The summer transfer window is here, and there's plenty of gossip swirling about who's moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings and goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Chelsea, PSG eye Skriniar
Chelsea are set to rival Paris Saint-Germain as they aim to sign Internazionale centre-back Milan Skriniar, as has been reported by Sky Italia.
Relations between the Blues and Nerazzurri are said to be positive after dealings regarding €115 million striker Romelu Lukaku -- who is set to re-join Inter on loan this summer.
PSG have offered €60m for Slovakia international Skriniar so far, but that sum is deemed too low by Inter.
Chelsea are aiming to bring in defensive reinforcements having already lost Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen to Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively. But with interest in Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, it seems they are continuing to look towards Serie A to strengthen their backline.
This comes after Inter's negotiations with PSG had begun to come to a standstill due to the difference in their valuations of the 27-year-old, while the Ligue 1 champions had also wanted to include a player in the deal. The fact that there is interest from elsewhere is an advantage for Inter, as it could lead to PSG raising their own offer.
Inter are open to letting Skriniar leave as they feel doing so is the best way to secure their financial stability, which will be encouraging for both Chelsea and PSG.
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21.30 BST: A pact between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid that had lasted more than 15 years and ensured neither side would sign players from the other's academy has ended, and Marca reports that right-back Jesus Fortea could join Los Blancos in the first move since. There could be a total of three or four moves between the academies, with Madrid also looking at midfielder Nacho Alameda, though Atleti are confident they will be able to keep hold of him. Real Madrid feel Atleti will be unable to attract any of their young talents.
20.57 BST: Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda will decide between staying put or joining Nice this summer, reports Le10 Sport, which states that the 37-year-old will not be heading to Stade Rennais. The dilemma comes after a season in which he made 20 appearances across all competitions, with only nine of those coming in Ligue 1.
20.24 BST: Having already announced the signings of Andrea Ranocchia and Alessio Cragno, Monza are aiming to bring in Internazionale midfielder Stefano Sensi on loan as well as permanently signing Andrea Petagna or Napoli and Atalanta midfielder Matteo Pessina, reports Calciomercato. Negotiations for the latter pair are expected to be difficult, but the newly promoted side will do all they can to bring them in with competition from Torino for Pessina.
19.51 BST: Torino are leading the way to sign Lorient attacker Armand Lauriente, reports L'Equipe, which adds that Sassuolo have made enquiries and Napoli also did so to a lesser extent. The best offer so far has included a transfer fee of €5m plus potential add-ons, while Lorient want €8m to sanction the departure of the 23-year-old.
19.18 BST: Brentford are leading the race to sign Hull City winger Keane Lewis-Potter, reports the Sun, which adds that the Bees have offered a transfer fee of £16m. Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers have also been linked, while West Ham United considered a move for the 21-year-old England youth international but took it no further.
18.45 BST: Foot Mercato reports that newly promoted Auxerre are working to complete a deal for midfielder Kays Ruiz-Atil, who had his contract terminated by Barcelona. It is stated that the 19-year-old will sign for three years having also received interest from clubs in Italy, Belgium and Switzerland.
18.12 BST: Inter Milan will try to sign Fiorentina centre-back Nikola Milenkovic if Milan Skriniar leaves, reports Calciomercato. The Serie A giants are already bringing in Torino's Bremer to fill the defensive spot vacated by Andrea Ranocchia. If Milenkovic does move with a year left on his contract, Fiorentina will aim to replace him with Empoli's Mattia Viti.
17.39 BST: Atlanta United have extended the loan of Ronaldo Cisneros from Chivas Guadalajara until the end of the 2022 season. The Five Stripes also have an option to make the move permanent at the end of the loan, with the forward having made 10 MLS appearances so far, scoring four goals.
17.06 BST: Manchester United are trying to pip Lyon to the signing of Netherlands left-back Tyrell Malacia, sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson. Lyon have agreed a €15m fee with Feyenoord for Malacia, but sources have told ESPN that United have now also had a similar offer accepted. Read the full story.
16.33 BST: AS Monaco have signed Japan international Takumi Minamino from Liverpool, the Ligue 1 club announced on Tuesday. The 27-year-old forward put pen to paper on a four-year contract in France after spending two years with the Premier League club. Read the full story.
AS Monaco is pleased to announce the arrival of @takumina0116. 🇯🇵
— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) June 28, 2022
The 27-year-old Japanese international attacking midfielder has signed a four-year contract, until June 2026.
