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Transfer Talk: Atletico Madrid have deal in principle for Monaco's Thomas Lemar

The transfer window is open, and Transfer Talk has the latest rumours making the rounds. Follow live with our daily blog throughout the summer.

TOP STORY: Atletico have deal for Lemar

This is a big one. After Spanish outlets Marca and AS reported earlier that Atletico Madrid and Monaco had a deal in principle for Thomas Lemar, both clubs have now confirmed the news.

The Lemar deal is not technically done yet but the two clubs have agreed in principle and will now work out the formal details of the deal in the next few days.

The France midfielder nearly moved to Arsenal in January and had been a hot name again this summer in the transfer window. There has been no indication of how much Lemar will cost Atletico with reports saying the player could move for anywhere between €60 and 90 million.

The addition of Lemar also likely ensures Antoine Griezmann will stay with the club, as the French star is close with Lemar on the national team and has been asking Atletico Madrid to invest more in their squad.

Griezmann has said his future will be decided this week before the World Cup and if the Lemar reports are true, all indications are that Griezmann will be playing his football at the Wanda Metropolitano next season.

Both players are currently preparing for the World Cup with France.

LIVE BLOG

22.58 BST: One for one player swaps are a rarity these days in football but here's a fun one to consider.

With AC Milan reportedly interested in Alvaro Morata, Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport claim that in order to sidestep FFP sanctions and Morata's hefty price tag, Milan could swap Gianluigi Donnarumma for the Spanish striker.

This deal would offer a fresh start for two players desperately in need of one and with Thibaut Courtois rumoured to want out at Chelsea, Donnarumma would seem to have appeal for the Blues.

We'd say the odds aren't too great on this one coming to fruition but boy would it be interesting to see Morata leading the line at Milan and Donnarumma in the Premier League.

22.47 BST: Burnley have offered relegated West Brom £25 million in a proposed double swoop for Craig Dawson and Jay Rodriguez.

Sean Dyche knows he needs to strengthen his side with European football on the horizon next season, as Burnley at present, don't have the quality or the depth to properly balance domestic and Europa League duties.

WBA's Dawson and Rodriguez fit the scrappy, physical mold that Dyche looks for in players and would certainly help from a depth perspective.

Still, £25m for this duo? That seems a bit too much for this writer.

22.35 BST: Sky Sports News indicate that West Ham are closing in on signing Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

Since Swansea were relegated, it is no surprise to see the Poland international linked with a top-flight move.

With Joe Hart's loan from Man City over, and only Adrian under contract, could Fabianski be the starter for Manuel Pellegrini? 

22.10 BST: With monetary problems engulfing the club, Aston Villa may be forced to sell some of the players that helped them reach the English Championship playoff final.

Veteran Alan Hutton and youngster Jack Grealish are two of the players who could prove to expensive for Villa.

Hutton, 33, is being linked with a move to Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest, according to the Nottingham Post.

Grealish, on the other hand, is a player Villa would love to hold on to but because of the financial troubles, the underage England international will likely be sold for cash.

Man United have been one club linked with Grealish but a new club, Chelsea, have reportedly entered the race.

TEAMtalk claim that Chelsea are prepared to offer £30 million for the player and are hoping that giving Villa an option to take the 22-year-old Grealish back on loan for 2018-19 will sweeten the pot.

21.40 BST: Premier League clubs are on high alert after Sporting Lisbon quartet Gelson Martins, William Carvalho, Bruno Fernandes and Bas Dost all quit the Portuguese club on Monday.

The four are just the latest players to rescind their contracts with the club and all cited "just cause" due to recent clashes with radical fans and the club's president Bruno De Carvalho.

All four are full internationals and have drawn interest from Premier League clubs this summer or in the recent past. Martins is reportedly wanted by Arsenal and Liverpool while Carvalho was close to a move to West Ham both in September and then again in January.

Chelsea and Spurs have been mentioned as potential landing spots for Fernandes and Dost has been tabbed as a potential target for Newcastle, who are looking for a big, back-to-goal striker to lead the line.

The added bonus that all four of these players now could be available on free transfers should make them even more appealing to Premier League sides.

20.39 BST: Could Leicester City's Ahmed Musa be loaned out again?

Turkish TV A Sport claim that  Turkish giant Galatasaray have an agreement with the Nigerian striker. No word on whether they have a deal with Leicester but it sounds like one way or another, Musa will be playing his football away from the King Power.

20.15 BST: So far this summer Arsenal have made moves to try and improve defensively. The latest could come in the form of a defensive midfielder.

Sky Italy are reporting that the Gunners are engaged in talks with 22-year-old Sampdoria defensive midfielder Lucas Torreira.

The Gunners are believed to have offered £26.5 million (€30m) in instalments for the player, who is currently preparing for the World Cup with Uruguay.

