The coronavirus pandemic has made the transfer market uncertain -- and you can find out when the windows open and close here -- but here are the rumours floating around Europe's big leagues and beyond.
TOP STORY: Does Messi want Neymar to join him in Man City move?
The talk over recent days has been about Lionel Messi and where the Barcelona talisman will land next, with sources telling ESPN that a move to Manchester City has been discussed, while PSG are also monitoring the situation.
However, emerging from ESPN Brasil's Jorge Nicola is a spectacular wrinkle that makes this saga even more breathtaking.
The commentator reports that Messi has contacted Neymar to inform him of his move to the Etihad. And this is where it really gets good: There is an insinuation that the 33-year-old has encouraged his former Camp Nou companion to leave Paris Saint-Germain and join him in Pep Guardiola's side.
Neymar has two years remaining on his PSG contract, however, and the Parisian club's owners have proved stubborn negotiators in the past. If Messi did plan a rendezvous with Neymar in Manchester, then City will have to come up with some serious money -- while navigating the financial fair play regulations they were adjudged to have breached in February.
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- Lowe: Messi, bad blood and a burofax. How it happened
LIVE BLOG
23.00 BST: That will do it for the latest edition of our LIVE Transfer Talk blog. We hoped you enjoyed following along with us and remind you to check back shortly for the latest transfer rumours, reports and completed deals. Goodnight!
22.41 BST: Diego Costa to Spurs?
Jose Mourinho is said to want another striker for cover behind Harry Kane, and Atletico Madrid have offered the Portuguese manager a reunion with the enigmatic frontman, according to the Daily Star. Costa, now 31, scored 24 goals in 57 games at Chelsea under Mourinho, winning a Premier League and League Cup double in 2015.
The veteran has struggled for health and consistency in recent years but does bring an edge that many of Tottenham's critics say the club lacks. Entering the final year of his current contract, Atletico are looking to offload the Spaniard before losing him for nothing next season. Mourinho and Costa together again? That would be sure to deliver some excitement...
22.16 BST: Aston Villa could have a tough time holding onto starting left-back Matt Targett, according to reports.
The Daily Star understands that Leicester City are considering a move for the 24-year-old after selling Bern Chilwell to Chelsea this week. Targett, who was signed last summer for £15 million from Southampton, made 32 appearances for the Villains, scoring two goals and adding two assists.
Targett had a very comparable season to the £50 million-man Chilwell, even topping Chilwell in terms of tackles and interceptions.
21.52 BST: Newly-promoted Leeds made a splash earlier this week by signing striker Rodrigo from Valencia and they might not be done just yet.
Reports in Italy suggest that Marcelo Bielsa and Co. are targetting Lazio centre-back Luiz Felipe to replace Ben White in central defence. Back in the Premier League for the first time in 16 years, Leeds had hoped to sign loan star White from Brighton, but with Brighton refusing to sell the 22 year old, Leeds are looking into other options.
The report states that Leeds are willing to bid £27 million for Luiz Felipe but that offer is still £7m short of Lazio's asking price. Stay tuned...
21.04 BST: It's happening...
United States international Weston McKennie has landed in Turin ahead of his blockbuster move to nine-time defending Serie A champions Juventus.
🛩 @WMckennie è a Torino! 🇺🇸
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) August 27, 2020
Welcome! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/TCgOjQnjec
The 21-year-old Texan is expected to join the Old Lady on an initial loan from Schalke, with the loan deal also containing an £18 million purchase option. The midfielder, who made almost 100 appearances for Schalke, will become just the
the sixth American to move to Serie A, following Alexi Lalas, Giuseppe Rossi, Michael Bradley, Oguchi Onyewu and Josh Perez.
20.19 BST: Former AC Milan and Inter winger Sulley Muntari could soon return to his homeland to play for Ghanaian giants Hearts of Oak.
The club's CEO Frederick Moore has hinted as much with his recent comments in the media.
"Sulley Muntari is a very good player and if he is available and affordable we will be interested to sign him," Moore told Happy FM.
"For the past two years, Hearts of Oak have been telling Sulley Ali Muntari that we've reserved a jersey for him," Hearts board member Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, also a former president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), told Angel FM. "Anytime he's ready to play, he knows what to do."
Muntari, who has played 84 times for Ghana and has been unattached since leaving Spanish Segunda side Albacete in 2019, also has reportedly been talking to clubs in South Africa.
