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Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's Daily Transfer Roundup. We have just 2 more weeks left in the summer transfer window and you know well as I do that it's that time of the year when all hell breaks loose in the world of football.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the top transfer news, rumours and updates that made headlines on 19 August 2019.
Philippe Coutinho joins Bayern Munich on loan
Nobody expected Philippe Coutinho's career to go on a downward trajectory following his much-hyped move to Barcelona. However, life hasn't been kind to the Brazilian and after spending a rather forgettable season and a half at Catalonia, Coutinho has now joined Bayern Munich on a one-year loan deal with an option to buy for £109.8 million.
Barcelona are set to receive £7.78 million as loan fee from the Bundesliga champions. Coutinho underwent a medical at Bayern on Sunday and will don the no. 10 shirt for the Bavarians.
"For me, this change represents a new challenge in a new country at one of the best clubs in Europe."
"I am really looking forward to this. I have big goals like Bayern, and I'm sure I can do it with my new team-mates."
Barcelona have a surplus of midfielders and Ernesto Valverde has been looking to offload one or two of them so that he can keep a settled bunch of players in his team. Ivan Rakitic is another midfielder who has been linked with an exit with his name being thrown around in any potential swap deal for Neymar.
Coutinho's struggles at Barcelona were unexpected and Karl Heinz Rummenigge, the Bayern Munich CEO, hopes that Coutinho can strengthen their attack with creativity and technique. He said:
"We have been working with Philippe Coutinho for some time and are very happy that we were able to realize this transfer now.
"Our thanks to FC Barcelona for agreeing to this transfer. In Philippe, a player comes to FC Bayern, who will strengthen our offensive with his creativity and excellent technique."
Zinedine Zidane confirms Gareth Bale is staying
After drawing much flak for his insensitive comments about a Gareth Bale departure earlier this summer, Zinedine Zidane seems to have been forced by circumstances to put his faith in the Welshman. Bale was influential in Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Celta Vigo in the season opener and Zizou confirmed that Bale will be staying at Real Madrid beyond the summer.
He said,
"We talked about it before the match, I think we talked about it two or three times to say that he is going to stay. And all the players that are here now are only thinking about this season.
"I think this is true considering the way Gareth performed, but not only Gareth. I think that everyone played a good game. All we have to do is to think about this season and I am sure that he and all the other players only think about staying here and play."
Pochettino laments early closing of Premier League transfer window
Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has said that the decision to close the Premier League transfer window early is a 'massive mistake'.
"I wasn't in agreement [with the decision] but at that moment they believed that was best for the clubs. But I think he [Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy] and a lot of people now realise it was a massive mistake. I hope that we fix the problem for the next season.
"We need to go back and operate in the same way that they operate in Europe because I think it's massive when you go to compete in the Europa League or Champions League.
"Champions League teams can create a problem for a team like us and it's so clear that I cannot be happy as a coach that in the last three weeks clubs from Europe can unsettle your team.
"For me it's not common sense and we need to go back quick, hope they have a good conversation at the Premier League and go back quickly [to how it was]."
Alexis Sanchez asks Solskjaer to let him join Inter on loan
Inter Milan are going to pull out all the stops to ensure that they have a team that's strong enough to mount a challenge on all fronts in the upcoming season. After signing Romelu Lukaku in a deal that reportedly cost them around £75 million, the Nerazzurri are back for talks with Manchester United; this time for Chilean international Alexis Sanchez.
Sanchez has largely flopped at Manchester United following his famous move in the winter transfer window of the 2017-18 season from Arsenal. After struggling to prove himself at Old Trafford, injuries have sent the Chilean further down the pecking order.
Inter wants to bring him on a loan deal till 2020 with an option to buy for €15 million. They want Manchester United to pay part of the wages. Fabrizio Romano claims that Sanchez has told Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he wants to join Inter and everything now rests on United's decision.
Real Madrid favourites to sign Neymar, could close deal in the next few days
Real Madrid will accelerate negotiations over the signing of Neymar with Paris Saint-Germain imminently as they look set to beat Barcelona in the race for the Brazilian's services. As per the latest reports, Real Madrid are in a much better position than the Catalans to sign Neymar and are all set to turn up the heat in the coming days.
Barcelona's offers for Neymar have not convinced Paris Saint-Germain director Leonardo. As per the report, Real Madrid reinitiated contact with Paris Saint-Germain over the weekend and it goes on to suggest that one of the biggest deals of the summer could be closed over the coming days.
Paris Saint-Germain had earlier asked for Vinicius to be included in the deal, but Real Madrid were not willing to part with the youngster. However, James Rodriguez is becoming a likely candidate to be included in the deal.
PSG could yet ask for Keylor Navas, Isco or Karim Benzema as well but the last two are nearly untouchable as far as the Blancos are concerned. After making it clear that he does not wish to remain at PSG and seeing how that has strained his relationship with the club, Neymar is expected to be ready to play for Real Madrid despite being initially interested in making a return to Barcelona.
