The summer transfer window is here, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings and goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Neymar to Man Utd if Ronaldo bolts?
Manchester United have already gathered a shortlist of replacements for Cristiano Ronaldo, according to The Daily Mirror, as the Portugal star is still determined to leave Old Trafford after discussions about his future took place at the Carrington training base on Tuesday.
The report states the four-man list of potential replacements includes Neymar, as Paris Saint-Germain look to remove the 30-year-old forward from their wage bill. The Brazil international has already been linked to a move to the Premier League, with the French club reportedly offering him to Manchester City.
AS Monaco captain Wissam Ben Yedder, who scored 32 goals in Ligue 1 last season, alongside Stuttgart‘s Sasa Kalajdzic and Brentford‘s Ivan Toney, are also in consideration.
The Telegraph added that Ronaldo, who was accompanied by agent Jorge Mendes to Tuesday’s talks, remained unswayed after meeting with club CEO Richard Arnold and former mentor Sir Alex Ferguson.
ESPN reported earlier this month that Ronaldo had handed in a transfer request due to his desire to play in the Champions League, but potential destinations for a move are limited. Atletico Madrid were the latest club linked with the former Real Madrid star, but Atleti president Enrique Cerezo rejected a move for Ronaldo, calling it on Tuesday “practically impossible.”
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10.12 BST: Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares is closing on a move to Atalanta, says Sport Italia.
After spending £30m to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City, the Gunners now have Tavares, Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney as the three left-backs in their squad.
Tavares, 22, is keen to move on for more game time and the former Benfica defender could depart on loan.
09.30 BST: Uruguayan club Nacional have teased the signing of Luis Suarez as a free agent.
The 35-year-old former Liverpool and Barcelona striker started his professional career at Nacional before moving to Dutch side FC Groningen in 2006.
⏳?✍? #SuarezEnNacional#ElClubGigante ?⚪️? pic.twitter.com/X7DPlvzNeM
— Nacional (@Nacional) July 27, 2022
08.55 BST: Chelsea are interested in signing Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana, according to Sky Sports.
Fofana, 21, was on the radar of several top clubs following an impressive start to his Leicester career, only to suffer a broken leg last summer which ruled him out of most of the 2021-22 season.
The France centre-back is under contract until 2017, but that has not stopped Chelsea looking at him as a candidate to reinforce their defence.
The Blues have already signed Kalidou Koulibaly this summer for €40m, while they have also been in talks for Sevilla’s Jules Kounde and Manchester City’s Nathan Ake.
08.38 BST: Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has said Lionel Messi returning to the team is “impossible” at the moment, but he has not definitively closed the door on bringing him back in the future.
Barca president Joan Laporta told ESPN last week that he considers it his responsibility to ensure Messi has a “more beautiful ending” at Camp Nou following his painful exit last summer.
However, Xavi has played down the chances of re-signing Messi from Paris Saint-Germain, who he joined on a two-year contract last summer because Barca could not afford to renew his deal.
“Leo has a contract, so it’s impossible, impossible,” Xavi told a news conference in Dallas ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Juventus at the Cotton Bowl.
“It doesn’t make sense to speak about Messi. He is the best player in the world and the best ever. The president has already said that he hopes Messi’s story has not finished with Barcelona….
Read More: Neymar on Manchester United’s list as Cristiano Ronaldo showdown talks drag on