19.27 BST: Celtic have signed Scottish midfielder David Turnbull in what is a club record sale by Motherwell.
The Hoops have been chasing the 21-year-old for a couple of seasons now, after Turnbull burst onto the scene in 2018-19 to win the SPFWA Young Player of the Year award. Turnbull scored 16 goals and added seven assists during that aforementioned season but missed most of last campaign with a after a knee operation.
18.45 BST: So what would Lionel Messi cost Manchester City?
Spanish outlet Sport suggests that in order to get a deal done without violating the regulations of Financial Fair Play, Man City are willing to offer Barcelona €100 million plus winger Bernardo Silva, striker Gabriel Jesus and young centre-back and Barca target Eric Garcia.
The report adds that while Barca have interest in both Bernardo and Garcia, they are not completely sold on Jesus as a world-class No. 9, which could prove a road block to completing a deal.
18.02 BST: Birmingham City have made former Elche winger Ivan Sanchez their third signing of the summer.
The 27-year-old played 37 times last season for the Spanish club, helping Elche earn promotion back to La Liga via the play-offs. Sanchez, who previously spent time in Spain with Almeria and Albacete, becomes the second Spaniard signed by Birmingham's new Spanish manager Aitor Karanka.
17.14 BST: Is this finally the year that Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha gets his long-desired move away from Selhurst Park?
The Guardian writes that Zaha remains "determined" to leave the club, with PSG, Borussia Dortmund and Monaco interested. The 27-year-old has tried to force through a move the past couple of transfer windows but to this stage has been unsuccessful. Zaha, who has made over 350 appearances for the Eagles, is coming off a disappointing season by his standards and is thus expected to command far less than the £80 million Everton bid for him last summer.
It wouldn't be a transfer window without a Zaha transfer saga, now would it?
16.30 BST: Real Madrid need to move on James Rodriguez, so is Everton a good destination?
15.57 BST: Josep Maria Bartomeu is ready to step down from his role as Barcelona president if Lionel Messi performs a U-turn on his decision to leave the club, sources have told ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.
Messi stunned Barca on Tuesday when he told the club he wanted out. His decision sparked a wave of criticism towards Bartomeu, with fans gathering at Camp Nou calling for him to resign. A vote of no confidence has also been lodged against him, too.
TV3 first reported on Thursday that Bartomeu is willing to quit if it will convince Messi to stay at the club. However, he does not want to fast-track elections, currently scheduled for March, and would instead prefer to leave the club in the hands of the current board of directors.
The same sources reiterate that Barcelona's stance is that Messi is not for sale, regardless of the interest from Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. Messi has a contract until 2021 and a €700m release clause.
However, various sources insist Messi's decision is irreversible, so they believe Bartomeu will not have to act on his invitation to quit.
15.50 BST: Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says that he is confident over a new deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Sources told ESPN's James Olley earlier this month that the striker would sign a new £250,000-a-week deal tying him to the club until 2023, but it has yet to be announced.
"I keep being positive," he told a news conference. "We have had some really good talks with him and his agent and I am pretty confident that we're going to find an agreement soon. That's my feeling again."
Arteta also had an update of sorts on Lille defender Gabriel, who is close to completing a €30m move. "Regarding Gabriel, we cannot announce anything yet, the deal is not finalised," he added. "You all know he is a player that we have followed for a long time and hopefully we can get it done ... Well, everything is okay when both parties sign, and the player agrees the terms and he goes through the medical -- sometimes that, in the final stages, is not as easy as it looks. But we are pretty positive that we can do it."
On Ainsley Maitland-Niles leaving for Wolves, he said: "Yes, we are reading a lot of news about our players which is not bad that other clubs want him but with Ainsley, he's a player that I've said since I joined that I really like. The best way to show that is that I have played him in the most important games of the season and he responded really well, so that's where we are with the player."
15.39 BST: Former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has joined Lazio on a permanent deal after leaving Milan.
15.28 BST: Manchester United midfielder Fred is being watched by Galatasaray, according to Turkish outlet Fotomac.
Fred, 27, made 48 appearances in all competitions for United last season and has a contract until 2023, so it's hard to see him being allowed to leave.
It's even harder to see it happening when the report states Galatasaray want to sign him on loan.
14.54 BST: Tottenham aren't exactly flush with full-backs but they have rejected an opening offer from AC Milan to sign Serge Aurier.
Sky Sports reports that "the two clubs remain some way apart in their valuations" and that Bayer Leverkusen are also interested in the Ivory Coast international.
