<
        >

          Barcelona send contingent to Dortmund to thrash out Dembele deal

          • ESPN staffAug 7, 2017, 11:36 PM

          The football world is awash with gossip. Transfer Talk is monitoring the whispers ahead of all the summer moves. Check out the latest deals and potential deals here.

          TOP STORY: Barca officials in Dortmund for Dembele deal

          Barcelona representatives are travelling to Germany to open negotiations over a deal to bring Borussia Dortmund's Ousmane Dembele to the Camp Nou, according to Sport Bild.

          The paper quotes Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke as having said the club will not part with the 20-year-old attacker unless Barca submit a bid in excess of €100m.

          Kicker, meanwhile, reports that BVB would sell for €120m.

          As speculation over Dembele's future intensifies, the France international has removed mention of Dortmund from his social media profiles. Full story.

          LIVE BLOG:

          22.57 BST: That's going to do it for Tuesday's live edition of Transfer Talk. Thanks very much for joining us, and be sure to check back in a few short hours when we return with the best gossip pulled from Wednesday's back pages.

          22.39 BST: DONE DEAL Minnesota United have claimed former U.S.Under-17 goalkeeper Alex Kapp off waivers.

          22.17 BST: Stoke's former Barcelona boys Marc Muniesa and Bojan are set for loans back in La Liga, writes the Mail, with Muniesa interesting newly promoted Girona and Bojan wanted by Malaga.

          21.54 BST: DONE DEAL Columbus Crew SC have signed Portuguese midfielder Pedro Santos as a designated player from Braga. Full story.

          21.32 BST: Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund are set to do battle for Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams, TalkSport cites Tutto Sport as reporting.

          21.10 BST: Everton will push on in their bid to bring Gylfi Sigurdsson to Goodison Park, despite earlier reports that a deal with Swansea was on the brink of collapse, and the Liverpool Echo reports that sources close to the deal believe it will get done.

          20.47 BST: Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol cites French broadcaster TF1 as reporting that Kylian Mbappe has decided he would like to join Paris Saint-Germain, and the Parisian club are set to make a monster offer.

          20.25 BST: Liverpool are set to reject a loan bid from 2. Bundesliga side Hannover 96 for 17-year-old forward prodigy Ben Woodburn, reports the Mail, as the Reds want to keep a closer eye on the Wales youth international's development.

          20.03 BST: Roma have shelved their interest in Riyad Mahrez and will now turn their attentions to Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez, AS cites Gazzetta dello Sport as reporting. Should that pursuit prove unsuccessful, the Italian club could then look to Barcelona's Munir El Haddadi.

          19:40 BST: Real Sociedad have confirmed that they have an agreement in principal with Major League Soccer for the transfer of Carlos Vela, who will join an as-yet-unnamed club within the league in January.

          19.24 BST: After landing Neymar in a record-breaking deal, PSG have cooled their interest in Alexis Sanchez, according to the Telegraph. Manchester City remain interested in the Chilean attacked, but it's reported that Arsenal are determined to hold on to their player for the final year of his contract.

          19.08 BST: Gareth Bale is starting for Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup against Manchester United, a day after United manager Jose Mourinho said he would be tempted to try to sign the Welshman if Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane signalled Bale was not in his plans by leaving him out of the lineup. Full story.

          18.51 BST: DONE DEAL Southampton have confirmed the signing of 23-year-old midfielder Mario Lemina from Juventus on a five-year contract. Full story.

          18.35 BST: While Roma have been unable to meet Leicester's £40m asking price for Riyad Mahrez, TalkSport cites Corriere dello Sport as reporting that Inter Milan have entered the race to sign the Algerian playmaker.

          18.19 BST: The Telegraph reports that Everton and Swansea had an agreement for Gylfi Sugurdsson that would see the Toffees pay £45m up front with no add-ons, only for the Merseyside club to attempt to renegotiate that arrangement, and the Swans are ready to walk away from the table, leaving the Icelandic international's move on the brink of collapse.

          18.03 BST: Inter Milan have rejected an offer from Valencia for midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, reports CalcioMercato. Los Che's offer was for a one-year loan with an option to buy the 24-year-old French midfielder at %euro;20m, while the Nerazzurri prefer a loan with an obligation to buy at &eruo;25m.

