<
        >

          Transfer Talk: Manchester United to swap Anthony Martial for Chelsea's Willian?

          • ESPN
          Aug 5, 2018, 12:09 AM

          The transfer window is open, and Transfer Talk has the latest rumours making the rounds. Follow along with our daily blog throughout the summer.

          When does the transfer window close in the Premier League and the top European leagues?

          TOP STORY: United to swap Martial for Chelsea's Willian?

          Manchester United are ready to swap Anthony Martial for Chelsea's Willian as they try to bring the Brazil international to Old Trafford before the close of the window, the Mirror reports.

          It says United boss Jose Mourinho has "lost patience" with Martial and "will offer him in return for Willian," with both players valued at £75 million and reportedly looking for new challenges.

          Willian, 29, has been a target for Mourinho since the former Chelsea manager arrived at United, and the Mirror says "his recent problems at Chelsea have encouraged Mourinho that a deal can be done."

          And although Blues boss Maurizio Sarri wants to keep Willian, that will not prevent United from attempting to get a deal over the line.

          LIVE BLOG

          23.00 BST: That's all for another edition of Transfer Talk. Tune in on Monday for the brand-new rolling live blog taking you through the final days of the summer window in England!

          22.30 BST: Everton are hoping to pip Manchester United to the signing of unwanted Colombia international Yerry Mina, currently of Barcelona. Mina never really settled at the Camp Nou despite plenty of hype but after a strong World Cup in which he scored three goals en route to the quarterfinals, the market is there for a move.

          Reports out of Spain suggest a deal has already been done in the region of £28 million.

          22.00 BST: Is Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel heading back to Europe? Bild reports that a deal is in place for the 29-year-old to leave Tianjin Quanjian and join Borussia Dortmund. Fee in the region of €20 million.

          21.00 BST: News involving Newcastle United, even though we thought Rafa Benitez was never able to get new players in?

          The signing of Salomon Rondon would do wonders to boost the Magpies' forward line as he offers more power than Ayoze Perez, Joselu and Dwight Gayle. Rondon would also be the fourth new signing of the summer behind goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, midfielder Ki Sung-yueng, defender Fabian Schar and forward Yoshinori Muto.

          20.15 BST: It's DONE DEAL time again in the Premier League!

          That's AS Monaco and Algeria winger Rachid Ghezzal completing a move to Leicester City. Ghezzal, 26, spent a productive season at Monaco following a strong, successful spell at Lyon where he played for current Foxes boss Claude Puel.

          The fee's undisclosed but Ghezzal is Leicester's fifth signing of the summer behind Jonny Evans, James Maddison, Ricardo Pereira and Danny Ward.

          19:45 BST: Manchester United are still planning a late move to land Harry Maguire from Leicester City after the defender's standout World Cup display, Sky Sports reports.

          But they might have to break the world transfer record for a defender to do it, meaning they'll have to do better than the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk.

          19:15 BST: Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has refused to comment on Thibaut Courtois' agent saying the goalkeeper wants to move to Real Madrid.

          "I have no reaction on the agent. I'm not interested in the agent, I want to hear if Courtois tomorrow will say the same," Sarri said. "I have to speak with my club. I want only players with high level of motivation. I don't have any answer to the agent."

          18.50 BST: Details of Kalidou Koulibaly's new five-year Napoli contract are starting to emerge, with Gazetta dello Sport reporting it will pay him €3.5 million a year, and has a buyout clause of over €100m.

          18.25 BST: Phil Foden's impressive display in the Community Shield has Pep Guardiola suggesting the 18-year-old is set to stay with the club, but Rio Ferdinand insisted on BT Sport that he'll never see the pitch. Would a loan be a better move for his development?

          17.45 BST: Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has backed defender Scott McKenna to stay despite interest from Scottish champions Celtic, the Scottish Herald reports.

          17.30 BST: Ben Gibson is pleased to be at Burnley after sealing his move from Middlesbrough earlier today, telling the club's website: "There's a good feel about the place. Burnley is a club that recently has had some fantastic success and I've had some great battles against them myself and I'm looking forward to wearing their colours."

          17.00 BST: Leicester City are closing in on a move for Monaco winger Rachid Ghezzal, according to Sky Sports, which reports that a fee of around £10 million is likely.

          16.15 BST: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic remains a man in demand, but he has told Lazio's website: "I have returned to Lazio, I have a contract with the club and I am focused on the experience and on my team. Despite this, in football you never know how things can evolve."

          15.40 BST: Brentford midfielder Ryan Woods continues to be linked with a move to Championship rivals Swansea, with manager Dean Smith leaving him out of the starting XI on Saturday because of the uncertainty.

          15.00 BST: Former Newcastle winger Andros Townsend, linked with a return to St James' Park, has said he wants to stay at Crystal Palace, the Chronicle reports.

          14.30 BST: Preston want to take Burnley forward Jon Walters on loan, according to the Mail.

          13.55 BST -- DONE DEAL: And again Burnley -- they have signed Ben Gibson from Middlesbrough, with the defender putting pen to paper on a four-year contract and reported to have cost around £15 million. He is the Clarets' first signing of this summer's window.

          13.50 BST: Back to Burnley, with the Lancashire Telegraph reporting that they are "expected to complete the £4 million signing of Joe Hart" from Manchester City on Monday. Hart, who underwent a medical on Friday, is set to sign a three-year deal.

