Less than 48 hours to go!
Forty-seven hours or so until the summer window does not just shut but slams closed, and there’s plenty of potential movers and shakers to keep an eye on before then. Hurry:
• Chelsea are weighing-up a £71m move for goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga after Thibaut Courtois again missed training
• Mateo Kovacic is in talks over a season-long loan move to Stamford Bridge, as Real Madrid attempt to sweeten Mr Sarri and co
• Bernard’s medical at Everton has been pushed back to Wednesday and still requires a work permit before he can complete his free transfer
• Bournemouth are set to confirm the £25m club-record signing of Jefferson Lerma, after the Colombia midfielder’s medical on the south coast
• Jack Grealish is in-demand but Aston Villa have crossed their fingers and toes in a bid to keep their prized asset
• Jordan Ayew has refused to train at Swansea City, priming him for a Premier League return with Crystal Palace
• Alex Song is in Switzerland for a medical with FC Sion, while Adama Soumaoro wants to stay at Lille amid Everton interest
• Get France Football News also reports PSG defender Stanley N’Soki has rejected a proposal from Newcastle
• And Celtic have rebuffed a bid from Fulham for Dedryck Boyata, with manager Brendan Rodgers reluctant to sell
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Heard the one about Jonathan Biabany? He has rejoined Parma this afternoon, from Inter, meaning, since 2009 he has played for each club three times and moved between the two on four separate occasions.
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A story you may have missed: Sheffield Wednesday have been operating under a transfer embargo since April. Under the EFL’s profitability and sustainability rules, clubs are not allowed to post losses in excess of £39m over three years without punishment. Wednesday are in dialogue with the governing body over a solution and, speaking last week, Shaun Harvey insisted clubs do take the rules and sanctions seriously:
I certainly think QPR have taken it seriously enough and Leicester and Bournemouth – whatever your view is on the settlements reached – it is money they would much rather have done something else with than pay it to the EFL, so there is a seriousness. The big challenge we have got in the next six months is to communicate really clearly what can and cannot take place by clubs that breach these rules
Don’t know much about Kepa Arrizabalaga? The goalkeeper joined Athletic Bilbao as a 10-year-old boy and, now, a decade later, he has established himself as one of the most dependable and athletic stoppers around. Kepa has been David de Gea’s main rival to the throne and is still in the spring of his career. Kepa was born in the seaside town of Ondárroa, in Biscay on the north coast, which is renowned both for its fishermen and footballers. When he was 15 his parents threatened to take him out of Lezama, the Athletic academy, if he didn’t improve his grades in language studies, but fortunately he stayed where he was. He’s now seen by many of his club’s fans as the heir to José Ángel Iríbar, the mythical Basque shot-stopper of the 1960s and 1970s. Kepa’s reflexes are an important quality but even more so his anticipation of the situations he faces. He rarely makes spectacular saves but only because of his ability to guess what opponents are about to do. He rejected a move to Real Madrid in January, calling it “a life decision” ...
So ... some Spanish outlets are reporting that Chelsea will activate Kepa Arrizabalaga’s release clause and the transfer will be announced tomorrow. That all seems rather swift given his £71m release clause but not entirely implausible, all the same. Kepa trained at Athletic Bilbao as normal today, while Jack Butland remains a cheaper alternative.
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Bernard remains Everton-bound, with the Brazil international expected to sign on a free transfer having let his contract expire at Shakhtar Donetsk last season, but his medical is not expected until Wednesday now. It had been initially pencilled in for today after Everton moved ahead of West Ham United, Chelsea, Milan and others in the race for the winger. Bernard will also need a work permit to complete his move to the Premier League. Central defence remains the priority for Marco Silva and director of football Marcel Brands – as it appears to be for a host of Premier League clubs – but the long-standing pursuit of Yerry Mina, Jamaal Lascelles and others remains “on-going” with only two days remaining of the window.
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After turning his nose up at Leeds United, Matej Vydra could be on his way to Burnley, according to reports. The Derby County striker could be heading to Turf Moor as part of a swap-deal with Nahki Wells. Also in the Football League, Lee Camp is said to be having a medical at Birmingham City, with the Cardiff goalkeeper set to join on loan ...
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Brighton have enjoyed a smashing window – and it’s not even over yet. “With the arrivals of Andone, Bernardo, Jahanbakhsh and the very impressive Bissouma do you reckon another signing makes the Seagulls a contender for top seven (Burnley style)?” quizzes Mathe. “Is that signing the highly-rated Ivorian Ibrahim Sangare? Perhaps, Brighton have offered €12m but, even if they didn’t get that one over the line, or another defender – Dan Burn, Jack O’Connell and Liam Moore have been of interest – it should be considered a cracking summer for Chris Hughton, Tony Bloom and co.
