The summer transfer window is into its final month for the major European leagues, which means the biggest clubs are looking to make a splash in the market before the new season begins. Check out the latest gossip below, and see all official deals here.
TOP STORY: PSG's Ronaldo-Messi plot must wait
While Paris Saint-Germain now boast a potent attacking trio of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, a report by Calciomercato suggests that PSG are eyeing Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo to eventually replace Mbappe.
Mbappe, 22, has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, although PSG don't have plans to transfer Mbappe this summer. However, his current deal runs only through to 2022 and could see him leave on a free.
But while he won't be an option this summer, PSG see the 36-year-old Ronaldo as the player who can come in and fill the Frenchman's void, especially as his own contract also ends next year, too.
PSG will face some competition for his signature, as Spain's El Chiringuito claims that Carlo Ancelotti would be keen to bring the Portugal forward back to Real Madrid, while Italy's Corriere dello Sport reports that he has been offered to Manchester City.
If Ronaldo does move to PSG, it could free up Mauro Icardi to join Juventus and link up with fellow Argentina star Paulo Dybala.
Alongside Messi, the Parisians have already signed Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Georginio Wijnaldum and Sergio Ramos this summer. While that makes up an incredible transfer season, Nasser Al-Khelaifi and the hierarchy at the Parc des Princes seem to still be dreaming of new names they can bring into the club in the future.
- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- ESPN+ viewers' guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, more
LIVE BLOG
21.21 BST: Alexander Sorloth hasn't been at RB Leipzig a year yet, but the Red Bull-backed club are already prepared to move on from the 25-year-old striker, Kicker writes. And multiple outlets add that Marseille are one club interested in taking on the Norway international.
20.42 BST: Juventus have announced the signing of 19-year-old striker Kaio Jorge on a five-year contract from Santos, after both clubs confirmed earlier this summer that they'd agreed a transfer fee for the Brazil youth international.
OFFICIAL ✍️
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) August 17, 2021
Bem-vindo in Bianconero, @kaiojorgeramos! 🤙⚪⚫#WelcomeKaio
20.04 BST: Gazzetta dello Sport reports that AS Roma and AC Milan have reached an agreement on a loan deal that will see right-back Alessandro Florenzi move to the San Siro for the 2021-22 season. The Rossoneri will pay a loan fee of €1m and then have the option to make the 30-year-old Italy international's move permanent for €4.5m.
18.47 BST: Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Chelsea centre-back Kurt Zouma, according to Sky Sports. Spurs have already signed Cristian Romero from Atalanta, and have been linked with Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic in recent days, but the 26-year-old France international could bring Premier League experience to North London.
The Blues have been trying to find a new home for Zouma to make room for Sevilla FC centre-back Jules Kounde, but that project has so far been problematic. Zouma is said to prefer remaining in London, making any arrangement to include him in a deal for Kounde unlikely, while his wages and Chelsea's valuation have scared off West Ham United, who've been interested in the former Saint-Etienne man all summer.
17.30 BST: Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland is reportedly worth around €180m, but won't be leaving the club this summer it seems.
16.55 BST: Celtic are close to agreeing deal with Legia Warsaw for Croatia right-back Josip Juranovic, says Sky Sports.
Celtic were keen on Man City's teenage defender Yan Couto, but have turned their attention to Juranovic.
"He'd be one of a number of right full-backs we have been linked over the period I have been here," Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou said, speaking ahead of Wednesday's Europa League playoff first leg against AZ Alkmaar. "It's obviously an area where we definitely need some cover.
"At the moment Anthony Ralston is doing an outstanding job and I think there's more in him to improve. But he can't play every game. So it's definitely an area we need to strengthen and it's an area we are targeting and I'm hoping for us to add to, but to nail it down to one person, that's not how it's been working."
16.28 BST: The Times claims "Arsenal are likely to be without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette for their Premier League match at home to Chelsea on Sunday."
Both strikers have been unwell and missed the 2-0 Premier League defeat by Brentford on Friday.
Aubameyang and Lacazette have been linked with transfers in recent weeks but sources told ESPN that Barcelona do not hold an interest in Aubameyang, while it may be too late in the window to find a suitable replacement for Lacazette -- especially as his contract expires in 2022.
16.03 BST: England and Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has been a target for Arsenal this summer and the Gunners are ready to return with a £28m offer, says TalkSPORT.
