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, goings and, of course, done deals!
LIVE TOP STORY: Gomez in Man City's sights
Manchester City are close to signing Anderlecht left-back Sergio Gomez, reveals Fabrizio Romano.
City boss Pep Guardiola initially planned to loan the 21-year-old defender to LaLiga side Girona, who are part of the City Football Group, but he is considering keeping Gomez as part of the first-team squad at the Etihad Stadium.
The transfer fee is believed to be in excess of €10 million, with the discussions now at an advanced stage before he heads to Manchester for a medical. Gomez was a standout performer in the Belgian First Division last season, contributing to 17 goals in 39 appearances.
Man City have been on the lookout for a new left-sided defender after they parted ways with Oleksandr Zinchenko, who joined Arsenal for £32m in July. The Blues wanted Marc Cucurella, but they failed to meet Brighton & Hove Albion's asking price for the defender, who ended up joining Chelsea in a £63m move.
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21.53 BST: Roma are looking to bring in a centre-back and are considering free agent Dan-Axel Zagadou, Tottenham Hotspur's Japhet Tanganga as well as Manchester United duo Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof, reports La Gazzette dello Sport.
It is also stated that Borussia Dortmund's Manuel Akanji and Barcelona's Samuel Umtiti could come into their thinking.
21.16 BST: Brentford have signed Denmark midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard on a five-year contract from Serie A side Sampdoria, both clubs said on Wednesday without disclosing the fee.
The 22-year-old joined the Genoa-based club two years ago, making 49 appearances and registering two goals and four assists in all competitions. He missed a large part of last season through injury.
"Mikkel is, in my opinion, another classic Brentford signing. He is a young player with big potential to develop further," manager Thomas Frank said. Brentford host Manchester United on Saturday in their second Premier League match of the season after a 2-2 draw at Leicester City last week.
20.45 BST: As confirmed by the club's official channels, Fulham have completed the signing of West Ham United centre-back Issa Diop. The Frenchman has signed for an undisclosed fee and signed a deal that will keep him with the Cottagers until 2027.
The 25-year-old played 26 games, scored one goal and made two assists for West Ham last season. "Issa('s)... experience and formidable presence will be important to our squad in this Premier League season and for us to build a bright future in the years ahead," Fulham co-owner Tony Khan said.
20.05 BST: Nottingham Forest have made an initial offer for Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Houssem Aouar, reports L'Equipe, with the Frenchman having been linked with various big-name clubs in recent transfer windows.
While Aouar would be open to a Premier League move, Forest's offer is too far from Lyon's demands with the clubs having received various offers while being yet to come to an agreement.
Aouar has made 215 appearances for Lyon, where he's scored 40 goals and made 35 assists.
19.10 BST: Frenkie de Jong's agents have arrived in Barcelona amid continued uncertainty over the midfielder's future at the club, with Manchester United and Chelsea still pursuing his signing.
ESPN revealed in July that Barca had agreed a fee of around €85 million with United, including add-ons. However, the Dutchman has preferred to remain at Camp Nou.
Barca, meanwhile, have told De Jong that if he wants to stay he must take a salary cut, although sources have told ESPN he is reluctant to do so at this stage.
18.20 BST: As confirmed on the club's official channels, Malang Sarr has joined AS Monaco on a season-long loan from Chelsea with the Ligue 1 outfit holding an option to make the deal permanent. This is their fourth summer signing following the incomings of Takumi Minamino, Breel Embolo and Thomas Didillon.
The 23-year-old defender joined Chelsea in 2020 on a free transfer from Nice and spent his first year on loan in Porto.
17.39 BST: While waiting for Giacomo Raspadori's transfer to Napoli to be completed, Sassuolo are already moving to bring in Andrea Pinamonti from Internazionale, reports Sky Sports Italia. It has been agreed that the deal will be worth €20m, with Pinamonti now set to have a medical on Thursday morning before signing a contract.
16.43 BST: Manchester United have something of a history when it comes to making unexpected signings of veteran forwards, and they looked like resurrecting that transfer strategy this week with their interest in Marko Arnautovic.
Unfortunately, sources have told ESPN that Bologna's asking price for his rights and a fan backlash against the deal scuppered the 33-year-old Austrian's chances of joining the likes of Michael Owen, Henrik Larsson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani among United's roll call of senior strikers.