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Manchester United’s hunt for the centre-back José Mourinho craves continues as the transfer deadline edges closer, report the Press Association:
Last season’s Premier League runners-up have stuttered in the market this summer, having so far only signed Brazil midfielder Fred, promising full-back Diogo Dalot and third-choice goalkeeper Lee Grant.
Mourinho would ideally like two more signings before Thursday’s deadline and spoke of his confidence that he would get at least one through the door, warning that failure to improve the squad would make this a “difficult season”.
United are keen to buy a centre-back and are interested in Bayern Munich’s Jérôme Boateng.
Toby Alderweireld is another defender United are interested in, but it is understood that Tottenham have yet to receive a bid as a deal remains a way off.
Mourinho’s side have tracked, among others, the likes of Jose Gimenez, Milan Skriniar and Kalidou Koulibaly in a summer that has seen regular links to Yerry Mina.
The latter, so impressive for Colombia in Russia, is also reported to have been part of a deal offered by Barcelona for World Cup winner Paul Pogba.
Links to World Cup star Harry Maguire persist but Leicester’s reluctance to sell is clear with the deadline looming large.
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Jordan Ayew – wanted by Crystal Palace – is creeping towards the exit door at Swansea City after refusing to train for the club. Of the 26-year old, last season’s top-scorer, new manager Graham Potter said: “There’s no further news on Jordan – he’s just not been here. That tells you that he’s not part of what we’re trying to do, by his own actions.”
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A couple of emails ... “Another victim of the early transfer window closure?” asks Jack Dennison, re: Ruben Loftus-Cheek. “Sarri will have had a matter of days to make a judgement on him. If he does stay there is no guarantee of minutes surely?” And in terms of a Courtois replacement, Souradeep Sengupta ponders why Keylor Navas’s name has not been mentioned. “Navas has always been criminally underrated by the Real Madrid board, fans and even journalists.”
South Americans are all the rage ... Jefferson Lerma is tying up his £25m move to Bournemouth as we speak, while his towering Colombia team-mate Yerry Mina is a man in demand after his stellar displays at the World Cup. But, Brighton & Hove Albion have already snapped up 20-year-old winger Billy Arce. The Ecuadorian, who has signed a four-year deal, will spend the coming season on loan at La Liga 2 club Extremadura UD.
If Thibaut Courtois moves on to Real Madrid, as he wishes, then who might Chelsea bring in to replace him? One name that keeps cropping up is that of Kepa Arrizabalaga, the Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper who is thought to have a €80 million (£71m) release clause, while Jack Butland, the Stoke City goalkeeper is on their radar but will not come cheap. Maurizio Sarri is also an admirer of the Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak, but his £89m release clause is a stumbling block They have already signed Rob Green as an explicitly third-choice keeper.
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Chelsea have opened talks with Real Madrid over signing Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic, although it’s unclear whether the proposed deal is for a season-long loan or permanent switch. Kovacic has wanted a move away from the Bernabéu to earn regular first-team football having made just 10 La Liga starts last season but given he’s 24, Madrid are reluctant to let him leave long-term, with considerations for him to eventually take over from Luka Modric.
Celtic have rebuffed Fulham’s bid for defender Dedryck Boyata. The Belgium international will not feature in Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier against AEK Athens but manager Brendan Rodgers is reluctant to lose his man. “We know he is in the last year of his deal,” he said. “He has been a fantastic player for me in my time here, he had an excellent World Cup when he played.”
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Alisher Usmanov has been talking – or somebody has on his behalf, at least – about that £550m sale to Stan Kroenke. “I have decided to sell my shares in Arsenal football club which could be the best football club in the world,” he says. “I wish all the best and great success to this wonderful football club.”
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is seemingly at a bit of a crossroads, still on the periphery at Chelsea despite an impressive loan spell at Crystal Palace. Eden Hazard reckons he should be in Maurizio Sarri’s plans, though. “Ruben is still young, of course, but I think if we can have him in the team this season it’s a plus for everyone,” Hazard told reporters. “I know his quality. He is young, he is powerful. The future will be top for him.”
Here we go, then ... Eidur Gudjohnsen’s 16-year-old son Andri Lucas has joined Real Madrid. The teenager, whose father played for Barcelona, moves from Espanyol.
