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‘Here we go’ x3 for Manchester United, plus update on midfielder search

Aaron Wan-Bissaka to West Ham is a ‘here we go’ and it’s a crucial story because, as I reported previously, Manchester United were waiting for Wan-Bissaka to leave in order to be able to bring in a new right-back and also a new centre-back.

Now it’s happening, with Wan-Bissaka joining West Ham in a permanent transfer, and it’s an important sale as United could have lost him on a free when his contract would have expired next summer. Inter were also interested in the 26-year-old, though it would have been in a year’s time as a free agent, not in a swap deal this summer. Still, Wan-Bissaka decided to accept the offer from West Ham for a five-year contract, and he’ll have his medical tests with the Hammers this morning.

So, everything is done for Wan-Bissaka to move from Man United to West Ham for £15m – this is the value of the deal, and West Ham are truly on fire at the moment with a big summer that has seen them appoint Julen Lopetegui as their new manager whilst also completing deals like Wan-Bissaka, and also Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, Guido Rodriguez, Crysencio Summerville and others.

As I previously reported, United want to attack the market and now we can say that it’s ‘here we go’ for Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui to move to Old Trafford. The deal is done with Bayern, and we have to congratulate United because the deal has been completed as they wanted – the timing was longer than expected, but it was worth it for United.

It was not always easy negotiating with Bayern, who for months insisted on guaranteed money, not add-ons, but United always wanted to get the deals done with add-ons. Now we can say that De Ligt will be joining the Red Devils for €45m plus €5m in add-ons. Bayern sources say these add-ons will be quite easy to reach, but it’s still structured quite favourably for United, and for Mazraoui it’s also €15m plus €5m in add-ons.

Now both players will travel to join United and both are set to sign five-year deals. In the case of De Ligt, this agreement was actually reached with his agent Rafaela Pimenta back in June, so he’s been waiting and waiting for United and was never negotiating with any other club. Mazraoui has also been waiting patiently since July, with United at times considering other right-back options like Vanderson and Denzel Dumfries. Still, Mazraoui looks a good option as he knows Erik ten Hag well from their time at Ajax, and he can fill in at left-back as well as on the right-hand side.

So, this is the double deal between Bayern and United, and now Bayern are expected to sign one more centre-back. Jonathan Tah’s agent is still working on the deal for him to move to the Allianz Arena so let’s wait for developments there, but he’s expected to be the new centre-back for the Bavarian giants.

United also remain busy in the search for a new midfielder – they spoke with the agents of Sander Berge and have considered other options, but their top target remains Manuel Ugarte. PSG will have to drop their price as United will not pay crazy money, otherwise they could also sell one player in that position, it could be Scott McTominay or Casemiro, we will see, but they will likely need a sale in order to finance the deal.

Still, United could also go for a cheaper midfielder, so Berge could be one to watch after contacts with his agent, while Sofyan Amrabat remains a player on their list even after they initially decided not to sign him permanently from Fiorentina after last season’s loan came to an end. Amrabat remains appreciated by Ten Hag, so there are some Plan B options behind Ugarte, but let’s wait and see what happens with PSG on that one.

Two new signings close for Chelsea, but “impossible” for this Blues star to stay

Samu Omorodion is in London and ready to sign his seven-year deal with Chelsea, while Pedro Neto is also close to completing the formalities of his move as the Blues plan to unveil him in front of their fans at Stamford Bridge today.

Still, we also know that there are a few Chelsea players now out of the project – Romelu Lukaku, who has a three-year deal in place with Napoli, but also Kepa Arrizabalaga who is still dreaming of Real Madrid.

As well as that, Armando Broja is no longer training with the first-team, and it’s the same with Trevoh Chalobah. Both players are on the market, with Chalobah’s asking price at around £30m. It’s also important to say that David Datro Fofana is another player who could leave Chelsea on a permanent transfer, or on loan with an obligation.

Lukaku will not stay at Chelsea. Impossible. I keep saying it’s Napoli for Lukaku, regardless of the Osimhen story. Conte wants him, he wants to work with Conte, a three-year deal is ready and Napoli can accelerate soon. I don’t see any other option. Nothing is happening with Osimhen this week, there are no updates, but it’s not that strongly linked to Lukaku, and in any case the plan remains for the Nigerian striker to leave Napoli. Chelsea are still waiting, but for Osimhen we have to be patient because he is still not accepting a loan move, which is the only option at the moment for Chelsea, and also because Osimhen will not reduce his salary.

