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          Transfer Talk: Mohamed Salah 'offered to Barca,' Man United eye Sevilla defender

          • ESPN staffJun 5, 2018, 06:28 PM

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

          TOP STORY: Liverpool's Salah 'offered to Barcelona'

          Could Liverpool's Mohamed Salah be a possible summer signing for Barcelona?

          AS reports that Salah "could become the alternative" to long-linked Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann and claims his representatives "have offered him to the Catalan side."

          The report adds that there have been "meetings between people of confidence to the player and people from Barça with the objective of assessing a possible move to the Camp Nou."

          Liverpool, it claims, would be willing to sell Salah but only for more than £100 million and could do so if they succeed in signing Nabil Fekir from Lyon.

          If that happens, AS says "the next step would be to hear offers for the Egypt international."

          LIVE BLOG

          23.00 BST: That'll do it for us tonight with our Live Transfer Talk. Remember to check back in a few hours for the latest rumours, links and completed deals from around the world of football. Goodnight!

          22.57 BST: The Man United and Gareth Bale links just will not die.

          Journalist Duncan Castles, while speaking on the The Transfer Window Podcast, stated he believes the move could still come to fruition.

          Castles cited United vice-chairman Ed Woodward's admiration of Bale and "confidence" in his ability to convince the Glazer family to approve the £100 million that the Welshman would likely cost.

          Bale has been heavily linked to United the past few seasons and after a down year at Real Madrid and with Zinedine Zidane out, Bale could be looking for a total fresh start.

          This one still seems too good to be true but Bale's future hinges on who Real Madrid decide to hire as their new manager.

          22.45 BST: Steven Gerrard looks to have secured his first player with Liverpool connections at Rangers.

          SportTimes claim that 20-year-old Ovie Ejaria has secured a one-year loan move from Liverpool to the Glasgow club.

          Both clubs have yet to confirm the deal for the midfielder, who last season played 11 games while on loan at Sunderland.

          22.33 BST: With Aston Villa having narrowly missed out of promotion to the Premier League and currently in financial peril, the club face tough decisions on a lot of its players.

          One player who has attracted a lot of interest and that Villa may be forced to sell is tricky midfielder Jack Grealish.

          Grealish, who stood out in the Championship playoff final, has been linked with clubs as big as Man United, with the latest rumours fancying him to Newcastle United.

          The Chronicle indicate that Newcastle are keeping tabs on the Under-21 England international and that he is on Rafa Benitez's long list of potential targets.

          Last season Benitez was not happy with the funds he was allotted to bring in new players but after an impressive season in which Newcastle punched above its weight, will the club's board throw the Spanish boss a bone with a player like Grealish?

          22.17 BST: In the past year Nice's Jean-Michael Seri has been linked with clubs like Barcelona, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.

          A wild card has reportedly entered the fray for the playmaker, as West Ham, yes West Ham, are also reportedly in on the midfielder.

          Manuel Pellegrini has already locked down Ryan Fredericks from Fulham and is looking to make another big splash at the London Stadium with Seri and Javier Pastore linked.

          Seri is coming off a relatively quiet season in France with just two goals and five assists but in 2016-17, the Ivory Coast international contributed seven goals and nine assists for a Nice side that earned a place in Europe.

          21.56 BST: An update on highly sought-after defender Matthijs de Ligt.

          Italian outlet TuttomercatoWEB suggest Man City have bid €60m for the Ajax centre-back, who is also being closely monitored by Tottenham and Juventus.

          The 18-year-old Dutch defender has been one of the hottest names in the transfer market and is looked at by Pep Guardiola as a long-term replacement for Vincent Kompany.

          21.26 BST: According to reports out of France, Liverpool may have good news in their pursuit of Lyon star Nabil Fekir.

          Lyon has to this point denied that they would sell the France international but president Jean-Michel Aulas has now conceded that they would sell the player for the 'right price'.

          It remains to be seen what exactly that price is but Fekir and Liverpool still seem to be headed for a union post-World Cup.

          21.05 BST: -- DONE DEAL -- Brighton have locked up one of their key contributors from their maiden season in the Premier League, signing Pascal Gross to a contract extension that will keep the player with the Seagulls through 2022.

          Gross, who signed last season from Ingolstadt 04, was a mainstay for Chris Hughton, playing in all 38 games and finishing second on the team in goals with seven and leading the team in assists with eight.

