Friday's transfer news: Man Utd bid for Premier League rival, plan B for Liverpool, Arsenal suffer setback
Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona remain the talk of the transfer rumour mill now that the international window has finally opened.
Yesterday Eden Hazard was finally unveiled as a Real Madrid player after completing a medical with the Spanish giants, following his move from Chelsea. And earlier in the week Daniel James completed his £18m move from Swansea to Manchester United.
The future of Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt meanwhile remains uncertain, with the 19-year-old defender currently linked to a host of clubs eager to land his signature. And Liverpool continue to press for the signature of Lille winger Nicolas Pepe – but have a new striker in their sights.
We start with the news that Maurizio Sarri is poised to quit Chelsea for Juventus.
Chelsea are holding out for more than £5m from Juventus for Maurizio Sarri, but the feeling from both camps is that a deal is inevitable, potentially clearing the way for Frank Lampard to return to the club as manager.
The Italian champions’ sporting director Fabio Paratici has been in London the last few days to negotiate, with the club having made Sarri their preferred choice to succeed Max Allegri.
Chelsea are insisting on compensation, since that’s what they had to pay to get Sarri out of his Napoli contract last summer.
Juventus and Roma are working on a sensational deal that would see the clubs swap players: Kostas Manolas moving to Turin and Gonzalo Higuain, back from a disappointing loan spell at Chelsea, moving to the capital.
Roma are ready to sell Edin Dzeko and the Argentine is seen as a suitable replacement, add Gazzetta dello Sport.
The move would put Mauro Icardi in an awkward position, with new Inter boss Antonio Conte keen to get rid of the problematic striker.
The PSG star, who will leave the French club on a free transfer this summer, has been targeted by many of Europe's top clubs.
Barcelona had been seen as the favourites, with Manchester United also keen, but Rabiot has now conceded he is talking to the Turin giants and could be Maurizio Sarri's first signing once his move from Chelsea is confirmed.
"I'm talking with Juventus," Rabiot told Corriere dello Sport. " it’s a great club where everyone would like to play.
"I like Italy so much, it’s wonderful here. A demanding season awaits me. At Juventus? Juve watched me and we talked about it, but I can’t say anything.
“Manchester United? It’s the same as last year, I have to decide. I’m on vacation for now. Soon you will know.”
Antoine Griezmann can play all across the front line, which will be part of the reason Barcelona will likely sign the France international from Atletico Madrid.
But Griezmann has eyed a specific role, claim Mundo Deportivo: the left side of the front three.
That means Barcelona are likely to persist with Luis Suarez down the middle, and Lionel Messi, of course, on the left, which could create an issue with Ousmane Dembele and a lack of game time for the French winger.
Jonathan Woodgate has been appointed Middlesbrough's head coach on a three-year contract.
The 39-year-old former Boro and England defender has been handed the reins following the departure of Tony Pulis at the end of the season.
A club statement said: "Middlesbrough Football Club are delighted to confirm that Jonathan Woodgate will head up a new-look senior coaching team.
"Jonathan has been appointed as the club's new head coach and has agreed a three-year contract.
"Our former captain will be joined by his ex-Leeds and Tottenham team-mate, and current Republic of Ireland assistant manager Robbie Keane, Leo Percovich, who was previously on the coaching staff at the club from 2013-2017, and one-time Boro man Danny Coyne, as goalkeeping coach."
Kyle Walker is set to sign a new contract at Manchester City.
The England international has agreed new terms, report Goal, despite three years still to run on his deal he signed in 2017 after a £50m move from Spurs.
The new deal will tie him to the Etihad until 2024, with the impending arrival of Joao Cancelo from Juventus seemingly not casting doubt on his role under Pep Guardiola.
Matthijs De Ligt has a tough decision to make over his future.
The Ajax star has several high offers: Barcelona, Juventus and PSG.
Manchester United are also known to be keen, but Sport claim the Spaniards' offer is €6m per year, half of PSG's massive €12m offer, with Juventus going in at €10m.
Juventus’ sporting director Fabio Paratici has arrived in London to meet at Manchester United's offices in the capital for talks over a move for Paul Pogba.
The French midfielder appears open to a move this summer, with the Old Lady keen to bring him back to Turin, according to Sky Sports.
As a deal for Maurizio Sarri is close to completion, targets for the soon-to-be former Chelsea boss are being lined up, with Pogba seen as a priority.
Aston Villa have appointed West Brom's Mark Harrison as their new academy manager
Harrison held a similar position with the Baggies for over a decade but has been brought in to help bring through young talent with the club returning to the Premier League.
"Aston Villa is a football club steeped in a rich tradition of producing its own players," said chief executive Christian Purslow.
"Mark's appointment is another cornerstone of the process and journey that we set out upon last summer.
"As a football club, we want a clear pathway right through the academy to the first-team with outstanding recruitment and development.
"I have every confidence that Mark, working closely with Dean Smith and Jesus Garcia Pitarch, will build an excellent academy that will be able to nurture the next generation of stars to entertain the crowds at Villa Park."
Arsenal are meanwhile set to push on with their first signing of the summer with a bid for Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser set to be lodged. A new centre-back is high on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s priority list at United with Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Leicester’s Harry Maguire both options. Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka is another on the Norwegian’s radar.
It won’t just be incomings at Old Trafford, however, with Paul Pogba a high-profile target for Real Madrid and Alexis Sanchez on his way out with Inter Milan and Juventus fighting it out for his signature – if he drops his wage demands. And Liverpool could be active too as they look to go one better after failing to win the Premier League title by just a single point.
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