So, the conditions of the deal will have to change, or else other things could happen with the Osimhen story in the final few weeks of this summer’s transfer market.

There has been speculation about other potential Chelsea exits as well, with Carney Chukwuemeka linked with Barcelona. Still, my understanding is that there is nothing concrete so far. Chelsea have not received any bid for Chukwuemeka and the situation is currently quiet. Then in the next days we will see… but at the moment there has been no offer made to Chelsea from Barca.

Chelsea have also not received proposals from Juventus for Raheem Sterling so far, and Sterling has received no contact from Italy yet, despite rumours. What I’m told is that Juventus are working on the Nico Gonzalez deal with Fiorentina as their priority for the new winger.

Three Liverpool transfer updates

Liverpool are still working to convince Martin Zubimendi to join the club and are waiting for his final decision. Just a reminder that other clubs such as Arsenal have also been interested in the Real Sociedad midfielder in recent times but were unable to persuade him to move, though there were no negotiations from the Gunners for him this summer.

Elsewhere with Liverpool, Fabio Carvalho is closing in on completing his move to Brentford. It’s a permanent deal worth £20m plus add-ons. However, there is no news at all on Virgil van Dijk, despite some stories at various points this summer.

It’s currently very quiet as Liverpool are counting on Van Dijk and there are no significant updates so far. In my opinion, he should stay and continue as he’s a key player for Liverpool and new manager Arne Slot will need him and the quality and experience he brings.

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In other news…

Jadon Sancho – There’s still no major update on Jadon Sancho’s future, but he remains one of the cases of this market. PSG have been making contact with Sancho’s agents, but there’s no bid yet, and he’s back in the Man United squad so let’s see what they will decide to do.

Marc Guehi – Newcastle are still there, yes. It’s not over yet. They want to try again but Crystal Palace insist on £65m fee. There are currently no other clubs involved, but Newcastle have not completed the deal yet so it’s one to follow in the next days.

Vladimir Coufal – There has been talk of West Ham sales, and it is the case that Coufal could leave and also some players upfront, but for now I can guarantee that focus remains on completing signings. The Wan-Bissaka deal is being sealed, then West Ham will discuss outgoings in the final three weeks, with nothing imminent yet.

The post Transfer news: ‘Here we go’ for Man Utd deals, two Chelsea signings imminent, Liverpool update & more appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United are reportedly open to two other potential midfield transfer targets alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte, who may be too expensive.

According to Fabrizio Romano on his YouTube channel, Man Utd are not willing to pay crazy money to PSG for Ugarte, even if he remains their preferred target, with cheaper options such as Burnley’s Sander Berge and former loanee Sofyan Amrabat also under consideration.

Ugarte looks ideal for United and may be realistically available this summer due to there being so much competition for places in Luis Enrique’s PSG midfield, though the Uruguay international surely won’t come cheap due to only just joining the Ligue 1 giants a year ago.

Berge could be a decent alternative after often performing well in the Premier League, even if he’s not exactly the kind of player you’d rank as one of the best in Europe.

Likewise, Amrabat showed some promise towards the end of his loan spell at Old Trafford last season after initially making a quiet start to life at the club.

Ugarte transfer: Can Man United reach an agreement for their top target?

Speaking exclusively to CaughtOffside recently, Jonathan Johnson explained the various moving parts in the Ugarte situation and what PSG’s plans might be for the Uruguay international.

“Ugarte to United seems to have gathered pace quite significantly and it’s not too surprising. I think Ugarte is tailor-made for the Premier League and I think the drop-off from Casemiro in the season just gone means it’s normal United would be looking for a profile like that to replace him,” Johnson said a few weeks ago.

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“It’s a critical moment as well because if this drags on and Ugarte finds himself out of favour with Enrique at the start of the new season with PSG, it will become that much harder for them to command the kind of fee they’ll want, and perhaps even half what they paid for him 12 months ago. If he goes now, PSG won’t make as much of a loss.”

This surely plays into United’s hands, so it looks like this will surely remain one to watch as the window nears its conclusion.

The post Manchester United open to two alternatives to Manuel Ugarte transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Fenerbahce transfer target Sofyan Amrabat is still keen on a move to Manchester United.

