With only 8 days remaining in this summer’s transfer window, there was an added buzz from Premier League and other European teams as they look to wrap up the signings in next few days. Arsenal made the headlines once again today for all the wrong reasons after Valencia’s manager publicly ruled out Shkodran Mustafi’s move to the Emirates.
Having said that it does not get easier for the Gunners as they have been held hostage to the signing of a Premier League defender as well.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have given their ultimatum to Napoli and have even prepared a big money offer to complete their third signing of the season. Manchester United are still pondering on whether to let go Phil Jones or not as Euro 2016 winner edges closer to joining the Manchester giants.
On that note, we bring to you the best and the latest transfer news from around European football on August 23rd.
Serie A
- Inter’s pursuit of Gabriel Barbosa could be closed this week, according to reports in Brazil. As per Doyen Sports, Inter are directly negotiating with player’s agent and are expected to beat Juventus to his signature. The Nerazzurri will send a team to Brazil this week to close a reported €25million deal for the 19-year-old attacker.
- Carlos Bacca’s agent has suggested that Napoli were interested in signing his client but the striker is now more than happy at AC Milan. Bacca was linked with a move away from San Siro all summer but no team could meet Milan’s €25million valuation. Bacca opened his account last weekend with a stunning hat-trick and is now ready to stay with the Serie A giants this summer.
- Juventus have set their eyes on two young midfielders from Ligue 1, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Jean-Victor Makengo. Tuttosport (via L’quipe) have reported that the Serie A Champions want to strengthen their midfield for future and have earmarked these two players. While Bakayoko, 22 is valued at €10-12m where as Makengo, 18 can be signed for as little as €3-4m.
Bundesliga
- Atletico Madrid have their sights set on signing Bayer Leverkusen star Hakan Calhanoglu according to Turkish sports newspaper AMK. La Liga side are willing to pay close to €20million for Calhanogu’s signature who has previously expressed his desires to quit Leverkusen. Bundesliga side are also looking to cash-in on their star man who wants to play for a bigger side in coming seasons.
- Aston Villa’s Twitter-friendly chairman Tony Xia has dismissed the possibility that his side will buy Wolfsburg target man Bas Dost. Last weeks, Goal.com claimed a £9million bid for the Championship side which was soon turned down by the Bundesliga side.
Since then there have not been any new bid for the prolific striker and now any hopes of him playing in English football were quashed by Tony Xia, who claims that the transfer saga is now dead.
- Brazilian defender Dante has completed a move to French side Nice from Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg. Dante has signed a 3-year contract with the Ligue 1 side and has now teamed up with his former Borussia Mönchengladbach manager Lucien Favre. Dante spent last 7 years in Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and more recently with Wolfsburg.
Premier League
- Arsenal have been asked to look away in their pursuit of a central defender after Valencia’s manager Pako Ayestaran confirmed that Shkodran Mustafi is not for sale this summer. On the wake of that news, Arsenal are now linked with a move for AS Monaco’s central defender Marcel Tisserand. The 23-year-old is eager to quit Ligue 1 football this season in the wake of an interest from Premier League.
It does not get easier for Arsenal who have been asked to pay £25million to stand any chance of signing West Brom defender Jonny Evans.
- Chelsea are now looking to beat Napoli to the signing of Torino’s Nikola Maksimovic. Blues have seen three of their bids being turned down by Napoli for Kalidou Koulibaly which has now prompted the Premier League side to go after Maksimovic who is dubbed as the next Nemanja Vidic by Italian experts. According to Calciomercato, Chelsea are ready to offer close to €25million for Maksimovic’s signature.
- Bastian Schweinsteiger will not quit Manchester United this summer despite reports of him get linked with an exit all summer. German midfielder does not fit in to Jose Mourinho’s plans but Sports Bild have confirmed that Schweinsteiger is prepared to stay at Old Trafford and fight for his place in the starting XI.
However, one man who could leave United this week is Phil Jones who is linked with a move to Stoke City amid Jose Fonte’s imminent arrival.
La Liga
- Gareth Bale has extended his stay at Real Madrid after penning a new five-year deal with the Liga giants, according to reports. Bale’s new deal will run through to 2021 and increase his wages from €9 million to €10 million a year.
- Everton have identified Deportivo La Coruna's Lucas Perez Martinez as the striker to provide support for Romelu Lukaku after he decided to stay at Goodison Park. Director of football Steve Walsh is a long-time admirer of Lucas, 27, who scored 17 La Liga goals last season. Lucas is likely to command a fee in the region of £15m.
- Barcelona are still pushing for a deal to sign Valencia’s striker Paco Alcacer despite manager Paco Ayestaran’s direct refusal to sell the player. However. Mundo Deportivo are reporting that Barcelona are ready to offer Munir El Haddadi and Sergi Samper as part of the deal to ensure Valencia agree to sell their marquee striker.
Rest of Europe
- Fulham have submitted a late offer to sign Ghana international striker Asamoah Gyan. Turkish Champions Besiktas are already in talks with the former Sunderland striker and according to Kickgh.com have also agreed personal terms with the 30-year-old forward. If reports are to be believed Gyan will arrive in Turkey next week to complete his transfer.
- Aston Villa and Newcastle United have submitted a £5million bid to sign Tottenham Hotspur defender DeAndre Yedlin. As per Chronicle, Newcastle are leading the race for Yedlin after Aston Villa completed Ritchie De Laet’s transfer from Leicester City earlier this week.
