Football transfer news tracker: Live news, gossip and deals
It’s the end of the football season in Europe, but don’t threat because the drama isn’t over as we begin the pre-season with the excitement of the transfer window! Get the latest football transfer news, whether it’s from the Premiership, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, or even Ligue 1, we’ve got you covered. As the transfer window unfolds, our dedicated live news update page brings you the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on the hottest deals, rumours, and signings in the world of football. Stay informed and engaged with the ever-evolving landscape of the beautiful game.
Our live news updates cover a wide range of topics, including hot speculations, not-so-hot speculations, transfer fees, contract negotiations, and club transfer strategies. We also delve into the behind-the-scenes stories and the impact of these transfers on the teams, leagues, and the players themselves.
The Thaiger team works tirelessly to bring you the most reliable and up-to-date football transfer news and gossip in real-time. But what will it be in summer 2023? Messi to Saudi Arabia or the return of Ronaldo to Real Madrid (and if so, in what capacity)? Or maybe it’s finally time for the Premiership’s greatest-ever striker to leave Spurs and seek trophies at a team capable of such a feat?
Aston Villa eyes Man Utd's Maguire amid Mings' injury setback
The Premier League season opening witnessed a significant setback for Aston Villa as Tyrone Mings, the team's central defender, suffered a serious knee injury during the match against Newcastle United. This led to a 4-1 defeat for Villa. As FootballTransfers has learned, Aston Villa has expressed interest in the possible signing of Harry Maguire, a defender from Manchester United, as a contingency plan.
Various sources point to the potential absence of Mings until the New Year due to his injury, whose severity will be confirmed after a scan. The concern is about a potential tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Villa had already acquired Pau Torres earlier in the summer, yet they may consider bringing on board another central defender given Mings' situation.
Initiation with Man Utd about acquiring Maguire has progressed into preliminary discussions. Villa are unlikely to sway towards a concrete decision until Mings' condition has been fully diagnosed. If they do decide to make an offer, they have assured United of beating any existing offer for Maguire. Against this backdrop, there was a recent acceptance on United's part of a US$30 million bid from West Ham.
Turning to the transfer landscape, Bayern Munich has declined an offer from United for their defender, Benjamin Pavard. However, Bild reports that there is an understanding between the player and the Red Devils about a potential move. Erik ten Hag, the manager, is said to view Pavard as the fitting replacement for Maguire, who appears set to leave the club amidst interests from both Aston Villa and West Ham.
Pavard, a French international player, who has been used mainly at right back by Thomas Tuchel, the Bayern coach, reportedly has his sights set on a centre-back position. United's current line-up for this position includes seniors like Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, and Maguire.
West Ham’s interest in Harry Maguire seems to have stalled due to complications relating to contractual aspects. Consequently, they appear to have shifted focus towards Odilon Kossounou, Bayer Leverkusen's defender, with an eye on a potential €35m deal.
Further down the list is Donny van de Beek, who has been linked heavily with leaving United this summer. All has not been well for the Dutch player with his former club Ajax and current coach Erik ten Hag. The Spanish La Liga side, Real Sociedad, has been eyeing a deal for Van de Beek in recent times. However, with Ajax now re-entering the frame, Van de Beek may be heading back for a one-year term, though Ajax's financial limitations may prove to be a stumbling block.
This financial constraint challenges United's pursuit of Fiorentina's star, Sofyan Amrabat, a Moroccan international player. Acquiring him would complement their recent acquisition of Mason Mount from Chelsea. However, this would also entail selling-off to finance the transfer.
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Bellingham kicks off La Liga with a bang; thrilling transfers rock top leagues
As the 2023-24 football season kicks off, top leagues from around the world such as the Premier League, La Liga, and Ligue 1 began this weekend with several interesting developments.
New Real Madrid addition, Jude Bellingham, demonstrated an impressive start by scoring a goal in his first competitive match for Los Blancos. On Chelsea's side, summer recruit Axel Disasi's equalising goal against Liverpool concluded in a 1-1 draw.
While there was plenty happening on the pitch, negotiations in the boardroom also made headlines. Romelu Lukaku, from Chelsea, is reported to be on the verge of exiting the team. Meanwhile, Chelsea has agreed on a deal to recruit Moises Caicedo, presently at Brighton, and the transfer will be finalised today.
