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Transfer Talk: Tottenham ready £80m move for Dybala

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TOP STORY: Tottenham ready £80m move for Dybala

Tottenham are leading the race for Juventus striker Paulo Dybala, with The Times reporting that they are ready to lay down £80m to make the deal happen.

Dybala, 25, looks set to depart the club this summer, while Spurs are starting to splash the cash in a bid to improve their hopes of winning the Premier League title. They have just announced a shirt sponsorship deal which is the joint second-biggest in the Premier League and will add £45m-a-year to their finances.

Tottenham have already spent £55m on Tanguy Ndombele and are also reportedly closing in on Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso for a similar fee.

Dybala wants out of Turin after falling behind Cristiano Ronaldo in the pecking order, but would he find himself in the same situation when it comes to striker Harry Kane?

LIVE BLOG

22.30 BST: That's it for another fun-filled day of our live Transfer Talk blog, but check back in shortly for the latest paper round and we'll be back to do the whole thing all over again tomorrow.

22.05 BST: More MLS news as ESPN FC sources have confirmed that Ron Jans has been tabbed to be the next manager of FC Cincinnati.

The Athletic was the first to report Jans' hiring. One source added that only the "last details" are still to be worked out, and that a formal announcement is expected next week, after which the Dutch coach will take over for interim manager Yoann Damet.

21.25 BST: David Beckham's Inter Miami revealed some exciting news on Friday with the announcement that the MLS expansion club has signed its first two players in Argentine duo Matias Pellegrini and Julian Carranza

Pellegrini joins from Estudiantes and Carranza from Club Atletico Banfield, both in Argentina's top flight. The 19-year-old pair will stay on loan at their current clubs until joining Inter Miami next year ahead of the club's maiden campaign.

20.44 BST: The next whisper is back in MLS as Sporting Kansas City are closing in on a move for Portugese left-back Luis Martins. The KC Star has more info on how the move would work as it's complicated.

20.07 BST: Here's a move in the Premier League next as Fulham confirm the season-long loan of last summer's signing Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa to Villarreal. The Spanish club can execute a buy option next summer should they wish, too.

Said the club in a very, very brief statement: "Everyone at Fulham would like to wish André-Frank all the best for the coming season." Cool!

19.26 BST: Here's a big move in MLS as LAFC are close to finalizing a third designated player. ESPN FC's Jeff Carlisle confirms that the target is Penarol's goalscoring midfielder Brian Rodriguez and that a move could be announced as early as next week.

Read Jeff's report here.

18.44 BST: A couple of smaller signings happening below the Premier League as Middlesbrough announced midfielder Marcus Browne and Birmingham City confirm the transfer of Croatia U21 captain Ivan Sunjic.

18.06 BST: Are West Ham chasing an American defender to help shore up their back four? Sky Sports sources report that they're trying to grab New York Red Bulls and U.S. centre-back Aaron Long but are being frustrated by his inability to secure a work permit.

Long, 26, won MLS Defender of the Year honours in 2018 for his stellar performances and is on the transfer target list for Marseille, Fiorentina, Rennes and Lyon given his low release clause (£4m). The Red Bulls have said in the past that they're not open to selling their star defender but there could still be a twist in this tale yet.

17.31 BST: Some news out of Major League Soccer up next as the Washington Post's Steven Goff reports an end to the Zoltan Stieber era at D.C. United. According to Goff, the team is working on finalizing a mutual termination of his contract after an underwhelming two-year stint in the USA.

Stieber managed six goals and eight assists in 44 appearances for D.C., not deemed sufficient for a Hungarian international making over $750,000 this season. Stieber will now return to Europe, per Goff, and seek a new club somewhere on the continent. Fair play to him.

16.46 BST: Lyon striker Moussa Dembele is back on the radar of Manchester United as they contemplate life without Romelu Lukaku, say Sky Sports.

The former Celtic and Fulham man was linked with United a few years ago but, now 23, has matured and is ready to make the step up.

16.02 BST: Corriere dello Sport says that Roma want Gonzalo Higuain or nobody ... which is quite the statement.

Juventus have played him a few times in preseason but it seems his future lies elsewhere and that's not with Chelsea. Roma, meanwhile, have to find a replacement for Edin Dzeko as he's first-choice for Inter Milan if they can't land Romelu Lukaku.

