Football
ESPN 5y

Transfer Talk: Madrid still want Pogba, will offer Bale

The Premier League transfer window is open. You can click here to review all the latest transfers and keep up to date with all the latest gossip.

When does the window open in Europe? | QUIZ: Which club should you join?

Madrid to continue Prem raid with Pogba move, offer Bale

Not content with just splashing the cash on Eden Hazard, Real Madrid have stepped up their efforts to bring Paul Pogba to the Bernabeu as well, according to the Mirror.

The player-plus-cash deal would see Gareth Bale heading to Old Trafford, but Madrid would still need to fork out £130 million for Pogba.

However, Bale's wage demands -- reportedly over £600,000 per week -- could make a deal less attractive for United.

The Wales international has been out of favour with Zinedine Zidane and was on the bench for Madrid's final game of the season, having been left out of the squad for the two previous matches.

BLOG:

23.30 BST: That will do it for tonight's edition our Transfer Talk LIVE blog. We hope you enjoyed following along with all the transfer rumours and want to remind you to check back shortly for Sunday's edition. Goodnight!

21.44 BST: Chelsea have permitted Maurizio Sarri to leave the club to join Juventus, according to the Guardian's Fabrizio Romano, who says the Italian tactician will sign a three-year deal to manage Cristiano Ronaldo & Co. 

20.53 BST: Antonio Conte's Inter Milan are close to signing Cagliari maestro Nicolo Barella, reports Corriere dello Sport. The price? An eye-watering €50 million. 

19.52 BST: Antoine Griezmann knows where he's NOT going to be playing next season as he considers his future away from Atletico Madrid. 

In an interview with Sport, the France international told the outlet, "I know where I'm going to play next season," before jokingly concluding: "I can not say it's going to be in Miami." That "Miami," of course, is David Beckham's MLS expansion franchise Inter Miami CF. Sorry, Becks.

19.04 BST: Juventus have met with the agent of Roma wonderkid Nicolo Zaniolo and are prepared to offer the capital city club €40 million plus goalkeeper Mattia Perin or winger Juan Cuadrado to secure the services of the coveted teenager, says newspaper La Stampa as reported by Football Italia.

18.10 BST: Atletico Madrid are planning a revamp of their once-vaunted back-line, with Marca reporting Diego Simeone has targeted a trio of new defenders in the wake of the departures of Diego Godin, Lucas Hernandez and Juanfran. Those men are: Barcelona's Nelson Semedo, Espanyol's Mario Hermoso and Athletico Paranaense's Renan Lodi.

16.47 BST: Speculation that Everton defender Yerry Mina could be on his way from Goodison Park after only one season has been quashed by his agent. Amid reports that Fenerbahce were looking at a loan deal, Jair Mina told Turkish broadcaster aSPOR: "Yerry will certainly not leave Everton. He owes Everton and has to prove himself. He will not leave."

16.05 BST: Gelson Martins has said he is not keen to go back to Atletico Madrid after his loan spell at Monaco. The Portugal international told Record: "I don't want to return. Furthermore, my style of play didn't suit [Diego] Simeone's ideas because it's a very defensive team."

15.25 BST: Both Liverpool and Manchester United have been linked with a summer move for Lille winger Pepe, but reports suggest both could be frustrated after Bayern Munich indicated their readiness to pay the French club £70 million for him.

14.50 BST: Arsenal coach Unai Emery is unlikely to buy a new goalkeeper in the summer following the retirement of Petr Cech, according to the Mirror, which says that means Emiliano Martinez will become the club's back-up keeper. Martinez helped Reading secure their Championship status on loan for the second half of last season.

13.21 BST: Reports suggest that Aston Villa could make a move for Southampton striker Charlie Austin as they look to add more firepower following their return to the Premier League.

12.29 BST: A little more from Barcelona: Real Sociedad, Valladolid, Celta, Atletico Madrid, Sampdoria, Borussia Monchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax are all interested in Barca defender Juan Miranda, Mundo Deportivo says.

11.27 BST: Bundesliga clubs including RB Leipzig are interested in Barcelona B midfielder Oriol Busquets, according to Mundo Deportivo.

10.59 BST: Arsenal have made an offer for Belgium midfielder Yannick Carrasco, who plays for Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang, according to reports.

10.09 BST: The Manchester Evening News reports that Manchester United have released 15 players as a key summer in the transfer market gets under way. The list of players who will be leaving Old Trafford is as follows: Ander Herrera, Antonio Valencia, James Wilson, Regan Poole, Callum Whelan, Thomas Sang, Zak Dearnley, DJ Buffonge, Tyrell Warren, Matty Willock, Matthew Olosunde, Callum Gribbin, Millen Baars, Josh Bohui and James Thompson.

09.35 BST: No surprises here, but confirmation: Eden Hazard has left Chelsea to join Real Madrid, both clubs have announced.

Sources told ESPN FC on Wednesday that Chelsea had accepted an offer of an initial £88.5 million from Madrid for Hazard, whose deal with Real will run until 2024, with significant add-ons and bonuses that are expected to be reached and that could push the total payout to £130 million.

09.15 BST: Everton and Crystal Palace appear to be the likeliest destinations for former Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck, who is leaving Arsenal after five years, Football London reports.

PAPER TALK (by Steve Wright): Spurs intercepting Fernandes transfer?

Should United lose Pogba, they will turn their attention to Sporting Lisbon's Bruno Fernandes -- but Tottenham have moved into pole position to sign the midfielder, Record reports. 

Fernandes' record, 32 goals in 53 appearances in 2018-19, has made him one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe.

And Spurs are set to beat United to the 24-year-old's signature as they seek to replace Christian Eriksen, who has said he wants to leave and has been linked with a €113 million switch to -- who else -- Real Madrid.

Ndombele a target for Spurs

Spurs are also lining up a £50 million move for Lyon's Tanguy Ndombele, according to the Sun . 

Ndombele has been likened to N'Golo Kante and had been a target for Manchester United, but Spurs are favourites to sign him.

The 22-year-old has had a price tag of £70m put on him by Lyon, but Spurs reckon they could sign him for less.

"I've told my agents and the club I'm not fixed and have not made a decision," Ndombele said.

Maddison wants to stay at Leicester despite United interest

Manchester United are reportedly close to signing Leicester's James Maddison, whether he likes it or not, according to the Sun. 

Maddison was the most creative player in the Premier League last season, making more chances than any other player.

United are said to be dead certain to sign Maddison, yet the Sun says the former Norwich player does not want to leave King Power Stadium.

Tap-ins

- Paris Saint-Germain have suggested they mean business in the Matthijs de Ligt transfer saga by setting aside a budget of £80 million to sign him from Ajax, £14 million more than Barcelona are prepared to offer, Sport reports.

It says the French champions are also happy to offer him a five-year contract worth £13.3 million a season, more than double the £6m offered by Barcelona.

- Should Leonardo come back to PSG as sporting director, he is hoping to convince midfielder Adrien Rabiot that he has a future at the French club amid reports that Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Real Madrid and Juventus are interested, le10sport reports.

Coach Thomas Tuchel is also keen to re-integrate Rabiot into the first-team squad, so he may stay put.

^ Back to Top ^