The summer transfer window is racing toward the Sept. 1 deadline, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Chelsea to land Leipzig defender Gvardiol?
Chelsea want to complete an €90 million deal for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol before Thursday’s transfer deadline, says The Daily Mail.
Gvardiol, 20, has been tracked by some of Europe’s top clubs this summer — including Manchester City and Tottenham — and Leipzig aren’t keen to let him leave.
However, in a bid to steal a march on their rivals, Chelsea are reportedly considering a major offer which would then see the Croatia international loaned back to Leipzig for the rest of this season. Gvardiol currently has a contract until 2026
Chelsea are set to confirm an €80m deal to sign centre-back Wesley Fofana from Leicester on Wednesday, while they are also in talks with Barcelona over €25m striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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09.25 BST: ICYMI – Manchester City are closing in on the signing of Manuel Akanji from Borussia Dortmund, sources have told ESPN.
City are nearing an agreement of around €17.5m for the defender, who has a year left on his contract at Dortmund.
The 27-year-old is set to leave the Bundesliga side after four-and-a-half years during which he made more than 150 appearances. He has also been capped 41 times by Switzerland. Akanji could come up against Dortmund for City this season after they were drawn together in Group G of the Champions League.
09.10 BST: Tottenham have announced the signing of forward Will Lankshear from Sheffield United.
Lankshear, 17, will join up with the academy side, having joined Sheffield United back in January 2021.
08.53 BST: Mario Balotelli will undergo a medical at Swiss side FC Sion today, says Fabrizio Romano.
Balotelli, 32, has had an interesting career to date, with spells at Inter Milan, Manchester City, AC Milan, Liverpool, Nice, Marseille, Brescia, Monza and, most recently, Turkish club Adana Demirspor.
The Italy striker is now set to continue playing in Switzerland.
08.37 BST: Paris Saint-Germain have signed central midfielder Fabian Ruiz from Italian side Napoli with the Spain international signing a five-year contract, the Ligue 1 club said on Tuesday.
Financial details were not disclosed but media reports said PSG paid an initial fee off €21.5m.
The 26-year-old has 15 caps for Spain since making his debut in 2019 and has even scored once on international duty. He had seven goals and five assists for Napoli in all competitions last season, helping them to a third-placed finish in Serie A.
08.00 BST: United States international Sergino Dest is open to a move to Manchester United but any move away from Barcelona before Thursday’s transfer deadline is dependent on several factors, sources have told ESPN.
Dest, 21, has not been named in the squad for any of Barca’s three LaLiga games so far this season, with ESPN reporting that coach Xavi Hernandez has advised him to look for a new club.
The former Ajax defender was initially reluctant to leave Camp Nou, but sources have confirmed he would be tempted by United should the Premier League side take their interest further this week.
United coach Erik ten Hag worked with Dest at Ajax and would like to bring him to Old Trafford, although any transfer is dependent on Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s future.
0:50
Gab Marcotti discusses whether Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the right player for Chelsea.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)
– Memphis Depay has been linked with a move away from Barcelona for most of the transfer window but is now likely to stay at Camp Nou, according to Diario Sport. It is now expected that the only thing to potentially change that outcome is a lucrative offer being made in the final hours of the transfer window, with Chelsea and former club Manchester United the two candidates named. The Netherlands international hasn’t played a single minute in any of the Blaugrana‘s three LaLiga matches this season amid links with Juventus, which have since collapsed.
– Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is stepping in to try to bring Internazionale centre-back Milan Skriniar to Parc des Princes, according to Foot Mercato. He plans to hold direct talks with Inter president Steven Zhang to complete a deal that has been going on for months. PSG coach Christophe Galtier also confirmed that Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes has reached an agreement to join Juventus, with the expected announcement to come on Wednesday.
– The Athletic have reported that Idrissa Gueye is due to fly to England ahead of completing a move to Everton for a nominal fee, as a deal with PSG has been in place for some time. The Senegal international will undergo a medical and sign a two-year contract to return to Goodison Park, with the option of a third year if everything goes as planned.
– Tuttosport have reported that everything is set for Dennis Praet to return to Torino on loan from Leicester City with an obligation to make the deal permanent for €8.5m. Il Toro are also working on outgoings with Simone Verdi heading to Hellas Verona and Simone Zaza able to terminate his contract.
– Brighton & Hove Albion are hopeful that they will be able to permanently sign Billy Gilmour from Chelsea before the transfer window comes to an end, reports The Daily Mail. The Scotland international, however, has returned to the first-team fold under Thomas Tuchel and any move would need to be a permanent one due to the Seagulls having already signed Levi Colwill on loan from the Blues.