In other news, Manchester United's intended bid for Bayern Munich's Benjamin Pavard was declined. Furthermore, despite Eder Militao's serious knee injury, Real Madrid has reportedly decided not to pursue a replacement.
Here are some more noteworthy transfer updates for today's football enthusiasts.
Interest has been shown in Albert Sambi Lokonga, the Arsenal midfielder, by Monaco and Burnley, who intend to negotiate a loan agreement. As for Manchester United, Fred, their midfielder, has now permanently moved to Fenerbahce, a Turkish club. Alongside him, Cengiz Undar has also joined the club.
Elsewhere, Ajax is contemplating a loan offer for Donny van de Beek, the midfielder from Manchester United, who is also getting attention from Real Sociedad.
On the Chelsea front, an agreement for a £115m transfer for Moises Caicedo, who is currently with Brighton, has been reached. The Ecuador international is expected to have his medical today and complete the transfer. Rumours indicate that Chelsea is close to selling Romelu Lukaku as Juventus now have sufficient funds to purchase the Belgian international this summer.
Taking a look at Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk stated he "trusts the club" amidst the transfer rumours involving Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, both of whom have been linked with a move to both Liverpool and Chelsea.
In other news, Lucas Paqueta is reportedly looking for an opportunity to move away from West Ham to Man City, who have expressed interest in him.
A significant announcement has come from Neymar, who has agreed in principle to join Al-Hilal, a team in the Saudi Pro League. This makes his move to Barcelona highly unlikely. The Brazilian forward is set to earn a reported €160m over a two-year deal in Saudi Arabia.
In the last piece of news, despite a potentially season-ending ACL injury for Eder Militao, Real Madrid has decided not to sign a replacement. Given the evolving nature of the football world, more news is sure to follow in the coming days.
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Chelsea shatters British transfer record signing Ecuador's Moises Caicedo for £115m
Chelsea Football Club has neatly tied up a landmark deal for Ecuador international, Moises Caicedo, in a move that shatters the British transfer record, as reported by celebrated football insider, Fabrizio Romano. After a summer of advanced negotiations, Chelsea has managed to secure the promising 21 years old talent from Brighton & Hove Albion for an unbeatable fee of €133 million (£115m), setting a new standard for British football transfers.
Adding to the details offered by Romano, The Athletic's esteemed reporter, David Ornstein, has butressed the claims by confirming that Caicedo is set to undertake his Chelsea fitness assessment tomorrow. Upon completion, the Blues would be breaking the British transfer record for the second time in continuum in as many transfer seasons, hauntingly reminiscent of their January outlay of €121m to secure Enzo Fernandez from Benfica.
There was some competition in the race to sign Caicedo, with Liverpool swooping in a late €127m (£111m) bid on Thursday evening. Brighton accepted the generous offer. However, Caicedo, clearly knowing his own mind and where his future lies, wasn't attracted by the prospect of donning the red kit. He had his heart set on Chelsea from the beginning.
Protracted negotiations had characterised this deal, with Brighton placing a £100m tag on Caicedo all summer. Chelsea had been attempting to drive down the fee for weeks, only to be forced into action by Liverpool's audacious offer, which succeeded in making Chelsea shell out £15m more than Brighton's initial price demand.
This signing will add to Mauricio Pochettino's plentiful summer capture, which already includes the talents of Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu, Robert Sanchez, Alex Matos and Diego Moreira.
Chelsea planned to introduce Caicedo to their fans during their Premier League match against Liverpool. Sadly, the timeframe was too tight, and the unveiling was not achieved. The freshly minted Chelsea player, however, could get his chance to don the Blues' jersey for the first time on the pitch in the match against West Ham next Sunday.
Finally, the football world waits with bated breath for the official announcement from the club, which is expected within the next 24 hours. This dynamic transfer exemplifies Chelsea's continued push for dominance within the challenging landscape of the Premier League.
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Manchester United's Donny van de Beek in crosshairs of Ajax and Real Sociedad
The future of footballer Donny van de Beek at Manchester United appears uncertain, with multiple clubs reportedly showing interest in acquiring his talents. Latest news involves his former club Ajax re-entering the picture. This, according to The Sun, is believed to have unsettled Erik ten Hag, who had a different plan in mind. Spanish La Liga team, Real Sociedad, had also been in talks to sign the Dutch midfielder and were widely considered favourites until the recent developments.
