<
        >

          LIVE Transfer Talk: Lacazette could replace Griezmann at Atletico Madrid

          • ESPN
          Jul 2, 2019, 10:28 PM

          The European transfer window is open. Click here to review all the latest transfers, and keep up to date with the latest gossip below.

          Top free agents in 2020 | What do Europe's elite need?

          TOP STORY: Atletico have eyes for Lacazette

          Atletico Madrid are interested in signing Arsenal and France striker Alexandre Lacazette to replace outgoing compatriot Antoine Griezmann, according to the Mirror.

          While Arsenal are looking to strengthen their attacking capabilities this summer, they're also facing substantial pressure to hold on to strike duo Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with both players attracting attention.

          And with Arsenal missing out on Champions League football next season, a result of winning just one game in their last five matches, both players could be tempted to move on if the right move comes along.

          Atletico boss Diego Simeone is looking for someone to replace the goals of Griezmann following the 27-year-old's move to Barcelona, and Lacazette scored 18 goals in the league and Europa League last season, adding eight assists to his contribution.

          LIVE BLOG

          23.30 BST: That will do it for the latest edition of our LIVE Transfer Talk blog. We hoped you enjoyed following along with us and remind you to check back shortly for the latest transfer rumours, reports and completed deals. Goodnight!

          23.18 BST: All the talk is about Arsenal signing Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace but the Mirror writes that Barcelona's Malcom could be an alternative to the Ivory Coast international.

          The Mirror understands that Barcelona have offered Arsenal Malcom as they try and lure Antoine Griezmann and/or Neymar to Camp Nou. The 22-year-old Brazilian failed to launch at Barca, starting only six league games after his £37 million move from French side Bordeaux.

          Arsenal reportedly are focussed on Zaha for now but if Palace decide to hold on to the ex-Man United man, Malcom could be an intriguing option considering Barca's situation at the moment.

          22.48 BST: Everton and Watford to battle it out for Egyptian AFCON star?

          Turkish outlet Fanatik claims the two Premier League sides are both monitoring Egypt and Kasimpasa midfielder Mahmoud Hassan or Trezeguet. The 24-year-old already has a goal and an assist at the AFCON and is coming off a season in Turkey in which he tallied nine goals and nine assists for Kasimpasa.

          Trezeguet has also attracted interest from Lyon and Galatasaray and has reportedly told some of his Egyptian teammates that he is keen on a move to the Premier League.

          22.17 BST: Benfica have lost Joao Felix to Madrid but they have added Raul de Tomas from the same city.

          The Portuguese outfit just announced they have signed the 24-year-old striker from Real Madrid for a fee of €20 million. The Spanish striker, who scored 38 goals in 66 appearances at Rayo Vallecano over the last two season, moves to Portugal after 15 years in the Madrid pipeline.

          De Tomas amazingly only made one appearance for the first-team during that time, appearing in a Copa del Rey game against Cornella in 2014, but last season at Vallecano proved he can be a La Liga calibre striker with 14 goals.

          21.45 BST: Chelsea have signed a member of their loan army to a new contract -- and subsequently loaned him back out!

          Midfielder Mario Pasalic has extended his Chelsea contract through 2022 and will return to Italian side Atalanta for a second consecutive season on loan. The 24-year-old Croatia international was signed by the Blues from Hajduk Split in 2014 but has yet to play a game for the Stamford Bridge side.

          Pasalic, who scored eight goals and added six assists for Champions League qualifiers Atalanta last season, has now spent time on loan at Elche, Monaco, AC Milan, Spartak Moscow and Atalanta.

          21.14 BST: U.S. international Aron Johannsson appears to be closing in on a move to a new club.

          According to Football Sthlm's sources, Swedish club Hammarby are close to signing the 28-year-old Werder Bremen forward with "negotiations expected to be resolved shortly." Hammarby are looking for a striker with Vidar Orn Kjartansson set to return to parent club Rostov and are ready to offer the once promising player a career lifeline.

          The Icelandic-American Johannsson has struggled with injuries and playing time since moving to Germany in 2015, having only played 30 games in four years. Johannsson, who has made 19 appearances for the USMNT (none since 2015), once scored 26 goals in a season for Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.

          20.39 BST: Man United to soon receive an update on transfer target Bruno Fernandes?

          Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Nicolo Schira is reporting that the Sporting Lisbon midfielder's representatives will be in England tonight to discuss a potential move to Manchester United.

          The 24-year-old Fernandes enjoyed a breakout season at Sporting last campaign, scoring 32 goals and added 18 assists, while also helping Portugal win the initial UEFA Nations League title. Sporting are said to want £50 million for Fernandes.