          17.46 BST: German outlet Sport Bild is reporting that representatives from Barcelona have set off for Germany to open talks over a deal to bring Ousmane Dembele to the Camp Nou. Borussia Dortmund have said they will not part with the 18-year-old -- who's removed mention of the club from his social media profiles -- unless they receive a package in excess of €100m.

          17.24 BST: Djibril Sidibe could follow in the footsteps of Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco to Chelsea this summer, The Sun claims. According to the newspaper, Antonio Conte is keen to bring in Sidibe as he looks to add more wing-back options to his Blues squad.

          17.15 BST: Watford have already made one signing today in Richarlison and they're now hoping to bring in Andre Gray from Burnley, according to the Daily Mirror. The Hornets have reportedly had two bids rejected for Gray but are not yet giving up hope of luring him to Vicarage Road.

          17.03 BST: Over in the Championship, Leeds defender Gaetano Berardi has signed a new three-year deal with the club...

          16.48 BST: DONE DEAL Burnley have confirmed the signing of Birmingham goalkeeper Adam Legzdins -- after sources told ESPN FC of the news earlier this afternoon.

          16.37 BST: Mexico international Carlos Vela looks to be on his way to joining Los Angeles FC as a designated player...

          16.27 BST: Seb Larsson is in talks with Hull City over signing for the Championship club on a free transfer, Sky Sports says. Larsson is a free agent after leaving Sunderland at the end of last season.

          16.16 BST: DONE DEAL Bordeaux have wrapped up the signing of midfielder Otavio from Atletico Paranaense on a four-year deal...

          16.03 BST: RMC is claiming that Marseille sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has called Aston Villa full-back Jordan Amavi in a bid to convince him to join the Ligue 1 side. The former Nice defender is likely to cost Marseille in the region of €10 million.

          15.47 BST: DONE DEAL Groningen have announced the signing of Uriel Antuna from Manchester City on a two-year loan deal...

          15.32 BST: After agreeing personal terms last week, Giannelli Imbula is waiting for Monaco to reach a deal with Stoke to sign him, L'Equipe reports. Stoke are apparently demanding between €15-20 million for the midfielder, but Monaco are holding back in a bid to obtain a lower price.

          15.18 BST: An update for you now on Philippe Coutinho, with sources close to the player having told ESPN Brasil that he has let Liverpool know he wants to leave the club and join Barcelona. Sources suggest Coutinho is willing to hand in a transfer request in order to push a deal through. Full story.

          15.02 BST: For all the talk of Chelsea or Liverpool rescuing wantaway Virgil van Dijk from Southampton, Yahoo Sport is reporting that the Saints have told the defender and his representatives they will block any move away from the club.

          14.48 BST: Burnley are close to completing a deal to sign Birmingham goalkeeper Adam Legzdins, sources close to the player have told ESPN FC.

          14.37 BST: We have a DONE DEAL in the Premier League -- Watford have completed the signing of Brazil under-20 international Richarlison from Fluminese... Full story.

          14.30 BST: Nice have unveiled new signing Wesley Sneijder this afternoon following his move to the French club on a free transfer...

          14.16 BST: Roma sporting director Monchi has been talking about their pursuit of Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez and reported Juventus interest in Kevin Strootman. Full story.

          14.01 BST: Tottenham Hotspur will not rush left-back Danny Rose back into action, a source has told ESPN FC, with the Manchester United target not expected to play again before the end of the month.

          Both United and Inter Milan are interested in Rose, but Spurs have yet to receive a bid and say he is not for sale. Full story.

          13.45 BST: Hatem Ben Arfa could be in for a return to Nice, L'Equipe reports, as he seeks to rebound after his Paris Saint-Germain disappointment. Ben Arfa enjoyed a successful 2015-16 campaign at Nice before moving to PSG, where he has been told he is surplus to requirements.

          13.32 BST: DONE DEAL Zenit St Petersburg have now confirmed the signing of Matias Kranevitter, who joins from Atletico Madrid on a four-year deal after passing a medical. The move comes shortly after Zenit announced that Hernani has joined St Etienne on loan for the season.