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Straight to the south coast, where Jefferson Lerma, donning ripped washout jeans, is in the building at Bournemouth. The Colombia midfielder, who can also operate at right-back, is in town to wrap a club-record £25m deal, which could rise north of that in add-ons. Lerma featured four times at the World Cup, that last-16 defeat to England.
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Here’s a potentially intriguing one from Spain: Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Barcelona are prepared to offload Ousmane Dembélé to Arsenal after only a season at the Camp Nou. Unai Emery is an admirer of the French forward and is reportedly keen to shell out €10m to take him, initially on loan, before a permanent deal next summer.
And on that maybe-perhaps-bombshell, I’ll hand you back to Ben.
And here’s a fuller report on the latest in the Courtois impasse, from Dominic Fifield:
In the Football League, Swansea are reportedly in talks to sign the Yeovil defender Tom James, whose move to West Brom collapsed last week. The Welsh right-back played in Yeovil’s defeat by Bury on Saturday but was sent off.
More Burnley gossip: our old muckers Sky Sources suggest Burnley are to make an improved £18m bid for Jay Rodriguez today, and that Leicester have secured ‘broad agreement’ to sign Dinamo Zagreb’s defender Filip Benkovic.
Oh, and Michi Batshuayi could be off to Sevilla on loan from Chelsea.
Thanks Ben. Afternoon everyone. It’s not been the busiest of windows at Selhurst Park but here’s Dominic Fifield with some news on their pursuit of Jordan Ayew:
Crystal Palace are still hopeful of securing Jordan Ayew from Swansea on a permanent deal before Thursday’s transfer deadline, despite Jairo Riedewald having rejected the chance to drop into the Championship as part of the deal for the Ghana international.
Ayew has expressed a desire to return to the Premier League following last season’s relegation and did not feature in Swansea’s impressive opening weekend win at Sheffield United. Roy Hodgson is attracted to his pace and versatility given the forward, capped 46 times, can feature across the front line. The 26-year-old contributed 11 goals in all competitions last season.
Funds are tight at Palace this summer with significant payments due on transfers secured in previous windows – they have added Max Meyer and Vicente Guaita on free transfers to date, and spent around £9.5m on Cheikhou Kouyaté – meaning they will have to raise funds to complete a deal for Ayew, who is likely to cost around £12m. Fulham had an £8m bid rejected earlier in the summer.
Riedewald, secured from Ajax for around £8m last summer, was omitted from Palace’s match-day squad for Saturday’s preseason friendly against Toulouse and could still leave Selhurst Park this summer in search of more regular game-time. He made only four Premier League starts last term and may be more open to a switch to a rival topflight team, either permanently or on loan.
Palace could potentially look to move on Pape Souaré, now third-choice at left-back following a lengthy period out of contention following a serious car crash, or the Wales midfielder Jonny Williams before Thursday’s cut-off, either on permanent or temporary deals. Decisions will also have to be made on other fringe players over the remainder of the month, with the loan window open until 31 August.
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With rumours swirling around left, right and centre, get a grip on all the concrete transfers. Tom Davies will guide you through the next chunk of gossip and goings-on ...
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Nottingham Forest have already splashed out £24m on 11 new faces this summer, including £13.2m record-signing Joao Carvalho – and now they want to add Sam Byram from West Ham United. “He’s one on the list,” Aitor Karanka said. “We have been working since May to try and build a good squad.” On Saturday, the Forest manager warned his new flurry of recruits that they have no time to bed in:
The players from abroad are realising that the Championship is really tough; it is not the Champions League, Portuguese league or the Spanish league, it is really tough and everybody has to realise that we need to fight with the same intensity. In this squad they don’t have time to settle in, because if they take time they know they are going to lose their position. You don’t realise how big, how tough this league is until the moment you arrive here. When you are here, you enjoy it and you suffer it
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Thibaut Courtois has missed training at Chelsea for a second day in succession as he continues to await progress in his transfer to Real Madrid. There have been suggestions the Belgian’s unauthorised absence could be curtailed on Wednesday, with reports the goalkeeper could report back to the club’s Cobham training base to explain his no-show this week in scheduled talks with the new head coach, Maurizio Sarri.
However, he remains intent upon departing the club this month and sealing a return to Madrid, where he spent three years on loan at Atlético. The 26-year-old’s two children live in the Spanish capital with his former partner, with Real having submitted a £35m bid for his services earlier this month.
In Italy, Kevin Mirallas is in Florence putting the finishing touches to his season-long loan move from Everton to Fiorentina. The 30-year-old Belgium forward was instructed to train away from the first team by Marco Silva in pre-season.