Ramsdale, 23, has reportedly been the subject of several bids as Arsenal seek a back-up goalkeeper for first-choice Bernd Leno after Mat Ryan's loan spell from Brighton ended.
Sheffield United were relegated last season and, asked if Ramsdale would be moving on from the Championship club this window, manager Slavisa Jokanovic said: "Right now he is a United player. It will depend on our club and Arsenal too because they are pushing for him but at this moment there is no change. I will be disappointed [if he leaves] but it's part of the realistic situation -- Arsenal is pushing from one side and I am pulling from a different side."
15.02 BST: Atletico Madrid have "said no for Kieran Trippier a thousand times" this summer, according to Diario AS.
The newspaper claims that both Manchester United and Arsenal would be keen on signing the 30-year-old England full-back, who reportedly would be open on a move back to the Premier League after two years in Spain.
But Atletico have "time and again referred them to his €60m release clause," AS says, and Trippier is "not for sale" and an important player for the LaLiga champions.
14.29 BST: Goal reports that Manuel Locatelli's move from Sassuolo to Juventus is a done deal.
Locatelli, 23, will sign a contract until June 2026 and Juventus will pay around €35m plus add-ons for the Italy international midfielder.
Though Gianluca Di Marzio claims Locatelli will sign on an initial two-year loan with the unconditional obligation to sign him for €35m.
13.50 BST: Atletico Madrid have reached an agreement to sign Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic for €70m, according to Corriere dello Sport.
Vlahovic, 21, netted 21 goals in Serie A last season and has attracted interest from Tottenham and Inter Milan as well as Atletico.
Atletico's first offer was €60m, but the club have returned with a higher bid, as well as €10m in add-ons, and the decision to accept will lie with Fiorentina owner Rocco Commisso.
13.32 BST: Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has commented on reports from El Chiringuito about his desire to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club from Juventus.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is a Real Madrid legend and I really respect him," he tweeted. "But I've never asked or planned to sign Cristiano this summer. We're looking forward."
13.14 BST: Tottenham want £150m from clubs looking to sign Harry Kane. But should any of them bother going over £100m?
12.35 BST: Sport reports that Barcelona have given Samuel Umtiti to find a new club or they will terminate his contract.
Umtiti, 27, is surplus to requirements at Camp Nou as the club's debt has risen to €1.35bn and they need to move players off the wage bill.
But the France defender hasn't yet managed to agree an exit, despite being linked with a return to Ligue 1, and could now be "sacked."
Barca released Matheus Fernandes this summer but you can probably expect some legal wrangles should they do the same with Umtiti.
11.49 BST: Norwich are in advanced talks with Manchester United for the loan signing of defender Brandon Williams, says Sky Sports.
Williams, 20, made 36 appearances in 2019-20 but only 14 last season as he slipped out of favour. Newcastle had been linked with a move for him, but it appears Norwich are set to beat them to the punch.
11.38 BST: Real Madrid are planning to build "A premium Madrid at low cost" according to Diario AS on Tuesday, claiming the club "have Paul Pogba, Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe and Leon Goretzka on the agenda" for next summer.
All four players' contracts are due to expire in 2022.
The newspaper claims that the club are looking to repeat their successful signing of David Alaba -- whose arrival was confirmed in May after his contract ran out at Bayern Munich -- and land top-quality players without having to pay a transfer fee.
Madrid are short of cash and Alaba's free transfer has been the club's only deal this summer, with any funds they do have being reserved for a possible bid for Mbappe.
11.04 BST: Tammy Abraham has completed a reported €40m move to Roma from Chelsea.
The striker has fallen down the pecking order after Chelsea signed Romelu Lukaku for €115m from Inter Milan.
Chelsea will receive the fee in installments, plus €5m add-ons, and reportedly have a clause to re-sign Abraham for €80m which is valid from June 2023.
10.44 BST: Barcelona are in serious financial trouble.
10.10 BST: Andreas Pereira has held talks with Manchester United over his future amid interest from Brazilian side Flamengo, sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson.
Pereira, who was an unused substitute for the 5-1 win over Leeds United on Saturday, is keen to secure regular first-team football and is open to a move away from Old Trafford before the transfer deadline.
United would prefer to move the midfielder on permanently or negotiate a loan deal with an obligation to sign him, but sources have ESPN they believe they may have to settle for a straight loan.
Pereira, 25, was expecting to hear on Monday whether a decision had been made on his future after talks involving manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, director of football negotiations Matt Judge and the Brazilian's representatives. He still has two years left on the contract he signed in 2019.
