LIVE Transfer Talk: Barcelona offered Bayern Munich’s Arturo Vidal

Football
Steve Nicol delves into the latest summer transfer rumours, with Luka Modric, Simon Mignolet and Mateo Kovacic headlining.

The transfer window is open, and Transfer Talk has the latest rumours making the rounds. Follow along with our daily blog throughout the summer.

When does the transfer window close in the Premier League and the top European leagues?

TOP STORY: Barcelona offered Bayern’s Vidal

Barcelona’s search for a midfielder could lead them to Bayern Munich, but for Arturo Vidal instead of Thiago Alcantara.

Mundo Deportivo say that Barca have been offered the chance to sign the former Juventus man by his agent, with AC Milan and Inter Milan also believed to have been notified.

Bayern are reportedly looking to offload midfielders in this transfer window, and with Barcelona keen to sign one, it could be a deal that makes sense for all parties.

The 31-year-old has spent three seasons at Bayern, winning three Bundesliga titles and one DFB-Pokal.

LIVE BLOG

15.10 BST: Toby Alderweireld is set to return to Tottenham training amid uncertainty around his future at the club, but insists that he is focused on being a Spurs player.

14.55 BST: A Turf Moor reunion on the cards? The Telegraph say that Burnley have had a £16 million bid for West Brom forward Jay Rodriguez turned down, and are considering whether to make another bid before next Thursday’s deadline.

14.45 BST: Staying in Spain, and Mundo Deportivo write that Barcelona have been offered Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal by the player’s agent, with AC Milan and Inter Milan also said to be in the running.

14.35 BST: Despite being linked with a €50 million move to Manchester United, Sevilla en la Ondo report that Ante Rebic is close to joining Sevilla in a €21m move.

14.25 BST: A done deal on Tyneside! Newcastle have signed Yoshinori Muto from Mainz after he was granted a work permit…

14.15 BST: Over in Belgium, Het Laaste Nieuws say that Fulham are “the most concrete” destination for Anderlecht defender Kara Mbodji.

Mbodji, a Senegal international, has been linked to a number of clubs in France and Turkey, but he would reportedly prefer a move to the Premier League and Fulham are willing to pay €5 million to secure his signature.

14.05 BST: Bild says a number of Premier League clubs are interested in Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Weigl, but they are reluctant to let him go.

13.55 BST: Jermain Defoe says he will not be leaving Bournemouth for Rangers.

When asked if he could be part of a deadline day deal again, he said: “No way, I’ve been there, done that.

“I’ve always been one of those players, even when I see rumours that I always try to focus on the club you’re at, you’ve got a job to do, you’re here, you’re happy, and that’s it.

“The speculation is just part and parcel of it though, everyone gets it and you just get your head down, work hard and get ready for the season.”

13.45 BST: Elsewhere at Everton, Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Kevin Mirallas is set to leave for Fiorentina on loan with an obligation to buy.

13.35 BST: A swap deal in the modern day? No, Milan and Juventus’s business is not yet finalised, but one might be taking place in England, as Sky Sports News report that Everton and Stoke are in talks over Badou N’Diaye and Ashley Williams switching sides.

13.25 BST: AS have analysed Inter Milan’s reported pursuit of Luka Modric. Echoing reports from Gazzetta dello Sport that Modric’s wife reached out to the San Siro club, they say that a deal is unlikely due to how late it is in the window, and Inter’s pursuit of Arturo Vidal looks more likely to bear fruition.

13.15 BST: Have Watford lined up their Richarlison replacement? Sources close to the club have told ESPN FC say that they have targeted Monaco winger Rachid Ghezzal, who joined from Lyon on a free transfer last summer.

13.05 BST: Before the window closes, Manchester City will attempt to sign Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, according to TuttoMercatoWeb. However, they add that PSG are reluctant to sell, and any move would hinge on Verratti telling them that he would like to leave.

12.55 BST: One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson here, commenting on transfer speculation linking Leicester with a move for Spartak Moscow and Netherlands winger Quincy Promes

12.45 BST: Argentine outlet Ole say that Everton are closing in on Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo, whose departure is set to pave the way for Yerry Mina to join from Barcelona.

12.35 BST: At last, some movement from Newcastle in the transfer market! L’Equipe write that they have made contact with Lyon regarding 19-year-old striker Myziane Maolida.

