The summer transfer window is open for some leagues in Europe, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Liverpool, Newcastle eye Chiesa
Premier League sides Liverpool and Newcastle United are among the sides racing to sign Juventus winger Federico Chiesa, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
There is also interest in the 25-year-old’s signature from Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
Chiesa returned to action for the Bianconeri in January after a year on the sidelines following an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and found bright form towards the end of the Serie A campaign with two goals and two assists in the last five games. He was also on target in Italy’s 3-2 UEFA Nations League semifinal win over Netherlands earlier this month.
Juventus are open to listening to offers, but it would take a proposal of at least €60 million. Chiesa has two years remaining on his contract at the Allianz Stadium.
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21.30 BST: AC Milan have signed midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the club confirms.
The 27-year-old was identified by Chelsea as a player who could be offloaded this summer, as the Blues look to balance the books following a 12 month period of heavy spending. The Cobham graduate has signed a deal with the Italian giants that will keep him at the San Siro until 2027.
21.11 BST: Everton are in talks with Manchester United over a potential deal for veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton, according to Football Insider.
The 37-year-old has also attracted the attention of recently-promoted Luton Town, however, the report indicates that the Red Devils are reluctant to let Heaton depart Old Trafford, amid ongoing uncertainty regarding the future of David de Gea, who has rejected the latest contract offer from the Premier League outfit.
20.43 BST: Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal are interested in a move for Benfica midfielder Joao Mario, according to Ekrem Konur.
The 30-year-old endured a stellar season for the Portuguese giants last year, netting 23 goals in all competitions, alongside 15 assists, attracting attention from Saudi Arabia in the process. Mario is under contract at Benfica until 2026, meaning the club can demand a hefty fee for the Portugal international.
20.18 BST: Brighton have earmarked Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria as a potential replacement for Moises Caicedo, reports Rudy Galetti.
Zakaria endured a difficult loan spell with Chelsea last season, making just seven Premier League appearances, however, the tweet suggests that alongside Brighton, West Ham hold an interest in the Swiss midfielder, who Juventus are keen to offload this summer.
20.01 BST: Christian Pulisic has an agreement in principle on a long-term deal to leave Chelsea and move to Serie A giants AC Milan, however the clubs have yet to agree on a transfer fee, a source in Italy with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.
The U.S. international is taking a pay cut to make the transfer work, the source added, with minor details still to be worked out before a full agreement on personal terms can be reached.
19.42 BST: AC Milan are still working on a deal for Villarreal forward Samuel Chukwueze amid Premier League interest, per Rudy Galetti.
The 24-year-old is under contract with the LaLiga outfit until 2024, which could tempt Villarreal into parting ways with the Nigeria international to ensure he does not walk for free next summer. The tweet suggests that Milan believe that Villarreal’s valuation of €25-30m is too high, however, with Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool named as interested, the Rossoneri may have to meet the price tag.
19.05 BST: Juventus are interested in a loan switch for Chelsea centre-back Benoit Badiashile, report Calciomercato.
The report suggests that the Turin club have identified the France international as a potential replacement for Gleison Bremer, who has been linked heavily with a move to the Premier League, including Chelsea. Badiashile joined the west London outfit from Monaco, in January, and is set to miss the start of next season with a groin injury. Whilst a loan deal is being proposed, it is believed this could turn into a permanent switch, for a fee of €40m.
18.15 BST: Fulham winger Willian has rejected the club’s new contract offer, report the Evening Standard.
The 33-year-old was keen to extend his stay at west London, however, the report suggests that after receiving a “disappointing” offer, the Brazilian will pursue other Premier League offers. Willian is out of contract at midnight, and Fulham were eager to keep the winger, after enduring a strong season last year, netting five goals alongside six assists. However, manager Marco Silva is now looking elsewhere for replacements.
17.25 BST: Kieran Tierney’s future at Arsenal remains unclear amid Newcastle and Manchester City interest in the full-back, per Football Insider.
The report reveals that the Scotland international has not had any discussions with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta regarding his future at the club, after playing a reduced role last season, making just 15 starts. It is reported that Arsenal could be open to offloading the 25-year-old, with Manchester City and Newcastle lurking.
15.58 BST: Gremio president Alberto Guerra says Luis Suarez is happy at the club amid reports that Inter Miami want to sign the veteran forward and reunite him with former Barcelona teammate and close friend Lionel Messi.
Suarez, 36, joined the Brazilian club in January 2023 and has a contract until December 2024. The former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid star has scored 13 goals and set up nine more in 27 appearances for the Porto Allegre-based club this season.
“The fact is that he’s playing, scoring goals, he’s happy,” Guerra said of Suarez. “He’s at Gremio and that’s what matters. When we manage to find the time that is good for Suarez and also for Gremio for him to consult the doctor, we will let you know.”
Guerra added that Gremio will allow Suarez to travel to Barcelona to undergo treatment on his right knee at a date to be confirmed. Reports earlier this month claimed that the Uruguay international was considering retirement due to a right knee injury.