👉 https://t.co/33LnYf8pBY
#WelcomeTakumi ✍️ pic.twitter.com/bxopeWCpSs
15.56 BST: If you can't beat them, sign them.
The Daily Mail reckons that Chelsea's transfer strategy appears to focus on landing players from Premier League champions Man City.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, Raheem Sterling and Nathan Ake are all on the Blues' shortlist and Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has already made contact with City bosses to enquire about their valuation of Sterling, with sources telling ESPN an agreement could be wrapped up relatively quickly if they make a £55m offer.
Ukraine international full-back Zinchenko has also attracted interest from Everton and West Ham, while Newcastle have been tracking Ake.
15.14 BST: Fabrizio Romano reports that Manchester United are making a move to sign Feyenoord left-back Tyrell Malacia.
Malacia, 22, had seemingly verbally agreed a deal with Lyon but the Netherlands international has the same agents as Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong so negotiations with United have advanced at a reported €15m.
15.00 BST: Lorenzo Insigne may be viewed as one of Major League Soccer's most significant signings but the Italy international shrugged off the notion that he was under any pressure when Toronto FC introduced their prize recruit on Monday.
MLS has seen a flurry of big-name signings in recent months, including Wales international Gareth Bale, who joined LAFC on Monday after his departure from LaLiga champions Real Madrid.
But it is Toronto FC's ability to secure a talent like Insigne, 31, in his prime that is being recognised as a watershed moment for MLS as it tries to shrug off a reputation as a well-paid final stop for international players in the downside of their careers.
"I played for 10 years for Napoli and the Italian national team. I won the Euro Cup (European Championship), so I don't have any problem being under pressure," Insigne told reporters through an interpreter. "I would rather have my actions speak for me on the pitch.
"I made the decision not for the money but to find a new life for family and my kids."
14.38 BST: Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic is not on the radar of former club Borussia Dortmund, says Sport1.
Pulisic, 23, had eight goals and five assists in his 38 games last season, but has fallen down the pecking order since he moved to the club for €64m in 2019.
The USMNT star has been linked with a move away, with Juventus keen, as his contract expires in 2024, but the finances (transfer fee, salary, etc) are too high for Dortmund to get involved.
13.51 BST: Tottenham have offered £20m plus winger Steven Bergwijn to Everton for forward Richarlison, says The Daily Telegraph.
Richarlison, 25, has attracted plenty of interest from top clubs including Chelsea and Real Madrid.
Tottenham are keen to bring in the Brazil international and have been prepared to offer Harry Winks or Lucas Moura, neither of which Everton wanted to take as part of the deal.
Bergwijn, 24, has only been at Spurs since 2020 but is ready to move on, with Ajax rumoured to be keen.
13.30 BST: Gareth Bale is the latest big name to land in MLS with LAFC.
Mark Ogden lauds Manchester City's deal to sign midfielder Kalvin Phillips from Leeds.
12.43 BST: There's uncertainty over the future of Toni Kroos at Real Madrid this summer, according to the frontpage of Diario AS on Tuesday, with questions as to whether the Germany midfielder plans to continue at the club beyond 2023, move on, or retire.
Kroos' contract expires in June next year and the 32-year-old has shown no interest yet in negotiating an extension.
Reports have suggested that the five-time Champions League winner would like to see how he performs and how often he plays next season -- having come under pressure from Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde for his spot in the team last campaign -- before taking a decision on his next steps.
12.17 BST: Manchester United have made a breakthrough in their bid to sign Frenkie de Jong with an initial fee now agreed with Barcelona, sources have told ESPN.
United are set to pay €65m up front for the midfielder, who is Erik ten Hag's top summer target.
Performance-based add-ons which could take the cost above €80m are still to be agreed and sources close to negotiations have told ESPN that the deal is not yet done and that there are still "significant" hurdles to overcome.
However, there is now increasing confidence at both Old Trafford and Camp Nou that an agreement can be wrapped up to make De Jong the first signing of Ten Hag's reign at United.
12.03 BST: Arsenal have submitted an improved €40m offer for Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez, sources have told ESPN.
The north London club had a €30m bid rejected earlier this month, sources said, and have now made an improved offer although they remain short of Ajax's valuation, which is believed to be closer to €50m.
Manchester United are also tracking Martinez, but are yet to make a formal bid.
11.42 BST: Fenerbahce have increased their contract offer for misfit Real Madrid forward Mariano Diaz, Diario AS reports, as they try to convince him to give up his high wages at the Bernabeu that has frustrated previous attempts to move him on.
