The transfer market has hit a low as clubs await the International tournaments to get over. This has not stopped rumours from floating about. To the dismal of Manchester United fans, reports are suggesting that Ryan Giggs is as close to an exit as ever and is on the brink of taking over Nottingham Forest. The Red Devils’ legend has been a constant presence in and around the Old Trafford for nearly 30 years and his exit will surely mean the end of an era at the club. Nottingham’s fans will be sceptic of Giggs’ appointment as he has managed only four games in his short stint as the Red Devil’s interim manager
Here are the transfer news and rumours from June 20th.
Serie A
- Juventus star Paul Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola has confirmed that he has begun talks with Real Madrid about a potential world record transfer. Speaking to Spanish paper Marca, Raiola said: “We are talking [with Real] but nothing is decided. [Real coach] Zinedine Zidane's wish is important. The club's wish is important.
"We are in the initial phase. It's not a negotiation. Both sides know what it wants and we shall see if we complete a deal or it ends in divorce."
- Roma are interested in Manchester City duo Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna, the former also being chased by Inter Milan, according to Il Messaggero. The club is in the market for a right-back, and it has been reported that Roma’s sporting director Walter Sabatini has already been in touch with Zabaleta's agent Federico Pastorello. In both cases, the move will only be facilitated if Manchester City are able to sign Juventus' Stephan Lichtsteiner, which would leave them with a surplus of players in that part of the pitch.
- According to Tuttosport, Juventus are ready to offer €40million to prise Marek Hamsik away from Napoli. The Slovakia international has a contract with Napoli until 2018 and club president Aurelio De Laurentiis is keen to offer him a contract extension. "Will Marek will stay at Napoli? Everything is possible,” Hamsik's agentJuraj Venglos told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“At the moment probabilities are at 50 per cent.”
English Premier League
- Tottenham Hotspurs have agreed a fee for Victor Wanyama with Southampton and the Kenya international is set to undergo a medical at the White Hart Lane. Sky Sports have reported that the midfielder has finalise personal terms on a four-year deal and for a fee of between £11million and £12million.
- Arsenal are monitoring Manchester United defender Daley Blind following reports that the Dutch may be surplus to Jose Mourinho's plans, reports the Daily Mirror. Blind played majority of the last season as a center-back and was one of their most improved players. Mourinho’s unsurety regarding Blind’s future has reportedly alerted Arsene Wenger who is looking to strengthen his back line.
- Arsene Wenger believes Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy will snub Arsenal and prefer to stay. Speaking to Chinese television, The French manager said: "Jamie Vardy is, at the moment, at Leicester and from what I know, he will stay at Leicester." Earlier reports suggested that the striker has talked with the Gunners after they triggered his £20million release clause.
- Manchester City have reportedly bid £16.7million for Palmeiras striker Gabriel Jesus, according to The Sun. Regarded as one of Brazil’s hottest prospects, Jesus has been linked with a number of clubs across Europe. Pep Guardiola looks to be in front of the queue after matching the player’s release clause, but will have to face competition from Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
La Liga
- Atletico Madrid have started searching for replacements for Manchester City target Jose Maria Gimenez and have identified Argentine centre-back Mateo Musacchio as a potential target, reports AS. Gimenez has attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs, most notably Manchester City and has a €65million buyout clause in his contract. Atletico have already enquired about Musacchio with Villareal and may go for the 25-year-old if Gimenez leaves.
- Real Madrid forward Jese Rodriguez could leave the club if Alvaro Morata returns this summer, reports AS. Madrid have long been tipped to activate their buy-back clause to re-sign Morata and reportedly planning to keep hold of him. The Report claims that Jese is looking for a possible way out of the club. Bayer Leverkusen are interested in him, as are several Spanish teams.
- Barcelona’s sporting director Robert Fernandez travelled to Boston at the weekend to meet unsettled centre-back Javier Mascherano, reports AS. The Argentine has been linked with a move away from the Catalan club and has reportedly held talks with Juventus. Barca do not want to let Mascherano go, and are planning to increase the defender’s salary and extend his contract until 2018.
Rest of Europe
- Talks between Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have suffered a setback, according to the Daily Mirror. The two clubs were reportedly in advanced talks regarding the striker’s transfer, but the Bundesliga club’s rigidity over their £65million valuation of the player has put the talks on hold. City are believed to be unwilling to pay that amount of money for the Gabon international despite Pep Guardiola’s interest in the 27-year-old.
- Porto’s Marat Izmailov will leave the club to return to Russia this summer, according to agent Paulo Barbosa. Attacking midfielder Izmailov impressed on loan at Krasnodar in the 2014-15 season, but has been unable to force his way into the regular starting XI at Porto.
