The Premier League transfer window has closed, but the rest of Europe remains open for business. Plus, it’s never too late to look forward to January! Click here to view the latest transfers and keep up to date with the latest gossip below.
TOP STORY: Dortmund to reload if Sancho heads home
Jadon Sancho will leave Borussia Dortmund next summer — and the German club are already hunting for his replacement.
That’s according to the Daily Mail, which this evening claims that the news is set to induce a scramble for his signature, with Manchester United and Manchester City likely to be leading the charge.
Sportsmail claim that Dortmund’s top brass have already started scouring Europe for Sancho’s replacement after accepting that the former City star’s future belongs away from the Bundesliga.
Mind you, he won’t come cheap. Any club wanting to sign him will probably have to part with the best part of £100 million.
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09.45 BST: Zidane is not the only La Liga manager to have been talking about Neymar… Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has discussed the “problems” that have arisen from his club attempting to make a player-swap deal for the PSG winger.
Speaking before Friday’s 1-0 loss to Athletic Bilbao in Barca’s La Liga opener, Valverde said: “Naturally, it’s awkward.
“Normally, you know which players you can call upon when a competition starts — at least, that’s how I think it should be.
“I’m focusing on my team and the players that I have. I’m staying away from all of the problems with Neymar. We’ll see what happens.”
09.30 BST: Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has played down expectations that the club could still sign Paul Pogba or Neymar this summer, saying he is “happy” with the players at his disposal ahead of Saturday’s La Liga opener at Celta Vigo.
With Madrid having spent over €300 million on new signings, the Bernabeu hierarchy were unable to meet Zidane’s request to bring Pogba from Manchester United, while a late move for Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has stalled.
“Paul is a Manchester [United] player and we must respect that,” Zidane said. “Neymar is not a Real Madrid player.
“The important thing is the players who are here. I will settle with what I have. I have spoken with the person who has to do things. I have the best players here, no doubt — I always say that. I am happy with them.”
09.15 BST: Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho is set to join Bayern Munich on a one-year loan, Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has confirmed.
“I can confirm [Bayern sporting director] Hasan Salihamidzic and I were in Barcelona last Wednesday. And we reached an agreement with both the club and the player over a transfer,” Rummenigge told reporters after his club’s 2-2 Bundesliga draw with Hertha Berlin on Friday.
“The player is expected here in Munich in the next days, Sunday or Monday at the latest. He’ll do his medical and then sign his contract.
Rummenigge added that the defending Bundesliga champions will have an option to buy Coutinho after the loan period ends.
Sources told ESPN FC that Bayern will pay Coutinho’s salary in full.
PAPER TALK: Hodgson admits that Zaha could still exit the Palace
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has admitted that wantaway star Wilfried Zaha could still be off this summer, despite the domestic transfer window slamming shut last week.
The Eagles played hard-ball with Arsenal and Everton, who both wanted to tempt Zaha away from Palace. Not that the fans at Selhurst bore a grudge, giving Zaha a standing ovation after he came on as a substitute on the opening day of the season, ironically in a match against Everton.
Now The Sun reports that both Napoli and Borussia Dortmund have been linked with a swoop for Zaha before the transfer window closes in Europe on September 2. The player as keen as ever to play in the Champions League — a dream he’s unlikely to achieve with Palace.
Dembele could form part of Neymar deal
This time two years ago Ousmane Dembele signed for Barcelona in a jaw-dropping deal from Borussia Dortmund. Now he could leave mouths wide open again, only this time he’s leaving the club and heading to Paris Saint-Germain.
At least that’s what the French club would like to happen in the next few weeks, according to Spanish newspaper Sport. The outlet claim that PSG still want someone like Ivan Rakitic as a makeweight in any deal to take Neymar back to Barcelona. The economics of that deal don’t tally up at the moment, which could thrust Dembele into the limelight, whether he likes it or not.
Sport claim that Barcelona aren’t overly keen on that idea at the moment but money talks and if they’re desperate to bring Neymar home then they know they might have to make some uncomfortable decisions. And as the clock ticks down on the European transfer window anything can happen. And most probably will.
Tap-ins
– More transfer speculation is swirling around the Nou Camp this evening, with Calciomercato citing a story in Spanish newspaper Sport that the club would be willing to let Arturo Vidal leave in exchange for their palms being laced with €20m. The Chilean star has been linked with a move to both PSG and Inter Milan in recent months, with Antonio Conte, the coach of the latter, apparently keen on being reunited with Vidal, who had signed a three-year deal with Barca last summer. The 32-year-old made 22 starts in La Liga last season.
- La Gazzetta dello Sport have reported that AC Milan have made a final offer for Atletico Madrid star Angel Correa. And they’re not going higher than €38m. Mind you, that’s miles off the Spanish side’s valuation of €55m. So if they stick to their guns, the chances are that Correa won’t be going anywhere. That said, Gazzetta claim that the Spanish side would still be prepared to do a deal if the club insert a sell-on clause offering Atletico 30 percent of any transfer fee if the Rossoneri cash in on him in the future.