15.39 BST: Real Madrid are increasingly confident of signing Paul Pogba from Manchester United this summer, sources at the Bernabeu have told ESPN FC.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is keen to land Pogba, although club president Florentino Perez has needed convincing after spending over €300m on new players already this summer.

Pogba and his agent Mino Raiola both publicly pressed for a move away from United earlier this summer, although more recently the World Cup winner's attitude has been praised by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during the team's preseason tour of Asia.

15.13 BST: Senegal international Moussa Wague will be promoted to Barcelona's first team ahead of the new season, sources have told ESPN FC.

The defender joined Barca B last summer from Belgian side K.A.S Eupen having previously played for the Aspire Academy in Qatar. His performances for the reserve team in the Spanish third division caught Ernesto Valverde's eye and earned him four first-team appearances in the second half of the season.

Wague will compete with Nelson Semedo for the right-back position this season, with Sergi Roberto expected to return to a more familiar midfield position.

14.56 BST: Arsenal look set to lose one of their academy prospects to Germany, as Bild reports that Hamburg have had a £2.2m bid accepted for Xavier Amaechi.

Amaechi, 18, was left out of the club's preseason tour and has one year left on his contract at the Emirates. 

14.30 BST: Rumour Rater gives the move 45% but Man City boss Pep Guardiola has refused to rule out a move for right-back Dani Alves, who was released by PSG this summer.

"All the important clubs in the world know his situation and the incredible player he is," Guardiola told a news conference in Japan ahead of Saturday's friendly with City's sister club Yokohama F Marinos. "He is an extraordinary person, but we have two incredible full-backs. So, that is what it is."

Asked if City would be signing any more players, he said: "No, not many. I like the faces that we have. Maybe, but the transfer market is so difficult and the team is really good enough. So, maybe zero, maybe one, maybe one-and-a-half. We'll see."

14.03 BST: Former Manchester City, Aston Villa and England defender Micah Richards, 31, has retired after being released by Villa this summer.

13.37 BST: Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson is heading back to Sheffield United. The 22-year-old has signed a season-long loan deal, having been on loan at the club last season.

13.34 BST: Arsenal fans won't be overly happy with the latest update from Celtic manager Neil Lennon about left-back Kieran Tierney.

"It is as you were a week ago. Two bids have been in and two bids have been rejected. That is where we are," he told Sky Sports. "If there is interest in him then other clubs may come in or Arsenal may come again. I can't predict that."

13.07 BST: Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has told Barcelona that Neymar is not for sale this summer, sources have told ESPN FC.

Despite Neymar's desire to leave Paris, Al-Khelaifi communicated to Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu over the phone that they still don't plan to sell the Brazilian international. Bartomeu asked him to let him know if that stance changes.

As a result, sources at Barca have said they believe it's increasingly unlikely that Neymar will return to Camp Nou during the summer transfer window.

Al-Khelaifi's message to Bartomeu contradicts with comments made by PSG's sporting director, Leonardo, who suggested Neymar would be allowed to leave for the right price.

Despite continued rumours to the contrary, though, Barcelona have respected Al-Khelaifi's comments and, as confirmed previously by ESPN FC, have not tabled a single offer for Neymar.

13.00 BST: Sheffield United keep signing players and Ben Osborn is the latest, the midfielder joins on a three-year deal from Nottingham Forest.

12.31 BST: Mexico international Javier Hernandez is set to stay with West Ham United through this summer and isn't eyeing a move to MLS at this stage of his career, according to ESPN FC sources.

Mexico's all-time top scorer has been the subject of interest from MLS clubs, Brazilian side Flamengo and Fiorentina, but different sources have told ESPN FC that he will continue in London unless there is an unexpected twist in the remaining days of the Premier League transfer window, which ends on Aug. 9.

12.20 BST: Thomas Vermaelen is in Japan where he is set to be announced as a Vissel Kobe player soon following the expiration of his contract at Barcelona.

The Belgian defender will join a host of former Barca players at the J-League club, including Andres Iniesta, David Villa and Sergi Samper. He's agreed a deal until the end of 2021.

Vermaelen, 33, also had offers from the United States and Qatar, but preferred the chance to move to Vissel Kobe, who will play Barca in the Rakuten Cup on Saturday.

