The transfer window for Europe’s biggest clubs is closed, but click here for all the deals, and keep track of who has joined the big boys. Transfer Talk will continue to scour the world’s media and set correspondents loose to see what’s on the agenda for the summer.
Mauro heading to Madrid for a Real cheap deal
Real Madrid look set to take full advantage of Mauro Icardi’s Inter nightmare by securing a cut-price deal for the Argentina international, according to reports from AS.
Icardi has been embroiled in a dispute with Inter since the player’s wife and agent Wanda Nara criticized the club back in February, during protracted contract negotiations. This resulted in the No. 9 being stripped of the Inter captaincy, and relations between the two parties have been icy ever since.
The former Sampdoria striker has a release clause in his contract of around €110 million, but the Bernabeu hierarchy reckon the continuing saga at the San Siro could well help drive his price down to a much more prudent €80m.
Icardi is seen as a cheaper option to Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, with reports claiming Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is seeking an eye-watering €350m for his marquee man.
Sorry Sarri facing Chelsea axe
Chelsea could sack Maurizio Sarri during the international break, with Stamford Bridge chairman Roman Abramovich seeing the two-week break as the ideal time to let the Italian go, whilst also bringing in a replacement, according to the Sunday Express.
Former Napoli boss Sarri has been under pressure for much of the season following a disappointing first season in charge in west London, and his side’s poor display in their 2-0 defeat at Everton on Sunday could well be the final straw for the Chelsea hierarchy.
It was hoped that the January arrival of striker Gonzalo Higuain would revive a flagging forward line that was becoming over-reliant on Eden Hazard, but the Argentinian hasn’t lived up to expectations in front of goal.
Sarri has admitted to struggling to motivate his players during his tenure, and with the club set for a long transfer ban, they are in no position to sell players that don’t suit his Sarri-ball philosophy.
Spurs supremo confident of summer spend despite stadium switch
Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy says that the increased cost of his club’s new stadium will not impact their presence in the upcoming summer transfer market, despite not signing a player for the last two windows.
At a meeting with the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust, Levy said: “With a debt of £637m, subject to reasonable assumption on interest rates, the net spend on players would not be affected.”
The 51-year-old went on to confirm that qualifying for the Champions League would give Spurs more flexibility in the transfer market, and Sky Sports claim he denied that naming rights for the stadium had already been agreed.
It had been rumoured that Nike were close to securing a deal.
Tap-ins
– Calciomercato claims a relative of Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has confirmed that the Frenchman will move to Real Madrid one day. Speaking to French reporters, they said: “When he was close to Real, Kylian commented: ‘If I arrive in Madrid at 18, what will I do when I am 23?’ One day you [will] see him at Real Madrid soon.”
– Real Madrid left-back Marcelo’s move to Juventus is in doubt, according to Calciomercato, with Zinedine Zidane set to restore many of his old favourites back into his line-up. The Brazilian had previously been out of favour under previous boss Santiago Solari, fuelling speculation of a move to Turin, but the return of Zizou could scupper any potential transfer.
- Antoine Griezmann has offered himself to a number of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Barcelona, but the Catalan club are not contemplating a move for the Atletico Madrid forward, sources have told ESPN.