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Transfer Talk: Real Madrid ready to bid £60m for Eriksen

The Premier League transfer window has closed, but the rest of Europe remains open for business. Plus, it's never too late to look forward to January! Click here to view the latest transfers and keep up to date with the latest gossip below.

TOP STORY: Eriksen still on Madrid radar

Real Madrid are expected to make a £60 million bid for Christian Eriksen before the European transfer window closes on Sept. 2, according to The Sun.

It's thought that the Spanish giants will tactically wait until closer to the end of the window before making a bid, in an effort to force Tottenham's hand.

Last season, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy gave the go-ahead for Moussa Dembele to leave the club rather than run down his contract and depart on a free transfer. With just 10 months remaining on Eriksen's Tottenham deal, the north London club may be forced to take that approach again.

A week ago, Mauricio Pochettino admitted that Eriksen's whereabouts beyond the summer transfer window remain uncertain and, when asked on Friday if the Denmark international would still be at the club after the European window closes, the Spurs coach replied bluntly: "I don't know.

"My point is to help all of the players. My job is to support them all until they maybe decide to take a different way in their career." 

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LIVE BLOG

23:00 BST: That's it for our live blog folks, but as the transfer window rumbles through the month of August we'll be back every day with more live updates on all the latest rumours and news.

22.40 BST: Former England international Ashley Cole has retired at the age of 38. The left-back, who last played with Derby County, won the Champions League, Premier League, League Cup and Europa League throughout his career, as well as a record seven FA Cups.

21.35 BST: Paris Saint-Germain have set their sights on Milan and Brazil attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta, according to Calciomercato. There's only one issue, the former Flamengo players has no desire to leave the San Siro. PSG sporting director Leonardo brought Paqueta to Milan before he made the move to Paris, but his reported hopes of a reunion with the 21-year-old look unlikely unless the player has a change of heart.

20.41 BST: Barcelona right-back Nelson Semedo is open to being included in a deal that would take him -- and a large pile of cash -- to Paris Saint-Germain in exchange for Neymar, according to Mundo Deportivo.

19.34 BST: While Juventus have been monitoring Lyon duo Lucas Tousart and Houssem Aouar, Calciomercato reports that the Bianconeri have added a third OL star to their list of potential targets: striker Moussa Dembele.

18.27 BST: While we brought you news earlier in the day out of Germany denying any bid from Bayern Munich for Emre Can, who's become surplus to requirements at Juventus, the Mail cites Tuttosport as reporting that Paris Saint-Germain have made an approach for the former Liverpool midfielder.

17.20 BST: Bayern Munich have announced the signing of Mickael Cuisance.

The 20-year-old joins the Bundesliga champions on a five-year deal from Borussia Monchengladbach, who have reportedly received a sum of €10 million for the midfielder.

Not a bad signing for FC Hollywood, but fans are waiting on the announcement of a much more well-known name...

17.00 BST: Inter Milan have registered their interest in Alexis Sanchez with Manchester United, sources have told ESPN FC.

The Serie A side, who have already signed Romelu Lukaku from Old Trafford this summer, are hoping to negotiate a loan deal for the Chile international before the European transfer deadline on Sept. 2.

Sanchez is open to talking to Inter if the two clubs can agree a deal, with the forward having fallen down the pecking order at United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Inter are hoping to reach an agreement that would see United pay a portion of Sanchez's wages this season before buying the 30-year-old next summer, but sources have told ESPN FC that an agreement has not yet been reached.

In his 18-month spell at Old Trafford, Sanchez has scored just three league goals -- a mark dwarfed by his impressive feat of 60 league goals in 115 Premier League appearances for Arsenal.

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16.30 BST: Christian Falk of Sportbild in Germany has confirmed that Emre Can will not be making a return to Bayern Munich.

The Juventus midfielder has reportedly been deemed surplus to requirements in Turin, but he won't be leaving for the Bundesliga champions, according to Falk.

Can joined Juve last summer after four years at Liverpool, whom he signed for after a season-long spell at Bayer Leverkusen.