          20.38 BST: Man City's move for Napoli midfielder Jorginho looks to have hit a bit of a snag.

          Sources have told ESPN FC that the Italian side have remained firm in asking for £60m in return for the Italy international but that City have balked at that price and are prepared to move in a different direction.

          Jorginho looked nailed on to be joining Pep Guardiola's side a few days ago but these recent developments indicate that that is no longer the case.

          Real Madrid's Mateo Kovacic and Southampton's Mario Lemina are two players who have been discussed as potential fallback options for City if the move for Jorginho stalls.

          20.17 BST: Portuguese outlet A Bola claim that Arsenal have had a recent bid rejected by Sporting Lisbon for Gelson Martins.

          This report states that Arsenal offered £30 million for the Portuguese winger but that Sporting rejected and remain steadfast in that they would not accept anything less than £45m for the player.

          Martins, 23, is a player long rumoured to have interest in playing in the Premier League but to this point has persisted at Sporting.

          19.44 BST: Leicester City have reportedly triggered the release clause of West Brom's Jonny Evans.

          Evans, who was heavily linked to Man City in January, is set to have a medical tomorrow at the King Power Stadium.

          Signing the reliable Evans for £3.5 million would be good business considering West Brom were asking Man City for upwards of £20m just this past January.

          19.17 BST: -- DONE DEAL -- La Liga new boys Huesca are on the board with their first signing!

          The Aragon-based side have inked full-back Jorge Miramon from Segunda Division side Reus on a one-year deal.

          18.52 BST: Another Portuguese player to Wolves?

          Valencia full-back Joao Cancelo has reportedly given the 'green light' to super agent Jorge Mendes for a move to Wolves.

          Mendes has a number of clients who already play at Wolves but Cancelo would be the highest profile signing to date for the newly-promoted side.

          Cancelo played last season on loan at Inter Milan and is being valued in the neighborhood of £40 million.

          18.27 BST: -- DONE DEAL -- We have a done deal. Championship side Reading have signed veteran centre-back John O'Shea from Sunderland on a one-year deal.

          The former Manchester United man and longtime Republic of Ireland captain joins the Royals after seven seasons at the Stadium of Light.

          O'Shea recently retired from international football but had said he aimed to play at least one more season at club level.

          18.02 BST: West Ham are set to meet with Lazio midfielder Felipe Anderson's agents for an update on their attempts to sign the player.

          West Ham recently had a £33 million bid for the Brazilian snubbed by Lazio but this one is not over with just yet.

          The 25-year-old Anderson had a breakout season last season in Italy, scoring eight goals and racking up 10 assists in 32 games over all competitions.

          17.30 BST: Having already made two midfield signings in Naby Keita and Fabinho, Liverpool are being linked with a third midfielder this transfer window.

          The Guardian writes that the Reds are monitoring Stoke City and Switzerland midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri.

          Shaqiri, who had a hand in 15 of Stoke's 35 goals last campaign, would provide depth for a Liverpool side who last season ran out of bodies after a long season of competing on multiple fronts.

          The diminutive playmaker is almost certain to leave relegated Stoke, with Tottenham also recently mentioned as a potential landing spot.

          Full story.

          17.00 BST: The Mirror reports that Stoke are hopeful that midfielder Joe Allen will sign a new contract despite their relegation to the Championship. It adds that the Potters "are determined to bounce straight back up and are also in talks to sign striker Benik Afobe from Wolves and West Brom winger James McClean.

          16.30 BST: Newcastle could face a challenge to keep captain and defender Jamaal Lascelles, says the Northern Echo, which reports that their resolve "could be seriously tested if the bidding hits the £45 million mark after Tottenham entered the battle."

          16.15 BST: Tottenham Hotspur will not be among the clubs attempting to sign Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt in the summer, Football London reports, despite speculation that he would be a likely replacement for Toby Alderweireld if the Belgium international moves on.

          15.30 BST: Preston have agreed a deal to sign goalkeeper Michael Crowe, a free agent after leaving Ipswich, with the move to be confirmed at the beginning of next month.

          15.15 BST: Scottish champions Celtic have confirmed that forward Nadir Ciftci, who has struggled to establish himself since signing in 2015, will leave the club at the end of the month.

          15.00 BST: It seems the saga of where West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans might play next is drawing to a close -- the BBC reports that he is "on the brink of joining Leicester for £3.5 million after terms were agreed." Evans was linked with Manchester City in January.

