Category: Transfer News

Gareth Bale completed his emotional return to Tottenham on Wednesday night in a move that was driven by Jose Mourinho.

The Wales international has agreed terms on a year-long deal that Sportsmail understands to be worth more than £13million – part of which will be financed by Real Madrid – and he is relishing the prospect of relaunching his career at the club that propelled him to stardom.

There is no indication yet as to when Tottenham – who face Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Europa League on Thursday – will make an official announcement but it will happen once a few minor contractual issues are signed.

Bale’s return to North London, seven years after he was sold to Madrid for a the world record fee of £90m, is laced with sentiment but it was a move that Mourinho, Tottenham’s manager, felt was absolutely imperative following his side’s dismal 1-0 defeat to Everton last Sunday.

Mourinho was adamant that Tottenham needed Bale’s drive and dynamism to enliven Tottenham’s attack and negotiations accelerated following discussion with Chairman Daniel Levy.

It is understood no players will go in the opposite direction.

The deal for Bale stands as a separate transaction as Tottenham will also move for Sergio Reguilon, Real Madrid’s left-back who has also been linked with Manchester United, on Thursday.

He is due to undergo a medical and will sign a five-year deal with Tottenham, paying £27million fee.

Mourinho had been coy earlier in the day when quizzed on how close a deal was to bring Bale back to north London.

While initially intimating he would make no comment, the Portuguese eventually revealed his admiration for the Welshman – a nod to how much he wanted to get the player.

‘I tried to sign him for Real Madrid which was not possible to do during my time there,’ Mourinho said in his Wednesday press conference. ‘But the president followed my instinct and my knowledge and the season I left he brought Gareth to the club.

There is no secret on that. Even Gareth knows that. But I’m not going to speak about him anymore because he is a Real Madrid player.’

Eric Dier, who will now become a team-mate of Bale’s, insisted prior to Sportsmail’s exclusive story confirming the deal that the players had not discussed Bale’s return in their squad WhatsApp chat.

But the defender described it as an ‘extremely exciting’ time for the club to bring back one of the game’s finest attackers.

‘From the fans’ point of view, when you’re linked with a player of that level, it’s extremely exciting for any club,’ Dier said.

‘For me personally it doesn’t really effect me in any way. It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last time.

‘There’s constantly speculation about people going different places, different talk in football every day.’

Bale became a fan favourite at Spurs where he scored 56 goals and provided 58 assists in 203 appearances.

In 2012-13 he was crowned Tottenham’s Player of the Year and also claimed the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, PFA Young Player of the Year, Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season award.

He was the Premier League’s most impressive player and Real Madrid were aggressive in the transfer market in bringing him in to partner Cristiano Ronaldo at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Aston Villa have signed goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from fellow Premier League side Arsenal for £17m.

The 28-year-old Argentine, who made 23 appearances last season and played in the Gunners’ FA Cup final win over Chelsea, has signed a four-year deal.

Villa manager Dean Smith said Martinez will be a “key player for our club for the long term”.

“It is rare to be able to buy a top-class goalkeeper who hasn’t yet reached their peak age,” he added.

“We know how highly Arsenal rated him and we watched his outstanding performances last season in a trophy-winning, top side.”

Martinez leaves Arsenal 10 years after joining as a youth team player in 2010.

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta decided Bernd Leno would be his first choice this season and the German started Arsenal’s Premier League opener on Saturday – a 3-0 victory at Fulham.

He is Villa’s third recruit of the summer after striker Ollie Watkins signed from Brentford for a club record fee and right-back Matty Cash arrived from Nottingham Forest.

Ronald Koeman has said Barcelona must sell before they can think about signing Lyon captain Memphis Depay as the head coach expects to start the La Liga season with no additions to the squad.

Depay has been tipped to reunite with former Netherlands coach Koeman at Barca following his exploits for Ligue 1 outfit and Champions League semi-finalists Lyon.

However, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas prior to Tuesday’s 2-1 loss against Montpellier claimed Barca cannot afford to buy Depay due to their finances caused by the coronavirus global pandemic.

Koeman, who has replaced Quique Setien at Camp Nou, was asked about former Manchester United forward Depay amid talk of a €25 million (£23m/$30m) transfer and he told Fox Sports Netherlands: “For Depay to arrive, you must first sell.”

Barca have been linked with a number of players following a miserable 2019-20 campaign, which saw the Spanish powerhouse dethroned by bitter rivals Real Madrid in La Liga and embarrassed 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.

After receiving Miralem Pjanic in a swap deal that sent Arthur to Serie A champions Juventus, Barca continue to be linked with Inter star Lautaro Martinez.

Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum has emerged as a possible target for Barca, while former star Thiago Alcantara has also been linked with a move from Bayern.

However, Koeman said: “We’re working towards the new season and I think we will go into it with the same group of players that we have now for pre-season.”

Barca will open their 2020-21 La Liga campaign at home to Unai Emery’s Villarreal on September 26.

Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira is edging closer to the exit at the Emirates Stadium with reports showing that Torino have agreed on a fee with the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta has nudged the Uruguayan down the pecking order and a £22 million fee has been agreed for the central midfielder.

Arsenal will make a loss on the player who they signed for £26 million (Sky Sports) from Sampdoria, shortly after the World Cup in 2018.

His time at the Gunners hasn’t really gone according to plan, however, and cashing in could allow Arteta the chance to complete his own squad.

The £75,000-a-week midfield enforcer has failed to really make an impact on the Premier League, struggling for a consistent period of form.