          13.21 BST: Huddersfield captain Mark Hudson has decided to hang up his boots -- but he will remain with the Premier League new boys in a coaching capacity.

          13.10 BST: Atletico Madrid have announced that Matias Kranevitter is set for Zenit St Petersburg after the two clubs reached an agreement over a transfer...

          12.59 BST: Tottenham have told Manchester United that left-back Danny Rose is not for sale, according to the Evening Standard. United, as well as Inter Milan, have been linked with a move for the England international, but Spurs have made it clear they want to keep him.

          12.45 BST: Big-spenders AC Milan have been looking to add a striker to their squad before the transfer window closes and, according to SportMediaset, that man could be Ciro Immobile. Milan have apparently made an enquiry for the Lazio striker, who could cost between €30-50 million.

          12.32 BST: Arsenal have made a new signing -- but sadly for Gunners fans it's not Thomas Lemar... Instead, they've announced a partnership with fashion brand Cavallaro Napoli.

          12.22 BST: Kylian Mbappe's father will meet Pep Guardiola this week with a view to discussing a transfer to Manchester City, Football Whispers reports.

          It is said Nike, who represent Mbappe and make City's kit, are keen on the deal.

          12.09 BST: Atletico Madrid striker Rafael Santos Borre has joined River Plate, with Matias Kranevitter and Luciano Vietto also close to leaving the club. Full story.

          11.57 BST: BBC Sport reports that Manchester City winger Patrick Roberts is a target for Nice and two unnamed Premier League clubs on loan, but he wants a return to Celtic where he spent the last two seasons.

          11.40 BST: Arda Turan was unused against Chapecoense, despite Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde making all 11 changes. The latest rumour in Spain is that he has been offered to Atletico Madrid.

          11.25 BST: DONE DEAL Leicester have announced the signing of 20-year-old Coventry forward George Thomas for an undisclosed fee. Full story.

          11.12 BST: Various outlets in Spain are contradicting Liverpool's official line that Philippe Coutinho is not for sale with Sport saying it is a "matter of hours" until the deal is done for him to join Barcelona.

          Mundo Deportivo claims Barca are in England to finalise the signing.

          Meanwhile, AS reckons a move for Nice midfielder Jean Seri could be on the cards.

          11.00 BST: Inter is coming! The signing of Dalbert looks close to being done after Inter Milan tweeted pictures of the Nice defender undergoing a medical.

          10.42 BST: Another player said to be on Barca's wanted list is Real Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez.

          The 26-year-old returned to training with La Real this week, but there is still a lot of speculation the Spain international could be on the move and is reported to be keen on the idea. Full story.

          10.36 BST: Liverpool's stance on Philippe Coutinho remains that he is not for sale, sources have told ESPN FC, amid interest from Barcelona. Full story.

          10.18 BST: Manchester United would be favourites to win the Premier League title if they signed Gareth Bale from Real Madrid.

          That is the opinion of ex-United midfielder Darren Fletcher, who told talkSPORT: "Not only would they be title favourites, but people would be expecting the title. That is the sort of level that signing is. It is the next-level signing.

          "If Gareth could stay fit for a full season and United could sign him, I would personally think that would almost nail them on as favourites for the title."

          10.02 BST: Bayern Munich could have signed Neymar in 2010 for €24m but were not prepared to pay for a 17-year-old prospect according to Croatian agent Predrag Racki.

          "In the 2010 winter transfer window I got permission from Neymar's agent Wagner Ribeiro to negotiate with Bayern" Racki told Croatian newspaper Novi List. "Neymar was 17 then but you already knew he would become a world class player. He was just a lot thinner back then."

          09.41 BST: Tuttosport reckons Juventus will try to prise Kevin Strootman from Serie A rivals Roma having failed in their pursuit of Emre Can and Blaise Matuidi.

          09.25 BST: Carlos Bacca has been omitted from AC Milan's Europa League playoff squad in a move that increases the likelihood of the striker leaving the club.

          The 23-player list does include both Leonardo Bonucci and Lucas Biglia, whose transfers were not completed in time for them to play in the last round. Full story.

