Tuesday's transfer news, rumours: Liverpool’s striker opportunity, Man Utd’s target list, Arsenal eye Carrasco
Follow Tuesday’s transfer news and rumours live, as Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona remain the talk of the rumour mill, with the international window opening today, on June 11.
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Last week Real Madrid finally announced the signing of Eden Hazard for a fee that could come to exceed £150m. Elsewhere, Daniel James has agreed to his £18m move from Swansea to United.
The future of Matthijs de Ligt meanwhile remains uncertain, with the 19-year-old defender currently linked to a host of clubs eager to land his signature. And Liverpool continue to press for the signature of Lille winger Nicolas Pepe.
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Arsenal are meanwhile set to push on with their first signing of the summer with a bid for Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser set to be lodged. A new centre-back is high on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s priority list at United with Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Leicester’s Harry Maguire both options. Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka is another on the Norwegian’s radar.
It won’t just be incomings at Old Trafford, however, with Paul Pogba a high-profile target for Real Madrid and Alexis Sanchez on his way out with Inter Milan and Juventus fighting it out for his signature – if he drops his wage demands. And Liverpool could be active too as they look to go one better after failing to win the Premier League title by just a single point.
Everton defender Jonjoe Kenny's impending loan to Schalke is the latest in a number of moves British players have made to the Bundesliga.
Here we take a look at some of them and how they fared.
Reece Oxford, aged 20 (Borussia Munchengladbach, 2018/19 & Augsburg, 2019)
He may have become West Ham's youngest player making his debut aged 16 years and 198 days in July 2015 but his career has not progressed as he would have hoped. Two years later he went to Borussia Munchengladbach on loan but made just three appearances before his spell was cut short in December, only to return to the club a month later where he made a further four appearances. Another loan to the Bundesliga followed in January 2019 when he signed for struggling Augsburg, for whom he played just nine times after getting sent off in February.
Oliver Burke, 22 (RB Leipzig, 2016/17)
Less than two years after making his debut for Nottingham Forest as a 17-year-old in 2014 he moved to RB Leipzig in a £13million move. He made 25 appearances as the team finished runners-up to Bayern Munich, although he started just five of this games, and returned to England with West Brom the following season. Spent the second half of last season on loan at Celtic.
Jadon Sancho, 19 (Borussia Dortmund, 2017-present)
Omitted from Manchester City's pre-season tour squad in the summer of 2017, Sancho signed for Dortmund for £8million and made his debut in October. He made 12 appearances in his first season but impressed enough to be given a new contract and was named Bundesliga player of the month in October 2019. He finished the season with 43 appearances, 13 goals and was named in the Bundesliga team of the season.
Ademola Lookman, 21 (RB Leipzig, 2018)
Then manager Sam Allardyce changed his mind in the January 2018 transfer window and allowed the winger to go out on loan but Lookman rejected a deal to Championship side Derby, insisting on a move to Germany. He came off the bench to score the winner on his debut, one of five goals in 11 appearances for the club, who tried to sign him permanently in the summer but were rebuffed.
Rabbi Matondo, 18 (Schalke, 2019-present)
After a handful of under-21 appearances for Manchester City in the Checkatrade Trophy over a couple of seasons the Wales international moved to Schalke in a deal worth up to £11million in January 2019. He made two starts in nine appearances in the second half of the season.
Reiss Nelson, 19 (Hoffenheim, 2018-19)
The teenager made 16 appearances for Arsenal in his breakthrough season and signed a long-term contract with the Gunners before joining Hoffenheim on loan last summer. He scored seven goals in 29 appearances, most of which were as a substitute.
Ryan Kent, 22 (Freiburg, 2017)
After signing a new contract with Liverpool, Kent was loaned out to Freiburg but made just six appearances, although his only start came against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. Loan deal was cut short and he returned home to join Bristol City. Had a successful loan spell at Rangers last season.
Coutinho admits he has struggled
Philippe Coutinho has offered a frank assessment of his 2018/19 campaign with Barcelona, amid speculation he could be sold by the club this summer.
“I have not had a good season,” Coutinho told Spanish publication Marca.
“My performances have been a lot worse than I expected they would. The only way to improve and gain confidence is through hard work, and I have been working hard.”
Pallotta praises Fonseca
Roma president Jim Pallotta has been speaking on the appointment of Paulo Fonseca as manager.
“We are delighted to welcome Paulo Fonseca to the club,” he said.
“Paulo is a young and ambitious coach with international experience, a winning mentality and a reputation for bold, attacking football that will excite our fans.
“From the very first conversations we had with him, he made it very clear he wanted to come to Roma and was excited about the challenge of working with our players and putting out a team that the fans can be proud of.”
Bruno in no rush to leave Lisbon
Bruno Fernandes is a top transfer target for a number of clubs this season, but the Portugal international has said that he is in no immediate rush to leave Sporting.
“I know nothing, I will take the next few days to understand what is true,” Fernandes told Sport Mediaset.
“We know that newspapers sometimes have to make a show to move the market and sell. I’m calm, I’m at a big club. I don’t need to move, I’m not trying to leave.
“If the opportunity comes to go to a team that you can’t refuse, I’ll talk to Sporting.”
If you hadn't already noticed, it's shaping up to be one of the most dramatic transfer windows in recent memory.
Here's Miguel Delaney on why this could become the first ever one billion pound window.
Watford have Sarr bid turned down
Watford have had a bid for Rennes winger Ismaila Sarr turned down, according to France Football.
The French side are looking to coup a €35m fee for the Senegalese 21-year-old, who has also attracted interest from Spain.
Spurs are keen on AC Milan's Franck Kessie
The Rossoneri star could be the subject of a £30m move, claim the Express.
Mauricio Pochettino wants to strengthen his midfield, with Victor Wanyama struggling with injuries and Moussa Sissoko requiring help with Harry Winks also suffering from injuries this season.
Aina set for permanent Torino move
Torino have reportedly agreed a permanent deal to sign Ola Aina from Chelsea.
The Serie A side will pay the Blues £8.9m (€10m) for the full-back, claims Torino president Urbano Cairo.
Aina has impressed with the Granata on loan, but was seen as a potential squad player next season, with Davide Zappacosta likely to leave and Reece James now injured after his loan to Wigan.
But Aina is now set to continue his Italian adventure.
Tottenham are considering a move for Hiroki Sakai
The Marseille right-back could arrive as a potential replacement should Kieran Trippier or Serge Aurier leave, report Sky.
The Japan international, 29, has two years remaining on his contract.
Jovic set to be unveiled at Bernabeu
Luka Jovic will be the first of Real Madrid's new signings to be unveiled at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Serbian forward, who has joined from Frankfurt for around £55m, will meet the fans and media this afternoon.
Jovic is expected to be on the Bernabeu pitch at 1pm.
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