          20.00 BST: Another done deal as Man City have announced they have resigned left-back Angelino from PSV.

          The English champions have activated a £5.3 million buy-back clause to bring the 22-year-old Spaniard back to the Etihad. Angelino, who has made three career first-team appearances for City, left City for PSV last summer after three consecutive seasons of being loaned out.

          "City's performances over the last two seasons have been incredible and I am very excited about returning and contributing to the Club's bid for more success," Angelino told the club's website.

          "I believe my own game can develop under Pep's management and I am very confident that the Club will go from strength to strength over the next few years."

          The Spain Under-21 international was impressive last season at PSV, starting 43 games and laying on 12 assists for the Dutch runner-ups.

          19.19 BST: BOOM.

          Atletico Madrid have completed one of the biggest moves of the summer, after unveiling that they have signed Portuguese phenom Joao Felix from Benfica.

          Both clubs have confirmed the move via Twitter with Benfica confirming that Atletico will pay €126 million for Felix. Felix, 19, has been dubbed the "New Ronaldo" and will sign a seven-year contract with Atleti -- who beat out Man City, Juventus and Man United for the wonder kid's signature.

          The €126m fee is the fifth highest ever paid for a footballer after the transfers of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele.

          18.57 BST: Are Celtic close to signing a Kieran Tierney replacement?

          While Tierney's future with his boyhood club remains in limbo amid Arsenal and Napoli interest, the Hoops are reportedly close to making Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo, 24, their third signing of the summer. The Belgian left-back arrived at Glasgow Airport on Wednesday ahead of a prospective £3 million move from Rapid Vienna to the Scottish champions.

          Celtic manager Neil Lennon confirmed a deal was near by saying: "We are not too far away and he will be another good addition to the squad.

          "He gives us competition at left back, he's strong, athletic and good on the ball."

          Now we'll see if see Celtic hold on to Tierney or decide to cash in on their outstanding homegrown talent.

          18.14 BST: Ex- Man United Forward James Wilson has joined Aberdeen on a permanent basis.

          The move sees academy graduate Wilson end a 17-year spell at Old Trafford and Wilson to return to Aberdeen where he played last season on loan. The 23-year-old scored four goals in 20 first-team appearances for the Red Devils -- including famously scoring a brace on his Premier League debut vs. Hull -- but had not played for United since 2015-16.

          Wilson scored four goals in 32 games last season for the Scottish side and has previously enjoyed loan spells at Sheffield United, Derby County and Brighton.

          17.52 BST: He's backkkkkkk....

          Newly-promoted Norwich City have announced that star striker Teemu Pukki has signed a new three-year contract at Carrow Road.

          The Finnish striker, 29, led the English Championship with 29 goals in 2018-19, spearheading the Canaries' title-winning campaign and promotion to the Premier League.

          "Always as a kid, my dream was to play in Spain but I have always been following the Premier League," said Pukki to the club's official website. "It is the best league in the world so obviously I wanted to play there as well and now it's happening, so I'm really looking forward to it."

          17.30 BST: Speaking of teams moving fast to replaced departing stars, Lyon have made a signing.

          The French club have signed 27-year-old midfielder Thiago Mendes from rivals Lille. The Brazilian replaces Tanguy Ndombele, who joined Tottenham on Tuesday for a club record fee, and reportedly cost around €25 million.

          Mendes, who moved to France in 2017 from Sao Paolo, has played 72 times over the last two seasons for Lille and was a huge part of the club's surprise second-place finish in Ligue 1.

          17.07 BST: Atletico Madrid have announced they have finalised a deal for Mexican midfielder Hector Herrera.

          With midfielder Rodri leaving the Spanish capital for Manchester City, Atleti have wasted no time in signing a replacement in the form of former Porto captain Herrera. The 29-year-old, whose contract recently expired after six years in Portugal, joins an Atletico side that is in the process of undergoing some major changes.

          A versatile midfielder with creative attributes, Herrera has played 70 times at international for Mexico and will sign a three-year contract with Los Rojiblancos.

          16.44 BST: Arsenal fans may laugh at this one: Danny Welbeck has reportedly been turned down by Bordeaux, say outlet 20minutes. The striker was released this summer and has had a host of injury issues.

          15.56 BST: Rodri's buyout clause of €70m has been paid to Atletico Madrid. His move is imminent.

          15.54 BST: Cadena Cope report that Atletico Madrid are not ruling out including Barcelona right-back Nelson Semedo as part of the deal that would see Antoine Griezmann arrive at Camp Nou.

