🚨 Merino to Arsenal 'here we go,' Leão won't leave Milan, Man Utd close to Ugarte, Dybala's 'no,' West Ham sign Kanté & more
Plus all of the other stories making the news in the world of football...
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Today’s top stories:
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Plus more from Juventus, Manchester City and Napoli
AC Milan
AC Milan CEO Furlani: “Rafa Leão will NOT leave AC Milan this summer. Barcelona move? No chance. No way. He’s not leaving the club. 100%. If Rafa asks to leave? He’s not gonna ask to leave the club. I think my message is quite clear, no?”
How much Milan hope to earn from Bennacer and Adli sales [Gazzetta dello Sport]
Alavés
Alavés have made contact to sign Nemanja Radonjic from Torino as he's assessing options for the final week of the transfer window. He's the main option to replace Rioja who joined Valencia.
Arsenal
Arsenal agree on a deal to sell Charlie Patino to Deportivo La Coruña for £1m fixed fee but with a significant sell-on clause included. Patino, ready for a new chapter in Spain.
Mikel Merino to Arsenal, here we go! Verbal agreement in place for the Spanish midfielder to join the Gunners. €32m plus €5m in add-ons with favourable payment terms. Contract until 2028. Arsenal were closing in on the Merino deal since the end of July, Merino only wanted Arsenal.
Similar to the Riccardo Calafiori story, Mikel Arteta has been crucial also for Merino’s move to Arsenal. Positive talks with the player, Merino had at least two more proposals but he’s been clear: only Arsenal. He’s set to travel for a medical, signing until 2028 + option.
Arsenal have been linked with a move for Victor Osimhen and Fabrizio Romano explains what could happen in the final week of the window.
Arsenal ‘confident’ that key figure will sign contract soon [talkSPORT]
AS Roma
Paulo Dybala STAYS at AS Roma. The bid from Al Qadsiah has been REJECTED.
Paulo Dybala has rejected a €75m package as salary was spread over three years from Al Qadsiah… he wanted to stay at AS Roma.
Barcelona
Barcelona are weighing up a number of transfer market opportunities and Fabrizio Romano breaks down the detail.
Belgium
Thibaut Courtois: “I have decided not to return to the Belgian NT under this manager. In this matter, I accept my share of responsibility. However, looking forward, my lack of confidence in him would not contribute to maintaining the necessary atmosphere.”
Brentford
Story confirmed: Sepp van den Berg joins Brentford on a permanent deal from Liverpool. Fee around £25m package with add-ons and a five year deal completed. Done, sealed, confirmed.
Gustavo Nunes to Brentford, here we go! Deal in place for 2005 born Brazilian winger to join from Gremio. €12m fixed fee plus 20% sell-on clause to the Brazilian club.
More exclusive details on 2005 born winger Gustavo Nunes to Brentford deal. Brentford have booked medical tests for Gustavo in London on Saturday. Contracts are already signed between clubs, time for Nunes to sign until June 2029. Here we go, 100% confirmed
Chelsea
Chelsea eased past Servette in the first leg of their Europa Conference League Play-Off. A penalty from Christopher Nkunku on 50 minutes was added to by Noni Madueke on 76 [pictures from RTS], handing the Blues a 2-0 advantage for the second-leg:
Maresca: “I like Noni Madueke… the only problem with him is he has to be consistent in every training session. I want to keep him at the club, for sure. The reality is, until the window is closed, anything can happen.”
Enzo Maresca on Mudryk: “We're going to try to help him to change. Most of the mistakes of Misha are not quality… no, they are about the decision making. We’re gonna help Misha.”
Carney Chukwuemeka is still training under Enzo Maresca but his future remains up in the air. Si Phillips takes a look at what happens next.
Como
Nico Páz travels to Italy as he’s joining Serie A side Como from Real Madrid on a permanent transfer. €6m fee, 50% sell-on clause and buy back clause for Real Madrid. Exclusive story, confirmed.
