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: Neymar to Man Utd if Ronaldo bolts?
Manchester United have already gathered a shortlist of replacements for Cristiano Ronaldo, according to The Daily Mirror, as the Portugal star is still determined to leave Old Trafford after discussions about his future took place at the Carrington training base on Tuesday.
The report states the four-man list of potential replacements includes Neymar, as Paris Saint-Germain look to remove the 30-year-old forward from their wage bill. The Brazil international has already been linked to a move to the Premier League, with the French club reportedly offering him to Manchester City.
AS Monaco captain Wissam Ben Yedder, who scored 32 goals in Ligue 1 last season, alongside Stuttgart‘s Sasa Kalajdzic and Brentford‘s Ivan Toney, are also in consideration.
The Telegraph added that Ronaldo, who was accompanied by agent Jorge Mendes to Tuesday’s talks, remained unswayed after meeting with club CEO Richard Arnold and former mentor Sir Alex Ferguson.
ESPN reported earlier this month that Ronaldo had handed in a transfer request due to his desire to play in the Champions League, but potential destinations for a move are limited. Atletico Madrid were the latest club linked with the former Real Madrid star, but Atleti president Enrique Cerezo rejected a move for Ronaldo, calling it on Tuesday “practically impossible.”
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20.24 BST: Barcelona have beaten Chelsea to the signing of defender Jules Kounde after agreeing a transfer fee of around €55m with Sevilla, sources have told ESPN’s Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.
Kounde, 23, was the subject of several bids from Chelsea last summer and reports suggested he was close to a move to the English side at the end of last week. However, Barca upped their interest over the weekend, with sources telling ESPN that coach Xavi Hernandez’s insistence on signing the centre-back has been key in getting the deal over the line. Read the full story.
20.07 BST: United States men’s national team defender Chris Richards has signed for Crystal Palace from Bayern Munich, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday. Read the full story.
Welcome to Palace, Chris ❤️💙#CPFC
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) July 27, 2022
19.51 BST: Valencia have lodged their opening bid with Juventus for the transfer of midfielder Arthur, reports Gianluca Di Marzio. The 25-year-old Brazil international is said to be one of Gennaro Gattuso’s key targets this summer, and Los Che‘s loan offer will include covering some of Arthur’s wages.
19.18 BST: Championship outfit Middlesbrough have made an offer for United States striker Matthew Hoppe, according to MLSsoccer.com’s Tom Bogert. The 21-year-old joined Mallorca from Schalke 04 just last summer, but played just 169 minutes of football in 2021-22, and has attracted interest from the San Jose Earthquakes and Atlanta United FC in MLS this year.
19.01 BST: The Houston Dynamo have signed attacker Nelson Quinones on a one-year loan from Once Caldas, the MLS club announced on Wednesday. The 19-year-old has made 17 senior first-team appearances before moving to Texas, and has represented Colombia at U17 and U20 levels.
Welcome to H-Town, Nelson 🇨🇴
We’ve signed the winger on loan from @oncecaldas with an option to purchase.#DejaloTodo
— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) July 27, 2022
18.45 BST: Everton are in advanced talks with Burnley over a deal for Dwight McNeil, reports the Athletic. The 22-year-old winger has been on Frank Lampard’s radar for some time, and after positive talks were held on Wednesday, total agreement over a fee could be agreed soon. McNeil played all 38 matches in the Premier League for the Clarets last season.
18.12 BST: Talks over a deal for TSG Hoffenheim left-back David Raum have resumed after RB Leipzig returned to the negotiating table with an improved offer, according to Sky Sport Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg. While the 24-year-old Germany international has already agreed personal terms with the Red Bull-backed club, Hoffenheim are only willing to let him go for a transfer fee close to his release clause, which is reportedly in the region of €30m.
17.39 BST: Barcelona are interested in signing Real Salt Lake and Mexico goalkeeper David Ochoa, reports MLSsoccer.com’s Tom Bogert. The 21-year-old, who is also said to be on the radar of Manchester United and AS Monaco, is out of contract at the end of the year, and that has seen a number of clubs begin to keep tabs on his situation. The Blaugrana reportedly plan to initially incorporate Ochoa in their B team if they can win the race for his signature.
17.06 BST: Barcelona have won the race to sign Jules Kounde, according to Fabrizio Romano. The 23-year-old Sevilla centre-back has been in the middle of a transfer tug of war between Chelsea and the Blaugrana this summer, but it looks as though Xavi Hernandez’s side are set to win his signature after a verbal agreement was reached.
16.33 BST: With Paris Saint-Germain ready to move on from midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum just 12 months after signing the Netherlands international on a free transfer from Liverpool, Fabrizio Romano reports that the French capital club are in negotiations with AS Roma over a deal to take the 31-year-old to Serie A. Wijnaldum made 38 appearances in his first season at Parc des Princes, but went the full 90 minutes on just eight occasions, lasting an hour or more in just 53% of matches he played.
16.00 BST: It’s a big season for Dortmund midfielder Gio Reyna.
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Kasey Keller and Sebastian Salazar debate Borussia Dortmund’s expectations for Gio Reyna.
