Tag: Transfer News

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ASTON VILLA AGREE DEAL FOR BAYER LEVERKUSEN’S LEON BAILEY

Aston Villa have announced that they have reached a deal with Bayer Leverkusen for the transfer of Leon Bailey.

The winger had a productive 2020-21 season in the Bundesliga, scoring nine goals and assisting nine more.

Villa confirmed in a statement that an agreement had been made with Leverkusen, subject to him completing a medical and finalising personal terms.

The signing comes one day after sources told ESPN that Manchester City had offered Villa a £100 million package for their captain Jack Grealish.

The deal would involve City paying Villa £90m and a transfer of highly rated young winger Morgan Rodgers.

Villa would like to keep Grealish but sources have told reporters that he would be allowed to leave if that was his decision.

Jamaica international Bailey joined Leverkusen in 2017 from Genk.

The 23-year-old was part of the Jamaica squad which made it to the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup before being knocked out by the United States men’s national team in a 1-0 defeat.

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BREAKING: MANCHESTER CITY SUBMIT £100M BID FOR JACK GREALISH

Aston Villa have received a £100 million bid from Man City for Jack Grealish, reports say
Villa were contacted by City’s transfer chiefs on Thursday with a Premier League-record bid having since been tabled to test the club’s resolve.

Villa, meanwhile, remain hopeful of tying their star player down to a lucrative new contract – believed to be around £200,000-a-week – with Grealish expected back in at Bodymoor Heath for talks from Monday.

The 25-year-old remains Pep Guardiola’s priority signing alongside Spurs forward Harry Kane, with City seeing their £100 million move rejected by Tottenham last month.

City’s attention has since shifted to Villa’s captain with BirminghamLive being informed that the Grealish camp remains split on what to do next; stay with Villa or push through a move to City.

Villa’s owners, Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, are confident of keeping Grealish in B6 as they look to progress once more next season with European qualification the club’s aim.

As for City, Guardiola has spoken of his admiration of Villa’s captain before with the City chief also confident of persuading the England playmaker to join in search of instant success, both domestically and in Europe.

BirminghamLive has been informed by Manchester Evening News that City are prepared to go above £100 million for Grealish.

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CRYSTAL PALACE SIGN DEFENDER JOACHIM ANDERSON FROM LYON FOR AN UNDISCLOSED FEE

Crystal Palace have announced the signing of defender Joachim Andersen from Lyon for an undisclosed fee.

The Denmark international spent last season on loan with Fulham in the Premier League and will continue to ply his trade in England after he agreed a five-year deal at Selhurst Park.

Andersen is new boss Patrick Vieira’s fourth signing of the summer, following in the footsteps of Michael Olise, Remi Matthews and Marc Guehi.

He told the official club website: “I’m extremely proud to be joining Crystal Palace and to be playing in the world’s best football league.

“The management of the club and Patrick Vieira have given me very strong assurance that they know my qualities, they believe in me and want me to play an important role in the team.

“I have a very positive impression of Patrick from the conversations I have had with him and I have heard nothing but great things about the manager, the club and its plans for the future.”

With centre-backs Gary Cahill, Mamadou Sakho and Scott Dann released at the end of last season, the heart of defence was an area which needed to be bolstered and Andersen fits the bill for the style of play being implemented by Vieira.

Roy Hodgson’s successor is eager for Palace to pass out from the back, with possession-based football a key part of his tactics, and the ex-Fulham loanee gained admirers for his quality on the ball during the previous campaign.

Meanwhile, left-back Patrick Van Aanholt has completed a move to Galatasaray on a free transfer, signing a deal until the summer of 2024.

He wrote on Twitter: “Palace has been a proper home to me, you’ll forever be a part of my life. To the boys, good luck for the up and coming season. Big change, big opportunity, big rewards. Make it count.”

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BEN WHITE COMPLETES ARSENAL MOVE

Brighton & Hove Albion defender Ben White has completed his move to Arsenal for a fee of around £50 million, reports Fabrizio Romano. The defender joins hoping to become a key part of Mikel Arteta’s ongoing rebuild at the Emirates. He should tick the boxes for age, potential and ball-playing ability to slot straight into the side.

As for Brighton, they’ll consider the deal good business having received the £50 million fee. Without White, the Seagulls still have a solid bunch of defensive options including the more experienced Lewis Dunk, Joel Veltman and Adam Webster.

