Transfer news LIVE: Raphael Varane ‘ready to accept’ Man United offer, plus Liverpool, Arsenal rumours
All the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip from across the continent ahead of the new season
The new season is just a few weeks away and clubs are starting to ramp up their interest in targets during this transfer window following a short break after Euro 2020.
Manchester United have made a significant push this summer, agreeing a deal for Jadon Sancho, while Raphael Varane is another key target to elevate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side towards title contention.
The stars of this summer’s tournament could also be on the move with Italy’s Manuel Locatelli, currently with Sassuolo, a target for both Juventus and Arsenal. While the cash has already been spent in south London, with Crystal Palace landing Chelsea’s Marc Guehi for £18 million.
While Lionel Messi has reportedly agreed a new five-year deal with Barcelona, which will seemingly involve the captain taking a huge pay cut due to the financial difficulties that the club are experiencing. Barca teammate Antoine Griezmann looks likely to leave the Nou Camp, with the Blaugrana seemingly eager to send him back to Atletico Madrid and acquire Saul Niguez in return. There have also been rumours that the France international might be heading to Chelsea on loan, but a return to Atletico looks much more likely at his point.
In other news, Leicester are hopeful of fending off Liverpool to retain midfielder Youri Tielemans, per The Telegraph, and the Daily Mirror report that Tammy Abraham could be used by Chelsea to boost a trade deal for Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland. Meanwhile, Euro 2020’s player of the tournament, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, has signed a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain. He joins the French side from AC Milan. Follow all the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip below.
Liverpool confirm £6.5m Awoniyi departure
Liverpool have sold striker Taiwo Awoniyi to Union Berlin for a reported fee of £6.5 million, the club have confirmed.
Awoniyi spent last season on loan to the Bundesliga side and there is believed to be a 10 per cent sell-on clause included in the deal.
The 23-year-old, who has been with Liverpool since 2015, did not make a senior appearance for the team during his six years at the club.
His departure follows that of midfielder Marko Grujic, who joined Porto in a £10.5m deal earlier today.
Celtic’s Kristoffer Ajer close to £13.5m Brentford switch
Kristoffer Ajer has completed a medical at Brentford and is close to joining the club from Celtic on a £13.5 million deal, Sky Sports News are reporting.
The Norway international centre-back was left out of Celtic’s squad to face FC Midtjylland in their Scottish club’s Champions League qualifier this evening as the final details of the transfer are being completed.
Ajer, 23, arrived at Celtic in 2017 and has made 170 appearances for the club, winning the Scottish Premiership title three times.
The newly-promoted Premier League side announced the signing of Nigerian international midfielder Frank Onyeka earlier today.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta offers update on further transfer targets
Arsenal have made two signings so far this window, bringing in left-back Nuno Tavares and midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga.
The club have also been linked with a move for Ben White and Arteta has said he is also on the lookout for “senior players” with “leadership qualities”.
When asked about the profile of players Arsenal are trying to sign, the Arsenal manager said: “We need some senior players, players with different types of leadership in the team, with different qualities, people that complement each other.
“At the end of the day it is about the cohesion of the team so we need a squad that is cohesive that can develop and adapt, that offers different qualities to change games, protect games when we need to and this is what we are trying to build.”
Manchester United to target “one more major signings” after Varane deal
Manchester United will look to add at least one more major signings once their deal for Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane is complete, the Manchester Evening News reports.
United are interested in potentially bringing England right-back Kieran Trippier to Old Trafford in order to provide competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, while the opportunity to sign 18-year-old Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga may prove too good to turn down.
Atletico Madrid insist Trippier is not for sale and it is believed it would take a big bid to bring the defender back to the Premier League after two seasons at the La Liga champions.
Camavinga may prove a more straightforward deal, but United would face certain competition from a number of Europe’s top clubs after Rennes’ president said they would be “open” to offers for the centre midfielder.
Varane is expected to join the club from Real Madrid in the coming days, along with England winger Jadon Sancho, whose £72.9 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund is a formality at this stage.
Manchester United's Paul Pogba ‘close to PSG agreement’
Paul Pogba’s representatives are close to an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain over a potential transfer, according to reports in France.
Canal Supporters maintain that Pogba is close to agreeing personal terms with the Ligue 1 club, and would become the team’s highest earner behind Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
L’Equipe reported earlier today that PSG are preparing a €50 million bid for the France international, who has a one-year deal on his contract at Old Trafford.
There is an understanding, however, that PSG would have to raise funds for an offer through player sales - after already signing Georginio Wijnaldum, Sergio Ramos and Gianluigi Donnarumma on free transfers, as well as Achraf Hakimi, for €60m.
Tammy Abraham urged to leave Chelsea for West Ham
Tammy Abraham’s future at Stamford Bridge looks uncertain, with Chelsea expected to give their approval to a permanent deal in order to raise funds for a potential Erling Haaland swoop.
One club said to be interested in a move for the England international would be West Ham, according to former Hammers striker Carlton Cole.
“He didn’t play at the backend of last season and he is not in Thomas Tuchel’s plans obviously because he didn’t play,” Cole told TalkSport.
“Tuchel doesn’t fancy him and I would look at other options if I were him and say, “let me go and be the main man somewhere’.
“West Ham would be good for him.”
Leeds set to sign promising Chelsea youngster
Leeds United have moved to the front of the queue in the race to sign Lewis Bate from Chelsea, according to Goal’s Nizaar Kinsella.
Bate, 18, is a highly-valued academy prospect at Stamford Bridge but is yet to sign a long-term deal at the club and has one year left on his current deal.
His contract situation has alerted a number of Premier League sides, including Liverpool and West Ham, but Goal are reporting that the England youth international is favouring the interest of Leeds.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are in the market for a third-choice goalkeeper and the Telegraph are reporting that former Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli is being monitored.
Bettinelli, who left Fulham at the end of last season as a free agent, is set to replace Willy Caballero as the club’s third-choice goalkeeper.
Dybala wanted by Barca in Griezmann swap
After a swap deal between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid for Antoine Griezmann and Saul Niguez was reportedly ruled out earlier today, Barcelona are said to have turned to their next option.
L’Equipe are now reporting that Barcelona are ready to offer Griezmann to Juventus in exchange for Pablo Dybala, who is on a more favourable contract as the club try to lower their wage bill.
Reports in Spain suggest that Barcelona have yet to make contact with the Italian club over a deal, however.
Real Madrid ‘afraid’ of United’s Varane interest
Raphael Varane is set to return to Real Madrid training this week, but the Spanish giants are said to be “afraid” that he has already reached an agreement with Manchester United, Marca reports.
United are front-runners to sign the France international, who has one year remaining on his deal at the Bernabeu, and the defender is said to be keen on the move.
There have been reports that the centre-back has already agreed terms with the Premier League side, ahead of his return to Real Madrid training this week.
Mundo Deportivo say the 28-year-old will keep news of the deal a secret until all the details have been complete, due to the respect he has for the Spanish club.
Tottenham ‘finalising’ Lamela-Gil swap
Tottenham are close to agreeing a deal that will see midfielder Eric Lamela join Sevilla in a swap deal for Bryan Gil, Fabrizio Romano has tweeted.
Spurs will reportedly include €25m in the deal for the 20-year-old Gil, who spent last season on loan at Eibar in La Liga. Lamela has been at Spurs since 2013 and is one of the club’s longest serving players.
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