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Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's Daily Transfer Roundup. As a lot of top stars continue to remain unsettled at their respective clubs, there's every chance that the next couple of weeks are going to be quite exciting in this summer transfer window.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the top transfer news, rumours and updates of the day.
Bayern Munich preparing a bid for Philippe Coutinho
Nobody seems to be quite sure about what is going to happen with Philippe Coutinho before the end of the summer transfer window. Just when you thought the dust had settled following the shutting of the Premier League transfer window, the latest reports are claiming that Bayern Munich are trying to engineer a deal to secure the Brazilian's services.
Coutinho has struggled to impress on a consistent basis and after initially looking like he might go on to replicate the form that made him Barcelona's most expensive signing, he has faded and become a shadow of the player he used to be at Liverpool.
Barcelona are reportedly keen on cutting losses and want to cash in while they can still recover a major portion of the amount they paid to sign the Brazilian in the winter transfer window of the 2017-18 season.
The Catalans had reportedly offered Coutinho to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. However, Arsenal weren't looking to add to their midfield and the Spurs move didn't materialize. As such, the feeling was that Coutinho was bound to kick on for at least another season at the Camp Nou.
That has now changed with the entry of Bayern Munich. If the deal goes over the line, Coutinho will join Bayern on a one-year loan deal with an option to buy. However, as it stands, it is not clear how far Bayern will push for the signing as they are reportedly close to signing Ivan Perisic and will be well equipped on the left side.
Ernesto Valverde said in Michigan that he is not certain about what's going to happen to Coutinho.
"We don't know what will happen but Philippe is a player who is with us. He is with us and we think he will continue with us ."
Napoli set to end their pursuit of James Rodriguez
Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez is not expected to be part of Zinedine Zidane's plans for the upcoming season. As such, he has been linked with an exit, with Napoli being mentioned as potential suitors.
However, the Partenopei are now close to ending their interest and instead focusing their attention on PSV Eindhoven winger Hirving Lozano. Napoli wanted to take him on loan till the end of the season with an option to buy. However, Real Madrid are not interested in a loan deal.
The report says that Aurelio De Laurentiis is not willing to buy James this season. Napoli have started negotiations for Lozano and are keen on signing him instead of the Colombian international as the Mexican is 4 years younger than James and would cost them much less.
Zidane remains coy on Neymar
Zinedine Zidane has hinted that Real Madrid could end up signing Neymar before the end of the transfer window. Real Madrid are reportedly trying to sign the Brazilian as he continues to be unsettled in Paris.
Barcelona is his choice of destination. However, as his desire to leave PSG outweighs his desire to join the Catalans, he has not gone public with it. As such, he has kept his options open.
"Neymar is not [in our squad] but until September 2nd, anything can happen."
"We are here with the squad that we have and we are only thinking about that.
"Bale and Rodriguez are two players of our squad, but anything can happen [until the end of the transfer window]. James Rodriguez is a Real Madrid under contract player, he was not called but everything can change."
Paul Pogba hints at a Manchester United exit
Manchester United got off to a flying start to the new campaign as Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Daniel James got on the scoresheet to give Chelsea a 4-0 thumping at Old Trafford. Paul Pogba was on a roll and picked up two assists, one of them a peach of a lobbed ball telegraphed straight at the feet of a sprinting Rashford.
Real Madrid had offered £27.6 million + James Rodriguez for Pogba. However, Manchester United rejected that offer. Despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisting that the Frenchman will stay at Manchester United beyond the summer, the midfielder has now hinted at an exit by saying that there is a question mark above his future.
He said:
"I am always good when I play football. I am doing what I love, it's my job. I will give the maximum every time I will be on the pitch.
"Now, we know there have been things said. Time will tell. We remain still on this big question mark. I am at Manchester. I am having fun with my team-mates. I want to always win the matches. I will always give everything when I am on the pitch."
PSG reject Real Madrid's €120 million + James Rodriguez offer; ask for goalkeeper or Isco
Real Madrid have had a €120 million + James Rodriguez bid for Neymar rejected. The clubs couldn't reach an agreement despite PSG being resigned to selling the Brazilian. However, it is to be noted that they have reportedly maintained that they will sell him only for the right price.
PSG do not want James Rodriguez. Instead, they would like Isco to be included in the deal. However, Real Madrid will not sell the Spaniard. The negotiations thus reached a stumbling block. Paris Saint-Germain are also in the hunt for a new no. 1 and have asked Real Madrid to include either Keylor Navas or Thibaut Courtois in the deal if they are serious about signing Neymar.
Real Madrid are contemplating this and talks are ongoing. But one thing is for sure. Real Madrid are way ahead of Barcelona in the race to secure Neymar's services.
