🚨 Zirkzee 'Here We Go,' João Palhinha's dream comes true, Thiago seen at Barça, van Dijk's hint, Varane to Como and more
As the Euros comes to a close, the transfer market has begun to hot up...
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Today’s top stories:
Plus more transfer updates from Liverpool, Napoli and RB Leipzig
AC Milan
More on Youssouf Fofana story. There are zero issues on contract, salary or anything else between Fofana and AC Milan, personal terms are 100% agreed as revealed on Wednesday. AS Monaco have also been informed by player's agent. Despite interest from PL, priority is Milan.
Ibrahimovic orders to hide Milan training pitches [Gazzetta dello Sport]
Arsenal
Arsenal submit first proposal to Ajax for 18 year old goalkeeper Tommy Setford. Negotiations ongoing, Ajax sources see Setford as a big talent but current deal expires in June 2025. England U20 GK keen on the move.
Riccardo Calafiori to Arsenal delay explained by Italian transfer expert [Di Marzio]
AS Monaco
AS Monaco are closing in on a deal to sign Georges Mikautadze from Metz. Details still being clarified but deal now imminent for Georgian striker. Exclusive story on personal terms agreement also confirmed, deal at final stages. Here we go, expected soon.
AS Roma
AS Roma are closing in on deal to sign Swedish LB Samuel Dahl from Djurgården, agreement being finalised. 2003 born talent has already accepted.
AS Roma have genuine interest in Matias Soulé. No formal proposal sent to Juventus, as they insist on €35/40m initial request. There’s also genuine interest from Premier League clubs, Leicester keep insisting.
Atalanta
Atalanta submit formal proposal to sign 23 year old midfielder Matt O’Riley from Celtic. Negotiations ongoing with PL clubs also keen but Atalanta are pushing, first bid has been sent. Koopmeiners remains priority target for Juventus.
Atlanta United director landed in Italy to hold direct talks for Aleksej Miranchuk. Atalanta want €15m after initial proposal but still below their expectations to let Miranchuk leave.
Athletic Club
Athletic president Uriarte: “We have a top project with no limits and we’re able to keep top players like Nico Williams at the club. There are too many questions always asked to Nico on his future and the Federation has not been able to protect him. We ask for respect.”
Barcelona
Is Thiago Alcântara about to make a return to Barcelona? Fabrizio Romano brings us the latest.
Bayern Munich
Official, confirmed. João Palhinha signs in as new Bayern player on a four-year contract until June 2028. Fulham receive €50m plus add-ons. Palhinha only wanted to play for Bayern.
João Palhinha on joining Bayern: “It's a dream come true for me and I'm very proud of that. I'm looking forward to the atmosphere and the fans at Allianz Arena. I want to win titles. I will give everything to achieve that. This is one of the happiest days of my life.”
Bayern have agreed on new deal for 2005 born talent Matteo Pérez Vinlöf, set to be signed until June 2027. Pérez Vinlöf will then be loaned out to Austria Vienna right after signing new contract, deal already agreed.
Benfica
Ángel Di Maria will stay at Benfica for one more season, agreement sealed today. Decision confirmed on both sides as Benfica wanted him to stay and El Fidéo accepted the proposal. Di Maria will leave the Argentina national team next week but staying at Benfica until 2025.
Jan-Niklas Beste to Benfica, here we go! Deal agreed for German wing back who’s gonna be new LB for Roger Schmidt. Beste, already in Lisbon to undergo medical tests as he will sign five year deal at Benfica. 8 goals, 13 assists at Heidenheim for Beste last season.
Borussia Dortmund
BVB CEO Watzke on Guirassy case: “The current situation is that everyone involved still wants the transfer, but of course we need a sensible statement on how the injury is now. We are gonna check again.”
Burnley
Burnley have completed all documents on the Lucas Pires deal, now all sealed with Santos. New signing for Parker, as revealed last week.
Cagliari
Nik Prelec has signed a new deal at Cagliari today until June 2027 ahead of loan move to Austria Vienna. One year loan with option to buy up to €2m total package.
Chelsea
Renato Veiga completed all medical tests as a Chelsea player on Wednesday in London, contract signed on Thursday. Deal valid until June 2032 after €14m deal agreed with Basel, as revealed last week. It's all set.
Marc Cucurella’s agent Aleix Piqué: “Cucurella is very comfortable and happy at Chelsea and in London. His idea is to stay at the club. Under normal circumstances, he will continue there.”
What’s next for Marc Cucurella? Fabrizio Romano takes an exclusive look at his options.
Si Phillips has an exclusive and incredibly detailed scouting report on Renato Veiga.
Como
Como have opened talks to sign 32 year old left back Alberto Moreno as a free agent. Varane talks progressing and Como want also Moreno, former Liverpool LB open to joining Cesc Fabregas’ side.
Como are optimistic to get Raphael Varane deal done by next week as negotiations are progressing well. Cesc Fabregas wants Varane and he’s keen on the move, with final details being clarified. Exclusive story, to be confirmed soon.
Crystal Palace
Marc Guéhi has been brilliant for England at Euro 2024. Will he be considering his options this summer? Fabrizio Romano takes a look.
England
FA insist on Gareth Southgate to stay, they want him to be England's manager regardless of the outcome in the Euros final vs Spain. Internal talks already took place to confirm total confidence in Southgate.
Fiorentina
Nicolás Valentini will become a new Fiorentina player in January, free move from Boca Juniors. The contract is sealed and medical will follow this morning in Argentina.
Genoa
Genoa have sent new proposal for Leo Román as new goalkeeper. €4m fixed plus €2.5m add-ons. Negotiations underway to replace Josep Martínez.