Everton are also reported to be interested, but sources have told ESPN that the Premier League side have other priorities.
09.34 BST: The Guardian reports that "Lyon are in talks with Chelsea over a deal to sign Emerson Palmieri after missing out on Paris Saint-Germain's Layvin Kurzawa."
PSG left-back Kurzawa was set to join the Ligue 1 club but negotiations collapsed and now they could make a €17m move for Palmieri, who won Euro 2020 with Italy this summer but hasn't been able to cement his place in the Chelsea first team.
09.03 BST: Liverpool defender Ben Davies has joined Championship club Sheffield United on a season-long loan, the Blades announced on Monday evening.
Davies, 26, was signed from Preston North End in February to alleviate Liverpool's defensive injury crisis, but is yet to make a first-team appearance for Jurgen Klopp's side. The deal does not include an option to make the deal permanent next summer.
"I'm really happy to be here," said Davies. "I always liked playing against Sheffield United and the atmosphere."
He added: "Hopefully I can fit into the manager's plans well," he said. "I've missed match days and the buzz of having fans in grounds. That's part of the excitement of coming here and hopefully having a successful year."
Slaviša Jokanović has secured his first signing as Sheffield United boss with the acquisition of a vastly experienced and versatile Championship defender.
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) August 16, 2021
Liverpool's Ben Davies arrives at Bramall Lane on a season-long deal. #SUFC 🔴
08.36 BST: Thibaut Courtois has signed a new contract at Real Madrid that will keep the goalkeeper at the club until June 2026.
A new deal for Courtois was one of the club's top priorities, sources told ESPN's Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez, with both parties displaying a "fantastic" attitude during negotiations. The Belgium international is happy at Madrid and his intention was always to prolong his previous contract. On a personal level, the goalkeeper and his family are also comfortable living in the city.
Courtois, 29, began his third season at the club on Saturday with a 4-1 win at Alaves (stream the replay on ESPN+ in the U.S.), his 100th competitive game for Los Blancos. He joined the club for €35m from Chelsea in the summer of 2018, having previously spent three years in LaLiga on loan at Atletico Madrid from 2011 to 2014.
- LaLiga on ESPN+: Stream LIVE games and replays (U.S. only)
08.00 BST: Manchester City are pushing ahead with their bid to sign Harry Kane despite continued denials from Tottenham that they are prepared to listen to offers for the striker, sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson.
City have just over two weeks to complete the deal before the transfer window shuts on Aug. 31, and there are plans to test Spurs' resolve to keep the England captain.
Tottenham value Kane, who has three years left on his contract, at more than £150m. Although privately City have suggested they will not meet the asking price for his rights, sources have told ESPN they would be willing to break the British transfer record for a second time this summer after having already paid £100m to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa.
They could go as high as £120m plus add-ons for Kane, but there has so far been little encouragement from Spurs that an offer in that region would be accepted.
City believe they can raise more than £50m through the departures of fringe players, including 19-year-old winger Morgan Rogers, and still expect one established first-team squad member to depart.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)
- Fabrizio Romano has reported that Cagliari's Nahitan Nandez is among the list of midfielders Tottenham Hotspur are hoping to sign. There are other options and while there haven't been any official bids yet, initial contact has been made. Spurs sporting director Fabio Paratici is also keen to bring in a centre-back -- despite Cristian Romero having already made his move to North London on loan from Atalanta.
- Napoli are working to improve their defence, with Calciomercato stating that they are making contact with Villarreal regarding a move for left-back Pervis Estupinan. La Gazzetta dello Sport have suggested that the Serie A side aren't stopping there, as they are also looking at Juan Jesus, who is a free agent after leaving AS Roma.
- Kicker have reported that Union Berlin midfielder Robert Andrich will sign for Bayer Leverkusen. The 26-year-old's deal comes to its culmination in June 2022, so he will join them for free next summer if the two clubs can't strike a deal. However, they're working on making the change happen this summer.
- Manchester United's Amad Diallo will likely find game time hard to come by following the €85m arrival of Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund. TalkSPORT have suggested that Sheffield United are offering the 19-year-old a chance to get minutes, as they pursue a loan deal.
- Lazio have been unable to complete any signings so far this summer, with some players even training with them while not having a contract. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, this could lead them to offload Joaquin Correa in order to facilitate incoming signings.