Football
Matthew Stanger 6y

Transfer Talk: Man United eager to bring Chelsea's Willian to Old Trafford

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

TOP STORY: Man United launch Willian raid

Jose Mourinho is ready to spend £60 million to be reunited with Chelsea midfielder Willian at Old Trafford, reports the Daily Mail.

Mourinho is a keen admirer of Willian's qualities, having overcome interest from Liverpool and Spurs to bring the Brazilian to Stamford Bridge in 2013.

Since the manager's departure to Manchester United, Willian has struggled to hold down a regular place at Chelsea, starting only 20 matches in the Premier League last season.

The 29-year-old hid Antonio Conte in an Instagram photo celebrating the Blues' FA Cup victory, leading to speculation that he is eager to move on this summer.

And United front the queue for his signature, with Mourinho convinced Willian would follow Nemanja Matic's example and become a big hit at Old Trafford.

LIVE BLOG

23.00 BST: That will do it for today's Transfer Talk Live blog, remember to follow all of our World Cup coverage here and to check back in a few hours for the latest rumours and "done deals" from around the football world.

Have a good night and enjoy the games!

22.52 BST: And just like that, Atletico have now confirmed that Thomas Lemar has indeed signed his contract to move to the Wanda Metropolitano.

We teased this one a little while ago, as the picture from the France camp included Lemar alongside Griezmann and Hernandez.

The deal is not final until he passes a medical but as expected, the winger looks to be headed from Monaco to Atletico Madrid for a reported £63.2 million.

Atletico look to be going all in next season.

21.57 BST: -- DONE DEAL(S) -- If you have followed the blog this next bit of news won't surprise you but Atletico Madrid have made a few expected moves official.

The club on Monday evening announced it has signed France internationals Antoine Griezmann and Lucas Hernandez to contract extensions. Griezmann's new deal now runs through 2023 while Hernandez has locked up his future at the Wanda Metropolitano through 2024. 

That duo joins Jose Gimenez as Atletico players to have re-upped this summer.

Next up for Atletique Madrid Thomas Lemar?

21.30 BST: Everton continue to monitor Portugal international William Carvalho, who recently rescinded his contract at Sporting Lisbon.

The central midfielder was a target of West Ham last summer and again in January, and has an admirer in Everton's Portuguese boss Marco Silva.

Carvalho, who is at the World Cup with Portugal, appears headed to the Premier League. The next question is where?

19.47 BST: According to L'Equipe, Tottenham have zeroed in on a replacement for wantaway midfielder Mousa Dembele.

The French outlet claim that Spurs are set to replace Dembele with... wait for it... 'Ndombele'. Yes, you read that correctly, Dembele out and potentially Tanguy Ndombele in. 

The 21-year-old Ndombele played 47 times last season for Lyon on loan from Amiens and Lyon has since expressed that they will utilise the option to buy him outright. 

An Under-21 France international, Ndombele is being rated at about £35 million and would cover the expected departure of the 30-year-old Belgium international Dembele.

18.47 BST: Arsenal are set to make their second signing of the summer. Sources tell ESPN FC that the Gunners have agreed to a deal with Bayer Leverkusen for highly-rated goalkeeper Bernd Leno

Sources tell ESPN FC that the deal for the 26-year-old with be for five years and will be somewhere in the region of £25 million. 

The German international has played seven season with Leverkusen, is widely considered one of the top keepers in Germany and will take over at the Emirates for ageing No. 1 Petr Cech.

18.05 BST: Every summer there are rumblings that Cristiano Ronaldo wants out of Real Madrid and this summer has been no different.

The latest report comes from Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, who insist that PSG are willing to pay Cristiano Ronaldo the €45 million per season that he is demanding in the event Real Madrid are unwilling to pay the price.

The Italian daily also said that PSG are willing to hand Real Madrid a €300m euro bonus. Should the offer be accepted by Madrid, Corriere dello Sport note that Real Madrid could then potentially chase Neymar with the €300m as a replacement.