The Moroccan international was on loan at Old Trafford last season. While he is back at his parent club Fiorentina, the African midfielder doesn’t have a future at the Italian cub. He is expected to be on the move this summer and there is interest in his services from Fenerbahce. But, according to a report from La Nazione via Viola News, Sofyan Amrabat has his heart set on a return to Manchester United.

The 27-year-old defensive midfielder became the talk of the town on the back of his heroics for Morocco at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. His performances at the world event along with his consistent work for Fiorentina resulted in a lot of interest from across Europe. While quite a few top clubs wanted him, Amrabat ended up joining United on a season-long loan last summer.

He was involved in 30 matches and racked up just over 1,500 minutes of first-team action. He didn’t have the kind of impact he was expected to have. As a result, they ended up deciding against signing him permanently. However, he did impress Erik ten Hag with his work ethic and the Dutch manager still seems interested in him. But, United have other priority targets to reinforce their midfield.

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Sofyan Amrabat is a man in demand

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce are keen on signing the 27-year-old. The Turkish giants have already strengthened their squad by signing a few top stars from Europe and they are now pushing for Amrabat’s signature. They remain confident about finalizing the deal, despite not yet having reached an agreement on the exact financial terms of the transfer.

While the Fenerbahce are working hard on a deal, Amrabat has his heart set on a return to Old Trafford. His priority is to once again play for the Red Devils and with his name still present on the English clubs website, he remains hopeful.

The post 27-year-old midfield powerhouse keen on Man United transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United are in the market for a new midfielder this summer.

The Red Devils have already made two signings — striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna and centre-back Leny Yoro from Lille.

However, next on the list for Erik Ten Hag is a central midfielder, and while a lot is likely to hinge on Casemiro and Scott McTominay, both of whom could leave before the start of the season, recent speculation suggests United are drawing up a shortlist of targets.

The 20-time league winners, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS, held talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a possible deal to sign Manuel Ugarte. However, the Parisians’ refusal to budge on their £51 million asking price has seen the Red Devils walk away from negotiations and pursue alternative, more cost-effective, targets.

Man United considering re-signing former loanee

And according to a recent report from Sky Sports, United’s shortlist includes Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana, Real Socieded’s Martin Zubimendi, Burnley’s Sander Berge and most interestingly, former loanee and Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat.

The Morocco international spent last season on loan at Old Trafford but a stop-start campaign saw the 27-year-old fail to impress.

Although held back by injuries and fitness-related issues, Amrabat started just 10 Premier League games last season — hugely disappointing for a player who impressed so much during the winter 2022 World Cup.

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brazil midfielder Joao Gomes has also recently been linked with a summer move to United. United’s Midlands-based league rivals are believed to value the South American at around £38 million.

The post Man United risk fan frustration after including former player on midfield shortlist appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat is being linked to a return to Manchester United, although Fenerbahce are also showing interest in the player.

The Moroccan midfielder had a disappointing season while on loan in Manchester.

He participated in 30 games for the Red Devils overall, but only in the last month of the season did he regularly start in the starting lineup.

The Red Devils are thinking about bringing the 28-year-old back to Old Trafford for the upcoming campaign since they have also had trouble adding midfield players this summer.

Erik ten Hag has so far signed two players this summer after completing the signings of Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro.

He is keen to add more players to his squad this summer, particularly in the midfield position but former Man United manager could ruin his plans.

Fenerbahce, managed by Jose Mourinho, have reportedly made a second proposal for Moroccan player Sofyan Amrabat, according to Turkish daily Fanatik, via Football Italia.

Man United have still not decided whether they want to sign the midfielder or not.

Their primary target in the midfield position is Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte but they are nowhere near signing him this summer.

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The Premier League giants have faced trouble with French champions in agreeing a fee for the midfielder.

It remains to be seen if Man United will convince PSG to sell Ugarte to them but they will have to act swiftly.

Under two weeks are left in the Premier League season to start and just like they have done their transfer business cleverly so far, the same is expected for future signings.

Sofyan Amrabat helped Man United win the FA Cup

Amrabat is not someone who would excite the Man United fans though, with the midfielder not impressing them on his loan spell last season.

He struggled initially and failed to get much playing time but manager Erik ten Hag trusts the player having known him from their time together in the Dutch league.

