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Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's Daily Transfer Roundup. We think it's safe to say now that this summer transfer window could change the power dynamics in Europe with each passing day.
We have some exciting news to bring to you today. Without further ado, let's take a look at the top transfer news, rumours and updates that made headlines on 21 June 2019.
Paris Saint-Germain will only sell Neymar on one condition
Barcelona have been trying to engineer a deal for Neymar ever since the Brazilian made it clear that he wants to return to the Camp Nou. Despite PSG being resigned to letting him leave and Neymar desperate to go back to his former club, Barcelona are having trouble piecing together an attractive deal.
After signing Antoine Griezmann for a meaty €120 million, they are short on funds and have thus offered PSG a cash+player deal for Neymar. Reports suggest that it was Ivan Rakitic that Barcelona offered.
However, PSG are not interested in signing an ageing Ivan Rakitic and will only sell the Brazilian if Barcelona cough up all of the €222 million the Ligue 1 champions spent on him when they signed him in the summer of 2017.
Recently, Ernesto Valverde's comments after Barcelona's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Rakuten Cup had sparked rumours linking Rakitic to PSG. Valverde had said,
"Just like every other year, he'll need to fight for his place. Let's see what happens this time. He's always fought and won his place, but we now have a lot of players and greater competition."
What is interesting to note is that this is the first instance of Valverde not denying the possibility of Rakitic leaving the club. Barcelona currently have a surplus of midfielders, and Valverde wants to retain Arturo Vidal as the experienced cog in an otherwise young midfield that's brimming with talent.
PSG were, in fact, keen on bringing Rakitic to Paris last summer. However, their stance on the Croatian international has changed, and it looks like Barcelona will need to pay the whole amount in cash if they're to re-sign Neymar.
Sporting Lisbon head coach hopes Bruno Fernandes will stay at the club
Bruno Fernandes has been heavily linked with Manchester United with several sources reporting that the clubs are close to coming to an agreement for the Portuguese midfielder who scored 32 goals for Sporting Lisbon last season.
Bruno himself confirmed his desire to play in the Premier League whilst on pre-season tour with the rest of the squad. Now, Sporting head coach Marcel Keiser has said that he hopes Fernandes will kick on at the club as he is irreplaceable.
Keiser said,
"A player of his quality cannot be replaced.
"If it were up to me, the market would close, it's good enough for me. But all the teams are waiting to see what happens with respect to new players and possible transfers.
“Sporting wants to keep the best but we are not in a position to keep all of our players and something will happen but I do hope they can stay."
Celtic manager confirms Arsenal's deal for Kieren Tierney is off
Arsenal have faced yet another setback in the transfer window. Kieran Tierney's potential move to Arsenal is off as confirmed by Celtic manager Neil Lennon. The manager added that they are delighted that the deal is not happening.
“The deal, as far as I’m aware, is not happening,"
"We are delighted about that and it’s just a question of appeasing his mind now.
“As far as I am aware, it is finished. I don’t know if Arsenal are going to meet our valuation. So it is basically as you were."
Lack of funds has proven to be a real impediment to Arsenal as Unai Emery looks to reinforce his team. Arsenal are close to signing Dani Ceballos from Real Madrid. However, that will be a season-long loan deal. The Gunners had to, earlier, back out from their pursuit of Wilfried Zaha after deeming Crystal Palace's valuation of the winger too high.
Pogba not a problem, Lukaku will not play against Spurs
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, speaking to the press ahead of the Red Devils' pre-season game on Thursday against Tottenham Hotspur, revealed that Romelu Lukaku will not feature in tomorrow's game as he will not be fit. Lukaku is being pursued actively by Inter Milan who are reportedly prepared to make one final offer to sign the Belgian.
Reports claim that Manchester United have given Inter a deadline to come up with a good offer as they need to sign a replacement as well before the transfer window shuts.
Ole said,
“Lukaku has been working with a physiotherapist in the last few days so I don’t think he’ll make it tomorrow,”
“It’s not a serious problem. If it were more serious we would have sent him home.”
On being asked if Pogba is due for a frosty reception should he stay on at Manchester United, Ole replied that the midfielder has not been a problem at all and that the fans will understand how much he gives for the club.
“Our fans know what Paul has given the club and what he can give us,”
“Of course there is a small, loud minority, but Paul has been absolutely top in the group.
“Both myself and the players will testify to that, there hasn’t been a seconds problems. We are grateful when he performs as well as he does.”
Atletico Madrid wants to block Antoine Griezmann's Barcelona move
I guess we can all agree that Antoine Griezmann's move to Barcelona has seen an unwelcome escalation of sorts after Atletico Madrid issued a statement condemning their action of agreeing a deal with the Frenchman while he was still contracted with them.
Griezmann, who has now joined Barcelona after the club paid his release clause, is now set to ride a testing tide as Atletico Madrid urge LaLiga to block the move following the dispute over the release clause.
Atletico are claiming that Barcelona owe them €200 million as they had reached an agreement with Griezmann before July 1st- the date on which the figure fell to €120 million as per a clause in his contract.
Javier Tebas has now revealed on radio station Onda Cer that Atletico Madrid have made a move to block the transfer. He said,
"Atletico wrote to us and placed in doubt whether or not we should grant Griezmann's licence at Barcelona,"
"There is a mechanism that has been put in place and it will be the organisations that must resolve the situation. We don't have the element of judgement."