Ronaldo in Paris?  We'll see.

17:20 BST: -- DONE DEAL -- SURPRISE! Wolves have signed another Portuguese player and another player represented by Sergio Mendes' GestiFute agency!

The latest is Portugal No. 1 Rui Patricio, who arrives at the Molineux after rescinding his contract at Sporting Lisbon after 12 seasons.

Patricio has 70 caps for Portugal and should supplant John Ruddy as Wolves' new starting 'keeper.

The signing of Patricio gives Wolves eight Portuguese players, many of whom are represented by Mendes -- Cristiano Ronaldo's agent -- who is aligned financially with the newly-promoted club.

16.20 BST: Just days after renewing his contracting at Manchester United, goalkeeper Dean Henderson has joined Sheffield United on loan, the club have confirmed.

What a way to announce him...

15.55 BST: The agent of Hannover 96 forward Niclas Fullkrug says he has received an offer from Everton for his client.

However, German reports say that Everton are unaware of such a bid. Curious...

15.25 BST: West Ham and Crystal Palace are rumoured to be interested in Jack Wilshere...

15.15 BST: RMC Sport say that Moussa Sissako, who had been close to Brighton, is now set to perform a Yacine Adli-esque U-turn and sign professional terms.

Adli is believed to have turned down a move to Arsenal at the last minute, and his Sissako's contract announcements are expected imminently.

14.40 BST: BT Sport believe that James Maddison has passed his medical ahead of his move to Leicester.

14.25 BST: While it looks like Dwight Gayle will join Stoke or Swansea and Aleksandar Mitrovic could make a move to Fulham permanent, Newcastle could look to recruit Lyon forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and Juventus midfielder Stefano Sturaro, the Northern Echo say.

14.05 BST: Is it silly season? You bet it is.

Tottenham's offiicial Twitter account retweeted (but have since undone) this illustration from France's official account featuring Atletico Madrid defender Lucas Hernandez. Cue 'Lucas to Spurs' shouts, of course.

13.55 BST: Eden Hazard has admitted that Real Madrid interest him on the eve of Belgium's World Cup opener vs Panama, L'Equipe report.

13.40 BST: Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Jorginho's transfer to Manchester City is nearing completion, and that Napoli have enquired about taking Arsenal's Petr Cech on a season-long loan.

13.35 BST: Despite talk of a move to the Bundesliga, BBC Sport say Rhian Brewster will sign a new contract with Liverpool.

13.30 BST: Celtic and Nice are set to go head-to-head for Manchester City striker Thierry Ambrose, as per French reports via The Scotsman.

13.15 BST: While Joe Allen has committed his future to Stoke, his midfield partner Badou Ndiaye is the subject of a €25 million bid from Wolves and interest from Galatasaray, according to Turkish outlet Fanatik.

13.05 BST: Matteo Darmian to Juventus looked a certain deal not long ago, but talks have stalled between Juve and Manchester United.

Tuttosport believe that the two clubs will hold a meeting on Wednesday to resolve the situation.

12.55 BST: Following on from Polish reports earlier, BBC Sport now say that West Ham are close to agreeing a deal for Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

12.40 BST: Tuttosport say that Juventus plan to scout Tottenham's Mousa Dembele and Monaco's Youri Tielemans when Belgium face Panama later, even though neither player is expected to start.

12.25 BST: Some news regarding Issa Diop, West Ham fans...

12.15 BST: Portuguese outlet A Bola believe that Liverpool will trigger the €35 million release clause of Porto left-back Alex Telles.

12.05 BST: Who was one of Leicester's first signings after they won the title? Nigeria's Ahmed Musa.

Unfortunately for him, he has scored just five goals in 33 games for the Foxes, and is now eyeing a transfer to Galatasaray, report Tavkim.

