Transfer news live updates: gossip and rumours from Europe’s top clubs
Thursday February 8
02:00: David De Gea will swap Manchester United for Real Madrid and it is only a “matter of time” before he makes the switch, according to Craig Bellamy.
A goalkeeper has been earmarked by Real Madrid, and Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois is on the shortlist.
Reports have emerged suggesting Real will have to spend around £115million to land De Gea.
And Bellamy has admitted he would not be surprised if Real finally got their man in the summer.
“Usually every top club has a rebuild and maybe it has been a little bit more overdue with Madrid because of the success of they have had in the Champions League,” Bellamy told Sky Sports’ The Debate.
"But I see De Gea being a huge part of that and Real Madrid do spend money, they always have done, they have been quiet over the last few years.”
00:30: Manchester United are considering shoring up their defensive options in the summer with a move for Lazio defender Stefan de Vrij, according to reports.
Jose Mourinho is likely to be heavily backed, with the club desperate to bridge the gap to runaway leaders Manchester City next season.
Liverpool were interested in signing De Vrij last month, however they turned their attentions to Virgil van Dijk instead and completed a £75million deal instead.
And according to Italian publication Il Messagero, United are considering a swoop for the Dutchman.
It is believed De Vrij will pen a new deal with Lazio that will contain a £20m release clause.
United and Chelsea supposedly see this as a bargain.
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Wednesday February 7
22:45: Manchester United are confident of signing Monaco star Fabinho, reports claim.
Jose Mourinho does not intend to make any attacking reinforcements this summer after the arrival of Alexis Sanchez.
But the Portuguese could be in the market for defensive additions, and it looks like Fabinho could be the first man through the Old Trafford door.
Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claims the Red Devils will concentrate their efforts on Fabinho, and are willing to pay £45million for his services.
22:00: Liverpool are set to make another move for Thomas Lemar after the Monaco star rejected a new deal.
Liverpool have been tracking Lemar since last summer when they were prepared to pay around £80million for the 22-year-old.
The Reds then considered signing Lemar in January as they looked to replace Philippe Coutinho, who joined Barcelona.
But Liverpool’s interest in the France attacker has not abated and manager Jurgen Klopp remains keen on him if a deal can be struck.
The likelihood of Lemar leaving Monaco has increased amid reports he has rejected the offer of a new deal.
And the Independent say Liverpool are ready to make a fresh approach for Lemar and it is claimed a move to Anfield is the player’s “favoured destination“.
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21:30: Real Madrid should reportedly be bracing themselves for a £119m bid for Marco Asensio after Alvaro Morata recommended Chelsea sign the midfielder.
Asensio has been tipped to leave the Bernabeu at the end of the current campaign, with Chelsea a potential destination as part of a deal for Eden Hazard.
However, the latest reports from Spain indicate the 22-year-old could still be on his way to Stamford Bridge even if Belgian winger Hazard does not move.
According to Don Balon, Chelsea are desperate to get Asensio on-board when the transfer window opens again, and they are supposedly prepared to pay a hefty £119m (€135m) to prise him away from the Spanish giants.
Don Balon indicate Chelsea’s interest in signing Asensio has ramped up after Morata talked him up.
20:45: Erik Lamela has given Tottenham a huge boost by revealing he has no intention of leaving the club this summer.
The playmaker has been plagued by injuries over the past year and has barely featured for Tottenham’s first team since the end of the 2015/16 season.
The 25-year-old has recently been linked with a move away with Inter Milan, Juventus and former club Roma reportedly interested in a move for the Tottenham star.
But Lamela insists he’s happy in London and was quick to quash rumours of a move back to Italy.
“The club is getting better and better, and I love living in London,” the Argentine told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“There’s never been anything with Juventus Inter? I only think about the club that I’m at, and I am very good here at Tottenham,” he added.
20:30: OK, the pun doesn’t work but it’s an interesting story nonetheless.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has reportedly enlisted Sergio Ramos and his fellow heavyweights to find a house in the Spanish capital for Thibaut Courtois.
The La Liga giants are planning to overhaul their squad at the end of what looks set to be a trophyless season, and among the players set to be offloaded is current No 1 Keylor Navas, who Perez has apparently never been a fan of.
David De Gea has long been talked up as the man Real want to replace the Costa Rican with between the sticks.
However, the latest reports suggest Perez is almost resigned to missing out on the Manchester United stopper and plans to raid Chelsea instead.
According to Spanish outlet Diario Gol, Perez reckons luring Courtois away from Chelsea would be a ‘piece of cake’.