The club's curious approach for strapping centre-forward Arnautovic, who hasn't played in the English top flight since 2019 when he left West Ham for Shanghai Port in China, does reveal the type of last-ditch signing they are seeking to make with the new season already underway.
Thankfully, the pool of long-forgotten (but, crucially, still active) Premier League strikers runs surprisingly deep, with many former stars still plying their trade around the world despite being well into their 30s -- making them prime candidates to join United this month. Should coach Erik ten Hag be serious about bolstering his attacking stable with a journeyman forward of a certain age, then he has plenty of options.
- Sign Balotelli? Bring back Chicharito? Scouting for Man United's next striker
16.04 BST: New signings Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie could both leave Barcelona for free if they are not registered before Saturday's LaLiga opener against Rayo Vallecano, various sources have confirmed to ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.
Christensen and Kessie both joined Barca on free transfers earlier this summer from Chelsea and AC Milan respectively. With three days to go until the new campaign starts, however, neither has been registered with the Spanish league. Sources have told ESPN that if they are not registered prior to Barca's opening fixture against Rayo, both players could choose to execute a clause that allows them to leave for free.
Fellow summer arrivals Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde are also yet to be inscribed with LaLiga, while the contract renewals signed by Sergi Roberto and Ousmane Dembele have not been registered either.
ESPN understands Christensen and Kessie's situations are slightly different, though, given they joined Barca for free. Therefore, if they so choose, they would be entitled to leave for free before the transfer window closes.
Sources say at this stage there is no indication it will come to that and president Joan Laporta continues to transmit optimism that all seven players will be registered in time, but Barca are cutting it fine before the start of the season. In the worst case scenario, sources told ESPN Barcelona would seek to speak with the players' agents to avoid such an extreme outcome because they have until the end of the month to register signings.
- Marsden: Why can't Barca register summer signings yet? Explaining the situation
15.29 BST: Manchester United players have become frustrated by the saga around Cristiano Ronaldo's future, according to The Sun.
Ronaldo submitted a transfer request to leave Old Trafford earlier this summer. The 37-year-old did not take part in United's preseason tour of Thailand and Australia because of personal reasons and he started their 2-1 defeat to Brighton on the bench.
Other United players are said to be angry at Ronaldo's behaviour and want the situation resolved as quickly as possible. There appear to be few options for the Portugal forward, with Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea having distanced themselves from his signing.
14.56 BST: Bernardo Silva has told ESPN he is happy at Manchester City but admitted his future remains up in the air with just three weeks to go before the end of the transfer window.
Silva has been linked with a move to Barcelona despite the Spanish side's difficulties in registering their summer signings who have already arrived at Camp Nou.
On Tuesday, City rubbished reports they have agreed a £67.5m fee with Barcelona for Silva, but, speaking to ESPN, the Portugal midfielder left the door open for a move before the window closes.
"I've always said that I'm happy here but I have no idea what's going to happen," Silva, who was a substitute in City's 2-0 win against West Ham United on the opening weekend of the Premier League season on Sunday, said.
"We'll see, honestly. My relationship with the club is very honest. I've been open with them and they know what I want. If I stay, I'm very happy and I will always respect this club and give all my best.
"If not, it's football and we'll just see what happens."
- Bernardo Silva talks to ESPN about his future, City deserving more respect, World Cup hopes
14.35 BST: Marseille have signed Alexis Sanchez on a free transfer from Inter Milan, the French club announced on Tuesday.
Inter had released a statement saying his contract was ended on Monday and Marseille said at the time that they had an agreement in principle to sign him.
Sanchez, 33, joined Inter from Manchester United in 2019 and made 109 appearances in all competitions, scoring 20 goals.
However, he didn't feature much in the last season and the club said that the two parties had come to a mutual agreement to end his contract.
14.19 BST: Manchester United have registered their interest in PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo, sources have told ESPN's rob Dawson.
Gakpo's representatives have been alerted to United's interest by recruitment staff at Old Trafford but the club have yet to submit a bid.
Gakpo is valued at around £35 million by PSV, who are managed by former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, and sources have told ESPN they are unlikely to accept anything less for one of their star players.
The 23-year-old came through the club's academy and scored 21 goals in 47 games last season. He has been capped seven times by the Netherlands, scoring twice.
Sources added there is interest from other Premier League clubs in Gakpo, who scored twice in PSV's 4-1 opening-day win against FC Emmen on Saturday, but that he would be keen to move to United if terms are agreed.