15.15 BST: An Atletico Madrid fan group has called on the club to rule out signing Cristiano Ronaldo, saying that the former Real Madrid forward “represents the antithesis” of the team’s values.
Atletico have been named as a potential destination as Ronaldo looks to force an exit from Manchester United, although club president Enrique Cerezo called such a move “practically impossible” on Tuesday.
Ronaldo, 37, had a confrontational relationship with Atletico and the club’s fans in the past, spending nine years starring for city rivals Real and scoring a number of crucial goals against Atletico, including in the 2014 Champions League final.
“In light of the possibility of signing Cristiano Ronaldo, if it is more than a simple rumour without any basis, we express our absolute rejection of his hypothetical joining of our club,” Atletico’s International Union of Fan Clubs (Union Internacional de Peñas Atletico de Madrid) said in a statement. “The aforementioned player represents the antithesis of the values that constitute the hallmarks of our Atleti, such as the effort, generosity, modesty and humility of those who want to defend our values.”
14.55 BST: Ligue 1 side Nice are looking to sign Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, says The Times.
Schmeichel, 35, is the son of Man United legend Peter and helped Leicester win an incredible Premier League title in 2015-16.
The Denmark international has made nearly 500 appearances at Leicester over the past 11 years, but his contract expires in 2023 and he is reportedly keen for a new challenge.
14.06 BST: Sky Germany reports that Fulham are set to sign Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno for around £8m.
Leno, 30, has slipped behind Aaron Ramsdale in the pecking order and wants to play more regularly, with the club signing USMNT star Matt Turner this summer as well.
Fulham, back in the Premier League this season after promotion, need an established No. 1 and the Germany international fits the bill.
13.27 BST: Leeds United have done very well in the transfer window so far and are looking for midfield reinforcements after the £45m exit of Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City.
Portuguese outlet Record claims the club have enquired about the availability of Sporting CP midfielder Matheus Nunes.
Nunes, 23, was called “one of the best players in the world” by Man City boss Pep Guardiola and has a reported €45m release clause in his contract.
13.01 BST: Manchester United have confirmed the signing Lisandro Martinez from Eredivisie champions Ajax, the club announced on Wednesday.
Martinez has signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford to reunite with former manager Erik ten Hag in a deal worth an initial €57.37m, which could rise to €67.37m through variables. The Argentina international arrived at United’s training ground on Tuesday ahead of confirmation of his move.
Martinez said: “It’s an honour to join this great football club. I’ve worked so hard to get to this moment and, now that I’m here, I’m going to push myself even further.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be part of successful teams in my career and that’s what I want to continue at Manchester United. There will be a lot of work to get to that moment, but I firmly believe that, under this manager and coaches, and together with my new team-mates, we can do it.
“I want to thank Ajax and their fans for all the support they gave me. I had an unbelievable time there but feel the moment is right to test myself in another environment. Now I am at the perfect club to do this.”
12.34 BST: Neymar, Barcelona and Santos will stand trial on Oct. 17 on fraud and corruption charges over the transfer of the Brazil forward to Barca in 2013, the Brazilian investment group DIS said in a statement on Wednesday.
Neymar’s father, mother and the family company N&N have also been charged in the case, along with former Santos manager Odilio Rodrigues and Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, the then-president and vice-president of Barcelona respectively.
The case stems from a complaint by DIS, which owned part of Neymar’s transfer rights and alleges that it received less money than it was entitled to when Neymar joined Barcelona.
Investigations were carried out in Spain and Brazil into whether any part of the transfer fee had been concealed and the trial, to be held at the Provincial Court of Barcelona, is scheduled to run until Oct. 31.
Neymar has denied wrongdoing but, in 2017, Spain’s High Court rejected appeals by the player, his parents, N&N and the two clubs, paving the way for the case to go to trial.
12.00 BST: Quite the welcome for Paulo Dybala at Roma.
1:02
Paulo Dybala receives a hero’s welcome as he is unveiled as a Roma player.
11.05 BST: Diego Simeone has not been presented with the possibility of signing Cristiano Ronaldo by anyone at Atletico Madrid, Cadena Ser reports, and the manager would be unwilling to see Antoine Griezmann leave as part of any potential deal.
Atletico president Enrique Cerezo said on Tuesday that a move for Ronaldo was “practically impossible” after the forward held crisis talks at Manchester United’s training ground.
Griezmann — alongside Alvaro Morata — has been named as a high-earner who might need to depart Atletico to create room within their LaLiga imposed squad spending limit to sign Ronaldo, but according to SER, Simeone views him as “untransferable.”
10.43 BST: Rayo Vallecano’s sporting department and manager Andoni Iraola are being kept in the dark over a possible move for Diego Costa, Cadena COPE reports, with president Raul Martin Presa handling the matter personally.
Costa, 33, last played for Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro, scoring four goals as they won a domestic double, after leaving Atletico Madrid in December 2020.
A move to Rayo — where he previously spent the 2011-12 season on loan — would see him form a veteran strike duo with Radamel Falcao.
According to COPE though, coach Iraola would prefer other targets.