          The France forward announced at the end of the season that he would leave Atletico but did not confirm which club he would join next. His release clause dropped to €120m on Monday. According to the Spanish radio station, Semedo is considered Atletico coach Diego Simeone's preferred candidate to strengthen his team's right-back position.

          15.20 BST: Sheffield United have made their first summer signing. Luke Freeman joins from QPR.

          15.06 BST: Gianluigi Buffon is expected to undergo his Juventus medical tomorrow, say Gazzetta.

          Buffon has agreed a one-year deal to re-join Juve after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, a source told ESPN FC. But reports the 41-year-old will become a director once his 12-month contract expires are premature.

          14.48 BST: Barcelona are ready to listen to offers for Samuel Umtiti but won't accept anything less than €50m for the defender. SPORT says that "Juventus and Manchester United have expressed an interest but neither has followed through with a bid."

          14.22 BST: Sevilla have now completed the signing of Bordeaux defender Jules Kounde for a reported club record fee of €25m.

          13.45 BST: Bobby Adekanye has moved from Liverpool...

          13.17 BST: Wolves' Helder Costa has joined Leeds United on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy in summer 2020. The fee is around £15m.

          13.13 BST: Barcelona are aware that Paris Saint-Germain want Philippe Coutinho and will work on including him in a potential deal for Neymar, sources have told ESPN FC.

          The Spanish champions are set to complete the signing of Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann next week but the arrival of the French forward will not rule out a summer move for Neymar. President Josep Maria Bartomeu has taken charge of talks regarding bringing Neymar back to Camp Nou and the idea is that Coutinho will move in the other direction.

          High-ranking sources at Barcelona said that if they are able to include Coutinho as part of the deal, the chances of re-signing Neymar during the transfer window are "much bigger."

          12.44 BST: Leicester are set to make a £56m double deal for Monaco midfielder Youri Tielemans and Newcastle striker Ayoze Perez.

          The Daily Telegraph reports that Tielemans, 22, is keen to start his preseason with Leicester next week, while Perez is expected to sign for around £16m -- evidently his release clause -- though many other outlets are reporting he will cost £30m.

          12.21 BST: Roma are close to signing goalkeeper Pau Lopez from Real Betis for €18m, say Corriere Dello Sport

          The same outlet has also got a report which states Roma are keen on Atalanta defender Gianluca Mancini.

          11.54 BST: Sky Sport Deutschland report that PSG are interested in Borussia Dortmund's Abdou Diallo.

          11.31 BST: Lille owner Gerard Lopez on Nicolas Pepe: "We have not overvalued anything here. We know what proposals have been made. I also wanted to finalise his transfer before the Africa Cup of Nations. After his entourage requested we do so, we waited a bit. Nicolas told us that he wanted to focus on AFCON. He also wants to speak with the coaches. I am not worried. We will see the facts. His entourage has a preferred destination. That itself is not a problem. Discussions with prestigious clubs, where he would be good, have taken place. Everybody has a right to have some preferences."

          11.08 BST: Manchester United have made David De Gea an improved offer in a bid to break their contract stand-off, sources have told ESPN FC.

          The goalkeeper, who has entered the final year of his deal, has already rejected a five-year contract worth £350,000-a-week.

          Sources said that United are reluctant to make De Gea -- their player of the year in four of the last six seasons -- their highest paid player but have returned with an improved offer in the hope the 28-year-old will commit his long-term future to the club. Negotiations are still ongoing.

          10.50 BST: Hopefully Yaya Toure's new club remember his birthday...

          10.15 BST: Manchester City fans can expect some news soon.

          09.57 BST: Ruben Loftus-Cheek is in the final stages of talks with Chelsea over a lucrative new long-term contract, sources have told ESPN FC.

          The deal will run until at least 2024 and see Loftus-Cheek's wages rise from £60,000-a-week to around £150,000-a-week, and there is optimism on all sides that the 23-year-old will be in position to sign the paperwork soon.

          09.36 BST: Sources have told ESPN that Lucas Ocampos will arrive in Sevilla today for a medical, ahead of a €15m move from Marseille.

          Bordeaux defender Jules Kounde is also set to sign for a club record fee of €25m.

          09.19 BST: Leicester City have had a £30m bid for Newcastle United forward Ayoze Perez accepted, according to reports.

          The Leicester Mercury and Newcastle Chronicle both report that the Spanish attacked, who scored 12 Premier League goals for the Magpies last season, will become Leicester's second summer signing pending a medical and agreeing personal terms.

          The move would be a second major blow for Newcastle in as many weeks, following the departure of manager Rafa Benitez for Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang.

          08.54 BST: Real Madrid forward Raul de Tomas will undergo a medical today in Lisbon before joining Benfica on a permanent transfer, according to Record.