And he’s so confident that a deal could happen that he’s instructed Ramos and co. to find a house for their potential new team-mate.
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20:00: Arsenal and Liverpool have pulled ahead of AC Milan in the battle to sign Schalke star Max Meyer, reports claim.
Meyer, just like colleague Leon Goretzka, will be a free agent in June having rejected a new contract with the Bundesliga club.
Goretzka will be joining Bayern Munich, but Meyer is still up for grabs and the Premier League duo have the 22-year-old firmly in their sights, according to Calciomercato.
AC Milan were interested in the Germany starlet, but his wages are expected to rule them out of the equation.
19:30: Liverpool are favourites to sign Lazio defender Stefan de Vrij, according to the bookies!
The Dutch international has been linked with a number of European heavyweights after impressing in Serie A.
And with his contract due to expire in June, Italian publication Il Messaggero claim Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea will look to secure the 26-year-old’s services.
BetStars director of trading Ian Marmion said: “Lazio defender Stefan de Vrij is edging closer to the exit door in Rome with his contract set to expire in the summer and a scrap is developing between a trio of Premier League powerhouses for the 26-year-old who is keen for a new start in England.
“Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester United were both heavily linked with signing the Dutchman during the summer transfer window and both clubs look set to reignite their interest in the former Feyenoord man. The Merseyside club are the favourites at 2/1 to reunite de Vrij with his Dutch compatriot Virgil Van Dijk in central defence at Anfield."
19:00: England fans have been used to underwhelming football shirts over the years, but many are calling for a change after seeing the Three Lions' official World Cup 2018 warm-up kit.
England have launched their new home and away kits ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The away kit is a classic two-tone red and white effort alluding to the Three Lions’ 1966 World Cup victory.
However, supporters are most impressed with a retro warm-up top worn by Marcus Rashford.
Take a look through the gallery BELOW to see the new England 2018 World Cup kits and some of the best reactions to it from fans.
18:30: It looks like Milan is calling Antonio Conte…
Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport claim Inter and AC Milan both want Conte to be their next manager.
Conte has found his position in the spotlight following two straight Premier League defeats including Monday's 4-1 loss at Watford.
17:45: Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has reportedly learned arch-rivals Barcelona are also in the hunt for Marseille ace Maxime Lopez.
Zidane is said to have his eye on Lopez as a potential replacement for veteran midfielder Luka Modric.
But the latest reports from Spain suggest the Real boss knows he has a transfer battle on his hands this summer.
According to Don Balon, Zidane has discovered Barcelona are targeting Lopez following rave reviews from scouts.
Barca are apparently weighing up their options in case Andres Iniesta decides to move on this summer.
And Lopez has emerged as a more attractive option than Gremio star Arthur, who’s been heavily linked with a Nou Camp switch.
17:00: Bookmakers Betfair have slashed odds on Eden Hazard joining Manchester United this summer.
Hazard, 27, has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge and the uncertainty surrounding Antonio Conte’s future has only intensified rumours of a mega-money departure.
Real Madrid are firm-favourites to secure the Belgian’s services as they seek to overhaul their squad, but there’s been a significant shift in the market.
Manchester United were previously a 33/1 shot to sign Hazard in the summer transfer window.
But bookmakers Betfair have more than halved the price of Hazard following Nemanja Matic and reuniting with Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford to 12/1.
Betfair spokesperson Katie Baylis said: “United has been mentioned in relation to a possible move for Hazard so we've gone from 33/1 to 12/1 on him joining the Manchester club. However, most of the money is for him to be Madrid bound, with Real the current 7/4 favourites to pick him up.”
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16:30: Chelsea want Antonio Conte to remain at Stamford Bridge for the rest of the season but have former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique firmly in their sights.
"The club would like Conte to finish the season," he explained on Cope.
However, Balague confirmed Chelsea chief Roman Abramovich is keen on appointing Enrique when Conte eventually goes.
"Abramovich likes Luis Enrique very much," he added. "He dreams that Chelsea will look like Barcelona.”
16:00: Gareth Bale has learned that Real Madrid want to replace him with Liverpool sensation Mohamed Salah.
Real Madrid plan to dump Bale at the end of the season and also have Juventus forward Paulo Dybala in their sights, according to Don Balon.
Reports in Spain suggest the Wales international’s time at the Bernabeu is coming to an end.
The club’s president Florentino Perez is ready to cash in when the transfer window reopens in the summer.
And signing a new winger to take Bale’s place in the team has emerged as a priority.
However, Bale appears to have caught wind of Perez’s plans.
It's claimed Salah tops the two-man transfer shortlist.
