his contract at PSG, but reports in France claimed he had been placed on a transfer list and could be on his way out.
“In every transfer window my name appears and nothing changes,” Herrera told COPE. “I’m happy here and the idea is to continue here. Our aim is to dominate in France and the club’s dream is to win the Champions League. But the main aim is to continue dominating in France. The dream is the Champions League but it wouldn’t be fair to turn it into an obligation.”
09.40 BST: Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira could join Valencia this summer, according to his agent.
Torreira, 26, is currently on preseason tour with Arsenal but the Uruguay international is likely to leave the club as he spent the last two seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid and Fiorentina and his contract expires in 2023.
“We have a preliminary agreement with [Valencia coach Gennaro] Gattuso for Torreira to play for Valencia,” Torreira’s agent Pablo Bentacur said, as reported in Superdeporte. “Arsenal coach [Mikel] Arteta wants Torreira to do the preseason with them.”
09.11 BST: Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford says he is in a “good place” and is ready for a fresh start under new manager Erik ten Hag.
Rashford looked a shadow of himself last season as United endured a miserable campaign under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and then Ralf Rangnick. He managed just five goals and lost his place in the England squad but 24-year-old says he’s refreshed after a summer break.
“For me it is a fresh start, something I am looking forward to,” Rashford said at a news conference in Melbourne, Australia. “The first two and a half weeks of training has been good. We have improved a lot [and we’re] a lot fitter than last season.
“We have a lot of room for improvement. I’m in a good place right now. I am looking forward to getting more games under my belt and getting ready for the season. It is a lot easier to make mistakes in a team that is winning.
“Individually it is the same thing. It is a lot easier to come back and improve when you make mistakes in a winning team. When you are losing it is difficult.”
08.30 BST: Barcelona are pushing to sign Cesar Azpilicueta from Chelsea, reports El Mundo Deportivo.
Azpilicueta, 32, is under contract with the Blues for another season but is keen to leave this summer to join the Catalan club. Barca coach Xavi has requested Azpilicueta’s signing but Chelsea want to bring in reinforcements before allowing the Spaniard to leave.
Chelsea have already lost defenders Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger, who signed for Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively on free transfers. Losing Azpilicueta too would mean an almost complete rebuild of their defence.
0:50
Gemma Soler explains why Xavi wanted Barcelona to sign Raphinha from Leeds United.
PAPER GOSSIP
– Fabrizio Romano reports that England under-21 centre-back Levi Colwill is set to leave Chelsea on a permanent deal this summer. This development comes after sources told ESPN that Chelsea are closing in on a €40m transfer for Napoli central defender Kalidou Koulibaly, while continuing to pursue an agreement with Manchester City‘s Nathan Ake. Sources have also added that Chelsea have also begun talks with PSG regarding a move for Presnel Kimpembe. Colwill, the 19-year-old who reached the Championship playoff final on loan at Huddersfield Town last season, will have his path to the Chelsea first team fully blocked.
– Sky Sports Italia has named the two players Napoli are looking at to replace the aforementioned Koulibaly, with Brighton & Hove Albion‘s Leo Skiri Ostigard already set to join the Serie A side. It will be between Fenerbahce‘s Kim Min-Jae and Lazio‘s Francesco Acerbi, with Napoli only wanting to sign one of the prospects.
– Napoli are making an effort to sign free agent Paulo Dybala as they aim to soften the blow of losing Lorenzo Insigne, reports Calciomercato. Insigne left to join Toronto FC on a free transfer earlier this month. AS Roma also want former Juve striker Dybala to play behind Tammy Abraham, but are yet to make an offer, while Inter Milan have lowered their interest due to difficulties in offloading Alexis Sanchez.
– West Ham United have made Sassuolo a €40m transfer offer for striker Gianluca Scamacca, reports Gazzetta dello Sport. So far Paris Saint-Germain have only offered €40m, but West Ham are ready to meet the €45m that Sassuolo want. Scamacca is believed to prefer a move to PSG, although he is also interested by the prospect of playing Premier League football in London.
– Lens right-back Jonathan Clauss wants a move to Marseille this summer, as reported by L’Equipe. Marseille have already had a transfer offer of €5m, plus add-ons of €1m, turned down for the France international, but he wants the move to happen.