The summer transfer window is now open in Europe and there’s plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Al Nassr scupper Man Utd’s keeper plans
Al Nassr have presented an offer to Andre Onana as they look to compete with Manchester United for the goalkeeper, reports CBS Sports.
The 27-year-old Internazionale player was a standout performer as the Nerazzurri reached last season’s Champions League final, leading to interest from Man United and Chelsea as both Premier League clubs look for new No. 1s.
However, Al Nassr have now prioritised the signing of the Cameroon international, with current keeper David Ospina expected to miss a substantial part of the upcoming season because of an injury.
The Saudi side were previously linked with a move for David de Gea, whose contract at Old Trafford expired at the end of June. However, in a major blow to the plans of United coach Erik ten Hag, Al Nassr have now turned their attentions to Onana.
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LIVE BLOG
12.44 BST: Villarreal have announced an agreement with Ben Brereton Diaz to sign the Chile international forward as a free agent.
Brereton is available after his contract at Blackburn Rovers expired last month. The 24-year-old scored 16 goals and registered four assists for the Championship club last season.
Time for a new signing 💛 pic.twitter.com/deCYqVNA3N
— Villarreal CF English (@VillarrealCFen) July 4, 2023
12.23 BST: Talks are ongoing with Napoli and Victor Osimhen‘s agent over the striker’s potential contract extension, Sky Italia reports.
Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich have monitored the Nigeria international after his impressive season.
Osimhen, who scored 26 goals in 32 league games to help Napoli win the Serie A title, has a contract with Napoli until June 2025.
Napoli are keen to extend the 24-year-old’s stay and will increase his wages while also adding a hefty release clause.
11.37 BST: Atletico Madrid are closing in on a deal for Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta after announcing the signing of Celta Vigo’s Javi Galan, sources have told ESPN’s Rodrigo Faez.
Versatile defender Azpilicueta has one year left on his Chelsea contract but sources have told ESPN that the Premier League side won’t block his departure as a free agent as Atletico continue to strengthen their back line after the arrival of left-back Galan.
Atletico have spent €3.5m for Galan, who has penned a deal until 2026, in addition to allowing full-back Manu Sanchez move the other way as part of the operation.
Atletico are also set to sign defenders Caglar Soyuncu, whose contract with Leicester City has expired, and Santiago Mourino from Racing Club de Montevideo.
10.59 BST: Barcelona defender Eric Garcia is weighing up an offer to join Real Betis on a season-long loan, according to Diario Sport.
Garcia, 22, has fallen down the pecking order at Barca with Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde all preferred to him at centre-back.
The pending arrival of Inigo Martinez this summer will further affect his playing time, forcing him to consider other options.
Betis, whose new sporting director Ramon Planes was at Barca when Garcia signed, will offer him first team football as they ready themselves to compete in LaLiga and the Europa League.
Sport report that the decision now lies in Garcia’s hands, with the Spain international hopeful of having his future resolved before Barca return for preseason on July 10.
10.23 BST: Flamengo striker Pedro has turned down a lucrative offer from Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, Globoesporte reports.
Pedro, 26, played for Brazil at the 2022 World Cup after an impressive year with Flamengo where he scored 29 goals, including 12 in the Copa Libertadores. He has a €60m release clause and is under contract with Flamengo until Dec. 2027.
Al Hilal offered Pedro six times the amount he earns at Flamengo but the sporting project has not convinced the player.
The Saudi Pro League side, who hired former Flamengo coach Jorge Jesus earlier this week, are not giving up on Pedro. Al Hilal are hoping to convince the player to move to Saudi Arabia and will make another offer.
0:57
Marcotti: Gvardiol could be better than Dias for Man City
Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens discuss Josko Gvardiol’s potential transfer to Man City from RB Leipzig.
09.48 BST: Manchester City are preparing their opening bid for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol, sources have told ESPN’s Rob Dawson, after opening talks with Bundesliga side.
City are yet to lodge an official offer for Gvardiol but have been given encouragement the 21-year-old wants to move to the Etihad this summer and that he is potentially available for the right fee.
RB Leipzig value the highly rated Croatia centre-back at €100m although it is likely that City’s first bid will be significantly lower.
“Josko and his advisors have submitted the wish to us for a transfer to Manchester City,” RB Leipzig sports director Max Eberl told Leipziger Volksnachrichten newspaper.
“We are in talks with Manchester. There is nothing more to say about it at this moment.”
09.12 BST: Celtic winger Jota has joined Al-Ittihad on a three-year contract, the Saudi Pro League champions announced on Monday.
Financial details were not disclosed but Scottish media reported the transfer fee was £25 million ($31.73 million).
Al-Ittihad announced the deal by publishing a video of coach Nuno Espirito Santo watching Jota’s goals.
Al-Ittihad will participate in the Club World Cup, which will be held in Jeddah in December, as champions of the host country’s league.
Jota, 24, becomes Al-Ittihad’s third signing after Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante.
Welcome Jota 👋🏽 #JotaIsYellow pic.twitter.com/gNz7ouIFTC
— Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) July 3, 2023
08.30 BST: United States attacker Brenden Aaronson is close to finalizing a loan to Union Berlin, a source told ESPN.
Aaronson moved to Leeds United from FC Salzburg last year in a transfer worth roughly £25m ($30 million), but after Leeds were relegated from the Premier League this season, he sought a move elsewhere. Union Berlin finished fourth this year in the Bundesliga and qualified for the UEFA Champions League.
In his lone Premier League season, Aaronson appeared in 36 of 38 matches, scoring once and registering three assists.
PAPER GOSSIP
– Napoli‘s Kim Min-Jae is closing in on a move to Bayern Munich, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano. The 26-year-old defender is set to undergo a medical in Germany on Wednesday after agreeing to personal terms with the Bundesliga club over a week ago. Bayern will then trigger the South Korea international’s release clause, and he is expected to sign a contract until June 2028.
– Villarreal will target Tottenham Hotspur‘s Davinson Sanchez as they look to replace Aston Villa-bound Pau Torres, Relevo reports. Spurs will reportedly part ways with the 27-year-old centre-back for €15m, with Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Spartak Moscow all interested in the Colombia international.
– Paris Saint-Germain are racing ahead of Chelsea in the pursuit of Celta Vigo‘s Gabri Veiga, reports the Guardian. The 21-year-old midfielder has been identified as a potential replacement for Mason Mount, who is set to join Manchester United. Veiga has also attracted interest from Manchester City, Liverpool and Barcelona. However, the Ligue 1 champions are ramping up their efforts to sign the Spain under-21 international, who scored 11 goals and provided four assists in LaLiga last season.
– Free agent Wilfried Zaha is keeping his options open after agreeing terms with no less than four clubs, according to Sky Sports. Crystal Palace want to extend his stay at Selhurst Park and have offered a four-year deal, while Lazio, Fenerbahce and Al Nassr have all put offers to the Ivory Coast international.