19.08 BST: It wouldn't be transfer season without Monaco's Thomas Lemar in the news.

French outlet l'Equipe claim that the France star has snubbed Arsenal and is set to sign with Atletico Madrid.

Neither side has has confirmed this report as of yet but Lemar to Atletico would surely be one of the bigger moves of the summer so far.

If Lemar is indeed on his way to the Wanda Metropolitano, that would surely be a good omen regarding the future of Antoine Griezmann.

Griezmann has been linked with a move away from Atletico but signing a top player and close friend in Lemar would surely boost Atletico's chances of keeping Griezmann in Madrid.

18.49 BST: -- DONE DEAL -- Stoke have seen one player out the door today (Ramadan Sobhi) but are now welcoming another one through the gates of the bet365 Stadium.

The Potters have announced they have signed Benik Afobe on loan for the season from Wolves. The striker scored six goals in 16 games last season for Wolves while on loan and had recently signed on full-time at the Molineux. 

This will be the 25-year-old former Arsenal prospect's eighth loan spell.

18.20 BST: Wolves have already completed one deal today (Raul Jimenez) and are already being linked with another.

TEAMtalk claim that Wolves could be eyeing a swoop for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia.

The club are heavily linked with Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio but also are reportedly interested in teammate Battaglia, who last season played 57 times in all for the club.

17.48 BST: -- DONE DEAL -- "Another one"- DJ Khaled.

Huddersfield Town have announced they have sign Egyptian winger Ramadan Sobhi from relegated Stoke for a reported £5.7 million.

The 21-year-old has been in England since 2016 and is set to play a key role for Egypt this month at the World Cup in Russia.

17.15 BST -- DONE DEAL: And another one, this time from newly-promoted Wolves, who have signed Benfica forward Raul Jimenez on a season-long loan deal.

17.00 BST -- DONE DEAL: A signing from the Championship, where Preston North End have brought in Exeter defender Jordan Storey on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

16.45 BST: PSG youth academy graduate Yacine Adli, linked with Arsenal, will instead sign a three-year contract to stay with the French champions, according to reports.

16.30 BST: Quite a few players are being linked with Everton of late, and here's another -- reports in Germany suggest they want Hertha Berlin left-back Marvin Plattenhardt, also reported to be a target for Watford.

16.15 BST: West Ham are close to signing goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski from relegated Swansea, the Mirror reports, adding that "they hope to make it a double raid by snapping up defender Alfie Mawson too."

16.00 BST: Championship sides Rotherham, Blackburn and Derby are all keen on Scunthorpe midfielder Duane Holmes, according to Sky Sports.

15.30 BST: An all-League One affair for you now: Luton will sign Plymouth defender Sonny Bradley when his contract expires at the end of this month.

15.15 BST -- DONE DEAL: Steven Gerrard has added to his Rangers defence with the arrival of Slaven Belupo defender Nikola Katic:

14.45 BST -- DONE DEAL: League One side Bradford City have signed defender Thomas Isherwood from Bayern Munich.

14.15 BST: Ainsley Maitland-Niles has signed a new long-term deal with Arsenal, so it certainly seems like he's part of Unai Emery's plans.

14.00 BST -- DONE DEAL: Lincoln have signed defender Harry Toffolo after his release by Championship club Millwall.

13.45 BST -- DONE DEAL: Brentford have signed defender Ezri Konsa from Charlton Athletic on a three-year deal, with the England youth international moving for an undisclosed fee.

13.30 BST: Wolves winger Sherwin Seedorf , the nephew of Netherlands legend Clarence, is set to sign a new deal before joining League One Bradford on loan, sources have told ESPN FC.

13.15 BST: Rangers manager Steven Gerrard seems poised to strengthen his defence - Sky Sports reports that the Scottish club have agreed a fee for Slaven Belupo defender Nikola Katic.

12.45 BST -- DONE DEAL: Cardiff City have confirmed the signing of winger Josh Murphy from Norwich for an undisclosed fee. Murphy, who came through the ranks at Norwich and scored 11 goals last season, has signed a four-year contract.

12.30 BST: Fulham could try to sign Arsenal defender Calum Chambers, in whom they were interested last summer, Sky Sports reports.

12.15 BST: Everton defender Brendan Galloway will look for another loan move next season after returning to Goodison Park from a spell at Sunderland that saw him make only 10 appearances for them, the Liverpool Echo reports.

11.45 BST: Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson is set to sign a new deal before being loaned to a Championship club, sources have told ESPN FC.

Henderson's existing deal was due to expire later this month and United feared he could leave following an impressive loan spell in which he helped Shrewsbury Town reach last season's League One playoff final.

11.15 BST: Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin is interesting Bournemouth, but the Mirror says he wants to fight for a place at Goodison Park.