Torreira has played 89 times for the Gunners but has scored just four goals and registered six assists for the North London-based outfit.

A departure looks to suit all parties and perhaps more crucially it will see Arsenal raise some funds for their own transfer business.

Arteta’s men got off to a flying start on Saturday, running out 3-0 winners against newly-promoted Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The report claims that Torino will pay Arsenal £12 million to take Torreira on loan for the remainder of the campaign, with an obligation to buy the midfielder for another £12 million next summer.

Mohamed Salah continued his phenomenal goalscoring record at Anfield as his hat trick secured a 4-3 win for Liverpool against Premier League new boys Leeds United.

Marcelo Bielsa’s men looked destined to end their 16-year absence from the top flight with a determined draw – which they would have been fantastic value for.

But ‘El Loco’ could only look on and grimace as club record signing Rodrigo gave away a penalty in the 87th minute, which Salah duly stepped up and slotted home.

Life in the Premier League could not have gotten off to a worse start for Leeds as debutant Robin Koch was adjudged to have handled Mohamed Salah’s goalbound shot in the box, with the Egypt international converting the spot-kick.

The Whites were level within minutes as Kalvin Phillips’ raking pass found Jack Harrison on the left wing and the on-loan Manchester City man left Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold in his wake before firing home.

The champions regained the lead when Virgil van Dijk powered home a corner, but the Netherlands skipper was completely at fault for Leeds’ second equaliser as his poor touch let in Patrick Bamford to lift the ball over Alisson.

Defensive mishaps seemed to be the order of the day as confusion in the visitor’s box gifted Salah the opportunity to lash home a venomous volley into the top corner to put Liverpool back in front.

The game’s sixth goal was perhaps the best as Helder Costa’s searching pass into the box found Mathues Klich in the box, who controlled the ball into the air and clinically volleyed into the net.

Although it was the type of goal which deserved fans in attendance, the Championship winners will head into their next Premier League fixture at home to Play-Off winners Fulham secure in the knowledge they belong at this level.

Yet they will need to be more resolute at the back as Rodrigo’s sloppy tackle on Fabinho in the box gifted Salah the opportunity to get his third Premier League hat-trick and snatch the points for the hosts.

For Liverpool, some impatient supporters will call for further investment into the squad to improve the depth. Yet with Salah reaching 97 goals in just 154 games for the Reds, perhaps it is more important to keep the 28-year-old fit at all costs.

Barcelona have reportedly negotiated personal terms with Lyon forward Memphis Depay ahead of a potential transfer.

With the Netherlands international having less than a year remaining on his contract, Lyon are open to parting ways with the attacker.

Despite strong interest from Barcelona, the two clubs are yet to agree a fee for the former Manchester United man.

However, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the 26-year-old has already accepted the financial terms offered by the Catalan giants.

Depay, who has scored 57 goals during three-and-a-half seasons at the Groupama Stadium, has recently admitted that he is aware of interest from Barcelona.

Ronald Koeman who is Depay’s former coach on the international scene is said to have targeted the player as soon as he was appointed boss of the La Liga side.

Aston Villa have completed the signing of striker Ollie Watkins from Brentford for a club record fee of £28m, which could rise to £33m with add-ons.

Watkins was the Championship’s joint-top scorer last season with 26 goals.

The 24-year-old is Villa’s second signing of the transfer window following the £16m arrival of defender Matty Cash from Nottingham Forest.

“Ollie has developed into one of the most sought-after strikers in the country,” said Villa boss Dean Smith.

“We are looking forward to seeing him show his great qualities in an Aston Villa shirt.

“He is a hugely determined character who has both the ability and personality to succeed at the highest level.”

Watkins will be reunited with Smith, who signed the forward from Exeter when he was Brentford manager.

The fee for him is a record for a Championship player. Although Manchester City paid Bournemouth £40m for Nathan Ake last month and Tottenham spent £30m on Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko in August 2016, neither had played in the Championship before moving back to the Premier League.

“I am so excited to join Aston Villa and to reunite with Dean Smith as my head coach,” said Watkins.

“I want to do something special here and score some goals.”

Smith had been determined to improve his striking options after his side only secured Premier League safety on the final day of last season.

The club missed out on signing Callum Wilson from Bournemouth this week as the England striker moved to Newcastle for £20m.

Villa’s previous record signing, Brazilian striker Wesley, scored five goals in 21 games in the league after his £22m moved to Villa last summer before suffering a serious knee ligament injury in January. He is still regaining his fitness.

Villa ended the season with Mbwana Samatta and Keinan Davis as their main options up front. Samatta only scored twice after joining in January, including a goal at Wembley as Villa lost the Carabao Cup final 2-1 to Manchester City. Davis has never scored a Premier League goal.

Smith’s side scored 41 top-flight goals last season, but only six came from forwards – including five from Wesley.

Chelsea are on the verge of finalising a deal for Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, according to a report.

The Blues have been linked with a number of keepers since the end of last season due to the shaky form of Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Having already added six new outfield players to their squad ahead of the 2020-21 campaign, The Athletic claims that a new keeper is now incoming at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea technical director Petr Cech is said to be leading talks with Rennes and a breakthrough appears to have been reached, with the clubs apparently agreeing a fee for Mendy.

The 28-year-old, who could cost more than £20m, has spent just one full season at Roazhon Park after joining from Ligue 1 rivals Reims last year.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s spending is not expected to stop there as a new holding midfielder either Lille’s Boubakary Soumare or West Ham United youngster Declan Rice is supposedly also on Frank Lampard’s radar.