Sigurdsson’s Everton deal ‘close’
– Everton are “close” to signing attacking midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson from Swansea City as they look to add three new players to the squad, manager Ronald Koeman has said.
According to British media, Everton’s initial bid of £40 million for Sigurdsson was rejected by Swansea, who value the Iceland international at £50 million.
“We are close (on Sigurdsson), we have to wait... the deal is not done,” Koeman told Sky Sports after
Liverpool
Everton’s 2-2 draw with Sevilla on Sunday.
“Everybody knows we are looking for three more players – a left centreback, a leftback, a player who can play in both positions, a winger and a striker.”
Winger Aaron Lennon was not included in the squad in their last friendly against the Spanish side. He has been linked with Watford but Koeman said the club have received no offers for the 30-year-old.
“The reason that he
London
Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho can collect the one European trophy he lacks when his side face Real Madrid in the Uefa Super Cup tonight in his first competitive meeting with the Spanish giants since he left in 2013.
Mourinho, whose team won the Europa League last season to salvage an otherwise disappointing first campaign, led Real to the Liga title with a record 100 points and won a King’s Cup in an eventful stay between 2010 and 2013.
Mourinho’s legacy has been upstaged by the Spanish club’s three Champions League triumphs in the four years since his departure, although in a recent interview claimed he had “to beg” Real’s board to let him leave for Chelsea. wasn’t in the squad is that he was not fit to play. I don’t know about any interest for Aaron, I don’t know,” the Dutchman added.
Everton have been one of the most active clubs in the transfer window, having added Michael Keane, Davy Klaassen, Jordan Pickford, Sandro Ramirez Wayne Rooney and Cuco Martina to their squad.
They host Stoke City at Goodison Park in their opening game of the season on Saturday. – Reuters
Champions League holders Real will be without talisman and former United forward Cristiano Ronaldo in Skopje, Macedonia, as the Portuguese international was allowed to report late for pre-season training after he played in the Confederations Cup.
Zinedine Zidane’s side beat Sevilla 3-2 in extra-time last year to win the showcase match and the French coach is targeting a fourth European trophy in less than two years in charge of Real.
United, meanwhile, will be missing banned central defenders Eric Bailly and Phil Jones, opening up a place in the starting lineup for new recruit Victor Lindelof.
The Swede is one of three signings made so far by United along with Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku and midfield anchorman Nemanja Matic arriving at a combined cost of £146 million as the Old Trafford side look to improve on a disappointing sixth-placed Premier League finish last term.
Real have added promising youngsters Theo Hernandez and Dani Ceballos to their talent-packed squad which won a Liga and Champions League double last season while selling Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez.
Their reported interest in French teenager Kylian Mbappe has yet to materialise, however.
United beat Real on penalties after a 1-1 draw in a friendly in California last month and won five of their other pre-season games, losing only to Barcelona.
Real, meanwhile, failed to win any of their four friendlies in the US in 90 minutes, losing 3-2 to Barca and getting thrashed 4-1 by Manchester City, their only win coming in a shoot-out victory over an MLS All-Stars team. – Reuters