Amrabat was used in the full-back position as well as his natural position of defensive midfield.

He helped the club win the FA Cup final last season against Manchester City and despite his underwhelming time, he contributed to their success to win silverware.

The post Man United move for midfielder at risk of getting hijacked by Euro club appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United are now looking to make their third signing of the summer transfer window.

The Red Devils have already signed striker Joshua Zirkzee and defender Leny Yoro, with the Premier League giants now expected to shift their focus in bringing a midfielder to Old Trafford.

Casemiro, Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen all face an uncertain future at the club which makes it crucial for Erik ten Hag to bring in a new midfielder.

Man United also decided against the option to sign Sofyan Amrabat permanently from Fiorentina.

However, according to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, Man United could make a move to sign Amrabat again this summer but in a loan move, just like they did last summer.

The 27-year-old featured in 21 Premier League matches for the Red Devils last season.

He failed to cement a regular place in the starting line up but showed flashes of his brilliance towards the end of the season and helped the club win the FA Cup against Manchester City.

At the end of last season, Man United had the option to sign Amrabat in a permanent move for £17 million but they decided against triggering that option.

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The Premier League giants have no intention to pay the asking price being demanded by Fiorentina for the midfielder.

The Italian club now values Amrabat at £12.6m but the Red Devils are only interested in a loan move for the Moroccan international.

Man United manager admires Sofyan Amrabat

United boss ten Hag called the defensive midfielder “very dynamic” when the Red Devils completed a move to sign him last summer, as quoted by the official club website.

He would be delighted to have him again in his squad as the club needs a new addition in the midfield position.

Amrabat has the ability to play in the midfield as well as in the full-back position which could prove to be valuable for the Premier League club.

The post Man United consider loan move for midfielder Erik ten Hag called “dynamic” appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Atletico Madrid have contacted Fiorentina to enquire about the signing of Sofyan Amrabat as the midfielder is set to leave the Serie A club this summer. 

That is according to transfer expert Matteo Moretto, who reports that the La Liga giants have an interest in the Morocco international.

Diego Simeone is trying to strengthen his midfield ahead of the new season getting underway next month and Amrabat is a talented player who can be acquired at a cheap price. The Spanish club attempted to sign the Fiorentina star last summer but in the end, they lost the race to Man United.

Amrabat would spend last season on loan at Old Trafford with the 27-year-old struggling for the most part throughout the 30 matches he played for the Premier League club. However, the Moroccan came good towards the end of the season and played a crucial part in the Red Devils winning the FA Cup final against Man City.

Despite this, the Manchester outfit decided to let Amrabat leave as they were not willing to activate the €20m buy option in his loan deal, reports Fabrizio Romano. 

This has presented an opportunity for Atletico Madrid and it remains to be seen if they take it.

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Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat wants Man United return

Amrabat wants to return to Man United this summer and according to TUTTOmercato, Fiorentina want his situation sorted quickly so are ready to discuss a paid loan or a discounted transfer to part ways with the Morocco star.

Ten Hag has always been a fan of the player so it will be interesting to see if Man United are tempted to make his wish come true.

It could be a good deal for the Manchester club depending on the transfer fee as Amrabat can be a decent player but last season seemed far too inconsistent to be a success in the Premier League.

Man United have other midfield targets ahead of the 27-year-old but the Fiorentina would be a good option to fall back on.

The post La Liga giants enquire about midfielder dreaming of Man United move appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United could reportedly make a somewhat surprise decision on the future of Sofyan Amrabat, and bring him back on loan from Fiorentina for a second season.

The Morocco international spent last season on loan at Man Utd and started slowly before improving a bit towards the end of the campaign.

While it might have initially seemed unlikely for the Red Devils to keep Amrabat, it then more recently looked like they could keep him by signing him permanently after all.

Now, however, the print edition of Corriere dello Sport, as cited and translated by Sport Witness, United could actually end up signing Amrabat on loan again.

The 27-year-old surely has a role to play at United as Casemiro isn’t getting any younger, while Scott McTominay is probably also not likely to be a regular starter next season after some mixed performances as a squad player down the years.

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Amrabat could do an important job for United, even if they’re not entirely convinced about signing him permanently, with another loan move perhaps a smart option for all involved.