“What we can report is that Suarez actually has a pain in his knee,” Guerra said. “Suarez may have underestimated and made a mistake about Brazilian football.
“It’s a very strong championship, with very heavy logistics, the games are very competitive. Let’s say he gets hit a lot and puts in a lot of effort for a player his age.
“The fact is that he would like to see his doctor in Barcelona, and Gremio agrees. We are looking to see when the best time for this is, so that it meets the interests of Gremio, mainly, because of the Copa do Brasil, so that we can progress to the semifinals.”
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15.21 BST: Zack Steffen is available to leave Manchester City this summer with Leicester City showing an interest in the American goalkeeper, sources have told ESPN’s Rob Dawson.
Steffen, who has 29 caps for the United States, spent last season on loan at Middlesbrough but narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League. City are open to allowing the 28-year-old to leave permanently during the transfer window but sources have told ESPN that they will ask for a fee before sanctioning any move. Steffen is under contract at the Etihad until 2025.
Leicester, according to sources, have registered their interest in Steffen although they have yet to make a formal offer. He would be reunited with Enzo Maresca at the King Power Stadium after the former City assistant took over as manager following Leicester’s relegation to the Championship.
Steffen made 21 first-team appearances during two seasons at the Etihad, collecting Premier League winners’ medals in 2021 and 2022.
He was allowed to move on loan to Middlesbrough last season after Pep Guardiola chose to bring in Stefan Ortega as back-up to Ederson last summer.
Rob Dawson explains Manchester City’s decision to pull out of the race for Declan Rice.
14.37 BST: Arsenal’s proposed move to sign Declan Rice could stall as West Ham United hold out for their preferred structure of the transfer, The Sun reports.
Sources told ESPN’s Rob Dawson on Wednesday that Arsenal have agreed a deal with West Ham for the England midfielder after Manchester City pulled out of the race.
Arsenal submitted a third offer for Rice worth £100m plus £5m in add-ons that was accepted by West Ham. The North London club have also agreed personal terms with Rice, who has one year left on his contract plus the option of another year.
However, The Sun reports that while the Gunners are proposing to stagger the payments of the British-record fee over five years, West Ham want assurances that they will receive it all by 2025.
13.54 BST: Liverpool’s Fabio Carvalho has joined RB Leipzig on loan for the 2023-24 season.
The 20-year-old attacking midfielder, who has represented both England Portugal at youth level, made 21 appearances for Liverpool last season, his first since joining the club from Fulham.
The move comes as Liverpool continue to be linked with interest in Leipzig’s Dominik Szoboszlai, with Sky Sports reporting that the Hungary international is keen to move to Anfield if his £60m release clause can be triggered before it expired at the end of the month.
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𝐋eipzig 👋 https://t.co/XDCX4pJ05R pic.twitter.com/ANY5uVNFxS
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) June 30, 2023
13.29 BST: Manchester United have stepped up their interest in David de Gea‘s future at the club.
United are in talks with Onana’s representatives ahead of submitting a formal offer to Inter Milan.
The Cameroon goalkeeper is valued at between £40 million ($50.62m) and £50m by the Serie A side and Ten Hag knows Onana well after their time together at Ajax.
Meanwhile, De Gea will officially become a free agent on Friday when his Old Trafford contract ends.
Sources have told ESPN that an agreement to extend his stay could still be reached after June 30 — the last day of De Gea’s existing deal — but there is no guarantee that the Spaniard will play again for the club he joined from Atletico Madrid in 2011.
Talks between the two parties “remain open” and a source close to the negotiations has said “both sides are reflecting” before making their next move.
12.43 BST: Socceroos winger
Just weeks after former teammate Jordan Bos earned City a record fee of close to A$2m (£1.05m) via his transfer to KVC Westerlo, the A-League Men club confirmed Celtic had surpassed that mark to secure star 21-year-old Tilio.
Tilio, 21, scored nine goals and notched five assists in Melbourne City’s run to the premiership and grand final this season.
🍀 #WelcomeMarco!
We are delighted to announce the signing of Australian attacker Marco Tilio from Melbourne City on a five-year deal, subject to international clearance 🇦🇺🆕
Welcome to Paradise, Marco 🤝💚
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) June 30, 2023
12.28 BST: Chelsea have announced the signing of Canada international Ashley Lawrence from Paris Saint-Germain.
Lawrence, 28, has signed a three-year contract with the Blues, and will officially join them on July 1.
The full-back will link up with her new clubmates Jessie Fleming and Kadeisha Buchanan in Canada’s squad ahead of the Women’s World Cup.
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Landed in London. 🛬@AshleyLawrence is a Blue! 🔵 pic.twitter.com/fq4h0BgLdp
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) June 30, 2023
12.03 BST: Barcelona president Joan Laporta says the club have turned down offers for Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo and Ansu Fati.
Barca need to move players out before they can bring more players in this summer, but Laporta insists certain members of the squad will not be let go.