11.00 BST: League One side Blackpool are set to sign Rangers striker Joe Dodoo on a season-long loan deal, with the move helping to free up funds for Rangers boss Steven Gerrard to bring in new faces.

10.45 BST: Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reports that PSG, Barcelona and Manchester City are all interested in Ajax midfielder Frenkie De Jong.

10.30 BST: Will the Alisson Becker transfer saga ever end? Well, there's a glimmer of a possibility: a report from Terra in Brazil says Liverpool have offered Roma around £57 million for the Brazil international.

10.15 BST: Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva has said he could imagine returning to AC Milan to end his career, saying the club will always be in his heart.

10.00 BST: Stoke City are hoping to wrap up the £12 million signing of striker Benik Afobe from Wolves just a few days after he completed a full-time move to Molineux from Bournemouth, says the Birmingham Mail.

09.45 BST: Liverpool could take advantage of a chaotic situation at Sporting Lisbon by signing winger Gelson Martins, a reported target for them last summer, on a free transfer, according to the Liverpool Echo.

09.30 BST: Flamengo youngster Lucas Paqueta has been linked with a move to Manchester City, according to Brazilian TV station Esporte Interativo.

09.15 BST: Reports in Brazil suggest that Lyon are close to signing Santos defender Lucas Verissimo, with Footmercato saying he will cost around €9 million.

09:00 BST: The possibility of Mario Balotelli staying in France rather than, as had been expected, returning to Italy, has increased after Marseille began talks with Nice over a potential move, L'Equipe reports.

08:28 BST: Lemar is likely to link up with Antoine Griezmann at Atletico. A reported target for Barcelona, the forward could reveal his future later today in a France news conference.

"It is good that you are following [the situation]," Griezmann told reporters after the 1-1 draw with the U.S. on Saturday. "There is still one more week [until the World Cup starts], but I think we will know during the week."

08:00 BST: Arsenal and Liverpool target Thomas Lemar will leave Monaco for Atletico Madrid, according to reports in Spain.

The France international has had Atletico's No. 10  shirt reserved for him, with a deal set to be completed shortly.

Rooney's MLS move looms

It's the end of the road for Wayne Rooney at Everton, according to the Mirror, which reports that new boss Marco Silva "has made it clear he does not want him."

Rooney's mooted move to D.C. United now seems set to happen, with the report saying he "had wanted to hear if he was in Silva's plans before making a final decision."

The manager "does not believe the 32-year-old has a future at Goodison Park" and will allow him to leave one year after he returned from Manchester United.

Norwich playmaker James Maddison has been identified as Rooney's replacement, with the Guardian reporting that Everton are poised to make an offer.

It says they are among several sides interested in the £25 million-rated England under-21 international and adds that he "wants to make the step up to the Premier League, and it is doubtful Norwich will stand in his way."

Liverpool ready to step up Shaqiri chase

Meanwhile, across Stanley Park Liverpool will intensify their attempts to land Stoke's Xherdan Shaqiri once he returns from World Cup duty with Switzerland.

The Mirror says the club have received "initial encouragement" but do not see Shaqiri as an alternative to Nabil Fekir, whose move from Lyon fell through but might yet be revived.

Shaqiri "is keen on a switch" but Stoke, relegated from the Premier League last season, are unlikely to accept less than £12 million.

United 'consider Alderweireld alternatives'

For a while, it has seemed that Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld would be one of Manchester United's main targets, but the Manchester Evening News says that might no longer be the case.

Citing a high-level Old Trafford source, it reports that "scouts are not entirely convinced about Alderweireld and are considering alternatives."

United are "looking to the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A," with names in the frame including Real Madrid's Raphael Varane, Bayern Munich's Jerome Boateng and AC Milan's Alessio Romagnoli.

Alli in line for new Spurs deal

After Harry Kane put pen to paper on a new deal at Spurs, club and England teammate Dele Alli is ready to do the same, according to the London Evening Standard.

It says midfielder Alli "is set to be the next Tottenham star to sign a new long-term contract," with the club ready to "hand him a significant pay rise and take him closer to £100,000-per-week."

Spurs are also optimistic that midfielders Christian Eriksen, Eric Dier and Son Heung-Min and defenders Jan Vertonghen and Kieran Trippier will agree to new deals.

Tap-ins

-- Cardiff manager Neil Warnock is poised to sign Norwich winger Josh Murphy as he prepares for the top flight, the Eastern Daily Press reports.

It says Murphy, who came through the ranks at Carrow Road and scored 11 goals last season, "is on the brink of joining the Premier League new boys in a deal worth in excess of £10 million."

-- Fulham and Huddersfield are interested in Liverpool's 21-year-old Wales forward Harry Wilson, the Mirror reports.

It says both are ready to pay around £7 million for Wilson, who had a productive spell on loan at Hull, although Liverpool "would prefer him to go out on loan again to continue his development."

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