PSG to beat Barcelona with improved offer for Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva
The summer transfer window is here and there’s a lot of gossip about who’s going where. Transfer Talk brings you the latest in rumours, rumours, comings, goings and of course deals done!
TOP STORY: PSG has an inside track on Silva
Paris Saint-Germain are working on a deal to sign the Manchester City midfielder Bernhard Silvaaccording to The Times.
Barcelona have also been heavily linked with the Portugal international looking to leave the Etihad.
However, the Parisians aren’t working under the same financial woes as Barcelona and are confident Silva will join France if a deal can be agreed with City.
It is added that PSG are ready to pay up to €70m for the 28-year-old, whose contract at City runs until 2025.
Offering improved personal terms to Silva will reportedly not be a problem for PSG, something that cannot be said of Barcelona.
The Catalans have pinned many of their hopes of signing Silva on the player’s preference to join them. But the club still need to create more salary space if they want to sign more players – Jules Kounde remains unregistered while her other four summer additions (Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Andrew Christensen, Frank Kessy) were registered the day before the season opener last Saturday.
As for PSG, the Ligue 1 champions have signed on a permanent basis so far Vitinha, Renato Sanches, Nordi Mukiele and Nuno Mendes this summer, bringing Hugo Ekitik Loaned from Reims.
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13.06 CET: Contract talks between Liverpool and midfielder Naby Keita have stalled, according to the Daily Mail.
Keita, 27, is out of contract at the end of the season and is pondering his future at Anfield with no new contract in sight.
However, Liverpool have no intention of letting him go this summer and would prefer to lose him as a free agent next year rather than reduce the size of their squad in this window.
Keita’s former club RB Leipzig are interested in signing Keita, while Liverpool have long-term plans to sign midfielders from Borussia Dortmund Jude Bellingham next summer.
12.28 CET: Barcelona are considering Borussia Dortmund Thomas Meier as a candidate to boost his options at right-back, reports Mundo Deportivo.
Barca missed out on signing defender Cesar Azpilicueta from Chelsea as the Spain international opted to extend his contract with the London outfit.
Barca are still looking for an experienced right-back and Villarreal’s Juan Foyth is Barca coach Xavi’s preferred choice. But with Villarreal unwilling to let him go (see 09.49 BST), Barca are considering other alternatives.
Meunier has started his third season at Borussia and fits the profile Barca are looking for. The Belgian international is under contract with Borussia until June 2024.
11.53 CET: Former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder willian is back in London and training with Fulham, the Guardian reports.
Willian is a free agent after terminating his contract with youth club Corinthians earlier this month, citing the threats and abuse he and his family have faced.
The 34-year-old has not held any talks with Fulham and is only training with the newly promoted Premier League side for the time being while he searches for a new club.
– Vickery: The departure of Willian Corinthians should be a lesson for Brazilian football
11.16 CET: Arsenal forward Nicholas Pepe is a target for French club Nice, reports the Daily Mail.
Pepe, 27, is Arsenal’s record signing but has struggled to meet the £72million fee the Gunners paid Lille in 2019.
The Ivory Coast international only started in five Premier League games last season and is yet to feature this season.
Nice wants Pepe on loan, while the Mail also report that the Ligue 1 side are looking to sign Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Brereton Diaz.
10.32 CET: Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tanguy Ndombele is close to signing Napoli on a season-long loan, Sky Sports report.
Ndombele, 25, is expected to undergo a medical in Italy on Thursday to complete his transfer.
Napoli have an option to make Ndombele’s move permanent next summer for €32.5m. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Lyon and is under contract with Spurs until June 2025.
Napoli were keen to strengthen their midfield and Fabian Ruiz is expected to join Paris Saint-Germain later this month.
09.49 CET: Villarreal manager Unai Emery is unfazed by Barcelona’s alleged interest in his defender Juan Foyth.
The Yellow Submarine have no interest in losing Foyth, who was on loan from Villarreal to Tottenham last season. The Argentina international has been linked with Barcelona and is under contract at Villarreal until June 2026. Villarreal would only sack Foyth this summer if his €42m release clause is met.