          13.00 BST: Celtic midfielder Regan Hendry, who has yet to play for the Scottish champions' senior team, is training with Championship side Norwich City ahead of a potential move, the Eastern Daily Press reports.

          12.15 BST: The BBC reports that Australia winger Daniel Arzani "is expected be sent on loan to Celtic after he completes his transfer to Manchester City from Melbourne City."

          11.45 BST: New Queens Park Rangers boss Steve McClaren has said he wants more new faces, and fast, after the opening day defeat at Preston. "We've brought in one player and things from last season -- seven clean sheets and three away wins -- are still going to be there," he said. "We've made one signing. I think we need more and we're still searching for that."

          11.30 BST: Lucas Perez could be on his way out of the Emirates Stadium, with reports suggesting that Arsenal have accepted a £5.5m bid from Sporting Lisbon.

          11.15 BST: Burnley defender Ben Mee is set to end speculation over his future by signing a new deal, sources close to the club have told ESPN FC.

          10.25 BST: Mundo Deportivo claim West Ham are ready to use 18-year-old Domingos Quina as a makeweight to land Barcelona star Andre Gomes.

          09.55 BST: Croatia World Cup star Ivan Perisic has suggested that he could leave Inter for Bayern Munich. "Me at Bayern? Niko Kovac influenced me a lot," the winger said. "I played very well for Croatia when he was coach, and we congratulated each other for everything we did in Germany. If he wants me, he knows where he can find me."

          09.35 BST: Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has urged Jasper Cillessen to stay at the club after the Dutch goalkeeper admitted he does not know what his future holds. Cillessen said earlier this summer that he wants to play more than 10 games a season but looks set to remain second choice to Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

          09.10 BST: Tottenham midfielder Moussa Sissoko is reported to be of interest to Inter Milan, with the Serie A club weighing up a bid, according to Football London.

          09.00 BST: Bournemouth are ready to splash the cash, with a club-record £25m bid for Colombia midfielder Jefferson Lerma accepted by Levante, BBC Radio Solent reports.

          PAPER TALK (by Jack Rathborn)

          TOP STORY: Paul Pogba to Barcelona?

          If Manchester United want to cash in on Paul Pogba there might not be a better time. The midfielder has just won the World Cup with France and his stock is high, with the Daily Star reporting that his agent Mino Raiola is talking to Barcelona about a £100 million move.

          Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked with a move for Pogba but have some financial issues to solve given their recent spending. Barcelona have just signed Arturo Vidal, so Pogba would be given a free role in the midfield at Camp Nou -- which may be tempting.

          With just a week to go before the start of the season, United might appear to be crazy to sell, but stranger things have happened.

          United in Alderweireld breakthrough

          Manchester United have finally made progress in their protracted pursuit of Toby Alderweireld after finding a compromise with Tottenham over a £60 million fee, according to the Mirror.

          It reports that the clubs have found common ground in the past two days and that the Belgium international centre-back is set to move to Old Trafford ahead of Thursday's deadline.

          United have also been linked with Harry Maguire and Yerry Mina, but Alderweireld's experience appears to have made him a priority for Jose Mourinho.

          Who the Belgian would line up with, from Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, remains to be seen, but Mourinho appears to be moving toward landing one of his key targets.

          Chelsea plot late Ramsey move

          Chelsea are preparing a late move for Aaron Ramsey ahead of next week's deadline, with the Arsenal star no closer to extending his contract, the Express says.

          The Welsh midfielder, who is also admired by Liverpool, has a year remaining on his deal and is rated at £35m.

          The Gunners will be reluctant to allow a repeat of Alexis Sanchez's situation last season, and Maurizio Sarri could turn to Ramsey to strengthen his squad.

          Ramsey injured his calf before a preseason friendly against the Blues and is struggling to be available for the Gunners' opener against Man City.

          Milinkovic-Savic set for Lazio stay

          Sergej Milinkovic-Savic appears set to stay at Lazio, according to Gianluca Di Marzio, after confirming his intention to remain in the Italian capital following the Biancocelesti's friendly defeat to Arsenal.

          Chelsea and Real Madrid have been linked with the Serbian, whose value has been rumoured to be beyond £100m.

          Despite Lazio failing to secure Champions League football, the 23-year-old has four years remaining on his deal, and the club's £36m sale of Felipe Anderson has allowed them to place a monster price tag on his head.

          Tap-ins

          -- AC Milan have turned their attention to Paris Saint-Germain star Adrien Rabiot, claims Corriere dello Sport. The Rossoneri must first sell, but sporting director Leonardo has begun talks with the French club for the midfielder, who was previously linked to Barcelona.

          -- Roma have been offered highly rated Diadie Samassekou, Gianluca Di Marzio reports, with the RB Salzburg star a candidate for their need in midfield. Milan are also reportedly interested in the Mali international, but Roma appear intent on assembling one of the most talented young squads in Europe.

          -- Fulham will attempt to make two more ambitious signings following an excellent summer of activity, with the Mail reporting that the West London club have made an enquiry for Real Madrid left-back Theo Hernandez. The Cottagers have already signed Jean Michael Seri, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Alfie Mawson, Andre Schurrle, Maxime Le Marchand and Fabri, but Theo and Sampdoria star Dennis Praet could arrive late.