The summer transfer window is racing toward the Sept. 1 deadline, and there's plenty of gossip swirling about who's moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Ronaldo ready to join Napoli on loan as Osimhen linked
The Cristiano Ronaldo transfer saga will reach its conclusion one way or another in the next few days as the transfer deadline approaches, and Gazzetta dello Sport reports that he is now open to a move to Napoli.
Ronaldo, 37, is desperate to continue playing in the Champions League this season, after Manchester United only qualified for the Europa League.
The Portugal international has found himself on the United bench in recent games, with Erik ten Hag's side recording victories over Liverpool and Southampton.
Gazzetta says that United are prepared to continue paying Ronaldo's wage while he goes on loan to Napoli for the season.
United have also been linked with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who has a transfer value of at least €100 million, but Gazzetta believes United will only firm up their interest in the Nigeria international if they fail to sign Antony from Ajax. Antony has demanded to leave the Eredivisie club and will be reunited with Ten Hag at Old Trafford if the two clubs can agree a fee before Thursday, while Osimhen's agent has said there has been no contact from United.
Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti did not rule out signing Ronaldo when asked about a deal on Saturday evening but admitted he was at risk of losing Osimhen.
"If you're asking me if I'd like to work with Ronaldo, I tell you no coach would say no to that," Spalletti said. "However, if we go into those areas the journalists like to fill in for themselves, then as Osimhen's agent said, there are no negotiations.
"Speaking to [president Aurelio] De Laurentiis, he told me that he received no offer, so let's remain as realistic as possible here and take into consideration only things that could happen.
"With a player like Osimhen, who is so talented, we know there is the permanent risk that some rich owner around the world will wake up in the morning and decide to buy him and that includes a club like Manchester United."
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21.57 BST: Fabrizio Romano reports that Atletico Madrid have confirmed a deal with Tottenham Hotspur that will see left-back Sergio Reguilon return to the Spanish capital on a season-long loan. The 25-year-old Spain international spent 15 years in the Real Madrid system, and starred on loan with Sevilla in 2019-20, before embarking on a Premier League adventure in north London that's seen him make 52 appearances in two seasons.
21.10 BST: Schalke 04 centre-back Malick Thiaw is en route to Italy to undergo a medical at AC Milan, according to Kicker. The 21-year-old Germany U21 international is expected to move to San Siro in a deal that will earn the newly promoted Bundesliga club a transfer fee worth eight figures.
20.46 BST: Manchester United and Ajax have agreed a €100m transfer fee that will see winger Antony move to Old Trafford, according to Fabrizio Romano. The 22-year-old Brazil international will travel to England this week to undergo a medical and sign a five-year contract with an option for a sixth.
20.23 BST: Spezia are closing in on an agreement with Chelsea to bring defender/midfielder Ethan Ampadu back to Serie A, Fabrizio Romano reports. The 21-year-old Wales international spent last season in Italy on loan with Venezia, and the deal with Spezia would also be a short-term arrangement, but would include a €15m option to make the move permanent.
19.36 BST: Juventus and an unnamed "big" Premier League club are interested in Nice striker Amine Gouiri, according to L'Equipe. The French Riviera club have lowered their demands for a deal for the 22-year-old former France youth international, now seeking a transfer fee of €30m, down from €40m.
Juve are interested in a loan deal with an option to make the move permanent. Lyon, where Gouiri spent seven years of his career, and Stade Rennais are also said to be interested in the forward who registered 12 goals in 43 appearances across all competitions last season.
18.49 BST: Corriere dello Sport writes that Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli continue to negotiate how much of Keylor Navas' wages the French capital club will pick up in order to facilitate his transfer to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The 35-year-old Costa Rica goalkeeper has two year remaining on his contract at Parc des Princes, which will pay him €18m, while Napoli are only prepared to pay between €6m and €7m over the course of a two-year deal, leaving a significant gap for PSG to make up if they're to move on from Navas and settle what as at times a contentious contest for the No. 1 shirt with Gianluigi Donnarumma last season.
18.02 BST: With the transfer window closing on Thursday and Chelsea still without the forward additions that Thomas Tuchel has demanded, the Independent reports that the Blues are considering an offer for Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace. The south Londoners had previously demanded an £80m transfer fee to sanction the departure of the 29-year-old, but with just a year remaining on his contract, the Selhurst Park hierarchy's stance could be significantly weakened.
