Lionel Messi transfer LIVE: PSG announce signing after Argentine legend leaves Barcelona
Follow all the latest updates as Messi is confirmed as a PSG player
Lionel Messi is in Paris to be unveiled as Paris Saint-Germain's latest superstar signing. The Argentine begrudgingly departed Barcelona in a flood of tears given the horrendous state of the La Liga club's financial situation. Messi has opted to join friends Neymar and Angel Di Maria at the Parc des Princes, with compatriot Mauricio Pochettino welcoming him to the Ligue 1 giants.
PSG will possess a formidable attack with the 34-year-old joining Neymar and Kylian Mbappe to form one of the most mouth-watering tridents in European football history. Without a Champions League title in six years amid Barcelona's demise, Messi will hope to help deliver the title that PSG covet most, following their semi-final exit at the hands of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
While PSG had to pay €222m to sign Neymar from Barcelona in 2017, there will be no transfer fee for Messi, whose contract expired this summer at the Nou Camp. Instead Messi joins perhaps the greatest ever cast of free agents to arrive at one club, including Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, former Real Madrid stalwart Sergio Ramos and former Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum.
Follow all the latest updates below as Messi is confirmed as a PSG player.
Abraham in Chelsea’s Super Cup squad amid Roma rumours
Chelsea have named Tammy Abraham in their squad to face Villarreal in the Uefa Super Cup tomorrow, despite reports that the striker could join Roma.
With Timo Werner having signed for the Blues for almost £60m last summer, and Romelu Lukaku on the verge of a club-record return to Stamford Bridge from Inter Milan, Abraham’s chances of game time under Thomas Tuchel this season are looking slim.
Nevertheless, the German coach has named Abraham in the Champions League winners’ squad to take on the Europa League title-holders in Belfast.
Alongside Roma, other clubs interested in Abraham, 23, are reported to be Arsenal, West Ham, Southampton and Atalanta.
Brighton sign Japan Olympic star
Brighton have signed Japan international Kaoru Mitoma on a four-year deal from J1 League side Kawasaki Frontale.
The 24-year-old will spend the 2021/22 season on loan at Belgian first division team Royal Union Saint-Gilloise.
Mitoma was part of the squad which narrowly missed out on the bronze medal at their home Olympics, though he scored as a second-half substitute as they lost the third-place placy-off 3-1 to Mexico.
“We’re delighted to be able to sign Kaoru, who arrives off the back of a couple of really strong seasons in Japan,” Brighton technical director Dan Ashworth told the club website.
“As part of his development we have decided to loan him to Union Saint-Gilloise, to help him become accustomed to European football and test himself in a different environment.
“He’s one we have tracked for a while so we are looking forward to seeing how he progresses in the next year and we will be watching him closely during his time in Belgium.”
Full story here:
Brighton sign Japan Olympic star Kaoru Mitoma
The 24-year-old arrives from Kawasaki Frontale but will spend the season on loan in Belgium
West Ham continue Milenkovic, Zouma pursuits
West Ham are continuing negotiations with Fiorentina over the potential £14million signing of defender Nikola Milenkovic, per the Evening Standard.
The 23-year-old, who represents the Serbian national team, can play as a centre-back and a right-back, but West Ham have not given up hopes of signing Kurt Zouma.
It is unclear whether sealing a deal with Chelsea for the central defender would bring an end to the Hammers’ pursuit of Milenkovic – or vice versa.
Messi en route to Paris
ESPN’s Julien Laurens has directed his Twitter followers to the Instagram story of Lionel Messi’s wife, Antonela Roccuzzo.
The couple are airborne, en route to Paris!
Messi is expected to be unveiled as a PSG player tomorrow, though an official announcement could come even sooner.
Bayern CEO Kahn questions Messi move
Former Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, who now serves as the Bundesliga champions’ CEO, has questioned whether Lionel Messi will be a good fit at PSG.
The Argentine star is set to join the French side any day now, but Kahn says it is too soon to say whether or not the forward will be perform as best he can – or bring out the best in his teammates – under Mauricio Pochettino.
“If you take a look at the names on the shirts, PSG have an exciting squad right now,” Kahn said this week.
“Will it work out, though? Ultimately, will they harmonise with one another? They must show whether they’re actually a team, a real team, if they all fit together.
“It will only work if they can play as a team. The Italians are a good example. Of course they have a few big names, but they showed from the first game [at Euro 2020] that they wanted to succeed as a team.”
Ings settling in at Aston Villa
Here’s Danny Ings looking as statuesque as a Subbuteo player while Aston Villa bed him in following the striker’s move from Southampton last week:
Stones discusses new Man City contract
Here’s what John Stones had to say upon the announcement of his new five-year contract at Manchester City:
“I couldn’t be happier. I love being part of this squad. There are so many quality players here and I know we can continue winning trophies, which is my main focus.
“Working with the manager is a dream – he has taught me so much about the game and I feel like I learn something new every single day.
“The success we’ve had in the last four years has been incredible. To be a part of it has been a dream come true and I just want to continue winning.
“This is the best place for me to play my football and fulfil my ambitions.”
Full story here:
John Stones signs new five-year contract to complete Manchester City turnaround
Stones’ previous deal was set to expire at end of the season
Arteta needs positive start after big spending and slow progress
“As far as starts to the Premier League season go, Arsenal’s is a mix of the tough and the intriguing. Just six games in, they’ll have faced two newly promoted teams, the champions of both England and Europe and had to navigate the north London derby.
“By the end of October, they’ll have played four of the teams who finished above them last season, but also three of the clubs who only escaped relegation late in the campaign.
“It’s the kind of run of fixtures which might give a very good early indication of whether Mikel Arteta’s latest teambuilding attempts are likely to end in relative success, or more disappointment.
Here’s Karl Matchett on Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side’s need for a good start this season after big spending and slow progress:
Mikel Arteta needs a positive start after Arsenal’s big spending and slow progress
After a campaign spent largely in mid-table anonymity, the Gunners are splashing the cash again
Martial going nowhere this summer
Manchester United reportedly have no intention of selling Anthony Martial this summer.
The 25-year-old forward swapped Monaco for Manchester in 2015 and has scored 78 goals in 258 appearances, with his current deal running until 2024 with the option of a further year.
Serie A champions Inter Milan have been linked with a £50million swoop as Romelu Lukaku prepares to head to Chelsea, but it is understood that United are not planning to sell Martial.
Saturday’s 4-0 friendly win against Everton marked the forward’s first minutes since sustaining a knee injury in March on international duty with France.
More here, plus the latest on Raphael Varane to United:
Man United not planning to sell Anthony Martial this summer
The 25-year-old forward’s current deal runs out in 2024, with the option of a further year
Bayern plotting Erling Haaland move
Bayern Munich will consider a move for Erling Haaland.
Chelsea failed in their pursuit of the 21-year old, and have since turned to Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku.
But now the Bundesliga champions have opened the door to a future move to Bavaria, with Bayern’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic admitting the club would be “amateurs” if they did not explore the move.
Salihamidzic told German TV channel Sport 1: “He’s a top player, and I hear a great boy too. You look there, but he’s a Dortmund player. Sixty goals in 60 games. You have to look, otherwise we would be full amateurs.”
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