Welcome to our Daily Transfer Round up which has been largely dominated today by one man – Mario Balotelli. The controversial striker has been offered to two of Liverpool’s arch-rivals by the super agent Mino Raiola.
Elsewhere Arsenal have moved into their customary panic mode and are contemplating a bid for the England International star Phil Jones, which is more likely to be turned down as well. Meanwhile, Simone Zaza has a new club after Juventus reportedly accepted a €28m bid from one of their biggest rivals.
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On that note, here are the most popular transfer news and rumours doing the rounds on August 24th.
Serie A
- Juventus have accepted an offer of €28m from Napoli for Simone Zaza, according to reports from Gazzetta Dello Sport. Zaza was on the verge of signing for Wolfsburg but the transfer collapsed at the last minute giving Napoli enough time to make their offer. West Ham were also interested in Zaza but as it turns out Napoli have won the race to sign the Italian striker this summer.
- According to reports from Le Parisien, Mino Raiola has brokered a deal with Juventus to complete the signing of French star Blaise Matuidi. Reports claims that Matuidi was given an off day by his new manager and the PSG star has all but agreed a transfer to Juventus. Matuidi will sign for the Serie A Champions on a 4-year deal worth €4.5m.
- Milan are reportedly negotiating with Chelsea for their midfielder Mario Pasalic, according to Gianluca Di Marzio. Reports state that Pasalic will initially join on loan with an option to buy next summer. The talented Croatian international spent last season on loan with AS Monaco and is likely to be shipped by the Rossoneri once again. Antonio Conte is still looking to strengthen his midfield and sees the 21-year-old as the ideal signing.
Bundesliga
- Tottenham are interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, according to a report from BILD. According to the report, Bayer want to keep hold of their star man but would accept bids of around €25million. Atletico Madrid and Manchester United are also linked with the Turkish star where the former are ready to pay €20 million for his signature.
- Bayer Leverkusen have completed the signing of Austrian international defender Aleksandar Dragovic from Dynamo Kiev signaling the exit of Arsenal bound Omer Toprak. Talks have been ongoing between Arsenal and Toprak for last few days with Gunners ready to make a bid for the defender. With Dragovic’s arrival, Leverkusen are tempted to accept Arsenal’s offer for the wantaway defender.
- According to Premium Sport, Borussia Dortmund have made an official offer for Juventus right back Stephan Lichtsteiner, who is keen to quit Serie A following Dani Alves’ arrival in Turin. The transfer fee is still unknown but Dortmund have made a sizable offer for Lichtsteiner and are hopeful to sign him before the end of summer transfer window. Lichtsteiner was left on the bench for the opening game of the season vs Fiorentina.
Premier League
- Arsenal have been linked with a surprise move for Manchester United’s Phil Jones, according to reports from Sky Sports. The Gunners have seen their offer for Shkodran Mustafi, Jonny Evans and Omer Toprak turned down which has prompted Arsene Wenger to make last ditch offers. Jones was an Arsenal target back in 2011 and had also agreed a £16m transfer fee with Blackburn but the player chose Manchester United instead.
Five years on, Arsenal are chasing Jones once again after the player has been reduced to a role from the bench by Jose Mourinho.
- Mario Balotelli has been offered to Everton and Manchester United by his agent Mino Raiola in an attempt to revive the striker’s career. According to the Daily Express, Raiola is hopeful that Jose Mourinho will take Balotelli in his wings after the duo worked together at Inter Milan. However, Everton are more serious contenders they want to sign a marquee striker to support Romelu Lukaku this summer.
- Manchester United target Fabinho’s wife has dropped a huge hint that the Brazilian right back is moving to Old Trafford after she followed Man United’s official account late last night. Jose Mourinho wants a right back to sure up his defense and sees Fabinho as the ideal option. AS Monaco are working on a deal to bring Marcos Rojo as a part of Fabinho’s move to Man United.
La Liga
- Sunderland have agreed a £7 million deal for Sevilla's Vicente Iborra, according to reports from Marca. Manager David Moyes knows the player well from his time at Real Sociedad and wants to bring Iborra at Stadium of light after losing his first two games in charge of Sunderland. Iborra is a goal-scoring midfield player who netted 17 times during 85 appearances for Sevilla.
- Barcelona’s Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo has arrived in Manchester to close his move to Manchester City football club. Bravo, 33, will undergo medical in the coming days before completing his move to the Etihad as a replacement to Joe Hart.
- Real Madrid midfielder Isco has reportedly rejected a move to Juventus and is prepared to fight for his place under Zinedine Zidane. Marca have reported that Juventus saw Isco as a potential replacement to Paul Pogba and were prepared to offer beyond £40 million, however, Isco has been given assurances over playing time by Zidane who has not signed any midfielder this summer.
Rest of Europe
- According to Fichajes, Barcelona right back Douglas is on his way to Sporting Lisbon after Aleix Vidal looks certain to be the first choice right back for Luis Enrique this season. Mundo Deportivo are convinced that Barcelona will insert a buy back cluase to Douglas’ sale as the player one day dreams of playing for Barcelona.
- Salvatore Sirigu will join Sevilla on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports from Goal. PSG will pay 50 per cent of Sirigu’s wages during his time at Sevilla, where the Italy international will seek regular first-team football Sirigu will compete with Sergio Rico and David Soria for the No.1 jersey at Sevilla.