17.15 BST: Valencia are confident of concluding a deal for Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani, according to Fabrizio Romano. Los Che have offered the 35-year-old former Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli star a two-year contract, which is said to have trumped the single year proposed by LaLiga rivals Real Sociedad.
16.28 BST: Free agent striker Andrea Belotti has signed for AS Roma, the Italian capital club announced on Sunday. The 28-year-old Italy international's contract at Torino expired earlier this summer, paving the way for him to put pen to paper on a one-year contract at the Stadio Olimpico with an option for a further two years should certain performance criteria be met.
🆕 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 | Andrea Belotti 🐺🇮🇹
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) August 28, 2022
The club is delighted to be able to confirm the signing of the Italy international forward.
We are also proud to continue raising awareness about open missing children cases around the globe. ❤️
#ASRoma | @ICMEC_official pic.twitter.com/d1FCMY3HOW
15.41 BST: Plenty of Manchester United news from Fabrizio Romano today, with reported interest in Barcelona duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Memphis Depay.
Romano has revealed in his Caught Offside column that United have made enquiries for Aubameyang, who appears to be available for transfer less than seven months since joining the club on a free transfer from Arsenal.
Barca believe they could get a transfer fee of around €25m for the Gabon international, which would be a huge boost to their financial troubles. A return to London with Chelsea remains Aubameyang's No. 1 choice, as the club could offer him Champions League football, but the two teams have yet to agree a fee. Could United swoop in before the deadline?
Meanwhile, Romano also adds that there has been initial contact between United and Depay, who has been told he is free to find a new club. Depay, 28, played for United between 2015 and 2017 but he failed to adapt to life at Old Trafford.
15.00 BST: Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has revealed that a desire to play at the World Cup was behind the exit of Renan Lodi, who is set to complete a move to Nottingham Forest.
Lodi, 24, will move to the Premier League newboys on loan with the option to make the deal permanent.
"Renan has the need to play, to have a lot of minutes in this situation that has come up because of the World Cup and he went to look for that where he believes he can get them," Simeone told Mundo Deportivo. "I am not committed to anyone, there is an enormous competition in that area, some like to compete and others prefer to go to other teams in order to have those minutes that gets then closer to being able to go to the World Cup."
Lodi has 15 caps for Brazil but has not played for his country in 2022.
14.12 BST: Paris Saint-Germain are edging closer to a deal for Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz, reports Le Parisien.
Ruiz, 26, has been tracked by PSG all summer and the Ligue 1 champions have always been hopeful of concluding a deal before the transfer window closes. Ruiz has not played for Napoli this season as uncertainty over his future continued.
A report in Foot Mercato earlier this month said that PSG had made an offer of €25m for the attacking midfielder, but Napoli are holding out for €30m.
13.30 BST: Inter Milan and AC Milan have been dealt a blow in their transfer ambitions with news that Chelsea will not let Trevoh Chalobah leave this window, according to Sky Sports Italia.
The 23-year-old was reportedly set for a loan spell in Serie A to make room for Wesley Fofana, with sources telling ESPN that a transfer worth £75m has been agreed with Leicester City. However, the Italian sides have been informed that Chalobah will remain in west London this summer after being handed a start in Chelsea's 2-1 win over Leicester on Saturday.
12.42 BST: Manchester United are close to agreeing a deal for Ajax winger Antony, sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson.
Negotiations between the clubs have progressed well over the weekend and there is now confidence an agreement will be reached before the transfer deadline on Thursday.
United have had bids of €80m and €90m rejected by Ajax -- the latest on Friday -- but the Dutch side have indicated they are willing to accept an offer of close to €99m.
Earlier on Sunday, Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder was keeping his cards close to his chest about the future of Antony.
"Nothing changed compared to last week," Schreuder said. "He was at the club this week, I spoke with him. Nothing has changed for now and that's all I want to say. I'm focusing on the players who are here now."
He is not part of the Ajax squad which made the trip to take on FC Utrecht on Sunday afternoon.
12.00 BST: Manchester United are ready to offer Anthony Martial a new contract, reports The Sun.
Martial, 26, looked to be on his way out of Old Trafford after falling out of favour and spending the second half of last season on loan at Sevilla.
But new United boss Erik ten Hag has been impressed with his attitude, and is ready to reward that.
