Spotlight on transfer targets as deadline looms
PREMIER League clubs will need to start going all-out to secure their transfer targets given that the window is set to be shut on August 8.
They will, however, still be permitted to sell or loan out players beyond that date, should the transfer window still be applicable to the team that they are selling to but they will not be allowed to bring in any new recruits.
For teams from the La Liga, Bundesliga and the Serie A, the transfer window is due to end on September 2. Expect a flurry of activity from all of the major clubs, especially on deadline day.
The following is a summary of some of the trending transfer talk from Europe:
Premier League newcomers Aston Villa have been one of the surprise packages of the transfer window and they have been impressive. Dean Smith’s side have managed to rope in Matt Targett, Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Bjorn Engels and the highly-rated duo of Douglas Luiz and Egyptian star Trezeguet.
The Villains are still aiming to sign a new goalkeeper with prior Premier League experience and have been linked with Cardiff City’s Neil Etheridge and Jack Butland of Stoke City.
Arsenal bolstered their side with the addition of Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos on a season-long loan deal and also signed William Saliba for £27 million (R469m). The France U-21 international will, however, remain with Saint-Etienne on loan for the season ahead.
Sky Sports claim that Arsenal have reached a £72 million agreement with Lille to sign Nicolas Pepe and still remain confident of signing Scottish defender Kieran Tierney.
This essentially means that Everton will now be the favourites to sign Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha who has been linked with a move to the Emirates.
Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye was set to join PSG at the time of writing (Sky Sports). Marco Silva’s side are also weighing up a potential move for Chelsea defensive midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko who is not part of Frank Lampard’s plans for the upcoming season (Sky Sports).
Manchester United are set to turn their attention to signing Douglas Costa in a deal which could see Romelu Lukaku joining the Old Lady of Italian football (TalkSport). United have reportedly been rebuffed by Paulo Dybala, and Lukaku has also been linked with a move to Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan.
Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce has reiterated that United-linked Sean Longstaff will not be sold this transfer window. The Sun also claim that Manchester United have reached a verbal agreement with Lazio over a transfer of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. This move could ultimately depend on whether Paul Pogba leaves Old Trafford. United have loaned out highly-rated goalkeeper Dean Henderson to Sheffield United for the upcoming season. The 22-year-old played a starring role to help the Blades win promotion to the Premier League last season and he has been touted as a possible future United firstchoice goalkeeper.
The troubled Newcastle recently completed the signing of Brazilian Joelinton in a club record £40 million deal from Hoffenheim. The 22-year-old is expected to play a pivotal role for the Magpies next season following the departures of Ayoze Perez and Salomon Rondon.
Controversial Newcastle owner Mike Ashley accused former Magpies boss Rafael Benitez, of being money-driven and taking the “soft option” by moving to China (The Independent).
Benitez, who drew praise for the work that he did at Newcastle during the past three seasons, opted to leave the club after his contract expired.
He has since joined Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang and also managed to recruit Rondon who played under him last season for the Asian side.
Gareth Bale could be set to remain with Real Madrid for the upcoming season after Los Blancos blocked a transfer of the Wales international to Chinese side Jiangsu Suning which would have seen him earn more than £1 million per week.
Real president Florentino Perez is believed to have requested extra payment to part ways with the Wales international (The Guardian).
Burnley goalkeeper Joe Hart has emerged as a shock candidate to replace Spanish legend Iker Casillas at Porto (The Sun). The future of Casillas is currently uncertain after he suffered a heart attack in May.
Fulham manager Scott Parker has said that he believes Tottenham target Ryan Sessegnon will not be leaving (Daily Star)
Sessegnon is one of the most highly-rated young Englishmen with his major strength being his ability to operate as a left-back as well as a winger. He has been tipped as a potential long-term replacement for Danny Rose at Spurs.