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Euro 2020 and the Copa America are over and the summer transfer window is open, leaving Europe’s biggest clubs clear to make a splash in the market. Check out the latest gossip below, and see all official deals here.
TOP STORY: Atletico back in for Arsenal star Lacazette
Atletico Madrid are considering a move for Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, according to Calciomercato.
The Frenchman’s contract is set to expire in 2022 and so he is widely expected to leave the North London club this summer. Atletico’s offer — which could be as low as £12 million — would at least prevent the Gunners losing him for nothing next summer, and in turn could help them fund a move for Tammy Abraham from Chelsea.
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Atletico were interested in signing Lacazette in 2017 when he joined Arsenal from Lyon, but the move failed to materialise because of the Spanish club’s transfer ban at the time. Four years later, Atleti boss Diego Simeone is hoping to land his man in an attempt to bolster his strikeforce.
Lacazette, 30, joined Arsenal for £46.5m four years ago and Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has decided against extending his contract as the striker has scored 65 goals in 170 games.
Arteta is, however, said to be prepared to keep Lacazette next season if no deal is forthcoming, but any move for Abraham then would fall through as a consequence.
Arsenal are one of several clubs keen to sign Abraham, who has dropped down the pecking order at Chelsea, alongside Aston Villa and West Ham United.
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21.44 BST: Napoli and Belgium star Dries Mertens turned down a move to MLS this summer, Il Mattino understands.
The 34-year-old is Napoli’s all-time record scorer, and despite the temptation to move to the United States, has decided to stay on at Napoli for at least another season. Mertens had 10 goals and nine assists last season for Napoli in 38 games although the Partenopei missed out on qualifying for the Champions League on the season’s final day.
21.18 BST: Benfica have come to terms with Santos regarding highly-rated teenage striker Kaio Jorge, according to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte.
The 19-year-old, who has also been linked with AC Milan and Wolves, now will need to agree to personal terms with the Portuguese club. Jorge, who has starred for Brazil with various underage teams, has scored 17 goals in 79 senior games with Santos
Jorge is out of contract with Santos come December so he can sign a pre-contract with a club of his choosing, meaning the negotiations between Jorge and Benfica are expected to be complicated.
20.25 BST: Chelsea could potentially hijack Man City’s move for Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish, the Express claims.
Valued at £100 million, Grealish, 25, has widely been linked with a move to City, with Pep Guadiola keen to bolster his Premier League-winning side. Chelsea, though, are also interested in the England man, with Thomas Tuchel eyeing Premier League glory following last season’s surprising triumph in the Champions League.
Aston Villa are hopeful of retaining their star, who signed a lucrative new contract last season and is tied of Villa Park through 2025.
19.34 BST: David Beckham’s Inter Miami have struggled mightily having won just two of their first 13 games, but help is on the way.
That help comes in the form of United States international defender Ventura Alvarado. The 28-year-old, who last played for Liga MX outfit Atletico San Luis, will join Phil Neville’s side. Alvarado, who has 13 caps for the USMNT but has not been called up since 2016, had previously played his entire career in Mexico with Club America, Necaxa, Santos Laguna and San Luis.
Inter Miami could use all the help they can get on defense, as they currently sport a league-worst -13 goal differential.
18.58 BST: Norwegian winger Jens Petter Hauge only joined Milan last year but his days with the Rossoneri could already be numbered.
La Gazzetta dello Sport writes that Milan plan on selling the 21-year-old, with Bundesliga clubs Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt among the interested parties. Milan are asking for €12 million for the youngster, who had five goals in 24 games with Milan.
18.03 BST: After rumblings earlier this summer about Romelu Lukaku’s future, it seems as if the Belgian forward will be staying at Inter.
In fact, Inter reportedly value the 28-year-old at €120 million, although they have no plans to sell him, according to Calciomercato. Lukaku was Serie A’s Player of the Season a year ago. scoring 24 goals as Inter won their first Scudetto since 2010. Lukaku’s former club Chelsea were among the clubs linked with a move for the Belgian this summer.
17.17 BST: The Philadelphia Union are finalizing deals to acquire Brazilian forward Matheus Davo from Corinthians and Venezuelan midfielder Jesus Bueno from Deportivo Lara, sources tell MLSsoccer.com.
Davo, 21, will join on a season-long loan with an option to buy, while Bueno’s deal is a permanent transfer. A second striker, Davo has been playing on loan in Serie B with Guarani, while Lara, a Venezuela underage international, can play on either as a No.6 or No.8.
Philadelphia currently sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
16.32 BST: Tottenham want around £150m from clubs looking to sign star striker Harry Kane.
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Mark Ogden explains what it will take for Manchester City to acquire Harry Kane from Tottenham this summer.
16.00 BST: Paul Pogba‘s exit could be key to Man United transfer plans after Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane deals, writes Mark Ogden.
Raising £50m or more by allowing Pogba to leave the club before his contract expires in June 2022 could be the difference between United making one or two priority signings — Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane — or having the resources to move for other targets including Kieran Trippier, Eduardo Camavinga and Jules Kounde.
Sources have told ESPN that United’s owners, the Glazer family, have given manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a £100m transfer fund for the summer window, but…
Read more at this link (News Source).
