The summer transfer window is into its final week for the major European leagues, which means the biggest clubs are looking to make a splash in the market while they still can. Check out the latest gossip below, and see all official deals here.
TOP STORY: Ronaldo pushing for Man City move
The future of Cristiano Ronaldo could be back in the Premier League, with reports that the Juventus striker is pushing for a move to Manchester City. L’Equipe reports that the 36-year-old is keen to see a deal over the line this summer and sees the blue half of Manchester as the next stop in his career.
The Portugal star reportedly asked to not be named in the starting XI for his side’s most recent Serie A clash against Udinese, intensifying speculation over whether he would remain in Turin for the season. And with Manchester City actively pursuing a front man, Pep Guardiola might have a decision to make over whether to proceed with a move for Harry Kane with the signing of former Manchester United talisman Ronaldo now a possibility.
L’Equipe adds that Ronaldo has already been asking his fellow Portugal internationals who play for City — Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo — about life at the Etihad.
Ronaldo has just one year remaining on his contract, meaning the Old Lady might have no choice but to move on from their No. 7 if they are to recoup some of the £99.2 million transfer fee they paid Real Madrid in 2018.
LIVE BLOG
08.34 BST: Chelsea’s hopes of signing Sevilla defender Jules Kounde have been boosted as talks with West Ham over the transfer of Kurt Zouma are progressing, Sky reports.
Zouma, 26, has been West Ham’s top target to bolster the Hammers’ defence this summer. Personal terms are yet to be agreed, but there is a possibility of a £25m move for the centre-back with time to spare before next week’s deadline.
Should Zouma end his seven-year association with Chelsea, that would open a space in the Blues’ squad to sign Kounde. Sources told ESPN’s Rodrigo Faez and Adriana Garcia last month that Chelsea and Sevilla have entered talks over a deal for the France international that could be worth around €70m — €10m less than the 22-year-old’s buyout clause.
08.00 BST: Real Madrid have launched a €160m offer to sign Kylian Mbappe which has been immediately rejected by Paris Saint-Germain, multiple sources have told ESPN’s Julien Laurens and Rodrigo Faez.
Sources close to Real Madrid admit to ESPN that the negotiations will be difficult, but they still hope to convince PSG to agree a deal before the transfer window ends on Aug. 31. Meanwhile, other sources in France suggest to ESPN that Madrid would need to raise the offer to €200m to have a chance of completing the signing.
Mbappe’s contract at PSG expires next summer, and the 22-year-old has made it clear that, despite repeated approaches from the club, he does not intend to renew. PSG believed that the arrival of Lionel Messi could change Mbappe’s mind, but that has not transpired.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Adam Brown)
– Tottenham Hotspur continue to be busy in the transfer market, with Sky Sports reporting that the club have held talks with the representatives of Lyon’s Houssem Aouar. The 23-year-old has been the subject of speculation throughout the summer, with just two years remaining on his contract, and despite the midfielder’s preference to join a club in the Champions League, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are confident they can convince Aouar to swap Lyon for North London.
– Lyon have identified a replacement for Memphis Depay in the form of Zenit St. Petersburg striker Sardar Azmoun, according to Le10 Sport, which reports that the Ligue 1 club have made an offer of €11 million to secure the signature of the 26-year-old. The Iran international has already scored five goals in six matches this season after hitting 19 in 21 last term.
– Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Rafinha is keen on a move back to Serie A, with AC Milan as his preference, Calciomercato writes. Technical director Paolo Maldini is still on the lookout for an attacking midfielder before the window closes, and a move for the 28-year-old could go ahead if the player continues to push for a relocation to the city where he last featured for Internazionale in 2018.
– England U21 star Noni Madueke is beginning to attract interest from a host of Premier League clubs, according to the Mail. Manchester United, Liverpool and Spurs are all reportedly keen on the 19-year-old winger, for whom PSV Eindhoven are said to demand a transfer fee of around £34 million. Madueke has scored six goals in nine appearances for the Dutch club so far this season, including two in Champions League clashes against Galatasaray and FC Midtjylland.