With only three days left in this summer’s transfer window, Welcome to our Daily Transfer round-up which has been largely dominated today with Julian Draxler’s €75m move (no, its not Arsenal). Liverpool have made a £30million bid for the Brazilian Olympic winner, while Euro 2016 winner is dreaming of a move to Leicester City.
Elsewhere a former Manchester United prodigy is set to sign a deal with a Championship side. Chelsea meanwhile are set to sign an Italian defender at last after agreeing a £24million fee for the highly rated star. Mario Balotelli is on a 24-hour deadline to accept an insane contract offer while Pep Guardiola has dropped a bombshell on Yaya Toure’s immediate future.
On that note, here are the most popular transfer news and rumours doing the rounds on August 29th.
Serie A
- Inter Milan have been offered Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas in a proposed swap deal for Marcelo Brozovic. Serie A side are reluctant to sell Brozovic this summer but with Juventus and Chelsea lurking, we could see the deal go through. According to Gazzetta, Fabregas has pledged his future to Chelsea but has not received any assurances from Antonio Conte over his role in the team this season.
- Palermo have completed the signing of free agent Alessandro Diamanti on a two-year contract, from Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande. Serie A side confirmed the news on their website with a statement which read: “The player, a free transfer, has signed for the club on a two-year contract, with the option for a third year.”
- According to Gazzetta dello Sports, AC Milan and Inter Milan are fighting for the signing of 29-year-old defender Martin Cazeres. The Uruguayan is without a club since leaving Juventus at the end of last season but has attracted interest from a number of teams across Europe. Chelsea are also linked with Caceres amid Antonio Conte’s desires to sign a strong central defender.
Bundesliga
- Julian Draxler is on his way to PSG after Wolfsburg officials traveled to Paris earlier today to finalize a €75million deal for the German International star. According to Bild, Draxler has told the Bundesliga side of his wish to quit the club at all cost with Arsenal linked with the player as well. PSG are understood to have agreed personal terms with Draxler and will announce the deal in next 24 hours.
- According to Premium Sport, Borussia Dortmund have made an official offer for Juventus right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner. Juventus are willing to sell the Swiss Internation after Dani Alves’ arrival and with Juan Cuadrado linked with a permanent move to Turin. Dortmund want to add depth to their squad and bring an able competition for Lukasz Piszczek which would allow them to contest for the Bundesliga title.
- Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to offload Son Heung-Min this summer, with Wolfsburg interested in his services. According to Daily Mail, Mauricio Pochettino is happy with the attacking options he has and sees Son as surplus to requirement. The 24-year-old managed eight goals and five assists in 40 appearances last season but could be sold this summer with just 1 season in Premier League.
Premier League
- Chelsea are closing on the £23million signing of Marcos Alonso from Fiorentina. The Italian side had demanded £25million for the former Bolton and Sunderland defender and Chelsea's proposal includes add-ons. The Blues have been forced to sign Alonso after a string of failed transfers including Leonardo Bonucci and Kalidou Koulibaly. Conte sees Alonso as an able back-up to Cesar Azpilicueta after Baba Rahman’s move to Schalke earlier this summer.
- Arsenal defender Callum Chambers is set to join Middlesbrough on a season-long loan after being frozen out of the starting XI by Arsene Wenger. Daily Mail reported a story earlier today which stated that Wenger is happy with the defensive options he has now with Shkodran Mustafi’s arrival at the club. Mathieu Debuchy could stay at Emirate after the right back is currently nursing a calf injury which has led to Chambers moving away from the Emirates.
- Liverpool have submitted a £30m bid for Gremio forward, Luan, according to Brazilian radio station Futebol da Gaucha. Gremio vice-president Alberto Guerra said last week the club would consider offers should they come in: "Every good player is targeted. If a proposal arrives, we will analyse," he stated. Manchester United are also linked with a move for the highly-rated forward player.
La Liga
- Tottenham Hotspur are to miss out on Barcelona forward Munir El Haddadi, as he is set to join Valencia on loan. Munir is heading to the Mestalla to join Valencia on loan with an option to buy, according to Spanish journal Marca. Barcelona want to sign Valencia's Paco Alcacer and although the two deals are not related it has helped the deal to move forward.
- Barcelona are reportedly edging closer to completing the €30m signing of Valencia forward Paco Alcacer after he passed a medical on Monday. The Spanish international wasn’t part of the Valencia squad that faced Eibar at the weekend, with coach Pako Ayesteran revealing that his striker wasn’t ready to play. The striker is expected to be unveiled as a Barcelona player in next 24 hours.
- Chelsea are ready to make a £60m deadline day bid for James Rodriguez as they look to complete one last marquee signing of the season. According to Marca, The Blues have however, kept a close eye on Isco as well who is linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur. Real Madrid want to keep both the play makers but could be tempted to sell James amid the £60m bid from the Premier League side.
Rest of Europe
- PSG have ruled out the possibilities of Edinson Cavani returning to Napoli this summer. The Uruguayan international has been assured of a first team role by the new manager Unay Emery and has asked the striker to snub any chances of a transfer away from PSG this summer. Football Italia reported a story earlier this week stating Napoli’s interest in Cavani which now looks to be heading to a dead end.
- Newcastle have been installed as the bookmakers’ favourites to sign Ravel Morrison in the final days of the transfer window. The Lazio attacking midfielder had his odds slashed on making a move to St James’ park to just 15/8 by betting company SkyBet on Monday afternoon. Premier League side Hull are third favourites to bring the controversial playmaker to their club at 25/1.