10.12 BST: Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares is closing on a move to Atalanta, says Sport Italia.
After spending £30m to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City, the Gunners now have Tavares, Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney as the three left-backs in their squad.
Tavares, 22, is keen to move on for more game time and the former Benfica defender could depart on loan.
09.30 BST: Uruguayan club Nacional have teased the signing of Luis Suarez as a free agent.
The 35-year-old former Liverpool and Barcelona striker started his professional career at Nacional before moving to Dutch side FC Groningen in 2006.
⏳🔜✍🏼 #SuarezEnNacional#ElClubGigante 🔵⚪️🔴 pic.twitter.com/X7DPlvzNeM
— Nacional (@Nacional) July 27, 2022
08.55 BST: Chelsea are interested in signing Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana, according to Sky Sports.
Fofana, 21, was on the radar of several top clubs following an impressive start to his Leicester career, only to suffer a broken leg last summer which ruled him out of most of the 2021-22 season.
The France centre-back is under contract until 2017, but that has not stopped Chelsea looking at him as a candidate to reinforce their defence.
The Blues have already signed Kalidou Koulibaly this summer for €40m, while they have also been in talks for Sevilla’s Jules Kounde and Manchester City’s Nathan Ake.
08.38 BST: Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has said Lionel Messi returning to the team is “impossible” at the moment, but he has not definitively closed the door on bringing him back in the future.
Barca president Joan Laporta told ESPN last week that he considers it his responsibility to ensure Messi has a “more beautiful ending” at Camp Nou following his painful exit last summer.
However, Xavi has played down the chances of re-signing Messi from Paris Saint-Germain, who he joined on a two-year contract last summer because Barca could not afford to renew his deal.
“Leo has a contract, so it’s impossible, impossible,” Xavi told a news conference in Dallas ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Juventus at the Cotton Bowl.
“It doesn’t make sense to speak about Messi. He is the best player in the world and the best ever. The president has already said that he hopes Messi’s story has not finished with Barcelona. We will see in the future, but it’s not the moment to speak about Leo, it’s the moment to talk about the exciting players we have here.”
The post-Messi era has cranked up a gear at Barcelona this summer with the signings of attackers Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha. They follow the January arrivals of Ferran Torres and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
08.00 BST: Luis Suarez has entered a pre-contract agreement to join Uruguayan club Nacional as a free agent, the former Liverpool and Barcelona striker said on Tuesday.
The 35-year-old striker started his professional career at Nacional before moving to Dutch side FC Groningen in 2006.
“First of all, I wanted to thank you for the love through all the messages that both I and my family have received in recent days, which has been impressive. That touched our hearts at this moment that we had to make a decision,” he said in a video posted to his Twitter account.
“And it was impossible to waste this opportunity of playing again in Nacional and we have a pre-agreement with the club.
“In the next few hours, details will be finalised and we hope that the agreement we all want will be reached and that we can all enjoy this new stage and see each other in the coming days.”
– Thousands of fans wear Suarez masks to urge him back to Nacional
1:55
Shaka Hislop is concerned about Chelsea’s lack of significant signings in the summer transfer window in comparison to Arsenal and Tottenham.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Abbie Ingham)
– If Frenkie de Jong is forced to leave Barcelona, it will only be for Chelsea, according to Sport. The 25-year-old midfielder is still fighting to stay at Camp Nou next season and has no interest in joining Manchester United, with whom he has been repeatedly linked with. The Netherlands international is reportedly fond of Chelsea’s current project under new owner Todd Boehly, but the London side are unwilling to offer more than the €85m proposed by United in their opening bid.
– Chelsea are interested in signing Harry Kane, but believe that Tottenham Hotspur would prefer to make a deal with Bayern Munich, according to Bild. The 28-year-old striker is being monitored by both Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann, as the forward has two years remaining on his Spurs contract. However, Chelsea recognise Bayern would have the inside track for the England captain as he would be unlikely to leave for a Premier League rival.
– Borja Mayoral will decide on his future at Real Madrid after returning from club’s preseason tour of the United States, reports Mundo Deportivo. The 25-year-old appeared set to join Getafe on a permanent deal reportedly worth €10m, following a loan spell in the second half of last season. However, the striker reportedly asked to delay the transfer to see if he has a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s upcoming plans as a backup for Karim Benzema. Celta Vigo also have interest but Getafe remain in the lead as Mayoral wants to stay in the city of Madrid next season.
– Flamengo have begun negotiations with Shanghai SIPG for ex-Chelsea star Oscar, according to Fabrizio Romano. The 30-year-old midfielder is reportedly pushing for a move to the Brazilian Serie A side next summer, as both sides look to secure a deal which would move him to Rio de Janeiro through June 2023.
– Borussia Dortmund are not interested in Mauro Icardi, writes RMC Sport. Icardi, 29, is on PSG’s list to transfer this summer, but the Argentina international is reportedly too expensive for the Bundesliga side. Newly promoted Monza have begun talks to bring the ex-Internazionale star back to Serie A. Dortmund are in search of a short-term solution at striker amid the absence of Sebastien Haller, who was sidelined indefinitely after being diagnosed with a testicular tumor.