Mariano, 28, signed a five-year deal when he rejoined Madrid from Lyon in 2018 and has refused to leave in previous summers despite knowing that he would barely feature in the team -- scoring just one league goal in each of the last three seasons.
According to AS, Fenerbahce have now offered Mariano a two-year contract, with the option of a third, that would see him receive €5m a year including incentives and bonuses after he turned down an initial proposal worth €4m a year.
11.07 BST: Manchester City have decided they will not stand in the way of Raheem Sterling's proposed move to Chelsea, sources have told ESPN.
City expect to receive a fee of between £50m-£60m for the England winger, who has a year left on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, and if a suitable offer is made he will be allowed to move to Stamford Bridge.
Sterling has made it clear he would be interested in a new challenge after seven years at City and has been impressed with Chelsea's plans to make him a key player under manager Thomas Tuchel.
Sterling has delayed talks over signing a new contract at City because of fears he could be sidelined in Pep Guardiola's vision for the future and the 27-year-old believes he is more likely to get regular first-team football under Tuchel.
Sources have told ESPN that City would rather Sterling moved abroad amid tentative interest from Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain but they will respect his wishes if he has his heart set on Chelsea.
10.37 BST: Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has said the club need to make €40m in player exits before they can bring in additional players this summer.
The only arrival that Atletico have lined up so far is Axel Witsel on a free transfer after his contract expired at Borussia Dortmund. ESPN reported last week that the deal was close to completion, with the club also in the market for a first-choice right-back to replace Kieran Trippier, who joined Newcastle in January.
"We have to make sales of €40m, and we're on it," Cerezo said at an event at the Wanda Metropolitano on Monday. "The market isn't easy, it's very difficult. We already have the midfielder, Witsel, which as you all know is practically done, and we're looking for a right-back."
Cerezo refused to confirm whether two high-profile returning loanees, Alvaro Morata and Saul Niguez, have a future at Atletico.
"Morata and Saul have fulfilled their contracts with other clubs [Juventus and Chelsea]," he said. "They've come back and we're delighted to have them."
10.19 BST: Real Madrid are tracking Argentine attacking midfielder Gonzalo Sosa, according to Diario AS, with Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain all interested.
Sosa, 17, plays for Racing Club's academy and is rated as one of Argentina's top teenage talents.
AS reports that Madrid would like to bring in Sosa to feature for reserve side Castilla -- coached by club legend Raul Gonzalez -- before promoting him to the first team, while Barca have already sent representatives to speak to the player's agent.
09.52 BST: Former Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman says Frenkie de Jong wants to stay with the LaLiga side despite ongoing negotiations to transfer him to Manchester United.
New United coach Erik ten Hag has made midfielder De Jong, who he previously worked with at Ajax, his top target following the departures of Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic this summer.
Sources have told ESPN Barca are open to letting the Netherlands international leave, initially asking for a total package, including add-ons, of up to €100m.
"The only thing I know from Frenkie is that he wants to stay at Barca," Koeman told TV3 on Monday. "In fact, a couple of days ago he said that: 'I want to stay at Barca.' But I don't know if Barca want to sell Frenkie de Jong or if they just need the money -- because I think he is one of the few players they have that has such a high price."
Koeman coached De Jong when he was in charge of Netherlands and then gave him a prominent role when he took over at Barca in the summer of 2020. However, following the dismissal of Koeman last November and the appointment of Xavi Hernandez, coupled with the emergence of Pedri, Gavi and Nico Gonzalez, there has been occasional criticism of De Jong's form.
"It could be he has not completely adapted because of the position issue, he was playing further back," Koeman added. "But he had a moment, in January and February, when he produced some great performances. He is a great player, but the situation at Barcelona is complicated."
Behind Barca's willingness to listen to offers for De Jong, who joined from Ajax for €75m in 2019, is their delicate financial situation. Sources have confirmed to ESPN they expect to sell 10% of their income from LaLiga television rights for the next 25 years for over €200m this week, but they still need to bring in more money to execute the plans they have in the transfer market.
09.16 BST: Inter Milan expect to bring Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku "back home" in the coming days, says Nerazzurri CEO Giuseppe Marotta.
The striker, who is reportedly the highest-paid player at Chelsea, has reportedly accepted a pay cut to return to Inter on loan for the 2022-23 campaign after a disappointing campaign in Stamford Bridge. Chelsea re-signed Lukaku for a a club-record €115m from Inter last summer but he only managed 15 goals in 44 appearances for the Blues.