12.02 BST: AC Milan winger Suso could be on the way out this summer and Sevilla are keen, according to Marca.

Suso has a €40m clause in his contract for any club outside Europe, but Sevilla will negotiate with Milan if they can't seal a €35m deal for first-choice winger PSV's Steven Bergwijn.

11.39 BST: SPORT says Barcelona and Real Betis are "condemned" to have to reach an agreement on Junior Firpo.

Barca's main option was Bayern's David Alaba but they were priced out of a move. Meanwhile, Betis need the cash to buy Borja Iglesias from Espanyol, so both teams need to agree to a deal but are €10m apart right now.

"It's true we had some problems at left-back last season and it's possible we'll bring someone in," Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said in a news conference in Japan on Friday. "We'll have an eye on the transfer market until it closes."

ESPN FC revealed last week that Alaba, Philipp Max and Firpo feature on a three-man shortlist for the role.

11.16 BST: Tuttosport reports that Everton are favourites to sign Juventus winger Moise Kean, though news they are after Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha may put paid to that one. 

11.12 BST: Barcelona's director of football Pep Segura has had his contract with the club rescinded as president Josep Maria Bartomeu continues to make a number of changes behind the scenes at Camp Nou.

Technical director Eric Abidal is set to take on more responsibility at the club, as sources first confirmed to ESPN FC last weekend, following Segura's departure.

Abidal will continue to work with his assistant Ramon Planes, while Patrick Kluivert was appointed on Thursday as the club's new director of youth football.

10.56 BST: Record report that Sporting Lisbon president Frederico Varandas is determined to keep Manchester United target Bruno Fernandes at the club for at least next season.

The Sporting captain, who scored 31 goals in 50 appearances for Sporting in all competitions last season, including 20 in the league, has been strongly linked with United this summer.

Fernandes, 24, has a €100m release clause and is tied to Sporting until June 2023. Record claim that Varandas is willing to prioritise the departure of other players before allowing Fernandes to leave this summer.

10.25 BST: Dortmund are set to pay pay €42m to Barcelona for winger Malcom, reports Goal.

Barca signed the Brazilian from Ligue 1 side Bordeaux for €41m last summer so they would take a slight hit, but would be delighted to move him on for basically the same price. The 22-year-old has been linked with a loan move to Arsenal or Tottenham, but Barcelona want the cash.

10.02 BST: Manchester United have reportedly reached an agreement with Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, which would allow Paul Pogba to join Juventus, say Tuttosport.

We should add that Tuttosport REALLY seem to want Pogba back in Italy, so we'll take this one with a pinch of salt. In fact, the Daily Express actually claim that United are not interested in the Serbian at all this summer, so that puts a dampner on things.

09.38 BST: He's been linked to almost every top club in Europe, but Gazzetta reports that Napoli have reached an agreement with Lille of €64m plus Adam Ounas over the signing of Nicolas Pepe.

However, Napoli still need to agree terms with Pepe and his agents which is no easy feat. And now the other clubs know how much Lille will accept, so perhaps another bid or two is incoming?

Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti told Sky Italia: "Yes, Nicolas Pepe's agents were in our hotel. I said goodbye to them as I do with any agents who visit us. It is important to meet them to assess the market. Of course, we are interested in Nicolas. His agents were here, it is futile trying to hide it. Negotiations are ongoing, so we will see what happens." 

09.13 BST: Manchester City have loaned midfielder Yangel Herrera to La Liga club Granada. The 21-year-old played for Huesca last season and spent two years at City's sister club, New York City FC.

09.00 BST: Sky Sports News reports that Everton are in talks to sign Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha.

Zaha, 26, had been linked to Arsenal but Everton are reportedly ready to put down a £60m offer plus a player in exchange. That would probably be too good for Palace to turn down, despite the club wanting £80m.

08.27 BST: Real Madrid are close to loaning defender Jesus Vallejo to Wolves for the 2019-20 season, a source has confirmed to ESPN FC.

Vallejo, 22, will first extend his contract with Madrid before joining Wolves on a 12 month loan deal which does not include an option to buy, the source said.

The captain of Spain's Under-21 European Championship winners this summer, Vallejo had a previously successful loan spell at Eintracht Frankfurt in 2016-17, and believes he can progress as a player in the Premier League with Wolves before returning to the Bernabeu.

Vallejo's exit, along with a thigh injury picked by new signing Ferland Mendy this week, means that Madrid utility defender Nacho Fernandez is now likely to remain at Madrid for next season.