          14.35 BST: Santos teenager Rodrygo is wanted by both Real Madrid and Barcelona, according to Marca, but said: "I do not know anything about that. If there is anything, the people who they should be dealing with are my father and my representatives. I am fully focused on Santos."

          14.05 BST: Done Deal! Done Deal! Done Deal! Fresh from signing Fred on Tuesday, Manchester United have confirmed Diogo Dalot's move to Old Trafford.

          Jose Mourinho said: "Diogo is an extremely talented young defender with all the qualities to quickly become a great player for this club. He has all the attributes that a full-back needs: physicality, tactical intelligence and technical quality, combined with a Porto academy mentality which prepares players for the maturity they need at the professional level."

          Dalot said: "Joining Manchester United is an unbelievable opportunity for me. I have grown up in Porto's academy and I am so thankful for everything they have done for me. But the chance of coming to the biggest club in the world is something I just couldn't turn down."

          14.00 BST: Norwich City could be about to sign playmaker Emi Buendia from La Liga side Geafe in a £1.5 million deal, the Eastern Daily Press reports.

          13.45 BST: Manchester City have tabled a restructured offer for Jorginho, worth around £48 million, as they seek "a quick resolution to the saga, conscious that Napoli are trying raise the price with interest from other clubs," according to the Mail.

          13.15 BST: Chelsea's summer of uncertainty could hit their transfer market hopes, says the Mail, which reports that the Blues "risk hindering their chances of building a Premier League title-challenging team for next season the longer their stand-off with coach Antonio Conte continues."

          12.45 BST: More from Villa, or at least in relation to them -- Football London reports that West Ham have received no bids for winger Robert Snodgrass, on loan at Villa last season, with Villa's financial worries meaning they are "unlikely to pursue a permanent deal."

          12.30 BST: Arsenal must trigger Steven N'Zonzi's £35 million release clause if they are to sign the midfielder from Sevilla, the Independent reports.

          12.00 BST: Crystal Palace are looking at Marseille defender Hiroki Sakai , who would cost around £12 million, as boss Roy Hodgson plans summer reinforcements. Right-back Sakai has emerged as a target, the London Evening Standard reports, saying he "is thought to be happy at Marseille but it is believed they are willing to sanction his departure."

          11.45 BST: Let's be honest, it would be marvellous to see Peter Crouch doing his thing in Serie A. And that glorious day could be moving closer:

          11.15 BST: The Mirror reports that financial problems at Aston Villa are growing after their failure to win promotion from the Championship, with "stars like Jack Grealish in the dark about their futures and the growing likelihood of a firesale to generate quick cash."

          11.00 BST: Tottenham midfielder Marcus Edwards wants to leave the club in the summer, the Guardian reports. It says the 19-year-old has "reluctantly accepted that his chance of a first-team breakthrough under Mauricio Pochettino has gone."

          10.45 BST: Preston North End striker Sean Maguire is staying exactly where he is, committing his future to the Championship club for a further three years.

          10.30 BST: Birmingham City could move for Middlesbrough winger Marvin Johnson as they reshape their squad following two successive close brushes with relegation from the Championship, the Birmingham Mail reports.

          10.15 BST: Arsenal have been linked with Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri, but the London Evening Standard says they are "unlikely to pursue a deal as they eye alternative options in central areas."

          Seri, who would cost around £35 million, is said to be keen on a move to either Chelsea or Manchester City, while Manchester United have also been linked with him.

          10.00 BST: To Scotland, where Rangers are being linked with a plethora of players as Steven Gerrard looks to rebuild his squad. The latest, says the Scotsman, is West Brom defender Gareth McAuley, for whom Gerrard will face competition from several Championship clubs.

          09.30 BST: Bryan Cristante will leave Atalanta for Roma next month, Gazzetta dello Sport reports. The 23-year-old midfielder will sign a five-year contract.

          09.10 BST: Saint-Etienne coach Jean-Louis Gasset hopes to tempt Atletico Madrid forward Kevin Gameiro to return to France, L'Equipe reports -- but Gameiro would rather remain in Spain.

          08.50 BST: Mattia Perin, who made his debut in the starting XI in Italy's friendly against Netherlands in Turin on Monday night, has remained in the city and will reportedly undergo a medical today and tomorrow in advance of his move to Juventus.