United would then have another useful option in midfield for another season without committing to a permanent deal that might not be the best bit of long-term business.

Still, one imagines that wouldn’t suit Fiorentina that well as they’ll surely want to make money from selling him at some point, so it will be interesting to see if they go along with it, or if they look to offer the player to other clubs.

Amrabat would surely be tempting for several big sides out there, and the player himself might also be keen to get a permanent move rather than having another year of uncertainty about what will happen next.

The post Man United could turn to surprise solution to back-and-forth midfielder transfer saga appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Football agent Giulio Tedeschi has suggested there is now a stronger possibility of Sofyan Amrabat returning to Manchester United in this summer’s transfer window.

The Morocco international spent last season on loan at Man Utd and had a mixed spell, starting slowly at Old Trafford before showing some signs of improvement towards the end of the campaign.

The Red Devils could still do with further additions in midfield this summer, so it seems there is a decent chance that Amrabat could come back to the club despite there not yet being any moves towards extending the loan or making the transfer permanent.

It may be that the Amrabat saga was held up by Erik ten Hag’s future taking some time to be resolved at the end of last season, but now Tedeschi thinks the Dutch tactician committing to staying at the club will increase the chances of Amrabat returning.

Amrabat transfer latest discussed by agent

Discussing the 27-year-old’s future as he spoke to to Firenze Viola, Tedeschi said: “Right now, in my opinion there is a concrete possibility of bringing Amrabat back to Manchester United. In my opinion there was some doubt also because it was not known whether Ten Hag would stay.

“Now that it’s certain that he will stay, there are grounds to think about bringing Amrabat back even on loan with obligation, or at a lower figure. The United solution is the easiest.”

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United may also look at other options for that defensive midfield role this summer, with Fabrizio Romano telling CaughtOffside about the constant dialogue over potentially signing Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain.

Amrabat has shown what he can do at MUFC, but since he didn’t exactly set the world alight, one imagines there’ll be plenty of fans who’d prefer a new signing like Ugarte to come in in that position.

The post Agent says there’s “concrete possibility” of Man Utd signing midfielder following major development appeared first on CaughtOffside.

This article was originally published on Fabrizio Romano’s Daily Briefing, a subscription service. If you would like to receive Fabrizio Romano’s exclusive transfer news via email ahead of publication on caughtoffside.com, please sign-up for the service here: thedailybriefing.io

Latest on Ugarte to Manchester United amid Fofana links

Manchester United had some conversations with Monaco to understand the availability of players like Youssouf Fofana and Vanderson, but my understanding is that, internally, the main names Man United are discussing for the midfield is PSG’s Manuel Ugarte, and Sofyan Amrabat.

For Amrabat, they didn’t trigger the buy option, but it remains a possibility for them to discuss different terms with Fiorentina. And for Ugarte, they remain in conversations with Paris Saint-Germain, while they have an agreement with the player. I’m hearing there are contacts ongoing between Man United and PSG since June, not official bids accepted or rejected – it’s a constant dialogue between the clubs. Ugarte remains on Man United’s list and he said yes last week, so now it depends on Manchester United. But as I previously said, it was always going to take some days to decide after they spent big money on Leny Yoro.

On Matthijs de Ligt, Bayern insist on €50m, but United want to pay add-ons as part of the structure, rather than €50m guaranteed. De Ligt keeps waiting for Man United and is hoping for the move, but at the moment outgoings are really important for the Red Devils, so it could take some time to see what happens between the clubs.

Remember as well that this story also impacts Jonathan Tah, who has an agreement to join Bayern, but who is waiting for De Ligt to leave as part of the domino, so let’s see what happens, but the Dutch defender is waiting and hoping to join Man United.

Bayern and PSG battle for Desire Doue

One of the stories of the day is the big fight going on between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich for Desire Doue. The Rennes youngster, born in 2005, is one of the best French talents around and is valued by his club at around €60m.

Yesterday, Bayern presented a new bid for Doue, worth almost €55m, while Vincent Kompany has also been insisting on the player side to present the project. However, Paris Saint-Germain are absolutely still there, because it’s crucial to note that Doue himself has still not decided which club he wants to join.

My feeling after speaking to sources is that PSG are really convinced they can reach an agreement – they are preparing a new proposal and want to close the deal as soon as possible on the player side. Let’s see what happens, but it’s going to be one of the most interesting battles of this summer’s transfer window.