The France international still has two years left on his £250,000-a-week contract.
11.12 BST: Could Liverpool be about to sign Frenkie De Jong from Barcelona? Not according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Barca are eager to offload De Jong before the transfer window closes to ease their financial problems. Manchester United failed in a bid to take the player to Old Trafford earlier this summer, while Chelsea have also been linked. Now Jurgen Klopp is reported to be interested after admitting he needs to sign a midfielder before the transfer window closes.
The 25-year-old is reported to be happy to stay at Camp Nou, and Romano said in his Caught Offside column that there has been no contact with Liverpool over a potential move.
"So far I have no news on Frenkie de Jong and Liverpool," Romano said. "There is no negotiation in progress as things stand and I have been repeating since July that nothing will change if Frenkie does not change his mind, that is, to stay at Barca.
"Liverpool's salary structure also means this is not an easy deal. Let's see if the player changes his mind, but my feeling is that it is Chelsea who are really pushing for him."
10.30 BST: Barcelona could make a saving of €8m if they can persuade Martin Braithwaite to leave the club this week, reports Marca.
The striker is on €2.5m-a-season at Camp Nou, so if they can get him to rip up his contract they will save €5m in wages and another €3m which is due on their accounts from his transfer from Leganes in 2020.
Braithwaite is reported to be holding out for a €5m severance payout for the two years he has remaining on his contract. It remains to be seen if the two parties can come to an agreement before Thursday's transfer deadline. He must be a free agent before the window closes to be able to move clubs after that point.
09.42 BST: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been told he can go out and spend £100m in January if there's a player who stands out at the World Cup, reports The Sun.
The World Cup in Qatar will kick off on Sunday, Nov. 20 and run through to Sunday, Dec. 18. There is sure to be a rush for the star performers when the transfer window reopens on Sunday, Jan. 1.
City are unlikely to make any further signings in this window -- having brought in Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips, Sergio Gomez and Julian Alvarez -- but are keeping something back in case Guardiola sees a player he likes.
09.00 BST: Football Insider reports that Liverpool have a verbal agreement with Borussia Dortmund to sign England midfielder Jude Bellingham -- but he won't be moving in this window.
Bellingham, 19, joined Dortmund from Birmingham City two years ago and has developed into one of the most in-demand players in Europe. He already has 15 England caps and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been tracking him for months.
The report states that Liverpool are most likely to sign Bellingham next summer, but it could be brought forward to January if Klopp is desperate for midfield reinforcements in the winter window.
PAPER GOSSIP
- Martin Dubravka has asked Newcastle United to allow him to move to Manchester United amid negotiations for a loan deal, reports Sky Sports. The 33-year-old goalkeeper has extensive Premier League experience, making 127 appearances for the Magpies, but lost his starting place this season following the arrival of Nick Pope from Burnley. Manager Erik ten Hag is looking to provide competition for David De Gea, with Eintracht Frankfurt's Kevin Trapp already snubbing a move to Old Trafford.
- Chelsea are contemplating a huge payoff for Ross Barkley to leave the club, according to The Sun. The England international has not been given a squad number for this season and it is reported that Blues owner Todd Boehly is considering offering a severance deal. However, this will reportedly cost the Blues a significant fee, with Barkley earning £200,000-a-week on a contract that is set to expire next summer.
- Stuttgart have turned down Wolves' opening offer for Sasa Kalajdzic, writes Sky Sports Germany. The Bundesliga side have rejected a transfer offer of €15m -- which included additional, difficult-to-achieve add-ons. Stuttgart are holding out for closer to €25m for the Austria international.
- West Ham have secured a five-year deal for Lyon's Lucas Paqueta, reports The Athletic. The Hammers will pay €43m with an additional €17m in bonuses for the 25-year-old midfielder. The Brazil international, who has has registered 18 goals and 12 assists in Ligue 1 for Les Gones, will shortly complete a medical in London, as David Moyes looks to improve his squad after losing their first three games in the Premier League this season.
- Real Madrid are demanding a final decision from Marco Asensio ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to the Sunday Mirror. It is reported that the 26-year-old wants to leave the Bernabeu this summer to secure more games ahead of the World Cup, and he has refused to sign a new deal, with his current contract expiring in 11 months. Arsenal are understood to be leading interest ahead of rivals Tottenham and Manchester United.