12.25 BST: One from the transfer archives for you to enjoy this lunchtime, as Jermain Defoe tells Sky Sports News about how his deadline day move from Tottenham to Portsmouth was so rushed in 2008, he did not even undertake a medical.

12.15 BST: A done deal under the radar at Barcelona, who have signed 19-year old Senegal right-back Moussa Wague, according to Sport.

12.05 BST: Tottenham midfielder Marcus Edwards — once likened by Mauricio Pochettino to Lionel Messi — is a transfer target for Bayer Leverkusen, sources close to both clubs have told ESPN FC.

11.55 BST: “Four Portuguese Primeira Liga signings, West Ham? Four? That’s insane.”

Sky Sports News say that West Ham are looking to sign Porto pair Moussa Marega and Yacine Brahimi, Benfica’s Joao Felix, and Vitoria Guimaraes forward Xande Silva.

11.45 BST: Liverpool would consider a £15 million bid from West Brom for Sheyi Ojo if they approach them regarding a permanent transfer, Goal write.

11.35 BST: Manager Javi Gracia bringing a part of Spain to Hertfordshire? Sport say that Barcelona and Watford are currently negotiating a deal for Paco Alcacer to move to Vicarage Road on an initial two-year loan deal, with the Hornets having a mandatory option to buy him later.

11.25 BST: Mauricio Pochettino admitted that Tottenham may not make any signings this window, but the Evening Standard write that they expect to complete a deal for Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, while they also look to sign another midfielder and a forward before next Thursday’s deadline.

Toby Alderweireld, Mousa Dembele and Danny Rose are all still expected to leave the club this summer, with Vincent Janssen and Fernando Llorente also for sale.

11.15 BST: Adnan Januzaj to replace Riyad Mahrez?

11.05 BST: A breakthrough in the window for Manchester United? Sky Sports News report that their interest in Leicester’s Harry Maguire has cooled, and are instead targeting Barcelona’s Yerry Mina. Sport also add that officials from United and Barca will meet regarding a potential deal.

10.55 BST: After selling Yuri Berchiche to Athletic Bilbao, Paris Saint-Germain are readying a €30 million bid for Bayer Leverkusen left-back Wendell, kicker report.

10.45 BST: Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has aired his criticisms of his club’s lack of transfer activity, and Burnley boss Sean Dyche has echoed a similar sentiment, saying that they are being left behind in the transfer market and that it could compromise their status as a Premier League club.

10.35 BST: It looks like Milan are ready to announce Gonzalo Higuain

10.30 BST: Are Tottenham finally about to enter the transfer market? After making no signings in June and July, the start of August has brought fresh rumours about their activity, with The Sun writing that they are preparing a bid for Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook. His teammate, Simon Francis, previously told the Bournemouth Echo that Cook is worth “£20 million or £30m.”

10.20 BST: Leonardo Bonucci’s return to Juventus edges closer…

10.15 BST: A done deal in the Championship, where Sheffield United have signed England youth international Kean Bryan from Manchester City…

10.05 BST: Over in Spain, Mundo Deportivo write that Barcelona have turned their attentions to Manchester United’s Paul Pogba. They add that the France midfielder was offered to the club last month by his agent, Mino Raiola, and pick up a report by Tuttosport that Pogba met Barca technical director Eric Abidal recently in Los Angeles.

09.55 BST: Worrying times on Tyneside, as Rafa Benitez admits he has “no idea” how close Newcastle are to making any new signings and understands why fans are concerned over their lack of activity in the transfer market.

09.45 BST: How about this for a Dutch dream team? Erwin Koeman has joined Phillip Cocu’s Fenerbache as assistant coach…

09.35 BST: It has not been a good summer for Jose Mourinho. After a string of bad results on tour in the United States, Manchester United’s hopes of signing Real Madrid’s Mateo Kovacic have reportedly been dashed, according to Marca, who say the midfielder does not want to play Mourinho’s brand of football. Ouch.

09.25 BST: It appears Borussia Dortmund’s bid to bring Axel Witsel back to European football has prematurely ended, as the Chinese transfer window to bring in players has closed, though they can still sell.

“As far as I know, Witsel has a release clause in his contract, but this can only be activated during the Chinese transfer period,” Tianjin Quanjian coach Paulo Sousa told Chinese TV station CGTN.