Arsenal fans will be satisfied with the move, but they’ll still have plenty of questions probably starting with, did they even need another centre-back? The Gunners already have David Luiz, Rob Holding, Gabriel and Pablo Mari. Sure Ben White offers added quality, but surely the budget should have gone on the frontline?

Last season saw Arsenal concede less goals than third place Liverpool yet finish the season five places and eight points away from them. The argue could be made that they didn’t need to target defenders, especially when looking at their offensive numbers.

Whilst conceding less goals than Liverpool, Arteta’s side scored less than Leeds United and Newcastle United. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struggled for the majority of the season, scoring just ten Premier League goals.

At the age of 32, the likelihood is that he only continues his decline in the forthcoming season, too, leaving Arsenal without a goalscoring. White will undoubtedly find success at the Emirates, but is he needed? No.

Instead, Arteta should have thrown sentiment out of the window and targeted a replacement for Aubameyang. Luckily for the Gunners, there is still time to welcome further players before the beginning of the season.

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DORTMUND SIGNS MALEN FROM PSV TO REPLACE SANCHO

Borussia Dortmund have completed the signing of Netherlands forward Donyell Malen from PSV Eindhoven on a five-year contract, it was announced on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old arrives following the departure of Jadon Sancho to Manchester United for €85 million.

“Borussia Dortmund is a top European club that is always at the top of the Bundesliga and also has high demands on itself in the Champions League,” Malen said.

“I can hardly wait to be on the pitch with my new teammates, to be able to measure myself against the best. And of course I’m looking forward to the fans and the stadium that all of Europe raves about.”

Malen, who played for Ajax and Arsenal at youth level, moved to PSV in 2017 and played for Jong PSV in the second tier. He won Player of the Year in his first season. He made four first-team appearances for the side which won the Eredivisie title in 2017-18.

The following campaign, he was promoted to the senior side and scored 10 league goals. In 2020-21, he finished the season with 27 in all competitions — his best-ever single season tally.

Malen has 13 Netherlands caps and was part of the Euro 2020 squad, starting two matches, including the surprise round of 16 defeat to Czech Republic.

“Donyell is a player with great offensive potential, who exudes goal danger, brings his creativity to the table and has a high speed,” BVB director Michael Zorc added.

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TOBY ALDERWEREILD LEAVES TOTTENHAM FOR QATARI GIANTS AL DUHAIL

Toby Alderweireld has left Tottenham after six seasons with the Premier League outfit to join Qatari giants Al Duhail.

The move was confirmed by all parties on Tuesday, with Alderweireld stating it had been “an honour” to play for the North London outfit.

The Belgium international has won 113 caps for his national team and was part of the side that finished third at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

In his six seasons with Spurs, Alderweireld made 243 appearances and was largely a mainstay in the heart of defence.

Now 32, Alderweireld has put pen to paper to a three-year deal with Al Duhail and will be a like-for-like replacement for Medhi Benatia, the former Bayern Munich and Juventus centre-back who spent the last two seasons in Qatar.

Al Duhail manager Sabri Lamouchi appears to be looking to rejuvenate his squad after a disappointing campaign, which saw them finish 13 points behind champions Al Sadd in the Qatar Stars League title race, while they also suffered an embarrassing group-stage exit in the AFC Champions League back in April.

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RAPHAEL VARANE SET FOR MAN UNITED MEDICALS AFTER REAL AGREE DEAL FOR FRENCH DEFENDER

Raphael Varane will reportedly undergo his medical tests in a couple of days, which will then make his move from Real Madrid to Manchester United a formality.

According to reputed Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Manchester United are moving closer and closer to secure the services of Raphael Varane in the summer transfer window. The Real Madrid defender is pencilled in for his medical with the Premier League heavyweights, which will be conducted in two days.

Raphael Varane is bringing a glittering decade-long stint with Real Madrid to a close, with the Frenchman winning every single trophy at club level with Los Blancos. During his stint, the 28-year-old has turned out 360 times for the Merengues while chipping in with 17 goals and seven assists.

However, it had been speculated for a long time that Varane was keen on embarking on a new challenge this summer while he was still at the peak of his powers. To that end, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have been heavily linked with the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner, with the Red Devils prevailing in the race to sign him.

At Manchester United, the need of the hour has been to sign a reliable long-term partner for captain Harry Maguire following the blow hot blow cold displays of Victor Lindelof. With the Swede also struggling with a niggling back issue last term, in addition to the fitness issues that have plagued Eric Bailly, it became imperative that the English giants signed a centre-back.