          Benfica will pay Madrid in the region of €20m, making De Tomas one of the most expensive signings for the club.

          The Spaniard arrived in Lisbon on Tuesday night and is expected to sign a five-year contract with the Portuguese champions. The 24-year-old forward spent the last two seasons on loan at Rayo Vallecano from Madrid and scored 38 goals in 66 appearances.

          Benfica are set to sell forward Joao Felix to Atletico Madrid for a club record €120m and therefore need to strengthen their attack.

          08.27 BST: Manchester United have identified Stoke City defender Nathan Collins as the next young prospect they want to sign this summer, according to The Sun.

          Collins, 18, has made just three league appearances for Championship club Stoke since his league debut for the club in April, but Old Trafford bosses have reportedly heeded the recommendation of former United midfielder Darren Fletcher for the 6-foot-5 Republic of Ireland youth international.

          The Sun also claims that two Bundesliga clubs, including Werder Bremen, are monitoring Collins with a view to making a loan deal happen this summer that could be made permanent at the end of next season.

          08.00 BST: Atletico Madrid have had an offer for Spain international centre-back Mario Hermoso turned down by Espanyol, with the Catalan side's general director Roger Guasch suggesting negotiations for the player are ongoing.

          "There was an offer from Atletico Madrid, but we only negotiate from the clause," Guasch told radio station RAC 1. "Hermoso's [clause] is €40m. But for example if a player is worth €50m and a club offers you €42m or €45m plus add-ons, we can talk. But not if someone offers you €10m. He has just one year left on his contract, it is normal that he wants to progress his career, but I hope he is back with us on July 8 [for preseason]."

          Madrid-born Hermoso, 24, joined Espanyol from Real Madrid's youth system in summer 2017, and has since established himself as a regular member of the Spain national squad.

          Reports have claimed that the Bernabeu outfit retain the right to re-sign their former player this summer for €7.5m.

          PAPER TALK (by Nick Judd)

          Maguire says he wants out as Manchester rivals circle

          It looks as though Harry Maguire will be heading to Manchester this summer after the defender told his employers he wants to leave, reports the Sun.

          It is not yet clear whether he'll be donning light blue or red yet though, with City today suggesting they're prepared to match United's bid of £70m, which was rejected on Monday. However, both clubs will be buoyed by the fact the England man has now made it clear he wants to quit the club in an effort to play European football.

          Arsenal are also interested but are only willing to offer £50m.

          Leicester are said to be keen to try and hold out for £85m for a player they felt might give them one last season before moving on. Maguire signed a five-year deal last September but is keen to play in Europe, which suggests City may have the upper hand.

          Maguire, 26, has played 20 times for England. Leicester could look to Gary Cahill as a replacement should Maguire leave for Manchester.

          Groundhog Day for West Ham over Arnautovic

          West Ham look set for another battle with striker Marko Arnautovic, who has reportedly lodged a transfer request following a bid of £19.7m from China, reports the Mirror.

          Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG have made the bid for the Austria international and though the Irons fear a stand-off with the player, who seemingly wants to move, they want double the amount bid so far.

          Arnautovic is due back for pre-season next week but player and club could be set for a tumultuous summer with the star striker, who they value at around £45m.

          West Ham are also aware that Stoke City would receive 20 percent of any fee made after selling the player for £24m in 2017.

          It is the second consecutive transfer window in which Arnautovic has asked to leave the London Stadium. West Ham are preparing for life without Arnautovic by chasing Celta Vigo striker Maxi Gomez, but they look set to dig their heels in in an effort to get as much as they can.

          Tap-ins

          - Bayern Munich are closing in on Chelsea's rising star Jamal Musiala, who is close to agreeing a long-term contract with the Bundesliga champions, according to the Daily Mail. The 16-year-old joined the Blues ranks in 2011 from German side TSV Lehnerz and has played three matches for the club's U18s since September last year.

          - Tottenham have already signed Tanguy Ndombele and Jack Clarke this summer and now they're looking to secure deals for Giovani Lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon, according to the Mail Online. Tottenham are also interested in Ryan's twin brother Steven too, while they're looking at Norwich City's Max Aarons as a potential replacement for Kieran Trippier. They're also looking at Spain U21 international Dani Ceballos as a potential replacement for Christian Eriksen.

          - Manchester United look set to make a formal approach for Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff this week, according to the Telegraph. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking to make another signing before his squad jets off to Australia for their pre-season tour on Sunday, and it's believed they could sign the Newcastle star for £25m. United have also been targeting Bruno Fernandes and Saul Niguez.