Girona
Donny van de Beek to Girona, deal completed. He leaves Man United to join Girona on a permanent deal. Contract until June 2028, initial fee €500k with add-ons up to €4/5m plus difficult ones for potential €10/15m package.
Inter Milan
Understand Inter keep looking for new left footed centre back… and they’ve added Juan Cabal to their list. Colombian 23 year old centre back had a good season at Verona and Inter have made contact to explore this option. 2/3 options remain on Inter’s list.
Inter’s transfer budget for new defender revealed [FC Inter 1908]
Juventus
Jean-Clair Todibo, keen on move to Juventus as he's open to joining the club. Juve have discussed a loan with mandatory buy clause as initial proposal but OGC Nice already rejected €35m from West Ham. Dean Huijsen, expected to leave Juve; it could help with profit.
Chiesa, McKennie, Szczesny: Juventus’ Sale XI revealed [Tuttosport]
Lazio
Lazio are advancing well in talks with Nuno Tavares’ camp to agree on personal terms. Agreement with Arsenal sealed on €9m fee, loan with obligation to buy with sell on clause also included. Positive contacts on salary with player side, still waiting to get the deal done.
Leeds United
Joe Rothwell completes a move to Leeds United as he’s signed on a season-long loan from Bournemouth.
Liverpool
Virgil Van Dijk on his future: “I will think carefully this summer about what I want at club level and as an international player. Then we'll go for it again, but first I want to recover after this difficult season.”
Fabrizio Romano has taken a deeper dive into van Dijk’s comments
Liverpool make Darwin Nunez decision following striker’s role in mass brawl [Liverpool ECHO]
Manchester City
Manchester City are closing in on deal for England U16 captain Harrison Miles to join the Academy. Details being sorted and then time to sign all docs.
Manchester City rival Barcelona for potential transfer of classy Euro 2024 star [AS]
Manchester United
Olympique Marseille keep working on Mason Greenwood personal terms agreement. Discussions underway about the salary structure after €30m package deal agreed with Man United. OM board and Roberto de Zerbi want to make it happen, talks continue.
Matthijs de Ligt told his agent Rafaela Pimenta two weeks ago: only Man United, no negotiations with other clubs. The contract agreed is valid until June 2029, five years. De Ligt only wants United. Negotiations between Man United and Bayern are also proceeding well.
More on Matthijs de Ligt. Man United and Bayern are close to reaching an agreement on the fee, talks progressing. Bayern insist on €50m with Man United structuring the proposal with add-ons included. United want de Ligt deal done as soon as possible.
Joshua Zirkzee to Manchester United, here we go! Man United will NOT trigger the clause but pay slightly above €40m with better payment terms, over three years. Zirkzee signs until June 2029 with option for further season. First signing of INEOS new era.
More details on Zirkzee deal done for Manchester United. Medical tests will take place on Friday, then face to face meeting with Erik ten Hag. Contract until June 2029 + option for further year. €42.5m fee paid over three years instead of €40m in one solution.
Official: Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake join Man United coaching staff on two year contracts. Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy leave the club. Exclusive story, confirmed.
One more Manchester United talent signs a new deal as Toby Collyer has agreed a new contract until June 2027, with an option for a further year.
Saudi Pro League clubs interest in Casemiro, still very strong as reported. More will follow in the next days, still no formal proposals but genuine interest.
Anthony Martial, open to a new league as he's already turned down several approaches from England. No move to Besiktas while they're close to signing Ciro Immobile, Martial has received calls from many clubs including Como. His decision will be made in the next weeks.
Napoli
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s agent Jugeli: “His future depends on Napoli president. If he wants to sell Kvara, he will leave. If he wants to offer new deal, Kvara will extend.” Napoli plans, very clear: new deal has been offered to Kvaratskhelia, not for sale.
Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo confirms his decision to stay at the club in open letter to the fans.
PSG ready 200m for Napoli pair Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia [Corriere dello Sport]
RB Leipzig
Key detail on Dani Olmo: following Spain access to Euro 2024 final, the release clause will be valid until July 20 and no longer July 15. There was this specific factor on the clause due to the Euros, now formally approved. Clause worth €60m, several clubs interested.
Dani Olmo on his future: “Clause until July 20? Yes, if clubs want me, they know what they can do… There’s time until July 20 for the clause otherwise later it’d be tough negotiations! I’m under contract at Leipzig and I want to win titles.”
Real Madrid
Andrij Lunin on his future: “Staying at Real Madrid? We will see, we will see… I want to stay, but my future is in the hands of the club. Courtois is one of the best but I want to play.” Current deal expires in June 2025, Real offered new contract but still waiting for Lunin to decide.
Reggiana
Josip Brekalo’s brother Filip leaves Dinamo Zagreb to join Italian side Reggiana, deal done. Two year contract, medical already completed.
Rennes
Marin Pongračić, one step away from joining Rennes after official bid sent to Lecce. Rennes director Ricky Massara wants Pongracić after excellent season in Serie A, details being clarified then deal will be done. Fee in the region of €15m.
Sevilla
Albert Sambi-Lokonga to Sevilla, here we go! Deal in place with Arsenal on a loan move for the midfielder. Sevilla will cover his salary with €12m buy option clause also included in the deal. Medical already booked.
Spain
Dani Carvajal: “I tell Rodri every day to sign for Real Madrid. I tell him every day to leave Manchester, that there is no sun there and to come to Madrid because we need him. He tells me he has a contract... but he would be perfect for us.”
The Debrief Podcast
England vs Spain: Who will reign supreme? This week we preview the much anticipated Euro 2024 Final — featuring England and Spain — with Semra Hunter, Spanish Football Expert. As always, Fabrizio Romano joins the show to answer your transfer questions from around the world.
Valencia
Valencia complete Rafa Mir deal from Sevilla on loan with buy clause worth €5m.