You sense it could be a busy 48 hours at Bodymoor Heath, Aston Villa’s training ground. Steve Bruce has made moves for Sheyi Ojo, Lukas Nmecha, John McGinn and Joe Bryan, while Axel Tuanzebe rejoined on loan on Monday. In-demand trio Jack Grealish, James Chester and Adomah could yet depart too.
Lots of interest in Aston Villa winger Albert Adomah. Leeds, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest all interested in the Ghana international, who has less than 12 months left on his contract. He started Villa’s 3-1 win on Monday:
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Mateo Kovacic? Yerry Mina? Two rather juicy reports in Spain could be music to the ears of Chelsea and Manchester United respectively, with Croatia international Kovacic set for a season-long loan at Stamford Bridge, according to Marca. They also say that Mina, the towering Colombia defender, skipped training this morning. Does a Premier League move beckon? Everton, Southampton and Wolves enquired after him.
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In the Football League, the QPR winger David Wheeler is set to head out on loan to Portsmouth, while Bristol Rovers and Coventry City are fighting over Walsall front man Amadou Bakayoko after agreeing a fee of £200,000, while Shrewsbury duo Toto Nsiala and Jon Nolan are on the brink of being reunited with Paul Hurst at Ipswich.
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For the second day running, Thibaut Courtois has skipped Chelsea training. The 26-year-old, once of Atlético Madrid, has his heart set on a return to the Spanish capital, with Real Madrid intent on wrapping up a deal for the Belgium goalkeeper.
Done deal klaxon! Rangers confirm the signing of Borna Barisic from NK Osijek on a four-year deal. The 25-year-old full-back recently scored against Steven Gerrard’s men in a draw against the Croatian side in the Europa League at Ibrox.
With the news on Monday that Clarence Seedorf has taken the Cameroon job, a reminder that his nephew, Sherwin, is playing for League One Bradford City these days:
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Done deal klaxon! Bayer Leverkusen have loaned in Anderlecht’s Isaac Kiese Thelin, with the Bundesliga club having an option on the Sweden striker to make the deal permanent for €6m. He was linked with Newcastle United earlier this window.
A left-field signing, but he will put bums on seats. The eight-time Olympic champion who has previously trained with Borussia Dortmund, said: “I am very excited about coming to Australia. It has been my dream to play professional football and I know that it will involve a lot of hard work and training to get to the level required.”
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Montpellier are considering an offer worth an initial £13.5m from Huddersfield Town for their Belgium under-21s forward Isaac Mbenza. The Saint-Denis-born striker, who can operate across the front-line, contributed eight league goals last season and has previously played for Valenciennes and Standard Liege. The 22-year-old is contracted through to 2020 at Stade de la Mosson, but reports in France suggest he would be keen to pursue the chance to play in the Premier League. Any deal to Huddersfield would include a sell-on clause for Montpellier.
More on Isaac Mbenza – high on the wishlist of David Wagner at Huddersfield shortly – but more on the news that Joe Hart has signed for Burnley. Sean Dyche was desperate for a new goalkeeper with Tom Heaton and Nick Pope both injured:
Across the Channel, Get French Football News (GFFN) tell us how Ligue 1 clubs are fearing a mass-pillage:
- Huddersfield Town are nearing a €15m agreement with Montpellier to sign 22-year-old forward Issac Mbenza
- L’Équipe report that Newcastle United continue to negotiate with Lyon for teenage forward Myziane Maolida, mysteriously dropped from their squad to face Chelsea
- Brighton have put €12m on the table for Toulouse’s 20-year-old midfield talent Ibrahim Sangaré, with the Seagulls awaiting a response from Toulouse president Olivier Sadran
- Fulham have had a loan with option to buy offer for St Étienne midfielder Ole Selnaes rejected – it is unclear if they will return with a bid to buy the player out-right
- Levante are close to an agreement with Stoke City to sign French midfielder Giannelli Imbula on loan
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Amid talk that Mino Raiola is agitating a move for his client, Mr Pogba, the former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, has a message for Ed Woodward. “Don’t you dare allow this,” he said on Twitter. “MUFC is Pogba’s home!! Silence these rumours ASAP & get @AlderweireldTob through the door.”
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Done deal klaxon! Twelve years on from joining Manchester City for £600,000, Joe Hart joins Burnley for £3.5m. The club captain, Vincent Kompany, said: “Joe joined as a young lad from Shrewsbury and leaves as a City legend.” The 31-year-old becomes Sean Dyche’s second summer signing after the arrival of Ben Gibson from Middlesbrough.