14.30 BST: Mario Balotelli has played for Inter, AC Milan, Liverpool, Man City, Marseille, Nice and Brescia. Is a move to MLS next?
14.05 BST: Chelsea's signing spree continues. They've landed former Nice defender Malang Sarr on a free transfer.
The Premier League also announced that the 21-year-old defender will spend the 2020-21 campaign out on loan.
"The opportunity to sign Malang was one we could not miss," Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia told the club's website. "He is a tremendous prospect and we will be monitoring him closely during his loan period, hoping he will soon be back at Chelsea. We are very happy to welcome him to the club today."
13.44 BST: Sky Sport Italia reports that Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has rejected a chance to open talks with Man City.
Bonucci, 33, has a contract until June 2024 and City have been chasing an experienced defender. But the report states that the Italy international told Juve he wants to stay and help new manager Andrea Pirlo in Turin, so would not entertain transfer discussions.
12.59 BST: Arsenal youngster Sam Greenwood is set to join Leeds, reports the Evening Standard.
Greenwood, 18, is highly-rated but hasn't made the breakthrough into the first-tea after joining Arsenal from Sunderland two years ago
Leeds are reported to be spending a fee which will eventually rise to £3m and Greenwood has already said his goodbyes on social media.
"I want to say a big thank you to Arsenal and the supporters for the last 2 years of my career," he wrote on Instagram. "Been an honour to play for the club while meeting some special people and making even better memories."
12.32 BST: Barcelona could turn to Liverpool's Sadio Mane if Lionel Messi follows through on his threat to leave the club this summer.
Tuttomercatoweb reports that Mane's camp has approached Barca about the possibility of signing the Senegal international to replace Messi, who is drawing interest from Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
Mane, 28, played under new Barca coach Ronald Koeman at Southampton and would plug a gap on the left side of the Catalan team's attack that has been vacant since Neymar's exit in 2017. He has a contract with Liverpool until 2023, though and, as seen with Philippe Coutinho, would not be allowed to leave Anfield on the cheap.
Meanwhile, Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Barca have made contact with Lyon striker Moussa Dembele as they look for a new No.9. Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez is their preferred option to replace Luis Suarez, who's been told by Koeman this week he can leave, but Dembele has emerged as a backup plan.
In addition to Messi and Suarez, another player who could be part of an exodus at Camp Nou during the transfer window is Arturo Vidal. Reports at Mundo Deportivo suggest Inter coach Antonio Conte has reawakened his interest in the Chile midfielder.
11.58 BST: Bayer Leverkusen are waiting on Kai Havertz's transfer to Chelsea before they go after AS Roma striker Patrik Schick, who is on his final few days of his loan with RB Leipzig, kicker reports.
Schick, 24, has had a strong season at Leipzig and the Champions League semi-finalists are still hoping to persuade Roma into another loan for the Czech international. But the Serie A club want to sell, and Bayer Leverkusen have already opened negotiations with Roma.
However, Leverkusen are unable to move before they have reached an agreement with Chelsea over the transfer of Havertz, which could generate them a fee in the region of €100m.
Roma want €25m for Schick, who in the past has expressed his desire to stay in the Bundesliga and not move to Premier League, where new boys Fulham are among those interested.
11.06 BST: Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has said Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo remains interested in the club.
Ronaldo spent six years at Old Trafford from 2003-2009 and won three Premier League titles and the Champions League. Fernandes said the Juventus forward was influential in his decision to join United from Sporting in January.
"I have the choice to come to Manchester United and it was two dreams in one," he told the club's official website. "It was perfect.
"Of course, I spoke with Cristiano after and he spoke very well about the club. I spoke with him some days ago, again. Every time I speak with him, he asks me how Manchester is and if everything is okay. Everyone knows he spent a lot of time in Manchester and he has consideration for the club. He likes the club, I think he won his first Ballon d'Or here, so it's a club who've marked him, for sure."
10.38 BST: Leeds are making a move to strengthen their attack now they're back in the Premier League.
10.07 BST: The Sun reports that Manchester United, Chelsea and Leeds are set to miss out on Brighton defender Ben White.
White, 22, is set to stay at Brighton after a £25m bid from Leeds was rejected. The reports states: "Brighton were keen not to sell White to the Yorkshire side as they feel Marcelo Bielsa's team will be a rival in the Premier League in terms of being in a similar league position."