          09.06 BST: Worries growing around Atletico that goalkeeper Jan Oblak being targeted by Paris Saint-Germain.

          AS claims PSG chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi has a date with the player's agent Miha Mlakar at the weekend.

          Mlakar said at the start of the summer that there were clubs interested in Oblak, hinting that a new contract was needed, but nothing has happened even after others like Antoine Griezmann, Koke and Saul Niguez got new deals.

          08.47 BST: Here's more on Inter's pursuit of Dalbert and Emre Mor, who could be the Nerazzurri's fourth and fifth summer signing. Full story.

          08.27 BST: Enthusiasm and confidence is growing at Inter Milan ahead of the new season and Gazzetta dello Sport reports that many rate manager Luciano Spalletti as the club's best summer signing.

          But three more could be on the way with Dalbert in Milan ahead of a move from Nice, Emre Mor close to joining from Borussia Dortmund and Sampdoria striker Patrik Schick the next target.

          08.03 BST: Welcome to Tuesday's Transfer Talk live blog. We begin with news of a potential departure at Arsenal.

          Valencia want to sign Gabriel, according to the Mirror, and their manager Marcelino is confident of landing the Brazilian defender.

          Rose interest gives Tottenham thorny problem

          Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is "facing a fresh fight to hang on to left-back Danny Rose," according to the Mirror.

          Rose is recovering from a knee injury, but that has not prevented either Inter Milan or Manchester United from considering bids for the England international.

          The Mirror says both have "reignited their interest" in the 27-year-old, with United manager Jose Mourinho "having question marks over the left-back role" and Inter having looked at Rose last season.

          Meanwhile, Spurs striker Vincent Janssen is interesting Marseille despite his struggle for goals since arriving in London from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.

          The Mirror adds that Janssen "is one of a number of players Spurs would be willing to offload."

          Chelsea to be boosted by three arrivals

          Chelsea coach Antonio Conte has recently voiced frustration about the depth of his squad, but the Telegraph says he needn't lose too much sleep over that.

          It reports that the Premier League champions will bring in at least three new faces by the time the window closes, adding to both their defence and midfield options.

          Conte's ranks could soon include both PSG's Serge Aurier and Southampton's Virgil van Dijk, while potential midfielders include Leicester's Danny Drinkwater, Everton's Ross Barkley and Antonio Candreva of Inter Milan.

          The Telegraph says Van Dijk's decision to submit a transfer request will result in a swift Chelsea effort to open talks over a player who is still interesting Liverpool.

          And the Blues could also face competition in their attempts to land Aurier, a reported target for Manchester United.

          Liverpool will not waver over Coutinho

          Reports over the weekend said Barcelona feel a deal for Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho is in the bag and could even be struck this week.

          But Liverpool don't see it like that, the Guardian reports, adding that the club's stance "has not altered despite indications that Barcelona are prepared to pay £100 million."

          Although Barca saw an offer of more than £70m turned down last month, Liverpool have yet to receive a second bid.

          However, the Guardian adds that "there has been further contact since the original offer was rejected, with Barcelona indicating that they are willing to make Coutinho the second most expensive player in history."

          Coutinho signed a new Anfield contract in January, and both manager Jurgen Klopp and club owners Fenway Sports Group have said they have no intention of selling him.

          Tap-ins

          - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger spoke recently about a desire to trim his squad, and one player who could be on his way out is defender Carl Jenkinson.

          The Mirror reports that Jenkinson, close to a move to Crystal Palace in January, is now interesting Swansea. Although the Gunners would prefer a permanent move, "they may also be prepared to do a loan deal."

          - A trio of Championship clubs are keen to take teenage Liverpool midfielder Yan Dhanda on loan, says the Mail.

          Nottingham Forest, Bristol City and Leeds are all targeting the 18-year-old, who has made rapid recent progress and trained with the Liverpool first-team squad earlier this year.

          - Poland international Adrian Mierzejewski is closing in on a move to A-League champions Sydney FC, according to the Daily Telegraph.

          Mierzejewski, 30, has been searching for a club since leaving Arabian Gulf League side Sharjah in July.