          La Repubblica reports that he 25-year-old is leaving Genoa, of whose youth system he is a product and where he has spent virtually all of his career, to become Szczesny's reserve. Should the Polish goalkeeper wish to keep his current shirt number, as it seems likely, Perin will inherit Buffon's no.1 shirt. Perin is moving for around €12m.

          08.25 BST: Antoine Griezmann promised that he would make a decision on his future before the World Cup starts, amid strong interest from Barcelona, and he told Spox that he is yet to make a choice: "I am thinking about it, I've not decided yet."

          The France forward's Atletico Madrid teammate Koke told AS: "Antoine knows what he has to do. It is a question for him, and he must decide. He is under contract at the moment."

          According to Mundo Deportivo, Atletico met Edinson Cavani and his brother and agent a few weeks ago in Madrid. The Paris Saint-Germain striker is a long-time target for Atletico coach Diego Simeone.

          08.00 BST: Manchester United announced they had reached an agreement with Shakhtar Donetsk for the transfer of Fred on Tuesday, and the Brazil international midfielder could soon be joined at Old Trafford by another new arrival. Porto full-back Diogo Dalot has been in talks with United since last week, and a deal for the 19-year-old could be announced as early as today.

          PAPER TALK: Man United and Barca eye Lenglet

          Sevilla defender Clement Lenglet could find himself at the centre of a transfer tug of war this summer, with L'Equipe carrying news of interest from Manchester United and Barcelona.

          Lenglet impressed Jose Mourinho with his performances against United in the Champions League, although the Frenchman's form toward the end of the season wasn't enough to earn him a place in Didier Deschamps' World Cup squad.

          The 22-year-old could make up for that disappointment with a move to one of Europe's leading clubs as United weigh up meeting his €35 million release clause.

          Barcelona are also keen on the ball-playing centre-back, with Lenglet tipped for a bright future following his first full season at Sevilla.

          Liverpool launch winger bid

          Liverpool might already have found the perfect replacement for Sadio Mane after the Senegal international was linked with a move to Real Madrid in Tuesday's Transfer Talk.

          According to the Liverpool Echo, the Reds are stepping up their interest in Gent forward Moses Simon, who could be available for a bargain fee of £10m.

          Simon was denied a place in Nigeria's World Cup squad due to injury, but that hasn't deterred Jurgen Klopp in his pursuit of the 22-year-old. The talented winger is viewed as the ideal understudy to Mane and Mo Salah at Anfield, possessing the pace and trickery to stretch teams on the break.

          Rondon in demand

          Salomon Rondon might be set to jump ship at relegated West Brom as Chelsea, Tottenham and West Ham duke it out for his signature, reports the Daily Mirror.

          The striker managed just seven goals in 36 Premier League appearances as the Baggies dropped into the Championship, but it seems that hasn't put off his list of suitors.

          Rondon's £16m buyout clause makes him a tempting Plan B for Chelsea or Spurs, while there is potential for a little-and-large partnership with Javier Hernandez at West Ham.

          The 28-year-old enjoyed impressive spells at Malaga and Zenit St. Petersburg before joining West Brom in 2015, and looks destined for another move in the near future.

          Tap-ins

          -- Former Bayern striker Luca Toni has told Sportbild that the German champions should sell Robert Lewandowski if the Poland captain wants out of the club. Toni has a successor in mind, too, saying: "Mauro Icardi of Inter Milan would be perfect for Bayern. He is very strong and younger."

          -- Leicester are looking to wrap up their business early in the transfer window, with deals for James Maddison and Jonny Evans in the pipeline. The Independent says the Foxes are leading the race for Norwich playmaker Maddison, who would cost around £20m, while Evans is available for just £3m following West Brom's demotion.

          -- Wolves are plotting a £35m move for Valencia right-back Joao Cancelo, according to The Sun. The 24-year-old spent the season on loan to Inter Milan, but missed out on a place in Portugal's World Cup squad to new Leicester full-back Ricardo Pereira.

          -- Everton director of football Marcel Brands is planning to shift as many as 12 players this summer, reports the Daily Mirror. The Toffees made some costly mistakes during Ronald Koeman's reign and will need to recoup some of that outlay before they can give any funds to Marco Silva.

          -- One player who won't be joining Everton though is £40m-rated Watford winger Richarlison. The Evening Standard says the Hornets will refuse to enter talks with the Goodison Park club following the manner of Silva's exit in January.