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: Chelsea close on Koulibaly deal
Chelsea are set to complete the £34 million transfer of Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly on a five-year deal, according to Sky Sports Italy.
The 31-year-old has already agreed personal terms, with the move set to be finalised as soon as Wednesday. The Senegal international, who is out of contract in 2023, is considered by Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel as the perfect replacement for Antonio Rudiger, who joined Real Madrid on a free transfer earlier this month.
Koulibaly isn’t the only defender linked to Chelsea and negotiations are continuing with Manchester City for the return of Nathan Ake to Stamford Bridge. Sources previously told ESPN that Ake is open to re-joining the club where he came through the ranks as a 15-year-old from Feyenoord. One source suggested City are seeking around £50m for Ake’s transfer.
Meanwhile, Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling is also set to fly out to Los Angeles to be unveiled as the Blues’ latest signing following a completed medical in London, reports the Mirror. The 27-year-old is set to join his new teammates on their preseason tour of the United States on Wednesday.
Sterling is expected to move for a figure of £47.5m plus add-ons, while sources have told ESPN that his wages at Chelsea will surpass those of N’Golo Kante, the club’s top earner on £290,000-a-week.
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LIVE BLOG
08.00 BST: Cristiano Ronaldo was offered to Paris Saint-Germain by his agent Jorge Mendes, but the French champions rejected the possibility of signing the Manchester United forward, sources told ESPN.
Ronaldo, 37, wants to leave Old Trafford in search of Champions League football in the coming season, only a year after rejoining the club and with another year on his contract.
Mendes discussed the availability of the No. 7 with PSG sporting director Luis Campos and club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. The super agent is very close to both of them after having worked for many years with Campos before his arrival in the French capital this summer. He has also handled numerous contracts for his players with Al-Khelaifi, including PSG’s most recent signing Vitinha, who joined from Porto.
Sources added that PSG don’t feel that Ronaldo is the right signing at this moment and that the club doesn’t have enough space in their wage bill to pay him.
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Paul Pogba says he didn’t make a mistake joining Manchester United after a difficult six-year spell at the club.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Abbie Ingham)
– Lille midfielder Renato Sanches is confident he will secure a move to Paris Saint-Germain this summer, according to Sky Sports Germany. The 24-year-old has been linked with AC Milan for months after refusing to extend his contract, which expires in 2023, but the Portugal international wishes to instead join the Ligue 1 champions.
– Idrissa Gueye plans to see out his contract with PSG despite advances from Galatasaray, as per L’Equipe. The 32-year-old is considered a priority for the Turkish side this transfer window. However, the midfielder is reportedly comfortable staying in Paris, earning €500,000 per month, until his contract expires in June 2023.
– Bayern Munich are no longer interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane this summer, according to Sky Sports Germany. Although the Bundesliga champions were eyeing the 28-year-old as a possible replacement for the departing Robert Lewandowski, they are not pursuing a move in this transfer window. This could reportedly change next year, but there are no discussions for a future move taking place. Lewandowski has long been linked with a €40m move to Barcelona.
– Memphis Depay is set to snub a move to Tottenham and stay at Barcelona, reports Sport. The Catalan side want €20m for the 28-year-old Netherlands striker, who has scored 12 times since joining Barcelona on a free transfer last summer. Despite the expected arrivals of Lewandowski and Raphinha, the forward reportedly wants to stay and play regularly at Camp Nou. Spurs already count Kane, Son Heung-Min, Dejan Kulusevski, Lucas Moura and new signing Richarlison as attacking options.
– The Azzurri revamp at Toronto FC side continues, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that ex-Juventus man Federico Bernardeschi will soon join the Major League Soccer side. Toronto have already signed Italian duo Lorenzo Insigne and Domenico Criscito this summer, with Bernardeschi expected to take over the Designated Player roster spot following Tuesday’s exit of Carlos Salcedo.