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Juan Mata to Milan? Sky Sports Italia are reporting Manchester United are willing to sell the Spaniard to Internazionale. The 30-year-old has been heavily involved in pre-season but the arrival of Fred may have pushed him down the pecking order.
Please tell me Jack Grealish is staying at Aston Villa, is the message from SIANdrama on Twitter. Well, that looked like goodbye at the end of their win at Hull City last night, though Steve Bruce is remaining hopeful. Given the way Tottenham Hotspur and Daniel Levy tend to do business, a late move by Spurs seems inevitable. “The offer we had has not been enough to be tempted. We hope he’s still our player by Friday,” Bruce said last night. “But the last thing we want to do is pull the wool over anyone’s eyes.”
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The future of Yannick Bolasie could be one of the more intriguing storylines to monitor over the next 48 hours. Everton are happy to cash in on the 29-year-old, who is reportedly of interest to Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough. He would presumably be Adama Traore’s replacement at Boro, with the winger set to join Wolves for £18m.
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Done deal klaxon! Brighton & Hove Albion have added Anders Dryer to their under-23s ranks. The 20-year-old finished as top scorer in Denmark’s second tier last season with 18 goals. “He arrives here on the back of a prolific first full season in which he topped the scoring charts and helped Esbjerg win promotion,” said coach Simon Rusk.
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Joe Hart is closing on a move to Burnley, after finalising personal terms on Monday evening. The 31-year-old is set to sign an initial two-year deal and will join Sean Dyche’s stable of England stoppers, rivalling Nick Pope and Tom Heaton for the No 1 spot. Manchester City will pocket a fee of circa £3.5m.
Meanwhile, Patrick van Aanholt admits he is flattered by links to Serie A champions Juventus but is happy in south London. The Crystal Palace defender said: “It is a sign that I am in a good way. It is always good to be linked with big clubs like Juventus.”
Lucas Pérez to West Ham United looks a goer. The striker is set to become Manuel Pellegrini’s ninth signing since being appointed manager in May. For around £4m, that deal seems like a shrewd bit of business. Pérez spent last season on loan at former club Deportivo, scoring nine goals. If they manage to get that one over the line, it will take West Ham’s summer spending towards the £100m mark:
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In the Football League, Shrewsbury Town have snapped up the Lincoln City captain Luke Waterfall. As for Joe Bryan, the Bristol City defender has a decision to make with Middlesbrough and Aston Villa having bids in the region of £5m accepted; he has less than 12 months to run on his contract. Meanwhile, some good and bad news for QPR. The exciting 20-year-old forward Ebere Eze, who shone on loan at Wycombe Wanderers last season, has signed a new three-year deal. The bad bit? The Australia defender, Trent Sainsbury, a summer target for Steve McClaren, has joined PSV Eindhoven.
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Chelsea have 23 players out on loan, but how many more will depart Stamford Bridge in search of first-team football? Fikayo Tomori linked up with Frank Lampard’s Derby County on Monday but immediate future of the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham remains unknown, with Crystal Palace reportedly keen on a move for both.
Jefferson Lerma is expected on the south coast later today, to undergo a medical and complete his move to Bournemouth for a club-record £25m, eclipsing the £20m Eddie Howe paid for defender Nathan Aké. Lerma has been in France to pick up a work permit and will sign a five-year contract with the Cherries, assuming he gains international clearance. Howe could still make a move for Chris Mepham, the £15m-rated Brentford defender also of interest to Leicester City.
Away from player ins and out for a second, because behind the scenes at Arsenal there have been some mightily important movements. Stan Kroenke is buying Alisher Usmanov’s 30% of Arsenal shares for £600m, months after Usmanov turned down Kroenke’s £525m in October. The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust aren’t too happy about it, though, labelling this “a dreadful day for Arsenal FC”, adding they are extremely concerned to note the purchase will be funded by a loan:
Two days to go!
With 5pm on Thursday fast approaching, let’s get straight into the thick of it, with some red-hot rumours, including more talk of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Manchester United, plus quite literally the big one, Peter Crouch to Burnley:
With Thibaut Courtois not just in a huff but supposedly AWOL, here’s a timely dictionary definition of a word gloriously trumpeted by this morning’s tabloids and seemingly invented for when a footballer throws his toys out of the pram merely hours before deadline day:
adjective If you say that someone has gone AWOL, you mean that they have disappeared without telling anyone where they were going
Do get in touch via email or Twitter. And, you can follow all the deals from Europe’s leading leagues, plus peruse our club-by-club guides right here:
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