Football
ESPN 3y

LIVE Transfer Talk: Real Madrid join European giants monitoring Sampdoria's Damsgaard

Euro 2020 and the Copa America are over and the summer transfer window is open, leaving Europe's biggest clubs clear to make a splash in the market. Check out the latest gossip below, and see all official deals here.

TOP STORY: Real Madrid join clubs keen on Damsgaard

Real Madrid have joined a long list of suitors for Denmark star Mikkel Damsgaard, according to Tuttosport. The 21-year-old winger made five appearances at Euro 2020, opening the scoring in his side's 2-1 loss to England in the semifinal with a fantastic free kick.

Sampdoria are hoping to keep a hold of him for another year before letting him leave for a transfer fee of around €40 million. However, there could be a large-scale tug-of-war for his services this summer. As well as Madrid, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Everton, Leeds United, Leicester City, AC Milan, Internazionale, Juventus and AS Roma all have interest in the former Nordsjaelland prodigy.

Damsgaard joined Sampdoria from the Danish club in 2020 for a reported €8m and has made 35 Serie A appearances.

If the Serie A side were to lose the Denmark talisman, they are said to be interested in Celtic's Ryan Christie as a replacement. The 26-year-old only has a year left on his deal with the Scottish club, meaning they could be forced to move him on before they lose him on a free transfer next summer. Christie, much like Damsgaard, has been linked with many clubs across Europe this summer.

- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- Don't have ESPN? Get instant access

LIVE BLOG

20.34 BST: Mario Lemina has spent the past two seasons away from Southampton on loan, despite arriving on the South Coast to much fanfare following his signing from Juventus in 2017, and now Le10 Sport reports that Nice have lodged a €4m bid to bring the 27-year-old Gabon midfielder to the French Riviera on a permanent deal.

18.47 BST: Atletico Madrid have announced that they've signed 27-year-old Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul to a five-year contract after agreeing his transfer with Serie A outfit Udinese. Read the full story.

17.00 BST: Jan Aage Fjortoft reports that Chelsea are ready to test Dortmund's resolve to keep striker Erling Haaland.

Haaland, 20, is one of the world's top young strikers with 57 goals in 59 games for Dortmund since he arrived in January 2020.

The Norway international is being tracked by every top club in Europe but Dortmund want €180m to let him go before a reported release clause of €75m kicks in next summer.

Chelsea have struggled up front and last summer's €63m signing Timo Werner hasn't settled, which means they are looking for an upgrade already.

16.34 BST: Calciomercato says that Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin wants to leave the club and has asked to be transfer listed.

Bellerin, 26, has been with the Gunners since 2011 but now wants a new challenge and Inter Milan are reported to be tracking him as a replacement for Achraf Hakimi, who left to join PSG for €70m.

Talks are ongoing but, due to Inter's financial situation, it might be that a loan is on the cards first before a permanent deal next summer.

16.11 BST: The Argus says that Brighton still haven't agreed a fee to let Ben White leave.

The England centre-back has been linked with Arsenal, Man United and Liverpool, but Brighton want at least £50m and have no offers which they would accept currently.

15.28 BST: Sky Italia reports that Roma are ready to move for Torino striker Andrea Belotti.

Belotti, 27, helped Italy win Euro 2020 but has just one year left on his contract at Torino. The striker is valued at around €30m.

14.56 BST: Tuttosport insists that Juventus want Man City striker Gabriel Jesus to join them next season.

Jesus, 24, may get a chance to shine at City with Sergio Aguero now departed for Barcelona, but City are still eyeing a move for Tottenham's Harry Kane or Dortmund's Erling Haaland.

Juve are keen to the Brazil striker but if they can't persuade him then 21-year-old Moise Kean, who left Turin for Everton for around €27.5m in 2019, is an option as well.

14.22 BST: Brentford are interested in signing Liverpool forward Harry Wilson, says Football Insider.

Wilson, 24, has spent time on loan at Cardiff City, Bournemouth, Derby County and Hull City over the past few years and is deemed surplus to requirements at Anfield.

Liverpool will reportedly accept a transfer fee of £15m for the Wales international but newly promoted Brentford may be able to hold out for a lower deal.

14.00 BST: If Barca want to move on Antoine Griezmann, they may have one issue.

13.47 BST: Barcelona need to raise some funds and could let forward Antoine Griezmann depart, with Man United, Man City and Chelsea reportedly keen.

Griezmann, 30, has struggled at Camp Nou since making the €120m move from Atletico Madrid back in 2019. He netted 20 goals last season in all competitions, but Barca are ready to listen to offers and Sport says he wants to return to Atletico.

Barca have already seen the impact of letting a player move to Atletico as Luis Suarez helped them win La Liga this season, and the relationship between the two rivals is frosty.

A swap deal that would bring wantaway Atletico midfielder Saul Niguez to Barca in return for Griezmann is reportedly not on the cards. Which may open the door for Chelsea, who are seemingly most interested.

12.29 BST: Calciomercato reports that Napoli need to raise some funds so midfielder Fabian Ruiz and centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly could be available.

Ruiz, 25, has been long-tracked by Real Madrid, while 30-year-old Senegal international Koulibaly is of interest to almost every top club.

However, Napoli have yet to receive a suitable offer for either. Ruiz is rated at €60m, with Koulibaly around €80m.