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13.45 BST: Karim Benzema has hinted in an interview with ESPN that Real Madrid do not need to sign another striker as the Spanish champions have several players who can fill the role.
Benzema, 34, enjoyed a fine season last campaign as Madrid lifted LaLiga, the Champions League and the Spanish Supercup, scoring 44 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions.
Carlo Ancelotti's side have signed midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco and centre-back Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea this summer, but they have yet to strengthen in attack having missed out on the signing of Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe.
They have also lost strikers Luka Jovic and Borja Mayoral to Fiorentina and Getafe respectively, but Benzema suggested another forward was not necessary given other options in the squad.
"There are lots of players who can play as a No. 9 because [a] Madrid [striker] isn't a typical No. 9 who... waits for balls, you have to move everywhere," Benzema said before Madrid's UEFA Supercup clash against Eintracht Frankfurt.
"Like the manager also said, there are lots of players. Afterwards in terms of signing another one [No. 9], you have to ask him."
- Hunter: Madrid cruise into new season as rivals play catch-up
13.06 BST: Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on a deal worth around £21m for Udinese defender Destiny Udogie, sources have told ESPN's James Olley.
Spurs will loan the left-back back to the Serie A club for this season before he joins up with his new team in the summer of 2023.
Sources have told ESPN that Tottenham will pay an initial £15m with a series of performance related add-ons worth in the region of £6m.
A medical is expected to take place in Italy this week.
12.29 BST: Espanyol have not received any offers for their coveted striker Raul de Tomas amid reports Sevilla want to sign the Spain international.
De Tomas, 27, is under contract with Espanyol until June 2026 and has been a reported target of Real Madrid and Barcelona in recent months.
Sevilla are looking to strengthen their attack and are willing to offer €20m and include Moroccan forward Munir El Haddadi in the deal to bring De Tomas to the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium, while Premier League club Aston Villa have also been linked.
"There are no offers for Raul de Tomas," Espanyol sporting direcgor Domingo Catoira said. "I don't know what could happen in the coming days.
"You can see anxiety in many clubs so we will see what happens. I see Raul as part of us because he is."
De Tomas was one of the leading scorers in LaLiga last season with 17 goals. The Real Madrid youth product joined Espanyol in 2020 from Benfica for a reported €22m.
11.41 BST: Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign former Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata, sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson.
The 29-year-old has a year left on his contract at Atletico Madrid and has spent the last two seasons on loan at Juventus.
The club were in talks with Bologna about a deal for former Stoke City and West Ham United striker Marko Arnautovic but sources have told ESPN the Italian side's demands scuppered any hope of an agreement.
After withdrawing their interest in Arnautovic, United remain in the hunt for a striker who would be happy with a place on the bench to offer a different option to Cristiano Ronaldo and Anthony Martial.
Martial is injured and Ronaldo is not yet match-fit after missing most of preseason because of a family issue, forcing Ten Hag to start with Christian Eriksen as a false No.9 for the opening-day defeat to Brighton.
11.05 BST: Serbian winger Filip Kostic is expected to undergo a medical with Juventus on Wednesday ahead of his €17m transfer, add-ons included, from Eintracht Frankfurt, Tuttosport reports.
Kostic, 29, was left out of Eintracht's squad for Wednesday's European Supercup against Real Madrid with the Bundesliga side confirming the player's imminent departure.
Kostic, who scored 33 goals and set up 64 more in 171 games for Eintracht, is set to sign a three-year deal with Juve.
Juve have signed this summer free agents Paul Pogba and Angel Di Maria as well as Gleison Bremer from Torino.
10.32 BST: Villarreal expect to receive a big offer from the Premier League for teenage winger Yeremy Pino, according to El Periodico.
Pino is one of LaLiga's most promising players and is under contract with the Yellow Submarine until June 2027. Last season's Champions League semifinalists are prepared to let Pino leave this summer if the right bid comes along.
Arsenal and Liverpool have reportedly shown an interest in the 19-year-old, but no offer has been made so far. Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta is an admirer of the Spain international and reportedly requested his signing in the previous transfer window.
Pino has an €80m release clause and Villarreal would only be willing to let him go for a minimum fee of €45m.
09.59 BST: Fiorentina have rekindled their interest in signing Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, according to Sky Sports.
The Argentina international spent the second half of last season on loan at Villarreal from Tottenham and impressed.