To that end, Manchester United were heavily linked with a gamut of central defenders early in the summer before they zeroed in on Varane after sensing there was a real opportunity to sign him. And in the week gone by, Manchester United have come within whiskers of securing the services of the Real Madrid defender.

The much sought-after “Here We Go” was delivered by Fabrizio Romano on Monday and Gianluca Di Marzio has further revealed that Varane’s medical with Manchester United is set to be conducted in two days. Further, it has been revealed that a €50 million fee has been agreed between the Red Devils and Real Madrid.

In some additional information from the reliable David Ornstein, the Premier League heavyweights have agreed a four-year deal with Varane. The deal is nothing short of a coup for Manchester United, who are signing a world class defender while he is still at his peak. What now remains to be seen is if Varane can continue to garner success at club level after leaving Real Madrid for Manchester United.

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JOHN TERRY LEAVES ROLE AS ASTON VILLA ASSISTANT MANAGER

John Terry has left his role as Aston Villa’s assistant boss, the club have announced.

The 40-year-old former England and Chelsea skipper signed for Villa in the summer of 2017, taking on the captaincy and going on to play 32 times for the midlands outfit in the season that followed.

He then returned as assistant head coach when Dean Smith took charge at Villa Park in October 2018.

Terry told Villa’s official website: “It has been a tremendous honour and privilege to have spent these last three years at Aston Villa, but I feel now is the right time to make the extremely difficult decision to move on.

“I want to be as respectful to the manager and everyone at Aston Villa as I can and, having given my future serious consideration over the summer, I genuinely don’t feel it is fair to move into a new season without being certain of seeing that through.

“My immediate plan is to spend some quality time with my family and, thereafter, hopefully take up some invitations to visit clubs and managers around Europe to develop my aim and objective of becoming a manager.

“It has always been my ambition to move into football management and, providing the right opportunity presents itself, I feel ready to take up such a challenge.”

Terry said he “will forever be indebted to the gaffer (Smith) for giving me the opportunity to start my coaching career at such a wonderful club”, adding: “I have loved every minute of it and learnt so much.

“I can’t thank Dean enough for the support and guidance he has provided me with and I’m sure he will continue to lead the club from strength to strength.”

During the former centre-back’s time coaching at Villa, the club secured promotion to the Premier League in 2019, followed by top-flight finishes of 17th and then 11th last term.

Smith said: “I’m disappointed to lose John as part of my coaching staff but fully understand and respect his decision.

“John has played a huge role in the success the club has enjoyed over the last few years and has been very supportive of myself throughout that period.

“I have no doubts he will go on to be a first-class manager in his own right and wish him well for the future.”

Terry, holder of 78 England caps, had the final games of his playing career with Villa after making 717 appearances for Chelsea and winning 15 major trophies with the club.

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JACK GREALISH REPORTEDLY AGREES PERSONAL TERMS WITH MANCHESTER CITY

Aston Villa attacker Jack Grealish has reportedly agreed personal terms with Manchester City ahead of a potential move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

The England international is believed to be a leading transfer target for Pep Guardiola’s side, who are also being linked with a move for Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane.

According to report, Grealish has been offered a lucrative contract by the Premier League champions, and the attacker has now reached an agreement over personal terms.

The report claims that the 25-year-old is not prepared to force a move away from Villa, but Man City are hopeful of agreeing a transfer fee in the region of £90m.

Dean Smith’s side could yet hand Grealish a new and improved deal at Villa Park, though, despite the fact that he only penned an extension with his current side last September.

The attacker, who is still on holiday following his involvement in this summer’s European Championship, scored seven times and registered 12 assists in 27 appearances for Villa during the 2020-21 campaign.

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LEEDS UNITED COMPLETE LEWIS BATE SIGNING FROM CHELSEA

Leeds United are pleased to announce the signing of Lewis Bate.

The midfielder joins the Whites from fellow Premier League side Chelsea for an undisclosed fee.

Bate, who attracted interest from a number of clubs, has penned a three-year-deal at Elland Road, running until the summer of 2024.

The 18-year-old has been part of the Chelsea youth setup for the last 10 years and captained the Blues in the 2020 FA Youth Cup final.

Last season he made the step up to Under-23s football, making 20 appearances as Chelsea finished runners-up in Premier League 2 Division 1.

He has also won caps at youth level for England at both Under-17 and Under-18 level.

Bate becomes Leeds’ fifth signing of the summer transfer window, following the arrivals of Junior Firpo, Jack Harrison, Sean McGurk and Amari Miller.

He will initially link up with Mark Jackson’s Under-23s for the forthcoming season.