Asked about Lukaku, Marotta told Sky Italia: "A football manager must not be afraid of having a very high bar, he must have the courage to try all the ways to try to get the most out of it. Among these there are important goals and maybe we have hit one, it will be a matter of hours or at most days, but we cannot yet formalise it. It is a goal that flatters us a lot because it is a return and he did very well with us, so we would be very happy to be able to bring him back home."
Lukaku, 29, is under contract with Chelsea until June 2026. He initially moved to Stamford Bridge as a 17-year-old from Belgian side Anderlecht in 2011. The former Everton and Manchester United player scored 24 goals in the 2020-21 campaign to help Inter win their first Scudetto in 11 years.
08.54 BST: LAFC midfielder Ilie Sanchez is not surprised that Gareth Bale has chosen the MLS club to continue his playing career.
The Wales international, 32, has joined LAFC on a 12-month contract, with options through to 2024, after his his contract with LaLiga champions Real Madrid ended.
"I'm not surprised [by his arrival] because I've been six years in this league, and I see that every year our level keeps going up," Sanchez said. "Things are being done very well. I imagine he had other options, but we are all delighted that he has chosen us.
"There were rumours going around internally, it was a very difficult operation. Our management did everything well so that the league and the player accepted the terms that were offered. We will do everything we can so that Bale adapts as quickly as possible to the team."
LAFC had earlier this month signed former Juventus and Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini and renewed the contract of captain Carlos Vela.
"We have brought two world level reinforcements in Chiellini and Bale while we have renewed Carlos Vela," said Sanchez, who has scored 63 goals in 101 games in MLS. "Carlos Vela is our leader, he has been our leader from the beginning and will continue to be. His renewal and the arrival of Bale and Chiellini is a guarantee for us to remain at the top."
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08.31 BST: Tomi Juric will reunite with former mentor Tony Popovic at Melbourne Victory, with the fringe Socceroo signing a one-season deal with the A-League Men club.
Juric, who joins from Macarthur FC, enjoyed a successful stint playing under Popovic at the Western Sydney Wanderers, including winning the Asian Champions League in 2014, before moving to Europe.
He has been capped 41 times for the Socceroos, including winning the 2015 Asian Cup and featuring at the 2018 World Cup.
08.00 BST: Former Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho has signed for Brazil Serie A side Athletico Paranaense as the 37-year-old makes a return to the club where he began his senior career.
"Welcome back, Fernandinho," Athletico wrote on Twitter on Monday after the player signed a two-year deal, according to local media, to return to the club after 17 years.
Fernandinho, who helped City capture four Premier League titles -- including the 2021-22 crown -- and six League Cups since joining them from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013, said in April that he did not plan to remain beyond the season.
City confirmed the former Brazil international's departure in May as he was preparing for his last game for them when they took on Aston Villa in their final league match of the season.
Steve Nicol explains why Gareth Bale's move to LAFC makes sense for the forward.
PAPER GOSSIP
- Manchester City are expecting an opening offer from Chelsea for Raheem Sterling, as reported by Sky Sports, who add that the Premier League champions could let the winger leave if an acceptable offer of around £50m comes in. Sterling heads up Thomas Tuchel's shortlist of attacking options, with the Blues manager desperate to add an extra attacking edge to his side.
- Manchester United fear that their desperation to make summer signings is leading to clubs holding out for as much money as possible, with Ajax Amsterdam asking for £70m for Antony, according to The Daily Star. The report also mentions that defender Jurrien Timber will be staying with Ajax, while Brentford midfielder Christian Eriksen is making up his mind about his future. However, the Red Devils are growing more confident that they can sign Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
- Calciomercato have linked AC Milan with a possible move for Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech, stating that this could play a part in Alexis Saelemaekers leaving the Scudetto winners. Milan value Saelemaekers at around €20m, and he could be set to depart if a new right winger joins and a good offer comes in. That said, none have arrived so far.
- Sven Botman has completed his medical ahead of a £35m move from Lille to Newcastle United, reports Sky Sports. The Netherlands international centre-back was Eddie Howe's main defensive target for the summer window, and they are close to bringing him in despite having faced competition from AC Milan.
- Fulham are closing in on a deal for Sporting CP midfielder Joao Palhinha, as reported by Fabrizio Romano, who adds that there is a full agreement between the two clubs for €18m plus add-ons. The final details still need to be sorted on the player's side and work is in progress to complete the move as quickly as possible to avoid any issues. Wolverhampton Wanderers had also been linked with the Portugal international earlier in the window.