Category: Transfer News

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Daniel Levy refusing to lower Harry Kane’s £150m asking price

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is reportedly refusing to lower his £150m valuation of Manchester City target Harry Kane.

The Premier League champions are believed to have had a £100m bid – with only £75m guaranteed up front – rejected for the England captain earlier in the transfer window.

City are now preparing a fresh offer worth around £120m, however the Daily Telegraph reports that Levy could continue to reject bids for Kane even if they get close to £150m, as he is determined to keep hold of the striker.

Levy is also unwilling to let the 28-year-old leave as he does not feel that the club would be able to find a replacement in the final seven days of the transfer window.

Kane, who has spent his entire career with Spurs but has yet to win a major trophy, has expressed his desire to leave the club this summer with Pep Guardiola’s side believed to be his preferred destination.

The striker was not named in Tottenham’s squad for their opening day victory against Man City, but he did come off the bench in their 1-0 win away at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.

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Sergio Ramos asked Carlo Ancelotti to keep him at Real Madrid

Sergio Ramos unsuccessfully enlisted the help of Carlo Ancelotti during contract negotiations with Real Madrid, according to a report.

The 35-year-old ran down his Bernabeu deal last season and was unable to agree to fresh terms with the club, eventually leading him to complete a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

Ramos insisted at his farewell speech that he intended to stay in the Spanish capital, but Florentino Perez was only prepared to offer him a one-year extension rather than the two years he was holding out for.

According to Marca, Ramos spoke with Ancelotti upon the Italian’s return to the Bernabeu dugout in the hope that he would be able to ‘twist the arm’ of the 74-year-old.

However, Ancelotti reportedly told Ramos that he was unable to affect a situation which was beyond his control, and as a result Ramos gave a tearful farewell to the club he had represented for 16 years.

The centre-back left Real Madrid after scoring 101 goals in 671 games for the capital club, but a calf injury has prevented him from making his PSG debut this month.

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Manchester United offer Paul Pogba £400k-a-week contract

Paul Pogba reportedly has a £400k-a-week contract offer on the table as Manchester United seek to tie him down to fresh terms.

The former Juventus man is yet to commit his future to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side beyond 2022, with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain ready and waiting to pounce should he become available on a free transfer.

United are thought to be desperate to extend Pogba’s stay at the club, although the World Cup-winning Frenchman is supposedly in no rush to make a decision on his next career move.

according to The Athletic, Pogba has been offered a new deal worth £400k per week until the summer of 2025, which would take him past David de Gea as the club’s highest earner.

However, the report adds that the midfielder is unlikely to sign a new deal before the end of the current transfer window, but he is of the view that United now have a squad capable of competing for the biggest honours.

Pogba assisted four of United’s five goals in last week’s Premier League win against Leeds United and has also found the back of the net 38 times in 207 games for the Red Devils.

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Barcelona prepared to terminate Samuel Umtiti’s contract

Barcelona are threatening to terminate Samuel Umtiti’s contract if the Frenchman continues to refuse opportunities for an exit, according to a report.

The World Cup-winning defender has fallen out of favour under Ronald Koeman and is supposedly wanted off the books by Barcelona amid their desperate financial situation.

Umtiti was understood to have been in talks with Lyon over a potential return to France, but as things stand he remains contracted to Barca and is supposedly in no rush to leave.

According to Sport, should Umtiti reject the opportunity to depart the club properly, Barca will not hesitate to terminate his contract in the next few days.

The report adds that La Blaugrana are ‘very upset’ with Umtiti’s attitude, and the 27-year-old did not honour a pre-season agreement in which he would agree to an exit if he failed to convince coaches in friendlies.

Umtiti was unsurprisingly left out of Barca’s squad to face Real Sociedad at the weekend and still has just under two years left to run on his deal at Camp Nou

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Tottenham Hotspur join Kurt Zouma race

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly joined the race to sign Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma.

The Frenchman was initially tipped to head to Sevilla as part of a player-plus-cash deal for Jules Kounde, but a move for the 22-year-old appears to have hit a roadblock for the Blues.

Zouma has since been heavily linked with a transfer across the capital to West Ham United, although the centre-back’s wage demands are supposedly threatening to scupper a switch to the London Stadium.

Now, Sky Sports News reports that Spurs are keen to bring in a new centre-back after striking a deal for Cristian Romero, and Zouma features on the Lilywhites’ list of potential targets.

The report adds that West Ham are still in the race, but with Chelsea’s £25m valuation hindering negotiations, Zouma is happy to see out his Stamford Bridge deal, which expires in 2023.

The 26-year-old watched on from the bench during his side’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace at the weekend, and he has registered 10 goals from 151 games in a Chelsea shirt

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Atletico Madrid ‘agree deal for Tottenham Hotspur-linked Dusan Vlahovic

Atletico Madrid have reportedly beaten Tottenham Hotspur to the signing of Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic.

With continued uncertainty over Harry Kane’s future in North London, Spurs had supposedly identified Vlahovic as an ideal candidate to lead the line in the event of the England captain’s departure.

Inter Milan were rumoured to have been interested before striking a deal for Edin Dzeko, and Fiorentina intended to tie Vlahovic down to fresh terms amid interest from top European clubs.

However, Corriere dello Sport claims that Atletico have now agreed a €70m (£59.6m) deal to sign the Serbian from La Viola, forcing Tottenham to look elsewhere in their striker search.

Spurs’ pursuit of Lautaro Martinez also appears to be dead in the water following the latest update from the Argentine’s agent, and the Lilywhites are said to have turned their attention to Barcelona’s Martin Braithwaite.