“I see Foyth here very happy and grateful,” said Emery. “That gives me peace of mind. We already know the opinion of the club and the player. We don’t know what Barcelona think.”
Emery believes there could be some unwanted departures before the transfer window closes.
“The fact that the transfer window closes on August 31 doesn’t make much sense,” he said. “We are playing and the market should be closed.
“What would concern us is that a release clause is unexpectedly fulfilled or that a player thinks he can go for an offer that interests him.”
09.07 CET: Girona are getting closer to signing the midfielder pure on a one-season loan from Real Madrid, report Mundo Deportivo
Reinier, 20, returned to Madrid this summer after spending two seasons on loan at Borussia Dortmund, where he only had limited playing time.
Madrid signed Reinier from Flamengo in January 2020 for €35m but he is yet to make a senior appearance Los Blancos.
Reinier has been linked with Spanish sides Valladolid, Almeria and Serie A team Torino. However, Girona, back in LaLiga after a three-year absence, appear to have won the race to sign the Brazilian.
Reinier has agreed to join Girona but is awaiting the green light from Real Madrid to finalize the deal. The deal does not include an option for permanent relocation.
08.23 CET: Wolverhampton Wanderers announced last night that they have signed a midfielder Matheus Nunes by Sporting CP in a club record deal.
Wolves beat Premier League rivals West Ham for a fee that will initially be €45m and could rise to €50m, according to the Record.
Nunes, 23, scored four goals and provided five assists in 50 appearances for Sporting last season.
𝐿𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠, 𝑐𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑎, 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏!
Welcome Matheus.
🎬✍️ pic.twitter.com/3wLD0QCLm5
— wolves (@wolves) August 17, 2022
08.00 CET: Manchester United have asked for a loan deal for Chelsea and the United States striker Christian Pulisicsources have told ESPN’s James Olley.
United are looking for reinforcements after their worst start to a Premier League season and faltered in the pursuit of several players including Adrien Rabiot and Frenkie de Jong. Pulisic has emerged as a possible target after United contacted Chelsea to see if they would be willing to allow the USMNT international to leave Stamford Bridge.
Pulisic, 23, has two years left on his contract. Sources say he is frustrated with his limited playing time. He has been a substitute in both Chelsea games so far this season and has played a total of 30 minutes. In an injury-plagued season last season, Pulisic only started in 13 Premier League games.
It’s unclear if Chelsea would allow the Pulisic to join a local rival, with Newcastle United also said to be watching the situation, although sources have suggested they are open to a loan move rather than a permanent transfer.
Sources also suggest that Juventus have expressed an interest, while Atletico Madrid have reportedly been linked with a move for Pulisic, who is keen to ensure more regular football ahead of the World Cup.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)
– The Independent reports that Sporting CP is offering to take over Cristiano Ronaldo Free transfer from Manchester United. It’s unknown if he would accept a homecoming to Lisbon as he wants to stay in the Champions League – but be at a level where he could win them.
– Manchester United want to sign Lazio Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and even spoke to the Serbia international’s agent, although Foot Mercato report no offer has been made yet. Sources have told ESPN that United are interested in Juventus’ Adrian Rabiot and have also targeted the Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro.
– Sky Sports Germany have announced the Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita is unhappy with his role at Anfield and could leave. He has a year left on contract but could leave this summer in search of more playing time, although no named clubs are currently considering the ex-RB Leipzig man.
– Napoli are nearing completion of a €5m loan move for the Sassuolo striker Giacomo Raspadori, with a commitment to make it permanent for 25 million euros plus 5 million euros in add-ons, reports Sky Sports Italia. The composition of the add-ons has yet to be decided, but the goal is for everything to be formalized on Thursday ahead of a medical on Friday.
– Marseille have opened the door Arkadiusz Milik As reported by L’Equipe, he might leave the club this summer. There have already been contacts from clubs hoping to sign the Polish striker.