Welcome to our daily transfer rumours round-up. Today’s big news comes from Anfield where they have agreed a striker deal with the player ready to undergo a medical in next 24 hours. Elsewhere, Arsenal are set to lose out to Borussia Dortmund to sign their priority defensive target.
Meanwhile, Joe Hart has found a club that suits his needs this season while Diego Simeone has broken silence over potential Diego Costa’s move to Atletico Madrid.
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On that note, here are the most popular transfer news and rumours doing the rounds on August 19th.
Serie A
- Mario Balotelli is close to completing a move back to Serie A with Lazio tipped as the favorites to sign the controversial striker. The news was confirmed by Il Messaggero, who claim that Balotelli is looking for a house in Olgiata, in the outskirts of Rome. Lazio are currently working on a deal to convince Liverpool to pay 50% of Balotelli’s £6m-a-year salary.
- The deal between Wolfsburg and Juventus for the transfer of Simone Zaza is still not dead, says Football Italia. We covered a story last night which did suggest that Zaza will no longer join Wolfsburg after the clubs failed to agree his transfer fee. However, the Bundesliga side are confident of reaching an agreement with Juventus over Zaza’s sale.
- According to Calciomercato, AS Roma have met with Borja Valero’s agent earlier this week, but Fiorentina don’t want to sell their star player. Reports suggest that player’s agent recently met with AS Roma’s Director Walter Sabatini to know the financial package offered to Valero. Roma are expected to make an official bid for the Spaniard early next week.
Bundesliga
- Wolfsburg have confirmed Nice's interest in Brazilian defender Dante, while ruling out an exit for midfielder Luiz Gustavo. According to Kicker, Dante has struggled to make an impact at Wolfsburg after signing from Bayern Munich last summer. Nice meanwhile are prepared to offer Dante a 3-year contract to the Brazilian defender.
- Borussia Dortmund are set to rival Arsenal for the signing of Bayer Leverkusen defender Omar Toprak. German outlet Sports Buzzer reported a story earlier today which suggested that Arsenal’s delay of making a formal bid has given Dortmund a green light to sign Toprak, who is valued at €18million.
However, Dortmund are even willing to wait until next summer when Toprak’s €12million buyout clause is activated.
- Wolfsburg are willing to sell striker Bas Dost this summer with West Ham and now Newcastle United favorites for his signature. Sport Bild claim that with Mario Gomez and Simone Zaza’s arrival at the club this summer, Dost has become surplus to requirement and will be sold in coming weeks.
English Premier League
- Christain Benteke is on his way to Crystal Palace after manager Alan Pardew confirmed that the striker is due a medical later today. Speaking with Sky sports, Pardew confirmed a £27+ £5m offer for Benteke, which has now been accepted by Liverpool. However, the player is yet to agree personal terms with Crystal Palace.
- Manchester City are close to signing the highly rated Croatian midfield star Ante Coric, according to Daily Star. Coric was previously linked with a move to Liverpool which fell through after Jurgen Klopp went ahead and signed Georginio Wijnaldum.
Man City, however, have all but agreed a £10millon fee with Dynamo Zagreb and expect to close a deal this weekend.
- Manchester City city outcast Joe Hart is in talks with Everton to sign on a season-long loan deal. Daily Mirror are certain that Hart is close to quitting the Citizens but does not want to leave the club on a permanent basis. Hart wants to get playing time this season and sees Everton as an ideal club for him.
La Liga
- Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has revealed that he tried to re-sign Chelsea striker Diego Costa. In an interview with AS, Simeone said: “The club were working on the possibility that Diego Costa arrived. Then, when that did not advance, we were always very clear with Gameiro.
“I told him we were looking at getting Costa on board but that, of the alternatives given by the club, I had backed him completely”
- Sources in England, Spain and the Netherlands are all claiming that Barcelona have agreed a €12million deal for Jasper Cillessen to replace the Premier League-bound Claudio Bravo. Barcelona and Manchester City have already agreed a fee for Bravo, believed to be around €20m, but the move has been held up by an injury to Marc-André Ter Stegen.
- James Rodríguez could be on his way out of Real Madrid if Los Blancos receive a good offer for the Colombian midfielder, according to El Chiringuito. However, if no club is willing to offer around €70 million for James, Real Madrid will keep him and will make him fight for a place in the starting XI.
Rest of Europe
- Aston Villa defender Joleon Lescott has decided against a move to Rangers following talks with the Scottish club. According to Scottish Sun, Lescott is now pushing for a move to Sunderland amid David Moyes’ appointment at the Stadium of Light.
- Championship side Sheffield Wednesday have re-signed defender Vincent Sasso on a one-year deal following his release by Portuguese club Braga. Sasso spent the whole of last season on loan with the Owls, making 19 appearances in all competitions.
- AS Monaco are pushing for a deal to sign Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo. L’equipe are certain that Monaco have conceded defeat in losing Fabinho to Man United this summer but Ligue 1 side want to replace Fabinho with Rojo, however, Argentine’s salary remains a hurdle.