09.15 BST: While Bournemouth’s pursuit of Colombia midfielder Jefferson Lerma seems relentless, Levante continue to stand firm. Marca report that the Spanish side rejected a €30m bid, insisting that any transfer for that fee comes with a set of variables.

Lerma would reportedly earn three times his current wage should he join Bournemouth, and is apparently keen on a transfer.

09.02 BST: West Ham United have released a short video thanking Cheikhou Kouyate, who signed for Crystal Palace last night after four seasons in east London:

08.57 BST: The Premier League transfer window closes on Aug. 9, meaning there’s still plenty of time for players to secure new homes before the season begins.

But what do the league’s largest clubs need to accomplish within the next week? Evaluate their transfer progress here.

08.38 BST: Everton are close to sending Antonee Robinson to Wigan on a season-long loan, sources told ESPN FC’s Peter O’Rourke.

Robinson, who made his United States debut in the friendly against Bolivia on May 28, was loaned to Bolton Wanderers last season.

08.21 BST: Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld told Het Laaste Nieuws that he plans to return to London and begin training this weekend.

Alderweireld, who has been on holiday since the World Cup ended, has been the subject of much speculation regarding his future at Spurs, with Manchester United heavily linked to a move.

08.06 BST: Everton defender Ashley Williams has agreed to accept a season-long loan to Stoke City, sources told ESPN FC’s Peter O’Rourke.

Williams, the Wales captain, has lost his first-team role under Marco Silva and is keen to play regular first-team football.

PAPER TALK (by Chris Wright)

PSG happy to spend big on Kante

With money apparently no object, Paris Saint-Germain are preparing to flex their financial heft in a bid to lure N’Golo Kante from Chelsea, having installed the World Cup winner as their main transfer priority.

Chelsea had hoped to curb PSG’s interest by making Kante their highest-earning player with a new contract worth £290,000 per week, but the Daily Mail reports that the Ligue 1 champions are preparing a massive offer of their own.

Indeed, it has claimed PSG would be willing to offer the diminutive midfield scrapper an “even better salary” than the enormous deal on the table at Stamford Bridge.

Of course, the real winner — whichever way this pans out — is Kante, and who could possibly argue that he doesn’t deserve it?

Man United shift focus to Mina

After being told in no uncertain terms by Leicester City that Harry Maguire is not for sale, Manchester United have made Yerry Mina their prime defensive target, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Jose Mourinho has balked at the €90 million price tag for Maguire and will “focus all his attention” on completing a more reasonable €40m deal for Mina, over whom Barcelona are willing to barter.

However, it’s also mentioned that Everton and Lyon are interested in acquiring the Colombian international’s services, so United are likely to have to move quickly if they want to get their man before the window closes on Aug. 9.

Chelsea refusing to give up on Higuain

Returning to Chelsea, they are still convinced they will be able to sign Gonzalo Higuain, despite the Argentine having agreed to join AC Milan.

Higuain is on the cusp of joining Milan on a season-long loan from Juventus, but the Mirror claims that Chelsea are planning to throw a late, late spanner into the works by submitting a rival offer at the 11th hour.

The initial phase of the ploy would involve concluding a deal to sell Olivier Giroud to Marseille for around £20m (negotiations are said to be “active”), with that money then used to gazump the financial package Milan are offering for Higuain.

With Alvaro Morata once again misfiring in front of goal in Wednesday’s International Champions Cup defeat to Arsenal, perhaps it’s little surprise that Maurizio Sarri is so desperate to sign an alternative.

Tap-ins

The Sun reports that West Ham have failed with their opening attempt to lure Celta Vigo striker Maxi Gomez to the London Stadium after having a £25m offer rejected by the Spanish side. However, with manager Manuel Pellegrini desperate to bolster his attacking ranks, the Hammers are likely to return with an improved offer for the Uruguay international.

— West Ham man Cheikhou Kouyate is close to joining Crystal Palace, with the Mirror reporting that the Senegal international is due to undergo a medical on Thursday, and the fee is expected to be in the £10m range. After losing Yohan Cabaye to Al Nasr at the start of the month, Palace are hoping to bring in another central midfielder alongside Kouyate before the start of the season, with Maxime Gonalons (Roma) and Danny Drinkwater (Chelsea) mentioned in passing.

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