The summer transfer window is racing toward the Sept. 1 deadline, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Ronaldo warms to returning to Sporting, where his career began
Cristiano Ronaldo is edging closer to returning to his boyhood club, Sporting CP in Portugal, according to Marca.
While the 37-year-old Manchester United striker’s preferred option was understood to be Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti’s side weren’t interested in taking him back to the Bernabeu.
The Spanish outlet says that Ronaldo has decided that his best option is to return to the Lisbon-based side, who might not be able to compete financially with other offers but their relationship with the Portugal international could be enough to persuade him to finish his career where it began.
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Last year, Ronaldo’s mother told Sporting supporters she would try to convince him to return to the club. Instead, however, he joined United, where the team has underperformed and missed out on the Champions League this season.
Ronaldo has recently been linked with Marseille and AC Milan but a return to Portugal now seems most likely.
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12.34 BST: AC Milan are hopeful of completing a loan move for Trevoh Chalobah once Chelsea seal the signing of Wesley Fofana from Leicester City.
Chalobah, 23, will be pushed down the pecking order by the arrival of Fofana in a deal reported to be worth a total of £75m.
Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Milan hope to add Chalobah to their defensive options with another former Chelsea player, Fikayo Tomori, a key member of the team that won the Scudetto last season.
Milan are looking to structure a loan with the to option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.
Schalke centre back Malick Thiaw is seen as another option if Milan cannot sign Chalobah.
11.50 BST: Barcelona are concerned about what might happen with Antoine Griezmann next summer, sources have told ESPN’s Moises Llorens and Rodrigo Faez, with the LaLiga club believing Atletico Madrid will seek to avoid paying the agreed €40 million to make the forward’s move permanent.
Griezmann returned to Atletico last year on a two-year loan deal, with a clause stating that they would be obliged to pay Barca €40m if the France international played at least 45 minutes in 50% of the games for which he is available over the two seasons. Last year, Griezmann did so in 30 of the 37 games for which he was available, fit and not subject to suspension — but in Atletico’s two league games so far this campaign, he has played just 28 minutes against Getafe and another 28 minutes against Villarreal.
11.06 BST: Roma are interested in Saul Niguez as cover for the injured Georginio Wijnaldum, Diario AS reports, but the player is focused on staying at Atletico Madrid after winning back a place in their starting XI.
Saul, 27, disappointed last season on loan at Chelsea — starting just five Premier League games — and still has four years left on his contract at Atletico.
He played at left wing-back in Atletico’s first game of the LaLiga season away at Getafe and is expected to feature again at Valencia on Monday.
According to AS, Saul is “only thinking in red and white” despite competition from Yannick Carrasco and Renan Lodi for a place in the team.
10.21 BST: Fabrizio Romano reports that full agreement has now been reached between Chelsea and Leicester City for centre-back Wesley Fofana.
Brendan Rodgers’ side has held firm after rejecting multiple transfer offers from the Blues, but it looks as though Leicester have finally relented.
The 21-year-old is keen to make the switch to Stamford Bridge, and was recently instructed to train with the U21s after missing first-team training.
The transfer fee will reportedly be £75m including add-ons, which will be short of the world record £80m fee Leicester received from Manchester United for Harry Maguire.
Fofana will sign a six-year deal through to 2028.
09.42 BST: The Daily Mail reports that Chelsea want to sign Arsen Zakharyan from Dynamo Moscow.
Zakharyan, 19, reportedly has a release clause of £12.6m which the Blues are ready to trigger. The midfielder has four caps for the senior Russian side.
However, it is not yet clear if Chelsea will be able to sign a player from a Russian club due to financial sanctions on the country.
09.00 BST: Manchester United are considering whether to make an improved bid for Antony after seeing a €90 million offer rejected by Ajax on Friday, sources have told ESPN’s Rob Dawson.
United had increased their offer after €80m was turned down earlier this month, but it has not been enough to get Ajax to agree a deal. Sources have told ESPN that United are weighing whether to make another bid or to turn their attention to other targets.
On Friday evening, the player made public his desire to be allowed to move to Old Trafford.
“Today, in a meeting with the club, I expressed my old interest in leaving, only this time with a considerable offer on the table,” he told Fabrizio Romano. “Others had already arrived! Ajax refused with the argument that they only have five days to replace me.
“I’m not asking to release me, I’m asking Ajax to sell me at the highest bid received by a player who played in the Eredivisie. I’ve been insisting on this theme since February so that the club could rebuild the team with peace of mind.”
PAPER GOSSIP
– Manchester United have made an approach for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, reports Gianluca Di Marzio. The 33-year-old forward is continuing to be linked with an exit away from Barcelona this summer, and he has also been linked with Chelsea, who are yet to reach an agreement with the Blaugrana. The Red Devils are keen to acquire a striker before the Premier League’s transfer window closes on Thursday.
– Marcelo has been out of contract since his deal expired with Real Madrid this summer, but he has now received an official offer from Bayer Leverkusen, writes Foot Mercato. The 34-year-old left-back is yet to decide on his next destination, though he is understood to also be on the radar of Ligue 1’s Nice and Serie A side Monza. Marcelo made just 12 appearances in LaLiga for Carlo Ancelotti’s side last season.
– Premier League side Brighton Hove Albion have made a $4m approach for Facundo Buonanotte, according to Cesar Luis Merlo. The Seagulls are understood to be keen on the 17-year-old Rosario Central attacking midfielder, but the Argentine side would like to see the offer improved if they are to part ways with him.
– Internazionale have decided to ward off any further offers for centre-back Milan Skriniar. Speaking of the 27-year-old Slovakia international, CEO Giuseppe Marotta, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano, said: “He will stay with us for sure, the owners have decided not to be tempted by Paris Saint-Germain bids and approaches, he is a key player for us and he will stay.”