Lo Celso, 26, has reportedly agreed terms to join Villarreal this summer but the Spanish club has not been able to finalise the deal because of LaLiga's financial fair play rules.
Fiorentina have now entered the race to sign long-term target Lo Celso, and are willing to pay €2m to sign Lo Celso on a season-long loan and include a €20m buy option.
09.27 BST: England international and Euro 2022 winner Rachel Daly has signed for Aston Villa from the Houston Dash for an undisclosed fee.
Daly started all six games for England in this summer's European Championship, including the final when the Lionesses beat Germany after extra time to win their first ever major trophy. While Daly operated at left-back for England, Villa signaled they they plan to utilise her further forward when the Women's Super League gets underway next month.
Daly, who previously had spells in England with Leeds United, Lincoln Ladies and West Ham United, was drafted No. 6 overall in the 2016 National Women's Soccer League college draft. The 30-year-old made 116 appearances for Houston in all competitions, scoring 42 goals and adding 12 assists, helping the team to win the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.
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08.43 BST: Former Arsenal winger Willian is considering an offer to join Fulham just one year after returning to his native Brazil, ESPN Brasil has confirmed.
Willian, 34, re-joined Brazilian side Corinthians last summer after eight seasons playing in the Premier League. The former Chelsea and Arsenal player has struggled to make an impact at Corinthians and could leave the Sao Paulo club in the coming days as talks with Fulham intensify.
Willian started Corinthians' 1-0 defeat against Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals on Tuesday, and with the club knocked out the chances of Willian leaving have now increased.
Under contract with Corinthians until December 2023, Willian is keen to return to London for safety reasons. The player and his family have reportedly receiving persistent threats on social media from furious Corinthians fans every time the team loses.
08.00 BST: Man City have denied reports that they have agreed a transfer fee with Barcelona for Bernardo Silva, reports the Daily Mail.
It had been suggested that City had accepted £46m for the Portugal international to head to Camp Nou.
Silva, 28, has a transfer value closer to £80m, so City will not allow the midfielder to leave for little more than half that amount.
However, last week coach Pep Guardiola hinted that Silva might not be at City after the transfer window closes on Sept. 1.
"Of course I want Bernardo to be here but I don't know what is going to happen, honestly I don't know," Guardiola said. "What will happen will happen and if in the end he has to leave it's because football is like this and I won't be a person to stop the desires of the people. When you are a football player it is so short."
Barcelona already face a race against time to be able to register all of their new signings for the start of LaLiga next weekend, sources have told ESPN. LaLiga informed Barca this week they will need to pull a fourth financial lever if they want to have everyone available to face Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou on Aug. 13.
PAPER GOSSIP
- Memphis Depay looks to be edging closer to an exit from Barcelona, with Juventus discussing a two-year contract for the 28-year-old forward, writes Fabrizio Romano. While he scored 12 goals in LaLiga last season, Depay is one of the players that the Blaugrana are aiming to offload this summer. It is reported that Tottenham Hotspur have no interest in his services, despite previous links suggesting that a move to north London was possible.
- Sergio Busquets has accepted a new deal that will see his wages restructured, reports Marca. With Barcelona looking to find resolutions in their race to register their new signings, the 34-year-old midfielder is the latest veteran to agree to a new contract that will assist the Blaugrana with their financial difficulties. It is understood that while his salary will remain the same, Busquets will see his payments deferred as well as receiving instalments over the course of the season.
- Eintracht Frankfurt have identified Eric Ebimbe as a replacement for Filip Kostic, reveals Foot Mercato. With Juventus closing in on a move for Kostic, the Bundesliga side have moved fast to ensure that they don't struggle to find an alternative before the transfer window closes. A transfer fee of around €10m is understood to have been agreed between Die Adler and Paris Saint-Germain, with the 21-year-old winger set to sign a five-year deal.
- Giovanni Simeone shone in Serie A last season and caught the attention of Napoli, who are now understood to be closing in on a deal for his services. That's according to Gianluca Di Marzio, who writes that the 27-year-old striker will join on loan for €3.5m, with the deal including an option to make the move permanent for a fee of €12m. While starring for Hellas Verona last season, Simeone scored 17 goals in 35 appearances.
- Barcelona midfielder Nico Gonzalez is close to securing a loan move to Valencia, reports Mundo Deportivo. The 20-year-old will sign a new contract at Camp Nou through to 2024 before sealing a short-term move to Los Che. Gonzalez made 27 appearances in LaLiga last season.