08:00 BST: Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin has told ESPNdeportes that whether his team sign James Rodriguez from Real Madrid this summer depends on Blancos president Florentino Perez.

Atletico club sources said that personal terms have been agreed with James, who has returned to Madrid following two years on loan at Bayern Munich. But the two clubs have yet to agree a fee for a player who has had a mixed time since moving to the Bernabeu for €80m following an outstanding World Cup finals with Colombia back in 2014.

"I know that Atletico fans and some players also would like James to bring us his extra quality," Gil Marin told ESPNdeportes ahead of Friday's 'derbi' International Champions Cup game in New York. "Our coach likes him. I know James does not want to stay at Real Madrid. I know Real Madrid don't want him to stay. But many things need to happen for it to be possible. A lot depends on the Real Madrid president."

Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti is also interested in signing the 28-year-old, although club president Aurelio De Laurentiis has said that Madrid are "looking for too much money." On Thursday, sources close to the player denied to ESPN FC media reports that his agent Jorge Mendes was in Naples to close negotiations there.

PAPER TALK (by James Capps)

Arsenal run the rule on Rugani

Unai Emery is interested in making Juventus defender Daniele Rugani his latest Arsenal acquisition, according to reports at Calciomercato.

The 24-year-old made just 15 appearances for the Serie A champions last season, and is set for another campaign on the fringes of the starting lineup following his side's signing of Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt, and the Gunners are now believed to have joined Serie A giants Roma and AC Milan in registering their interest in the player.

However, the Italian publication claims that Arsenal's attempts to sign the Italy international could be scuppered by the sizeable fee Juventus are asking for: around €40 million.

News of Juve's asking price has reportedly raised eyebrows at the Emirates Stadium, where they have just spend €30m on William Saliba, but it is reported they will return in a matter of days with a proposal of their own.

Red Devils dealt double boost in race for Pepe

Manchester United remain firmly in the hunt for Lille winger Nicolas Pepe -- despite news that the Ivorian's agent met with Napoli chiefs to thrash out a deal, according to Sky Italia journalist Gianluca di Marzio.

Reports published in The Mirror claim that Pepe's wage demands proved to be a sticking point in negotiations between the Serie A runners-up and Pepe's agent Samir Khiat -- something that would be unlikely to trouble global powerhouse United.

The player himself also has doubts over whether Napoli are the right club for him, despite manager Carlo Ancelotti speaking in the week about the clear vacancy in his side for an attacker like Pepe.

A move to Old Trafford still appears to be way off, however, with Khiat pouring cold water on claims that his client was set for a move to Ole Gunner Solskjaer's side on social media.

-- Rumour Rater: Bale to China? Alves to Man City?
-- When does the transfer window close?
-- All major completed transfer deals

Inter to dump Nainggolan

Inter Milan midfielder Radja Nainggolan is an unwanted man at the San Siro, and Calciomercato claims that the Belgian could be set for a surprise return to former side Cagliari.

The 31-year-old spent four years at the Sardinian club at the start of the decade, before going on to have spells at Roma and now Inter, but with the often controversial midfielder now believed to be out of favour with new Nerazzurri boss Antonio Conte, the door has opened for a return to his first Serie A club.

A permanent transfer is believed to be off the table for now, with Cagliari struggling to gather the funds required to seal a deal, but a loan move is believed to make financial sense for both sides, with Inter keen to avoid a big Financial Fair Play hit on a player they signed for around €30m just over a year ago.

Tap-ins

-- Brazilian defender Miranda's four-year spell at Inter Milan is heading towards a close, with Calciomercato reporting that the 34-year-old is a transfer target for Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning. Monaco are also believed to be in the race for the former Atletico Madrid man.

-- Spanish publication Sport claims Rafinha is heading for the exit door at Barcelona, with three European sides vying for the Brazilian's signature. Fellow La Liga side Valencia, as well as Serie A's Atalanta and Fiorentina are in the running for the out of favour 26-year-old.

-- Reports at Calciomercato claim AC Milan are making progress in their quest to sign Argentinian pair Angel Correa and Matias Zaracho, after the players' agent arrived in Italy for talks with the Rossoneri. The fee for Atletico Madrid's Correa is believed to be around €50 million, while Zaracho could depart Racing Club in a deal worth €18m.

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