16.00 BST: In what seems like a complete 180, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has claimed that Gareth Bale will stay at the club!

The Wales international looked destined for a Bernabeu exit this summer after Zidane claimed that it would be best if the winger left, but a number of injuries forced the coach to start Bale in Real's La Liga opener on Saturday.

Bale put in an impressive performance and even provided an assist as Madrid beat Celta Vigo 3-1, leading Zidane to say: "He's going to stay and we all have to think of that as a positive thing."

15.40 BST: Italian publication Corriere dello Sport have reported that Fernando Llorente could find himself donning a Lazio shirt this season, with the Serie A club apparently closing in on a deal for the striker.

Llorente, who has been a free agent since leaving Tottenham in July, previously played in Serie A between 2013 and 2015, scoring 27 goals for Juventus in 92 appearances.

The 34-year-old played a huge role in Spurs' journey to the Champions League final last season, grabbing a crucial goal against Manchester City in a chaotic quarterfinal second leg.

15.00 BST: Former Manchester City and Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli is still technically without a club, but an announcement regarding the Italian signing for Brescia is expected any moment over the next day or two.

La Gazzetta dello Sport have reported that the 29-year-old signed a deal with the Serie A club on Friday at 23:45 p.m., because club president Massimo Cellino wanted to avoid the date Aug. 17 cropping up in the contract...

Cellino is notoriously superstitious when it comes to the number 17, allowing no No. 17 jersey at the club and no No. 17 seat in the team's stadium!

14.10 BST: As Philippe Coutinho arrives at Bayern on a season-long loan, Renato Sanches is looking for a way out of Munich. 

Speaking after his side's 2-2 draw against Hertha Berlin on Friday -- a game in which the Portugal midfielder arrived late off of the bench -- Sanches said: "Five minutes is not enough.

"The situation is not good for me; this is the second time I have wanted to leave the club and they have not let me go."

13.15 BST: French publication Le Parisien have reported that Barcelona's apparent efforts to sign Neymar are nothing more than a bluff to appease Lionel Messi.

PSG star Neymar has been linked with a return to Barca all summer, and some in the Brazil international's entourage have suggested for months that Messi has been pressuring his club to get the deal done. 

Barca have long insisted that Messi -- the La Liga champions' captain -- has no say in transfers, however. 

12.40 BST: On the topic of Coutinhothe Brazil international's former club Liverpool look set to receive €16 million, should the player complete his loan move to Bayern Munich today.

Catalan publication Diario Sport have reported that part of Barcelona's deal for the midfielder in January 2018 dictates that Liverpool will get some compensation for future transfers.

That clause will come into play this week, assuming the signing of Coutinho is announced at the Allianz Arena in Germany in the coming days.

12.00 BST: Philippe Coutinho has been pictured in Germany ahead of his likely loan move to Bayern Munich.

The Brazil international is set for a season-long loan, with the Bundesliga champions having an option to buy the Barcelona midfielder thereafter.

Coutinho, 27, has made 76 appearances for Barca since January 2018, scoring 21 goals and providing 11 assists.

11.10 BST: Manchester United's newest arrival Hannibal Mejbri has the club's No. 7 shirt in his crosshairs.

The shirt has been worn by a number of United icons -- including David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Eric Cantona, George Best and Bryan Robson -- and 16-year-old Hannibal fancies himself as the next player to inhabit it.

The midfielder uploaded an Instagram post of a United shirt with his name and the number seven on the back this weekend, suggesting that he will wear the jersey while representing the club's youth team this season.

Mejbri joined United from Monaco this summer and will sign a professional contract with the club in January, once he has turned 17. By then, the No. 7 shirt in the senior team may have been vacated, as rumours around Alexis Sanchez's future at the club continue to swirl. Inter Milan appears to be a possible destination for the Chile international, according to Gianluca Dimarzio.

10.30 BST: Marcos Rojo is pushing for a loan exit from Manchester United, with Fenerbahce appearing the most likely destination, according to The Sunday Times.