Xavi Simons now more likely to join Leipzig

I’ve always said that, despite links with Manchester United and other English clubs, it was always between RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich for Xavi Simons this summer. And now Leipzig are increasingly confident and almost convinced that Simons will be their player next season after increasingly positive contacts between Leipzig and the player’s representatives.

Paris Saint-Germain are also aware of the player’s decision, with Leipzig the big favourites. It’s not done yet, because Bayern will try until the end to change the situation, but as of this moment, the clear favourites are Leipzig to keep Simons for one more season on loan.

And it’s worth pointing out again that PSG only want a loan, as I told you in April, May and June – no permanent transfer this summer. It could be a permanent transfer in 2025, but not this summer. Either way, it’s a fantastic signing for Leipzig after they also extended the contract of Benjamin Sesko and also of their manager Marco Rose.

If Bayern cannot sign Simons, then there could be other alternatives to watch. Dani Olmo has been on Bayern’s list since May, but it will depend on the evolutions on the Simons and Desire Doue negotiations. There’s still no bid for Olmo, but it could be one to watch in the next weeks for several clubs. Leipzig are open to selling if the proposal will be around €60m.

What next for Victor Osimhen as PSG deal stalls?

I keep being asked about the situation of Victor Osimhen – my information is that ten days ago PSG had the green light from Osimhen over a transfer, so he’s open to the move and wants to join. So, what happened? Napoli had some negotiations with PSG, but the Ligue 1 giants said no to including Lee Kang-in in the deal, and said no to paying Osimhen’s release clause.

The only way for PSG to do the deal is for a reduced price, so let’s see what happens, but in the last 24-48 hours, PSG director Luis Campos spoke to Goncalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani to reassure them that they will be PSG’s strikers for next season.

Still, the market is long, and even if this deal is not advancing, it’s not off yet. My understanding is that Osimhen still wants to leave Napoli and that Napoli also want to sign Romelu Lukaku. This is the plan, and Napoli already have an agreement with Lukaku, so they have to find a solution for Osimhen.

Let’s see if PSG will return, but at the moment they are very clear in not proceeding with this deal on those conditions. Chelsea have also been linked with Osimhen many times, but the reality is that they never wanted to pay his release clause at Napoli, or the player’s salary, which is around €11-12m net per season. This is too expensive for Chelsea, and so this is why it has always been a complicated deal for them.

Jadon Sancho on PSG’s list

More on PSG as I can confirm that Jadon Sancho is also one of the names on their list this summer. There is still no direct contact made with Manchester United, so at the moment this is not a proper negotiation, but Sancho is one of the names PSG have on their shortlist for the left winger position.

PSG’s fist target for that position was Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but Napoli are not selling him, so PSG are considering other options, and Sancho is one of them, though not the only one. There’s still no bid, but it’s an interest that PSG have confirmed to the agents of the player.

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Chelsea’s €40m transfer falls through after major problem finalising contract

Aug 11 2024, 22:54

Let’s see if this will develop into a negotiation, but that will also depend on what Manchester United want to do. For now, Sancho is back in Erik ten Hag’s squad for pre-season, so let’s see how well they work together and how that situation evolves in the next days and weeks.

In other news…

Mikel Merino – Despite links with Chelsea and Manchester United, I’m only aware of Arsenal, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid’s interest. Still, at the moment there has been no official bid to Real Sociedad yet, so let’s see how it goes in the next days. Arsenal’s focus now is on completing the Riccardo Calafiori deal. But in my opinion Merino would be an excellent signing; quality, consistency, good on international stage, he’s a good opportunity on the market with just one year left on his deal.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – There’s still no substantial update now on Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool future, despite reports on plans for a new contract. Liverpool want to keep him, we know that, but there’s still no substantial update on this one. We have to wait. Real Madrid are attentive as we said in March, it’s not a new story; nothing has changed in the recent days.

Eddie Nketiah – Arsenal striker Nketiah remains a big target for Marseille in what has been an ambitious summer for them so far. Valentin Carboni is another big target but it’s not easy, while they also want a new goalkeeper for sure. Marseille are working on several deals, there’s more to come. So far, they’ve done great work and it has been an excellent window, also with the hiring of Roberto De Zerbi as manager. One of the best clubs on the market so far.

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