11.38 BST: Arsenal have begun negotiations with Wolves over the signing of midfielder Ruben Neves, says Record.

Neves, 24, has impressed in the Premier League since signing from Porto in 2017 and Wolves are looking for around £35m to let him go.

Arsenal are closing on the signing of 21-year-old midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht, but need more midfield arrivals as they look set to let Granit Xhaka join Roma, while Martin Odegaard and Dani Ceballos are returning to Real Madrid after their loans ended.

11.22 BST: Might Paul Pogba get a move from Man United to PSG?

10.55 BST: After starring at Euro 2020, Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini will sign a one-year contract extension with Juventus, says Fabrizio Romano.

Chiellini, 36, has been at the club since 2005 and will sign up until June 2022.

10.02 BST: PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas is likely to stay at the club when Italy No. 1 Gianluigi Donnarumma joins as a free agent, sources have told ESPN's Julien Laurens.

Italy international Donnarumma, 22, will join after turning down a new contract at AC Milan, where he made 251 senior appearances.

PSG had not planned to recruit a goalkeeper this summer, preferring to remain with Navas, but the opportunity to sign Donnarumma on a free agent deal was considered too good to turn down. However, Navas is expected to start the campaign as the first-choice goalkeeper.

Donnarumma was named UEFA EURO 2020 Player of the Tournament after helping Italy to the title.

09.39 BST: Villarreal have reached an agreement with Stade Reims to sign Senegal forward Boulaye Dia on a permanent transfer, according to Marca.

Dia, 24, has spent the last three seasons at Reims, scoring 24 goals in 78 games. The Senegal international will put pen to paper on a five-year contract with the Europa League holders. Villarreal were looking to strengthen their attack after terminating the contract of Colombia striker Carlos Bacca last week.

Dia will become Villarreal's second summer signing following the arrival of defender Aissa Mandi. Mandi joined the club as a free agent after his contract with Real Betis had expired.

09.15 BST: Paraguay international Omar Alderete has arrived in Spain ahead of his loan move to Valencia from Hertha Berlin.

The centre-back, who competed at the Copa America, will undergo a medical on Monday before joining Valencia on a season-long loan.

An option to sign him permanently has been included in the deal but it will only be triggered if Valencia qualify for European football next season and if Alderete plays a certain number of games. The 24-year-old will be Valencia's first summer signing.

08.53 BST: Ajax are set to sign Feyenoord winger Steven Berghuis, Dutch outlets De Telegraaf and Voetbal International report.

The Amsterdam club will reportedly sign the Netherlands international for their biggest rivals on a four-year contract for a €5.5m transfer fee.

Berghuis has scored 70 goals for Feyenoord since joining them in 2016, initially on loan and then permanently from English club Watford. The 29-year-old has won the Eredivisie title and the KNVB Cup during his five years at the Rotterdam club.

Berghuis made two appearances for the Dutch national team at Euro 2020, as a substitute in the 3-0 group-stage win over North Macedonia and in the 2-0 round-of-16 defeat to Czech Republic.

- Eredivisie on ESPN+: Stream LIVE games and replays (U.S. only)

08.30 BST: Torino striker Andrea Belotti is set to decide whether or not to sign a new contract with the club amid interest from Roma, according to Sky.

Belotti was a member of the Italy squad which won Sunday's Euro 2020 final against England after a penalty shootout (stream the replay of ESPN+ in the U.S.).

Sky reports that Roma could make a €30m bid for the former Palermo forward this summer. The 27-year-old, scored 13 goals for Torino last season, has a contract that expires next summer.

PAPER GOSSIP

- Despite limited funds, Le10 Sport reports that Barcelona are interested in Lille midfielder Renato Sanches this summer with Tottenham Hotspur another who are following him closely. The 23-year-old impressed at Lille this season and added to his performances on the big stage with Portugal in the European Championship. The much-publicised financial trouble surrounding Barca makes the possibility of signing the midfielder all the tougher, while Nuno Espirito Santo could add him as he makes his mark on his new Spurs squad.

- Burnley are preparing a €15m offer for Lyon winger Maxwel Cornet this summer, according to the Sun. Sean Dyche is facing competition for the Ivory Coast international's signature from Hertha Berlin. The 24-year-old was a star in the Ligue 1 side's Champions League quarterfinal victory over Manchester City in 2020, scoring the opener in the 3-1 win.

- Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers are set to battle for the signature of Fulham's Antonee Robinson, according to the Sun. Both clubs want to bring the 23-year-old in as cover on the left side of defence. The United States left-back had a decent showing at Craven Cottage last season but was unable to prevent the side getting relegated back to the Championship.

- Goalkeeper Mat Ryan is set to sign for Real Sociedad this week, according to Spanish outlet AS. The 29-year-old is set to travel to Spain to undergo a medical and sign a two-year-deal at the club. The Australia international only has a year left on his deal at Brighton & Hove Albion and fell out of favour to Spain's Robert Sanchez. He then spent the second half of last season on loan at Arsenal, and despite the London club's reported interest, a move to the San Sebastian side looks to be drawing closer.

- Southampton could use Michael Obafemi as part of a swap deal for striker Adam Armstrong, according to the Sun. Obafemi, 21, is highly thought of by Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray, which could lower the potential transfer fee of £25m for Armstrong. The 24-year-old scored an impressive 28 goals in 40 Championship appearances last season, despite the Riversiders finishing in a disappointing 15th.

^ Back to Top ^