The Argentina centre-back was left frustrated on the Premier League's deadline day this month, when United refused to let him join Everton, and the 30-year-old is still looking for a way out of Manchester.

United value Rojo at £25 million, with two years remaining on the most recent contract that the defender agreed with the club in March 2018, but the specifics of a deal with Turkish side Fenerbahce are as yet unclear. 

Since Harry Maguire joined United as the world's most expensive defender ever this summer, Rojo has slipped further down the pecking order at the club.

10.00 BST: Italian publication Calciomercato have reported that AC Milan are interested in Tottenham's Serge Aurier.

Milan have apparently enquired about a loan deal with an option to buy the right-back, who joined Spurs from Paris Saint-Germain two summers ago.

The Serie A club already have Andrea Conti and Davide Calabria at right-back, but may be looking to add some extra depth to the squad.

That said, Spurs are not renowned for their own depth, so selling the Ivory Coast international may not be something that manager Mauricio Pochettino feels inclined to do.

09.45 BST: Everton could have a shot at signing former Bayern Munich and France winger Franck Ribery, according to 90Min.

Ribery became a free agent this summer and is yet to find a new club, but 90Min have reported that Everton have been offered a chance to acquire the 36-year-old.

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has a liking for big-name players -- having long chased striker Diego Costa -- but sporting director Marcel Brands and manager Marco Silva have not yet come to a decision on pursuing the Frenchman.

09.25 BST: Real Madrid are preparing to test Paul Pogba's willingness to remain at Manchester United by going back in for the France international, The Sunday Times have reported. 

The midfielder's agent, Mino Raiola, has apparently been working on facilitating the move for months, but United are unlikely to sell, having allowed both Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini to leave in the past year.

Pogba, 26, has been one of Real manager Zinedine Zidane's key targets this summer, alongside Neymar and Eden Hazard, who signed for the La Liga side in June.

PAPER TALK (by Stephen Wright): Patient Madrid prepare Eriksen bid

Real Madrid are expected to make a £60 million bid for Christian Eriksen before the European transfer window closes on Sept. 2, according to The Sun. 

It's thought that the Spanish giants will tactically wait until closer to the end of the window before making a bid, in an effort to force Tottenham's hand.

Last season, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy gave the go-ahead for Moussa Dembele to leave the club rather than run down his contract and depart on a free transfer. With just 10 months remaining on Eriksen's Tottenham deal, the north London club may be forced to take that approach again.

A week ago, Mauricio Pochettino admitted that Eriksen's whereabouts beyond the summer transfer window remain uncertain.

Lozano's Napoli arrival around the corner

After rumours all summer long, Calciomercato is reporting that PSV Eindhoven and Mexico winger Hirving Lozano will finalise a more than $45 million move to Napoli. Lozano, 24, is expected to undergo a medical at Napoli on Wednesday and if all goes well will sign with Carlo Ancelotti 's side.

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The Pachuca product known as "Chucky" has set the Eredivisie ablaze since arriving in 2017, amassing 40 goals and 23 assists in 79 games with the Dutch outfit.

At $45m, Lozano would become PSV's record sale and also the most expensive Mexican transfer ever, surpassing Raul Jimenez's recent permanent move to Wolves. Lozano has scored nine goals in 35 games for El Tri and has been tipped for a move to a bigger club, with Barcelona and Chelsea previously linked.

Tap-ins

- Everton winger Yannick Bolasie has got Turkish clubs Besiktas and Trabzonspor asking after his services, The Sun reports. Toffees boss Marco Silva does not include Bolasie as part of his plans at Goodison Park, but his £10 million release clause has proved somewhat problematic, putting both Southampton and Crystal Palace off making the investment earlier this summer.

- With Philippe Coutinho on his way to Bayern Munich from Barcelona for a season-long loan, the Brazilian star's ex-club Liverpool are set for a £18 million windfall. The German club have agreed to pay Coutinho's £11m wages as well as the loan fee, but the Daily Mail reports that the latter amount will go to the Merseysiders.

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