Como have completed a deal to sign Máximo Perrone on loan from Manchester City, here we go! Travel and medical tests in the next 24h for the midfielder with salary covered until June. NO buy option clause included.
Sergi Roberto to Como, here we go! Deal in place for the former Barça player to join Cesc Fabregas’ Serie A side. Two year contract plus option for a further season.
FC Porto
FC Porto have reached an agreement in principle to sign Swedish 2004 born talent Deniz Gül from Hammarby, here we go! €5m package agreed and medical to follow soon. Deal in place.
Fulham
Official, confirmed. Sander Berge signs in as a new Fulham player from Burnley on a £20m fixed fee. There will be also £5m in add-ons. “Fulham has always been a team that excited me. I’ve played them both in the Championship and PL, and it’s fantastic how they play,” he said.
Genk
Genk are closing in on a deal to sign MLS talent Kayden Pierre from Kansas City. 21 year old fullback set to leave MLS for a new chapter in Europe soon.
Girona
Girona have agreed a deal to sign Yaser Asprilla from Watford, here we go! Girona beat off the competition of several clubs to sign the Colombian talent. Exclusive pic of Asprilla travelling from London to Spain on a private flight with his agent Jonathan Herrera.
Real Madrid ponder decision to activate €8m transfer market opportunity [AS]
Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town agree a deal to sign Jack Clarke from Sunderland, here we go! Package worth £20m with add-ons included. Sunderland also secured a sell on clause as part of the deal. One more important, ambitious signing for Ipswich.
Ipswich Town booked a medical for Jack Clarke on Friday as £20m package has been agreed as exclusively revealed. Sunderland accepted as Clarke was really desperate for PL football.
Juventus
Agreement almost done between Weston McKennie and Juventus as his new deal will be signed soon. Contract valid until June 2026, one more season added to his current contract.
Juventus bid for Koopmeiners remains the same and still on table since August 15. €59m package as exclusively revealed, decision still up to Atalanta.
Capello names best equipped Serie A team in the Champions League [Gazzetta dello Sport]
Leeds United
Largie Ramazani joins Leeds Utd as exclusively revealed yesterday, deal now confirmed.
Legia Warsaw
Official, confirmed. Maxi Oyedele leaves Man United to join Legia Warsaw on a permanent deal. Sell-on clause has been included in the agreement with the Polish club.
Leicester City
Leicester City have agreed a deal to sign Jordan Ayew from Crystal Palace, all done. Ayew joins the Foxes for an £8m fee, add-ons included.
Liverpool
The agreement between Liverpool and Valencia for Giorgi Mamardashvili is on the verge of being completed. There are still final steps needed on payment terms and deal structure. Fee will be €35m, sell-on clause and staying at least one year on loan at Valencia.
Official, confirmed. Bobby Clark leaves Liverpool to join Pep Lijnders at RB Salzburg. Fee £10m and 17.5% sell-on clause as the package. Liverpool will also have right of first refusal.
Stefan Bajcetic was part of the deal that would’ve taken Martin Zubimendi to Liverpool but what’s the latest on his situation? Fabrizio Romano has more.
Stan Collymore’s message to Liverpool fans won’t win him any friends at Anfield.
Mallorca
Mats Hummels and Mallorca, fake story with agents not representing the player. Real Sociedad are in talks with Hummels, not Mallorca.
Manchester City
Manchester City have completed a deal to sign Coventry City talent Marlow Barrett for the Academy.
Divin Mubama completed his medical tests as a new Manchester City player on Thursday, all done.
João Cancelo has a big proposal to consider, but who is it from? Fabrizio Romano tells us more.
Man City begin negotiations with club to sell out of favour defender [CaughtOffside]
Manchester United
Manchester United are now close to getting the Manu Ugarte deal done! As revealed last week, they want to proceed with a loan + obligation to buy and the meeting with PSG was positive. No bids for Ederson — Man Utd want Ugarte, details being discussed. Deal at final stages.