Ajax, based in Amsterdam, has been active in the transfer market recently, already investing €32.5 million in new talent. Players like Carlos Borges from Manchester City, Diant Ramaj from Eintracht Frankfurt, Benjamin Tahirovic from Roma, Jakov Medic from St Pauli, and Branco van de Boomen from Toulouse have all been enlisted. However, the departure of Jurrien Timber and Edson Alvarez has left a noticeable void in the team which hasn't been adequately filled yet.
*According to the Sun, Ajax are now exploring a loan move for the 26-year-old midfielder after missing out on Champions League qualification.*
Ajax's financial restrictions could become a hurdle in their ongoing quest for acquisitions. They've reportedly contemplated turning in a loan proposal for van de Beek, hoping to see him back at the club for a year spell. However, it is Manchester United and Ten Hag who face a bigger puzzle. To be able to afford the acquisition of Sofyan Amrabat, the Moroccan international who performed exceptionally at the World Cup 2022, they must commence some sales.
*As reported by FootballTransfers, Aston Villa has emerged as potential suitors for Harry Maguire following an unfortunate injury to their player, Tyrone Mings.*
To reinforce the midfield and dovetail with the likes of Mason Mount from Chelsea, Manchester United was keen on roping in the Moroccan. Unfortunately, after expending significant sums on Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund, the club's financial wriggle room has become restricted. They would now like to see a return on van de Beek by selling him rather than loaning him out.
This particular financial conundrum for Manchester United comes in the wake of the sale of Brazilian midfielder Fred to Fenerbahce for a reported €15m, and Alex Telles' transfer to Saudi Pro League team Al-Nassr. The media has also begun linking Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay to a move to West Ham United.
Van de Beek, who donned the Manchester United jersey in 2020, has been in the headlines due to his limited appearances for the club. In his three-year tenure, he only made 60 appearances of which just 23 were starts, six of these in the Premier League. He was lent to Everton midway the 2021-22 season, where injuries kept him on the sidelines for much of the time. His transfer value that was at a peak of €55 million in January 2021 has since dropped to €13.3 million owing to his sparsely populated playing minutes.
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Real Madrid rule out replacement for Militao despite season-long ACL injury
In spite of Eder Militao's possible long-term anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, Real Madrid has chosen not to seek a replacement. The knee injury occurred during the club's initial match of the La Liga season, a successful 2-0 game against Athletic Club, and the defender aged 25 years old, will likely not participate for much of the 2023-24 season.
Real Madrid announced Militao will require surgery shortly, but refrained from disclosing the anticipated duration of his recovery. It should be noted, ACL injuries frequently reduce a sportsman's career by about nine months, often with a further delay to returning to regular football. As other instances of severity, Wesley Fofana and Armando Broja from Chelsea have both experienced ACL injuries over the past year. Additionally, Tyrone Mings from Aston Villa had his ACL torn during the first round of Premier League matchups in 2023-24.
As a result, the squad's manager, Carlo Ancelotti, is faced with just three senior, fit centre-backs for the vast part of the current season: David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, and Nacho Fernandez.
Militao isn't the first squad member from Real Madrid to sustain an ACL injury in recent days. Thibaut Courtois, the team's goalkeeper, also suffered a severe knee injury. Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga has been singled out as a suitable replacement, with the Spaniard set to join Real Madrid on a season-long loan agreement. This imminent transfer meant his absence in Chelsea's opening Premier League match against Liverpool.
Despite Militao's misfortune, Real Madrid seems adamant about not recruiting a new player during the current transfer window. This is according to reliable sources like Diario AS. Raul Gonzalez, a centre-back from Real Madrid Castilla, has been identified as the most plausible candidate in the youth ranks to be promoted to the first team in light of Militao’s abrupt exit.
Last season, Militao made 52 appearances in all competitions, earning him a reputation as the number one choice for centre-back by Ancelotti. In matches, the manager regularly alternated between newly signed Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba alongside Militao.
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Juventus poised to secure Lukaku from Chelsea following financial resurgence
The long-standing transfer pursuit for Romelu Lukaku by Juventus may soon be over following a positive financial change for the Bianconeri. Reports from the Corriere dello Sport suggest that Juventus now has an affirmative balance of €67.5 million for this summer's income and expenditure statistics.