11.55 BST: Are Wolverhampton Wanderers being linked with a Portuguese player this fine Monday? You bet they are.

Valencia-based newspaper Super Deporte say that Juventus are preparing a bid for Joao Cancelo, who spent last season on loan at Inter, but say that a proposal from Wolves could be seismic in the saga.

Yeah. We know. Wolves competing with Juventus.

11.50 BST: AS say that Sevilla could move for Real Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente in case Steven N'Zonzi departs this window.

11.40 BST: Newcastle were reportedly interested in Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, but they could be blown out of the water by Napoli and Roma.

Gazetta dello Sport say that both have an interest in the 25-year-old.

11.30 BST: We talked earlier about how Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's father wants his son to move to Juventus, but Sport say that Barcelona have now also entered the running for the Lazio midfielder.

11.20 BST: Record report that Watford will make a move for Benfica goalkeeper Bruno Varela, who had previously been linked with a move to Nottingham Forest.

11.05 BST: One man who will not be on the move this summer is Stoke's Joe Allen...

11.00 BST: Remember Vincent Janssen? The Tottenham striker spent last season on loan at Fenerbache, and Tavkim report that the Istanbul club would like to make the move permanent.

The Netherlands international scored 4 goals in 16 games in what was an injury-hit campaign.

10.55 BST: While Celtic completed the signing of Odsonne Edouard last week, they could be about to lose Moussa Dembele.

Foot Mercato in France say that Borussia Dortmund have ask about the forward several times in the last few days.

10.45 BST: Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has told Polish publication Przeglad Sportowy that "there is something in it" regarding a potential transfer to West Ham.

10.35 BST: The father of Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic says a move to Juventus would be best for his son.

Milinkovic-Savic impressed for Serbia in their 1-0 World Cup win against Costa Rica yesterday, and has been strongly linked with Manchester United this window.

10.30 BST: Sky in Italy say that West Ham have reopened talks with Paris Saint-Germain for Javier Pastore.

PSG are in desperate need of raising funds because of Financial Fair Play, and Roma have pulled out of the running over Pastore's wage demands.

10.20 BST: The agent of Napoli midfielder Jorginho has told TuttoMercatoWeb that this week will be crucial in resolving his future.

The Italy international is expected to move to Manchester City this window.

10.10 BST: Antoine Griezmann went full-LeBron James to tell the world he would be staying at Atletico Madrid and not moving to Barcelona.

Barca were sure that the France forward would join, but Mundo Deportivo report they are now turning their attentions to Juventus playmaker Miralem Pjanic, Ajax's Frenkie de Jong, and bringing forward a deal for Gremio's Arthur.

They are also looking at Sevilla centre-back Clement Lenglet, who has been linked with Manchester United.

10.00 BST: Sources close to Leicester have told ESPN FC that they are set to beat Southampton to the signing of highly-rated Norwich midfielder James Maddison.

09.55 BST: Belgium open their World Cup campaign against Panama today, and manager Roberto Martinez has insisted that this is the sole focus.

Chelsea's Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois, and Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld and Mousa Dembele, will all sort out their club futures after the tournament, report the Evening Standard.

09.45 BST: On the front cover of Corriere dello Sport: Juventus are reportedly looking at Bayern Munich pair Robert Lewandowski and Jerome Boateng.

09.35 BST: Kicker suggests Borussia Dortmund would be willing to listen to offers for Christian Pulisic once they have toured the U.S. this summer.

The paper says they have not received any bids so far, but Dortmund believe that it will be difficult to tie the forward to a new contract with his current deal ending in 2020. Liverpool and Tottenham have been linked in the past.

09.20 BST: AC Milan's director of football Massimiliano Mirabelli did not rule out making a move for Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata but insisted they will wait to learn the extent of their Financial Fair Play punishment before entering the transfer market.

Morata scored just 15 goals in 48 games in all competitions for Chelsea, and rumours are rife about his future at Stamford Bridge.

