The Copa America Centenario 2016 is in full flow and the European Championship is just around the corner. All the clubs’, managers’ and scouts’ eyes will be on the players and this is the centre-stage where a player’s transfer fee can waiver to both the extremes. This also puts players, agents and club officials in a bizarre situation, evident in the transfer market as some are looking to finalize deals as soon as possible and some are willing to hold off all talks regarding their future till July when both these events come to an end.
We bring to you the transfer news and rumours from June 7th.
Serie A
- Napoli’s Gonazalo Higuain is very close to signing with Liverpool as reported by beIN, and the sale is set to be followed with a move for Porto’s Hector Herrera. Higuain has been the star of the Italian side, scoring 36 goals in 35 appearances in the Serie A, and reportedly has a purchase clause set at €94million. The report by beIN states that Napoli will sell Higuain to Liverpool 'very soon'. There is no mention of the financial side of the operation and whether the Reds will pay the clause in full.
- Roma have rejected a Chelsea’s offer for Radja Nainggolan, worth €32m plus €3m in bonuses. Roma’s president James Pallotta and Nainggoalan himself had both stated earlier that the neither the club nor the player have any intention of going separate ways. According to Sky Sport Italia, Roma turned down another proposal from Antonio Conte’s Chelsea worth €32m plus another €3m in performance-related bonuses.
- Lazio are close to signing Barcelona full-back Adriano, who may undergo a medical on Wednesday. The Aquile have long shown an interest in the Brazilian and Sky Sport Italia claim the deal is practically done. Adriano made only 19 appearance for Barcelona in all competitions this season and is tied to the Catalans till June 2017, but is eager for a move away from the Camp Nou in order to get more playing time.
English Premier League
- Manchester United are in talks with Villareal to sign Eric Bailly, who could become one of the first signings of Jose Mourinho. The 22-year-old Ivory Coast international has attracted interest from a number of top clubs, and the Red Devils seem to be the favourites to bag his signature. The player is set to cost Manchester United a fee of around £30million.
- Pep Guardiola has prepared a thee-man shortlist of targets he wants at Manchester City next season, according to the Daily Star. With the massive warchest at his disposal, the Star reports that the Spanish mastermind has his eyes set on Schalke winger Leroy Sane, Athletic Bilbao centre-back Aymeric Laporte and Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin. City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak had earlier confirmed that the club will see an exodus as well as arrival of a number of players. With Yaya Toure, Matin Demichelis and Pablo Zabaleta likely to leave the club, City are said to be very busy this transfer window
- Arsenal are not targetting Riyad Mahrez after all! Reports had suggested that the Gunners had switched their attention to the Algeria international after failing to wrap up a deal for his Leicester City team-mate Jamie Vardy, but the Daily Mirror has insisted that Arsene Wenger is solely interested in the signature of the England striker.
- Chelsea are looking to add Alvaro Morata to their ranks. The deal can be complicated by the fact that Real Madrid intend to activate a £23million buy-back clause in the player’s contract with Juventus, albeit only with a view to selling him immediately at a profit. The European champions would seek nearer to £40million for him which the Blues are reportedly ready to meet.
- Ronald Koeman is in advanced talks to become Everton manager, with the club denying rumours of a confirmed appointment.
La Liga
- Atletico Madrid sensation Saul Niguez has revealed his desire to stay put with the Champions League runner-ups. The 21-year-old is sought after by the likes of PSG and Manchester United, but speaking to AS, has expressed his satisfaction with the Rojiblancos “I'm fine in Madrid, I play often and I'm happy. Atletico is the club where I intend to stay.”
- Barcelona is set to battle PSG to sign Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool. Spanish daily Marca reports that the Catalan giants are interested in the 23-year-old Brazilian attacker, who scored 12 goals in 43 games for the Reds this season. Liverpool’s reluctance to let their star player go by turning down PSG’s initial bid has paved way for Barcelona to join in the race.
- Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic admits that he is unclear as to where his future lies. The Croatian arrived in Madrid from Inter Milan last summer for a transfer fee of €30million and has struggled to nail down a starting spot in the team since. Speaking to Sport Mediaset, the 22-year-old said: “Milan or Juve? You never know what will happen in the future, I do not know what is going to happen.
“I will not return [to Inter Milan] with [Roberto] Mancini on the bench. I had a strange relationship with him, but they are my things and there is no need to talk [about it].”
Rest of Europe
- Borussia Dortmund have announced the signing of Bayern Munich midfielder Sebastian Rode. The midfielder arrived at Dortmund on Monday morning, and after passing a medical put pen to paper on the four-year deal at the Westfalenstadion. BVB reportedly agreed a transfer fee between €12-15 million for the former Germany under-21 international. In addition, Dortmund have also signed Turkish wonderkid Emre Mor.
- France defender Samuel Umtiti has put all talks regarding a move to Barcelona on hold. The La Liga champions are looking to sign a world-class centre-back and have set their sights on the €25million-rated Lyon player. Speaking to L'Equipe: "Barcelona is a club where many players would like to play."I have a contract with Lyon, like everyone knows, and given how we have carried out season we have carried out, the option of going to Barcelona is not an issue that has to be talked about now."Everything is possible, both staying and going. Sincerely, right now I am focused on the European Championship. Afterwards we will speak with my club."