In recent times the club has worked tirelessly to offload certain players and minimise the team's wage bill. With these effective manoeuvres, the Bianconeri can now feasibly acquire Lukaku from Chelsea. This financial viability exists even without a possible sale of Dusan Vlahovic, as has been reported in the Corriere.
Previously, negotiations with Chelsea were ongoing about a possible swap of Lukaku and Vlahovic, with an accompanying cash bonus from Chelsea, however, Chelsea concluded the discussions this week. Regardless, Juventus now possess the necessary funds to directly buy Lukaku.
Italian clubs, Juventus included, benefit from what is known as the Growth Decree, this allows the clubs to pay less tax and thus reduces the overall expenditure tied to Lukaku's salary.
The envisioned addition of Lukaku to the Juventus squad has not been met with universal cheer from the Bianconeri's fanbase. The fans demonstrated their discontent by displaying an anti-Lukaku banner outside the Juventus Stadium.
The banner derisively read: "Lukaku stay in Milano. We already have a second goalkeeper." This is a reference to the infamous incident in the Champions League final when a particular blockage Lukaku made on a shot from his own teammate, Federico Dimarco, resulted in a 1-0 loss to Man City. Dramatically enraged Juventus fans stormed the pitch during a pre-season friendly, voicing their disapproval over the possible acquisition of Lukaku.
Chelsea has set the price for Lukaku at €40 million, but negotiations over the value are yet to take place. Initially, Lukaku had been thought to return for a third stint at Inter, after spending the 2022-23 season on loan from Chelsea. The sudden discontinuation of negotiations by the Nerazzurri last month came in response to Lukaku's clandestine discussions with Juventus – Inter's rivals.
Consequently, Inter have rescinded their bid, effectively clearing the path for Juventus. Extending a tempting salary offer, Al-Hilal also threw their hat into the ring to secure Lukaku, but the player was adamant about joining Juventus over moving to Saudi Arabia.
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Chelsea snaps up French footballer Axel Disasi for €45m from Monaco
In an exhilarating turn of events, French footballer Axel Disasi, who had previously piqued the interest of both Manchester United and Newcastle, has settled with Chelsea. The decision followed Chelsea's impressive €45 million offer to AS Monaco. Earlier, Manchester United had targeted Disasi as a potential substitute, with Harry Maguire heading towards an exit from Old Trafford. However, Chelsea took the lead and welcomed Disasi into their fold, bringing him back to work hand in glove with Benoit Badiashile, his former partner at Monaco's central defence.
Recognised for his skill in both goal boxes, Disasi is a formidable centre-back. His contributions were rendered invaluable when he served France during the World Cup, assisting in propelling Les Bleus to become the runners-up in Qatar in December.
In terms of expenditure, Disasi has no doubt cost Chelsea a lavish sum, bordering around €50m. Nonetheless, his potential value in the long run promises to be worth the investment. His debut in a Chelsea uniform alone could be a testament to this claim. Disasi managed to score an equaliser against the heavyweight Liverpool, hinting at a promising career ahead at Chelsea.
A renowned centre-back, Disasi also possesses the capabilities of a right-back. This flexibility makes him uniquely desirable for teams that interchange between a back three and back four formation, a strategy commonly employed by Chelsea.
In the past, Disasi played an instrumental role at Reims, forming a part of Ligue 1's most unyielding defence back in 2019/20. His efforts ensured Reims secured a spot in the European ranks for the first time in close to six decades. It was this stellar performance that urged Monaco to offer a deal worth €13m for Disasi in August 2020. Ever since then, Disasi has been consistently showcasing his top form, averaging a win over three aerial challenges and succeeding in five progressive passes per 90 minutes of gameplay in the past year.
Disasi's talent drew the attention of Manchester United, Newcastle, and Manchester City alike, all before Chelsea finally snapped him up. Even Arsenal had taken into consideration the French powerhouse for their squad before he opted for a switch to Monaco in 2020.
Having recently signed a six-year contract, Disasi's tenure at Stamford Bridge is set to end in 2029. As of writing, Disasi, born on March 11, 1998, is 25 years old, interestingly sharing his birthday with Didier Drogba and Andy Robertson.
As of August 2023, Disasi can be found on Instagram under the handle @axel_disasi, boasting a follower count of 197k.
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