The Premier League transfer window has closed, but the rest of Europe remains open for business. Plus, it’s never too late to look forward to January! Click here to view the latest transfers and keep up to date with the latest gossip below.
– Premier League transfer wrap: Who won and who lost?
TOP STORY: Chelsea chase Chilwell
On the day Chelsea’s defence was dismantled by Manchester United in a 4-0 defeat, the Sun reports that Frank Lampard has identified Leicester City left-back Ben Chilwell as the man to improve the Blues’ back line.
With Marcos Alonso considering his future and Emerson the club’s only other senior left-back, the left side of defence appears an obvious position for the club to strengthen.
Of course, there’s the small matter of the transfer embargo that hinders the West London club from registering any new players until next summer, but should they be able to successfully appeal, they could be players in the January market.
Whenever Chelsea are free to add new players again, they’ll have to send £70 million to Leicester for the 22-year-old England international.
Barca, PSG close in on Neymar-Coutinho swap
The Premier League window is closed, but the barking world of football continues to turn. And — surprise, surprise — it’s the future of Neymar that’s occupying the back pages of newspapers across Europe. Marca cites French outlet RMC Sport as reporting that Barcelona have accelerated talks to bring the Brazilian star back to the Camp Nou.
At the same time, Paris Saint-Germain are in talks to brings Philippe Coutinho to the French capital, ending his fairly miserable stay in Catalonia.
– When does the transfer window close?
– Transfer grades: Tracking every big club’s deals
– All major completed transfer deals
Neymar left the Spanish giants in the summer of 2017, but his time in Paris has hardly been an unmitigated success. Injuries and a succession of off-field issues have shrouded his time in Ligue 1 and led to never-ending speculation over his return.
RMC reports that directors from both clubs met at the end of last week and that “significant” progress had been made towards a deal being signed, sealed and delivered. Ending months and months and months of uncertainty.
Dybala’s transfer farce continues
The future of Paulo Dybala has been the source of incessant speculation for the majority of the summer, and now Calciomercato cites Rai Sport as reporting that the player’s agent was spotted in Paris on Sunday, further fuelling rumours that the player could soon be off to PSG after a summer that saw him heavily linked with moves to Tottenham and Manchester United.
On Sunday, Le10Sport reported that Dybala’s options were stark and now limited to two clubs, with the Argentinian left to choose between Inter and PSG. The latter would, it was claimed, have to offload Neymar before they can entertain the idea of bringing him to the French capital. Inter, meanwhile, could offer Mauro Icardi in exchange for a player who has won Serie A for the past four seasons in Turin.
Rai Sport’s report that Dybala’s agent was spotted in the French capital could be a huge hint that the player is finally on the brink of leaving Juve. Alternatively, it might just be the latest stage in a seemingly never-ending saga that has run and run — and could be about to run and run some more.
Tap-ins
– AC Milan are eyeing up a move for Dani Olmo, the young Spanish star at Dinamo Zagreb, Calciomercato cites Corriere Dello Sport as reporting. The Rossoneri believe Olmo would represent a sound, long-term investment, but the Italian giants are unlikely to have things all their own way. The Italian outlet reports that competition for his signature is likely to be fierce before the European transfer window shuts at the start of September.
– Aston Villa were definitely in for Jack Butland during the summer transfer window but were in no mood to pay the extortionate sums being demanded by Stoke. Villa ended up bringing in Tom Heaton from Burnley for a tiny portion of the £32m that Stoke were looking for. The Birmingham Mail reports that Villa’s intransigence may see Butland leave the Potteries for whichever European club is willing to pay the money that the Premier League new boys have baulked at.