Welcome to our daily transfer round-up. We’ve compiled some of the best transfer news and rumours flying around today. Chelsea are close to completing a deal for a Belgian star, and a certain Liverpool defender is probably leaving Anfield this summer.
Manchester United have increased their offer for a Bundesliga transfer target, whilst Zidane has ordered Real Madrid to complete a deal for a Premier League star.
Here are the football transfer news and rumours from June 29th.
Serie A
- Newly promoted Serie A side FC Crotone are reportedly interested in signing Liverpool star Mario Balotelli, but those reports have been dismissed now by their director of sport, Giuseppe Ursino. “You must be joking. It was a joke of the President. Mario Balotelli remains where it is. Or rather, certainly will not be playing at Crotone," Ursine told Footballscouting.it.
- According to Sport Mediaset, Brazilian star Gabriel Jesus has a couple of release clauses in his contract. The first release clause of €25m is only applicable for ‘Top 6’ European clubs, which includes Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Manchester United. Juventus, who are apparently very keen on signing him, should pay €40m to activate his second release clause.
- Gonzalo Higuain’s brother, Nicolas, has admitted the Argentine star won’t be renewing his contract with Napoli. Higuain has another couple of years left on his contract at the Serie A club, but Napoli’s president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, has made it clear that any club willing to sign him should pay his release clause of €94.7m.
Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy suggest Paris-Saint Germain are stepping up their efforts to sign Higuain to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic but are reluctant to pay his release clause.
English Premier League
- Belgian star Michy Batshuayi is on the verge of signing for Chelsea after the Premier League side agreed on a fee of €40m excluding bonuses with Marseille, reports RMC in France. It is reported that Batshuayi will sign a five-year contract, and should undergo medical examinations today.
Tottenham, West Ham, and Crystal Palace were also in the race to sign the highly-rated Marseille star, but it now appears Chelsea have hijacked the deal.
Jack Sullivan, son of West Ham owner, David Sullivan sent the following tweet today,
- According to The Guardian, representatives of Lille star Sofiane Boufal are set to meet Premier League sides Arsenal, Chelsea and Southampton to hold discussions, and evaluate their offers. Boufal has also been linked to Barcelona and Liverpool in the past, but doesn’t seem to be a priority for either of the two clubs.
- Manchester United and Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing Brazilian star Gabriel Jesus. His agent, Christian Simoes, has told the Italian media the player wants to play in Europe and that all top clubs want him. "Palmeiras won't give any discounts and they want to keep Gabriel Jesus, so we'll see what happens. Playing in Europe would be fantastic, all the top clubs like the lad. We'll see what happens,” Simoes told Calciomercato.
- Slovakian skipper Martin Skrtel is expected to leave Anfield this summer, and reports in Turkey suggest he is close to sealing a move to Fenerbahce. "Van der Wiel and Slovak Skrtel transfers are almost done," Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim told AMK Spor.
La Liga
- Leicester City star N’Golo Kante is on the wishlist of several top European clubs. Marca in Spain claim Zinedine Zidane has asked Real Madrid to make a move for the Frenchman this summer. Real Madrid are looking to sign a defensive midfielder this summer, with Casemiro the only option for the La Liga giants at the moment.
- According to Catalan based newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are close to signing Lyon star Samuel Umtiti. It is reported the Frenchman could cost Barcelona as much as €30m, and a deal could be complete after the Euros.
- Juventus are reportedly looking to sign Javier Mascherano from Barcelona, after completing a deal for Dani Alves. Barcelona, however, have ruled out any chances of that happening this summer. Barcelona’s director of sport, Ariedo Braida, specifically told Rai Sport that Mascherano won’t sign for Juventus, and will remain with the Catalan giants next season.
Rest of Europe
- Marseille skipper Steve Mandanda is keen on switching clubs this summer, and reports in France suggest Crystal Palace have already agreed a fee for the Frenchman. Everton, however, are looking to hijack the deal and have offered the player a three-year contract, reports Foot Mercato.
- Borussia Dortmund star Henrikh Mkhitaryan is expected to leave the club this summer, after failing to agree for a new deal. Manchester United are leading the race to sign the Armenian star, and latest reports in Germany suggest Ed Woodward is ready to step up his interest.
According to Kicker, Manchester United have launched a bid of €42.5m bid for Mkhitaryan, but it is yet to be accepted by Borussia Dortmund.
- Portuguese giants Benfica have wrapped up a deal for Andrija Zivkovic from Partizan Belgrade on a free transfer. According to A Bola, Liverpool were in the pole position to sign Zivkovic but now Benfica have sealed the deal.
