Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s reported move to Manchester United remains the talk of the town with fresh reports suggesting that the 34-year-old has already agreed terms to play at Old Trafford next season and is scheduled to undergo a medical with the Old Trafford outfit after the conclusion of Sweden’s Euro 2016 journey. Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, who was instrumental in guiding the Foxes to their maiden Premier League title, will have the final say in the decision on his future according to their manager Claudio Ranieri.
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We take a look at the transfer news and rumours of the day from around the world.
Serie A
– According to reports in Italy, Serie A giants Roma are targeting Newcastle United midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum following the Toons’ relegation to the Championship by virtue of a bottom three finish in the English Premier League. The 25-year-old arrived at St. James’ Park in the summer from Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven for a fee in the region of £14.5m and despite scoring 11 goals in his first season at the club, the Dutchman could not save the Geordies from relegation.
A mass exodus is expected at Newcastle United in the upcoming transfer window, with the club looking to reduce their wage bill. Midfielder Miralem Pjanic is close to agreeing a move to Italian giants Juventus and Wijnaldum is viewed by the Giallorossi as an ideal replacement.
– Real Madrid have met with Juventus officials to discuss the transfer of former Los Blancos striker Alvaro Morata according to Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport. Morata signed for the Serie A champions in the summer of 2014 and has spent two hugely successful seasons with the Old Lady. The 23-year-old Spaniard has managed to make 93 appearances for the club scoring 23 goals.
The Santiago Bernabeu outfit had inserted a €30m buy-back clause in Morata’s contract at the time of his transfer from Spain to Germany and are willing to activate it. However, according to the report the Bianconeri are willing to offer the Spanish giants another €25m to retain the services of the 23-year-old. Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and PSG are some of the elite clubs rumoured to be interested in the services of Morata.
– Southampton striker Graziano Pelle, who scored the second goal for Italy in the 2-0 win over Belgium in their Euro 2016 opener, has reports linking him with a move to Serie A champions Juventus and AC Milan. It is believed that the Old Lady have been long-term admirers of the Italian striker and Milan have been alerted following his sensational scissor kick goal in the extra time of the clash against Belgium.
English Premier League
– West Ham United and France midfielder Dimitri Payer’s agent has revealed that the 29-year-old would cost ‘ridiculous money’ to any potential suitors but has failed to rule out a move away from the London outfit for his client. The Frenchman enjoyed a sensational debut season at Upton Park and scored 12 goals while assisting a further 15 in 38 appearances for the Hammers.
Payet’s stock has consistently risen over the past 12 months and the 29-year-old helped his side secure a win in the Euro 2016 curtain-raiser against Romania, with a piledriver from outside of the box in the dying minutes of the game as France recorded a 2-1 win.
"As far as I am concerned, he's been happy at West Ham and it's down to West Ham that he's in the position that he is in," he toldSky Sports News HQ.
"He's doing great now for France and to get him now, you've got to be talking ridiculous money. But football is football, so you never know."
– According to Italian newspaper Noticias ao Minuto, Sporting Lisbon have turned down a bid from Liverpool for the services of Islam Slimani.
The Reds face competition from Arsenal for the services of the Algerian and the Portuguese side have turned down bids from both the English sides and are unwilling to budge on their £24m asking price.
– Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has claimed that striker Jamie Vardy will have the last word on his future. The 64-year-old acknowledged that Premier League rivals Arsenal have activated the 29-year-old’s release clause. Vardy fired the Foxes to their maiden English top-flight title last season and the King Power Stadium outfit are keen to keep hold of him.
“We want to keep him,” Ranieri told Sky Italia.
“Arsenal have said they will pay the full release clause, but he hasn't accepted yet. He gets the last word.”
– West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan’s son Jack Sullivan has confirmed the signing of Valencia winger Sofiane Feghouli by the Irons. Feghouli’s six-year association with Valencia came to an end this season after the Algerian refused to sign a contract extension with Los Che. Sullivan took to Twitter to confirm the signing of the 26-year-old and also revealed that Feghouli has put pen to paper on a three-year long contract.
Sullivan tweeted: "Feghouli has signed for West Ham for the next 3 years!!!"
La Liga
– Spanish giants Barcelona are close to agreeing a deal for Lyon defender Samuel Umtiti after the 22-year-old agreed personal terms with the Blaugrana. According to Inside Futbol, Umtiti has been targeted by English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, but with the Blaugrana willing to meet the asking price for the defender - somewhere between €30m and €33m - a move could soon be finalised.
– Liverpool’s midfielder Philippe Coutinho has rubbished reports linking him with a move away from Anfield and has hailed the Reds manager Jurgen Klopp. The Brazilian has impressed for the Reds in the last two seasons and scored 12 goals while also picking up 7 assists in 43 appearances for the Anfield outfit last season.
The 24-year-old has been linked with a move to cash-rich French outfit Paris Saint-Germain and Spanish champions FC Barcelona, but according to Liverpool Echo, Coutinho is concentrating on his future with the Merseyside club.
“I am grateful for everything Liverpool has done for me,” Coutinho said. “Am I happy there working under Klopp? It’s clear, he’s great.”
Rest of Europe
– Schalke’s sporting director Christian Heidel has denied claims that English Premier League giants Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign German international Leroy Sane. The 20-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Etihad stadium in the January transfer window and reports had suggested that a £40m deal was on the cards.
He told German newspaper Bild: "The story is incorrect, nothing has changed with Leroy Sane."
– Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel’s agent Mithat Halis has revealed that the 31-year-old is on the verge of leaving Anfield with Turkish giants Fenerbahce and German side Wolfsburg interested in the services of the Slovakian. Halis also revealed that Skrtel has offers from China.
The 31-year-old, who has made over 300 appearances for the Reds since joining in 2007, is currently in France with his national team competing in the group stage of Euro 2016. Skrtel was dropped to the bench for Liverpool’s Europa League final against Sevilla in May, which Jurgen Klopp’s side went on to lose 3-1.
“Fenerbahce have been interested for four years but there are also offers from China and Wolfsburg also want him,” Halis was quoted as saying by Radyspor.
– Liverpool have suffered a setback in their pursuit of Borussia Moenchengladbach midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud, as the German outfit are reluctant to let go of their prized asset after losing captain Granit Xhaka to Arsenal last month.
According to goal, the Anfield outfit will now have to wait until next summer if they are to sign the Syrian-born German footballer, who is valued at £20m.
