Transfer news: Has Paul Pogba travelled to Manchester United? City target Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Romelu Lukaku latest
The biggest transfer news and speculation on Sunday 07 August
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Your support makes all the difference.Joe Hart’s future as Manchester City’s first-choice goalkeeper is under threat after it emerged that manager Pep Guardiola has expressed an interest in signing Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen, according to reports.
Hart endured a nightmare Euro 2016 campaign with England as he was at fault for conceding goals against both Russia and Wales in the group stage and saw two put past him in the embarrassing last-16 defeat by Iceland.
With Willy Caballero putting in a string of impressive performances in pre-season, it appeared that the pressure was on Hart to rekindle his best form, but The Sunday Express claims that City are in the hunt to sign Ter Stegen should he leave Barcelona.
One potential saving grace for Hart though is that the German goalkeeper will cost in the region of £67m, and with City already making seven new signings this summer in spending more than £100m, they may not wish to spend such a fee when they already have two proven Premier League goalkeepers available.
Paul Pogba’s move to Manchester United continues to drag on and on after Italian newspaper Gazzette dello Sport claimed that the Juventus midfielder travelled to Manchester to undergo a medical and complete a world record transfer worth around £112m.
However, a picture soon emerged of Pogba on the streets of New York – where he has enjoyed the last few days of his summer holiday – and Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegro insisted on Saturday that he has told Pogba to report back for training on Monday with no move on the cards.
According to The Sunday Times, United are hoping to generate as much as £40m worth of commercial income through the signing of Pogba in just his first year at Old Trafford, should he return this summer as is expected.
Premier League champions Leicester City are looking to strengthen their defence ahead of the new season by reigniting their interest in Burnley defender Michael Keane, with The Sunday People reporting that the Foxes are preparing a £17m offer for the 23-year-old.
Leicester attempted to sign Keane earlier in the summer, but were warned off by recently-promoted Burnley who insisted he is not for sale.
According to The Sun, Chelsea will include goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and striker Loic Remy as part of the deal to try and lure Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge. Reports emerged on Saturday that Chelsea may not have made an official offer yet, instead choosing to make contact with his agent, Mino Raiola, although the Blues were said to have seen a £57m offer rejected last month by various newspapers.
The 23-year-old is keen to leave Goodison Park even if the Toffees are reluctant to sell him, and their £75m valuation has proved to be a stumbling block for a Chelsea side who will not receive any money from European competition this season. The Blues are hopeful though of striking an agreement that will include current fringe players Begovic and Remy, according to the reports, although whether Everton manager Ronald Koeman is looking for another goalkeeper is unknown given the club have already signed free agent Maartin Stekelenburg this summer.
Finally, sought-after Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard is wanted by West Ham as well as Liverpool, according to Squawka, with the 17-year-old prospect’s future remaining up in the air.
Real manager Zinedine Zidane as reported to have clashed with club president Florentino Perez after being ordered to include Odegaard in the club’s pre-season tour of the United States, with a clause in the Norwegian’s contract stating he must train with the first team.
However, Liverpool have expressed an interest in signing the teenager – who was courted by the majority of European clubs before Real landed his signature in 2015 from Stromsgodset – but it has emerged that West Ham are looking to rival their Premier League opponents should Real decide to sell him.
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