“Last year we had an offer worth €100 million for De Jong and we were right not to sell him,” Laporta told TV3.
“There are players that represent our style of play and are fundamental to the team.
“We have had offers for Pedri, De Jong, Christensen, Araujo, Ansu… but we believe they have to stay because they are the club’s present and future.”
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11.18 BST: Arsenal are set to sign Ethan Nwaneri, the youngest player in Premier League history, to his first professional contract in the coming days, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Nwaneri became the first under-16 player in the competition last September when he came off the bench in a 3-0 win at Brentford at the age of 15 years and 181 days old.
Manchester City and Chelsea were both interested in the attacking midfielder’s situation at Arsenal, where he was seen as one of the most exciting prospects in the club’s academy.
However, the England youth international is set to remain at Arsenal after senior figures including manager Mikel Arteta convinced him to stay.
10.36 BST: Eric Dier will fight to remain at Tottenham Hotspur this summer under new manager Ange Postecoglu, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The England international, who has one year remaining on his contract, will be among the first group of players to return to the club’s training base when the new boss begins work this weekend.
Dier, 29, has recovered from a groin operation he underwent in May, and is determined to prove he has a future at the club despite Postecoglu targeting new defensive signings.
Spurs have already signed goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and midfielder James Maddison this summer.
09.49 BST: Aston Villa have agreed a deal to sign Villarreal defender Pau Torres in a move that would reunite Torres with former coach Unai Emery, according to El Periodico.
With Emery requesting Torres’ signing this summer, Villa made an improved bid of €40m, plus €5m in variables, that has been accepted by Villarreal. The Spain international is expected to sign a five-year contract with Villa.
Torres, 26, turned down a contract extension with the Yellow Submarine earlier this year, with his current contract ending in June 2024.
A target of Tottenham in recent transfer windows, Torres has made 173 appearances for Villarreal, 166 as a starter. The Villarreal native was part of Spain’s squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
09.07 BST: Arsenal forward Beth Mead has talked up the prospect of her England teammate Alessia Russo joining her at the club.
Russo’s departure from Manchester United was announced on June 16, and sources have told ESPN’s Mark Ogden that Arsenal are leading the race to sign the England striker. The move is close to being agreed ahead of the England squad leaving for the Women’s World Cup on July 5.
“I love playing with Alessia at England and I’d love to do so at Arsenal,” Mead, who will miss the tournament in Australia and New Zealand through injury told BBC London. “I know Alessia has spoken openly about how much [the speculation] has put on her shoulders right now.
As an England teammate you have got to respect what she wants and try not to put too much pressure on what is happening. She has a World Cup to look forward to and hopefully not have too much stress going into that.”
Mark Ogden explains why the signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea will improve Manchester United.
08.30 BST: Manchester United have agreed a deal with Chelsea to sign Mason Mount, sources told ESPN on Thursday evening. United will pay an initial £55 million ($69.4m) with another £5m ($6.3m) in add-ons.
Sources told ESPN the bonuses due to Chelsea are “strongly dependent” on appearances and Mount’s success at Old Trafford. Sources added that, with Mount on holiday, his medical is set to take place next week.
The two clubs have reached a compromise after Chelsea originally demanded £70m for the England international. United had seen bids of £40m, £50m and £55m rejected by Chelsea.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Adam Brown)
– Real Madrid are interested in signing Fenerbahce attacking midfielder Arda Guler, according to Sport. Multiple clubs in Europe are keeping close tabs on the 18-year-old, with Gianluca Di Marzio also reporting that Barcelona sporting director Deco traveled to Turkey to discuss a move for him this week. It is believed that the highly rated prospect would prefer to move to a club where he would be guaranteed first-team football.
– An agreement has been reached between Arsenal and Ajax Amsterdam for defender Jurrien Timber, reports the Daily Mail. Timber has emerged as a transfer priority at centre-back for manager Mikel Arteta, and the Gunners have seen their offer of £40.5m accepted. Timber, 22, made 39 appearances for the Eredivisie side last season, while also starring in four matches for Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
– Barcelona are willing to offer United States defender Sergino DestAtletico Madrid as part of a player-exchange deal for winger Yannick Carrasco, according to Sport. The Blaugrana won’t activate the €19m release clause to sign the 29-year-old Carrasco, but are looking at different possible ways to secure his signature. That could include sending Dest, 23, to the Spanish capital following his lacklustre spell on loan at AC Milan.
– Liverpool and Lazio are interested in signing Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski, according to journalist Ekrem Konur. The Serie A champions are believed to be aware of interest in the 29-year-old Poland international, and are working on offering him an improved contract to keep him at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
– Internazionale midfielder Marcelo Brozovic has agreed a deal to join Al Nassr, reveals journalist Fabrizio Romano. The 30-year-old has agreed a three-year contract worth €100m, which will see him join up with Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League. Brozovic had previously been on the radar of Barcelona, but after Al Nassr moved quickly to meet the Croatia international’s demands, it looks as though he is now set to be the next star from Europe to head to Saudi Arabia.