Vlahovic prepares to leave Fiorentina after netting 21 goals in Serie A last season, and he kicked off the 2021-22 campaign with a brace in a Coppa Italia victory against Cosenza at the weekend.

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Paul Pogba will not sign new Manchester United deal this month

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba will not sign a new deal with the Red Devils during the current transfer window, according to a report.

The France international is now in the final year of his existing contract with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, who are desperate not to lose him for free in the summer of 2022.

Paris Saint-Germain continue to be credited with an interest in Pogba, although the arrival of Lionel Messi is thought to have scuppered any chances of a move in August.

Solskjaer supposedly remains keen to tie the midfielder down to a new deal, but the Daily Mail claims that Pogba is in no rush to agree fresh terms or decide his future.

The report adds that United chiefs want Pogba to stay on until at least 2025, and he could expect a rise on the £290k a week he currently pockets in Manchester, but there is very little chance of the former Juventus man deciding his future this month.

The 28-year-old set up four of Man United’s five goals in a 5-1 drubbing of Leeds United at the weekend, and PSG are rumoured to be preparing a mammoth £510k-a-week deal for the Frenchman should he run down his United contract

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Carlo Ancelotti rules out Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid return

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that he has “never considered” bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to the Bernabeu.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s next career move remains the subject of much speculation, with his existing deal at Juventus due to expire in 2022 amid links with Los Blancos and Manchester United.

Ronaldo recently took to social media to lash out at the ‘disrespectful’ coverage of his future, and Ancelotti has also weighed in on the saga with a post on Twitter.

The 62-year-old wrote on Tuesday: “Cristiano is a Real Madrid legend and he has all my love and respect. I have never considered signing him. We look forward.#HalaMadrid.”

Manchester City are also rumoured to have been offered the chance to sign the Portuguese attacker, but Pep Guardiola’s side have retained their focus on a move for Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane.

Ronaldo found the back of the net five times at Euro 2020 and enters the 2021-22 campaign with a Capocannoniere to defend following his 29-goal haul in Serie A last term.

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BRUNO LAGE KEEN TO BRING IN MORE NEW SIGNINGS AT WOLVES

Bruno Lage is confident of bringing in more new signings as he prepares to begin a new era at Wolves.

The Portuguese, who worked as assistant under Carlos Carvalhal at both Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea not so long ago, replaced compatriot Nuno Espirito Santo at Molineux over the summer when he left to take over at Tottenham.

Lage, who won the title in his homeland with Benfica in 2018/19, has brought in Jose Sa, Yerson Mosquera, Francisco Trincao, Louie Moulden, Bendeguz Bolla and Rayan Ait Nouri since his arrival in June, but has also seen the likes of Rui Patricio, Patrick Cutrone and Ruben Vinagre leave.

Supporters are crying out for more signings and it is clear the squad needs it, while Wolves also still have a very talented team at their disposal.

Ahead of his first competitive match in charge against Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, Lage said: “For sure I’m talking with the board and Jeff (Shi, executive chairman), they know the profiles for the players we want and the positions we want.

“The fans can trust in him. The last four years, (Wolves) did very well. We know what we need to do.”

Lage also insists his players are fully focused on the start of the new season and he is “not worried” about losing anyone else late in the transfer window.

Ruben Neves and Adama Traore in particular have been the subject of much reported interest from rival clubs.

“There are rules, so we will need to wait until the end of August to see who stays and goes,” said the 45-year-old.

“The most important thing is I can see at the moment that everyone is focused. So I’m not worried. The important thing is to have time to work with the players.”

Meanwhile, Lage has revealed Pedro Neto is aiming to return from injury within two months. The forward has been out since April with a fractured patella.

He added: “I see him every day in the gym. What he did last season was very good, it was a good surprise for me. I saw him play and what he did was very good.

“Maybe he needs more time, I don’t know exactly how long. He’s not ready for one month, or two I think.”

Striker Raul Jimenez will be available for the first time since suffering a fractured skull in November, with Lage insisting “there are no problems with him”.

However, Neto (knee), Jonny (knee) and Daniel Podence (groin) remain on the sidelines, while Wily Boly has a hamstring injury.

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Chelsea announce club-record £97.5m Romelu Lukaku deal

Chelsea have announced that they have completed the signing of Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku.

The 28-year-old has penned a five-year contract with the Blues, who agreed a £97.5m deal with Inter for his transfer last weekend.

Lukaku previously represented the London club between 2011 and 2014 but failed to score in 15 appearances over the course of two seasons before joining Everton on a permanent deal

The Belgium international has since enjoyed successful spells with Manchester United and Inter, and he has now secured a return to Chelsea, who identified him as their leading attacking target after being forced to admit defeat in their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Braut Haaland.

“I’m happy and blessed to be back at this wonderful club. It’s been a long journey for me: I came here as a kid who had a lot to learn, now I’m coming back with a lot of experience and more mature,” Lukaku told the club’s official website.

“The relationship I have with this club means so much to me, as you know. I have supported Chelsea as a kid and now to be back and try to help them win more titles is an amazing feeling.

“The way the club is going fits my ambitions perfectly at 28 and just coming off winning Serie A. I think this opportunity comes at the right time and hopefully we can have a lot of success together.

“Since I left Chelsea, it’s been a long journey with a lot of ups and downs, but these experiences made me strong and the challenge is to try to help the team win some more trophies. I can’t wait to get started and to help the club achieve more success.”

The fee is a club-record deal for Chelsea but just falls short of the British transfer record, which Manchester City broke when they signed Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for £100m.