09.10 BST: L'Equipe are reporting that Tottenham could make a bid for Lyon's €40 million-rated midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, with chairman Daniel Levy "determined" to get a deal done.

The 21-year-old could replace Mousa Dembele in the Spurs midfield, who continues to be linked with a move to Serie A.

09.00 BST: Jack Wilshere's future continues to be a topic as the midfielder's Arsenal contract enters its final weeks. The Sun reckons that West Ham United are confident they can attract Wilshere to the London Stadium with the offer of a four-year, £130,000-a-week contract, while the Daily Mirror reports that another London club, Crystal Palace, are in the hunt.

08.30 BST: 'Super agent' Mino Raiola (as he must always be known) is doing his best to tout client Mario Balotelli around this summer, saying the striker would fit in well at Marseille.

Raiola told RMC: "We have a good relationship with Marseille and I know the director very well, so we'll see. It's too soon to say now. Mario is very emotional and he always gives 100 percent and that could marry very well with the Marseillaise mentality. The fans are very passionate there. But it's too soon to talk about a move to Marseille, we'll have to wait and see."

08.00 BST: Despite his failure to keep a clean sheet in Sunday night's 1-1 draw against Switzerland, Brazil goalkeeper Alisson is on the front cover of Marca this morning. 

According to the Spanish sport daily, Roma have quoted Real MAdrid €70m for the player, while the European champions are only willing to go as far as €50m.

PAPER TALK: Fekir back on the market

Liverpool might have pulled out of a deal for Nabil Fekir, but the Lyon star could still make his way to the Premier League this summer.

According to The Sun, Fekir has been offered to Chelsea and Spurs for £66m, after Liverpool refused to pay more than £53m due to concerns over the playmaker's medical.

The Reds reportedly raised doubts over a serious knee injury the France international suffered earlier in his career, leaving Jurgen Klopp to pursue other targets.

But Lyon could still strike a deal for their prized asset, depending on whether Chelsea and Spurs see him as the perfect addition to strengthen their squads.

Liverpool line up alternatives

There had been talk of Liverpool potentially revisiting the Fekir transfer after the World Cup, but the latest developments suggest the Reds will now look elsewhere.

TalkSport says Morocco international Hakim Ziyech is just one of the names under consideration, following his impressive performances for Ajax in the Eredivisie.

Ziyech finished the season as the league's top assist-provider, laying on 15 goals as well as scoring nine of his own.

Roma have also been linked with a €30m move for the 25-year-old, but Ziyech would surely be tempted by a switch to Anfield.

Ziyech isn't the only name on Liverpool's shortlist, though, with the Daily Mirror linking the Champions League finalists with a bid for highly rated Brazil youngster Lucas Paqueta.

The 20-year-old forward has impressed since breaking into the first team at Flamengo, and is reported to have a release clause of £43m.

Meanwhile, the Mirror also claims that Liverpool will activate the £35m buyout clause of Porto left-back Alex Telles.

The 25-year-old has previously been tracked by Chelsea, but a move to Anfield appears more likely at this stage.

Tap-ins

- Petr Cech is being lined up for a loan move to Napoli, claims The Sun. With Arsenal aiming to bring in £22m-rated Bayer Leverkusen keeper Bernd Leno, the 36-year-old might be forced to leave in search of first-team football.

- Norwich playmaker James Maddison is caught at the centre of a transfer tug-of-war between Leicester and Southampton, says the Guardian. The 21-year-old scored 15 goals in the Championship last season and is regarded as a future England international.

- Mario Balotelli is leaning toward joining Marseille this summer, his agent Mino Raiola has told RMC Sport. The striker is available for nothing after his Nice contract expired, but his wage demands could still block a move to the Velodrome.

- Hoffenheim striker Andrej Kramaric is being linked to Bayern Munich by media in his homeland, Croatia. Hoffenheim manager Alexander Rosen said last month that the Bundesliga club had turned down a bid of over €30m for Kramaric from an unnamed Italian club.

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