Thursday's transfer news: Lionel Messi 'never been closer' to leaving Barcelona, Arsenal close on Gabriel, Manchester United stall on Jadon Sancho terms
Barcelona's Lionel Messi (Picture: AP)
It’ll be the signing of the summer and perhaps the signing of the century as Lionel Messi continues to have “doubts” over his future despite meeting with new Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman. The 33-year-old earns up to €100 million per year pre-tax, while his €700 million release clause could prove prohibitive. The Dutchman is keen on compatriot and Liverpool star Gini Wijnaldum as one of his first signings at the Nou Camp.
Elsewhere there could be monster moves for Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz, who could follow compatriot Timo Werner to Stamford Bridge. While Gareth Bale has emerged as an option for Jose Mourinho at Tottenham Hotspur with his Real Madrid future not just uncertain but all but over with his sour relationship with Zinedine Zidane and the board.
Then there’s Manchester United and their ongoing negotiations with Borussia Dortmund for Jadon Sancho, with personal terms also a sticking point between the Red Devils and the England international. We’ll have all the live updates and latest speculation right here.
Ronald Koeman wants Liverpool's Gini Wijnaldum to follow him to the Nou Camp after being confirmed as the new Barcelona manager.
While the absolute priority remains convincing Lionel Messi to stay, the Dutchman would like to further the influence of his country on the Catalan giants.
Koeman knows he has little time to waste and would be keen to bring in some of his biggest influences from his impressive stint with the Dutch national team, according to Algemeen Dagblad.
The noise surrounding a proposed move for Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara to Liverpool intensifies, but officials on Merseyside insist the chatter is more advanced than the reality.
There is no ambiguity that Jurgen Klopp is a great admirer of the midfielder, and while he jars with the club’s usual strategy in terms of age, stage of career and injury record, the 29-year-old is a world-class, press-resistant player with supreme ball retention and progression attributes.
Given his pedigree and technical rareness, Liverpool are significantly interested in Thiago. It would be remiss of them not to explore the possibility of recruiting him.
He is in the final year of his contract at the Allianz Arena, and naturally talks have taken place with his camp.
Gabriel Magalhaes has delayed a move to Arsenal as he waits to see if Manchester United make a last ditch bid for his services.
That's according to the Telegraph who believe Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could make a timely intervention to prize away the Lille defender from the Emirates.
Costing £22m, Gabriel has all but finalises personal terms with the Ligue 1 club, while a fee is agree with multiple suitors. But now United have a chance to hijack the deal.
Manchester United are swapping targets away from a loan deal for Douglas Costa to David Brooks.
The Manchester Evening News claim the Red Devils have cooled their interest in taking the Brazilian on loan from Juventus.
And Brooks would be available on a permanent deal from relegated Bournemouth, who valued the Welsh international at £50m last summer, ending United's interest then.
But the player shares representation with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, which could help smooth over a deal for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Messi's doesn't see his Barcelona future "clearly" and there are still "doubts" for the Argentine.
That's according to the Catalan newspapers Mundo Deportivo and Sport, despite having talks with Ronald Koeman.
The Argentine is reportedly upset with the manner in which the club has been run in recent years, culminating this year in yet another disastrous exit in the Champions League thanks to Bayern Munich.
Tuttosport believe Douglas Costa could help ease relations between Manchester United and Juventus, which could eventually lead to a breakthrough in the Italians' desire to re-sign Paul Pogba.
The Frenchman's future remains unclear but Brazilian winger Douglas could be an option to bolster Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's attack.
And should Juventus send the former Bayern star to Old Trafford, then Tuttosport believes that could be a key breakthrough in United's openness to sell Pogba this summer.
Wolves want to sign Sevilla's Lucas Ocampos, whose late goal knocked them out of the Europa League, if they are to sell Adama Traore this summer, according to the Daily Star.
Traore is a target for a number of clubs including Barcelona, with a reported pricetag of around £60-70m, and Wolves believe they can do a deal for Ocampos for less than £50m.
Barcelona want Memphis Depay, according to RAC1 (h/t Football Espana).
The Lyon forward has been excellent this term, leading the French side to the Champions League semi-finals.
While also a pivotal part of the Dutch national team, former boss Ronald Koeman wants to bring him to the Nou Camp and OL will likely sell with just one year remaining on his deal.
Andrea Pirlo wants to sign Edin Dzeko to compete with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus.
Despite scoring 19 goals last season the 34-year-old Roma striker is up for sale, according to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, and Juve are in the running to secure his signature along with Antonio Conte's Inter Milan.
Eric Abidal has spoken about his recent exit at Barcelona.
Over the last two years, I tried to make changes that I thought were very important for the first team. But, despite my conviction and persistence, I failed.
This second goodbye brings to a close two years where I tried to work to make Barcelona better. Two intense seasons which I decided to bring to an end on my own accord.
Whilst the board gave me a vote of confidence on Monday, I provided my resignation on Tuesday, waving rights to the final year of my contract with Barcelona. The moment has come to draw a line under the link between me and the club.
It's easy to forget there's still a season to finish as we approach September, but tonight's Europa League final will be the last game in Europe for Sevilla's Ever Banega.
The mercurial Argentine is set to join Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia - here, Tom Kershaw looks the wonderful talent who always left you wanting more.
Philippe Coutinho has opened up on his future as he prepares for the Champions League final with Bayern Munich.
"My mind is fully focused on the competition," Coutinho said."It's a unique opportunity for us.
"I'm very happy to be in the Champions League final.On my future, I haven't thought about it because I'm only thinking about the final. We haven't spoken yet because of the match.
"I'm sure he is focused on his team and me on mine. PSG is a very strong side with really quick forwards. I don't even need to say how great of a player Neymar is because the whole world knows it.
"They also have a solid defence. It'll be a great match, a great final."
Barcelona's top earners are unlikely to be too keen to leave this summer, but that is exactly what must be done from the board's perspective if they are to begin correcting past mistakes.
Gerard Pique, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Philippe Coutinho are among the high earners who could be sold - providing head coach Ronald Koeman sanctions those moves.
The noise surrounding a proposed move for Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara to Liverpool intensifies, but officials on Merseyside insist the chatter is more advanced than the reality.
There is no ambiguity that Jurgen Klopp is a great admirer of the midfielder, and while he jars with the club’s usual strategy in terms of age, stage of career and injury record, the 29-year-old is a world-class, press-resistant player with supreme ball retention and progression attributes.
Given his pedigree and technical rareness, Liverpool are significantly interested in Thiago. It would be remiss of them not to explore the possibility of recruiting him.
He is in the final year of his contract at the Allianz Arena, and naturally talks have taken place with his camp.
The Spain international is enthused by a move to Anfield and while his cost of around £30m and top-bracket wages would be weighty in a coronavirus-affected market when there is still so much up in the air around income next season, finance is not the key determining factor over a deal.
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