Ten Hag: “Ugarte deal? When we have news, we will let you know. Just be patient, sit, wait. We’re working of course very hard, and we will always try to make the best squad possible.”
Erik ten Hag on Jadon Sancho being available: “You can’t select all the players but you need them all throughout the season. The attitude of the players is very important. Sometimes they'll be disappointed, they have to deal with it.”
Manchester United consider Jadon Sancho’s situation still open ahead of the final week of the summer transfer window. Juventus have contacted Sancho’s camp again as he’s still one of the main names on their list. PSG never sent formal bids; race still open to other clubs.
Man United agree a deal to sign 2006 born Mali international talent Sékou Koné from Guidars FC, here we go! Koné was on the list of several clubs but United agreed a deal on Thursday. Considered a top talent, he’s part of United’s long term plans, similar to Chido Obi Martin.
Manchester United and Tottenham on alert for potential late market opportunity [Sport]
Marseille
Jonathan Rowe has arrived in Marseille to sign in as a new OM player.
Napoli
Napoli reach a verbal agreement with Brighton for Billy Gilmour! Final details to be sorted and then done. Package around €17/18m, add-ons included. Understand Napoli have started plans for Billy to travel and do medical tests early next week. Here we go, soon.
Conte must rethink Napoli targets if transfers continue to stall [Football Italia]
Newcastle United
Kieran Trippier is apparently considering leaving Newcastle in search of regular opportunities. Fabrizio Romano assesses what the next steps could be.
Rennes
Rennes agree a deal to sign Mika Faye from Barça, here we go! After an official bid submitted last week as revealed, deal done with medical to follow on Friday. €12m fixed fee, 25% sell-on clause AND key detail: buy back clause for Barça over €35m.
Saudi Pro League
Al Hilal have submitted a formal bid to sign João Cancelo as negotiations are underway with Man City and the player’s camp. He’s the first choice for Portuguese manager Jorge Jesus. In case of Cancelo’s arrival, Al Hilal RB Saud Abdulhamid could join AS Roma as talks already took place.
Merih Demiral has decided to continue at Al Ahli despite several approaches from Europe after excellent performances at the Euros. Demiral won't leave and stays in Saudi Pro League.
Sevilla
Valentín Barco, in Spain to sign in as a new Sevilla player on loan from Brighton.
Slavia Prague
Václav Jurečka, assessing options with Italian and German clubs who have requested signing him from Slavia Prague. Approaches already took place and he could still be on the move in the case of a good proposal.
Southampton
Charly Alcaraz has concrete chances to leave Southampton after returning from Juventus loan. Understand Lazio have asked for Charly on loan, while Flamengo sent a bid to sign him on a permanent deal. Final decision next week.
Strasbourg
Strasbourg will complete a deal for Nanasi and then evaluate their options for GK position, but the squad is now almost complete. Doukouré, considered untouchable as he will be used as an inverted fullback/ midfielder. Strasbourg’s ambition is to target Europe after big signings this summer.
Strasbourg have just signed all docs for Mamadou Sarr from OL. €10m deal completed and one more French talent for the Strasbourg project.
Swansea City
Nelson Abbey leaves Olympiacos to join Swansea on a loan deal until June 2025. Medical tests completed on Thursday.
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Torino
Official, exclusive story confirmed. Marcus Pedersen has joined Torino on a €1m deal plus €3.5m obligation to buy deal from Feyenoord.
West Ham United
West Ham sign Mohamadou Kanté from Ligue 2 club Paris FC, deal sealed. Kanté will return to the French club on loan for the season then joining the Hammers in June 2025.
West Ham are working hard to bring Carlos Soler to the club. Fabrizio Romano has the latest.
4x Premier League winner offered to West Ham for transfer [TBR Football]
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Bastien Meupiyou, set to join Wolves in a deal worth €5m plus add-ons from Nantes. He could also leave on loan as a solution being discussed but the clubs and player have already agreed on terms.