Paul Pogba will sign for Manchester United on Friday and is set to become the most expensive player in history, according to reports. Sources have told calciomercato.com that the France midfield general is going to complete his transfer to the Old Trafford club in the next 24 hours after his agent Mino Raiola renounced part of the 20% revenue from Pogba’s sale. Jose Mourinho has been tracking the Juve star all summer and it finally looks as though he has got his man for a world-record transfer fee of €115million, including all bonuses and add-ons. It will make the 23-year-old the most expensive player in the history of football, returning to the club four years after leaving the Old Trafford as a free agent after failing to agree a new deal with former … [Read more...]
Arsenal and Liverpool receive boost as Real Madrid consider selling Jese Rodriguez
Real Madrid are willing to listen to offers for Jese Rodriguez, with Arsenal and Liverpool both set to be alerted by the forward’s availability. The 23-year-old is likely to struggle for game time this season given Real’s abundance of attacking talent, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale backed up by Isco and James Rodriguez. Jese’s prospects appear no better than last season, when he started only seven games. Marca reports that Real are ready to hear offers for their academy graduate, who has scored 13 goals in 63 first-team appearances. The versatile forward is thought to want to stay and fight for his place during pre-season, but Real may also be willing to sanction a loan exit or a permanent deal with a buy-back-option – a ploy that … [Read more...]
Wenger seek to replace injured Mertesacker
Arsene Wenger is unsure how long Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker will be out, but he is searching for a replacement. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed he would look to the transfer market to replace Per Mertesacker despite being unsure how long the defender will be sidelined. The former Germany international underwent knee surgery after suffering the injury in his side's 1-1 friendly draw against Lens on Friday. Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Wenger said he was uncertain as to how long Mertesacker, 31, would be sidelined. "We have bad news on Per Mertesacker. He played in Lens on Friday night, he finished the game and had a little pain on his knee," he said. "We found out the next day that it was much more serious than expected. … [Read more...]
Liverpool made bid for Joao Mario- Father
Liverpool have had a bid rejected for Portugal star Joao Mario earlier this summer, according to the player’s father. The 23-year-old impressed at Euro 2016 and helped Portugal win the tournament, making six starts in the competition, including the 1-0 final win over France. The Sporting Lisbon midfielder has been linked with a move after impressing in France, with Chelsea believed to be interested, but it now appears Jurgen Klopp tried to land the player, as well as Inter Milan. According to Portuguese paper Diario de Noticias, Mario was the subject of a €40m bid from the Reds, which was rejected. “Proposals for the lad don’t come directly to me,” Mario’s father is quoted as saying. “They go to his agent, Kia Joorabchian, and the Sporting … [Read more...]
Juventus look to Nemanja Matic as possible replacement for Pogba
As Paul Pogba looks closer to sealing a return to Manchester United, Juventus have identified Chelsea holding midfielder Nemanja Matic as an ideal replacement. The 27-year-old Serbian international, who is in his second stint with the Blues after re-joining from Benfica in 2014, suffered a huge dip in form last season after initially impressing at Stamford Bridge with his powerful all-round game. Despite fears that he could be sold following such a lacklustre season, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte recently insisted that Matic was a key part of his plans and is not on the market. “Matic is a very important player for me, he is very important in my idea of football,” he said. “He is not for sale.” Reports suggest that Matic is open to a move to Juventus … [Read more...]
Former Chelsea striker joins Villareal
After spending the final six months of last season on loan with Chelsea, Alexandre Pato has found his next club in Villarreal. The Yellow Submarines have agreed to sign the former AC Milan man on a permanent basis from Brazilian champions Corinthians. However, as part of the agreement between the two clubs, there is an understanding that none of the economic figures involved in the deal shall be made public. The striker has left the Timao after a mixed spell, which briefly saw arguably his best football since he returned to Brazil in 2014, on an initial loan spell at city rivals Sao Paulo. Last campaign however, the 26-year-old only managed to accumulate two appearances for Chelsea in the Premier League, although he did net a solitary goal. Pato’s … [Read more...]
Totti: Higuain’s move a complete disaster
Francesco Totti has taken aim at Gonzalo Higuain's big-money transfer from Napoli to Juventus. Roma great Francesco Totti has hit out at Gonzalo Higuain's €90 million move from Napoli to Juventus, claiming modern players do not feel any loyalty toward a club. Higuain signed a five-year deal with the Serie A champions on Tuesday to end weeks of speculation linking him with the Turin giants, but Totti, famously a one-club man, is not impressed with the former Real Madrid striker's decision to join Massimiliano Allegri's side. "Modern players are a bit like nomads. They are following the money, not their heart. Not many athletes follow their heart. They decide to move elsewhere to win trophies and to earn more money," Totti told La Gazzetta dello … [Read more...]