09.44 BST: Schalke are set to sign veteran striker Vedad Ibisevic on a free transfer, Bild reports.
The 36-year-old captained Hertha in recent seasons and is set to bring his experience to Schalke, having scored 127 goals in 340 Bundesliga appearances for Hoffenheim, Stuttgart and Hertha, with seven goals in 25 games last season.
09.27 BST: Atletico Madrid are looking to reinforce their midfield and attack, with Espanyol's Marc Roca one of their key targets, Diario AS reports -- but need to move on big earners such as Diego Costa and Thomas Lemar first.
The club are operating under severe financial restrictions this summer, with CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin making clear that any spending will depend on player sales and wage savings.
Costa -- who has a year left on his contract -- is one of those Atletico would be open to letting go, according to the newspaper, as well as midfield flop Lemar, defenders Mario Hermoso and Santiago Arias, and Mexico international Hector Herrera.
Sources have told ESPN's Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez there is interest in midfielder Roca, 23, who is available for around €15m from relegated Espanyol, although there are doubts about whether his style suits coach Diego Simeone.
09.01 BST: Chelsea announced the signing of Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell on Wednesday.
Sources told ESPN on Friday that the deal was close to being done after Leicester dropped their £80m valuation, and the two clubs eventually agreed a deal for £50m.
Frank Lampard's side may not be able to use him right away as an heel injury could prevent him from participating in the start of the season.
08.34 BST: Tottenham have targeted Wolves defender Matt Doherty to boost their options at full-back, The Independent reports.
The versatile Doherty, 28, has been a mainstay in the Wolves side since they returned to the Premier League two seasons ago.
Spurs see the Republic of Ireland international as a replacement for Serge Aurier, who is set to leave the club this summer. Like Aurier, Doherty is valuable for his attacking contribution, having scored eight Premier League goals and registered eight assists in the last two seasons.
The Independent reports that Wolves want £20m for Doherty, though Spurs are hoping to negotiate a lower initial fee and load the deal with add-ons.
08.00 BST: Dean Henderson ended speculation over his Manchester United future by signing a new five-year contract at Old Trafford on Wednesday, with the option of a further 12 months to be triggered before June 2025.
The 23-year-old, who has been named in the England squad for next month's Nations League games against Iceland and Denmark, has spent the last two seasons on loan at Sheffield United. His performances for Chris Wilder's team last season led to Henderson being linked with a summer move to Chelsea.
But Henderson has now committed his future to United, sparking the prospect of a battle for the No. 1 spot this season with David De Gea.
Mark Ogden believes Lionel Messi should consider a move to MLS as he looks to leave Barcelona.
PAPER TALK (by Harry Kettle)
Liverpool face Brewster decision
Liverpool will need to make a decision on forward Rhian Brewster sooner rather than later with two Premier League clubs looking to take him away on loan, the Daily Express reports.
The 20-year-old starlet has proved himself to be more than just an intriguing talent during preseason, scoring in games against Stuttgart and FC Salzburg.
While he is expected to play some kind of role in the Community Shield against Arsenal, it's Sheffield United and Brighton & Hove Albion who are both looking into the possibility of making an offer.
Jurgen Klopp already has plenty of great attacking options, but Brewster could easily turn out to be something special.
Inter Milan set to sign Tonali
Inter Milan have struck a deal to sign Sandro Tonali from Brescia, Gazzetta dello Sport reports.
While a string of top clubs have been in the mix to try to sign Tonali for many months now, the San Siro residents are at the front of the queue and, if this report is to be believed, they've managed to land their man for a fee of €35m.
However, that payment will be spread over several years as Inter have reportedly told Sassuolo they will also exercise their option to buy on midfielder Stefano Sensi which is set at €20m.
Tap-ins
- Sky Sports is reporting that Celtic might consider a move for Atletico Madrid striker Ivan Saponjic if they lose Odsonne Edouard, or any striker for that matter, this summer. The belief is that it would take an absolutely huge offer to tempt the Scottish champions into selling Edouard, but with the future of Leigh Griffiths also being a topic of discussion, they might have to start thinking about going on the attack for a new man up top.
- Fulham are closing in on the permanent £8m signing of midfielder Harrison Reed, the Evening Standard reports. Reed was deemed to be a vital piece of the puzzle in Scott Parker's side as the Londoners earned promotion back to the Premier League last season, and in the wake of a successful loan spell, it seems the Southampton prodigy is heading back to the capital.