Transfers

July 7, 2020 David

La Liga, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Serie A

Barcelona Fail To Trigger Lautaro Martinez’s Release Clause

Barcelona have no intention of activating the €111 million (£100m) release clause in Lautaro Martinez’s contract at Inter because they don’t have the money, but the Liga giants are still keen to thrash out a deal for the Argentine.

Those at San Siro have made any suitors of their South American forward aware that one window of opportunity will swing shut at the close of play on Tuesday.

For them, that is when the current release terms in Lautaro’s contract will expire.

Barcelona consider that clause to be valid for another week, through to July 15, but have no plans to take it up regardless. Read more... (347 words, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

July 6, 2020July 7, 2020 David

Chelsea, Bundesliga

Chelsea Transfer News: Blues In Pole Position To Sign Kai Havertz

Chelsea are in pole position to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz, after a number of rival suitors were put off by the €100 million (£90m) price tag being placed on him this summer.

The effects of the coronavirus pandemic on club finances across the European football landscape mean few clubs can match the resources at Stamford Bridge this summer and, as such, it has left them leading the race for the 21-year-old.

Havertz, however, wants to play Champions League football at his next club, and Frank Lampard’s side are yet to confirm their place in the competition for next season. Read more... (426 words, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

June 16, 2020June 16, 2020 David

Arsenal, Premier League

Arsenal Transfer Rumors – Gunners Positive On Aubameyang New Deal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he is “pretty positive” about agreeing a new contract with 30-year-old striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Aubameyang’s current deal runs out in June 2021, and Arteta says the club have to show him why he should stay.

“He needs to feel valued, he needs to feel he belongs to us and that we want him,” said Arteta.

The Gabon international says whether he signs a new deal is “possibly the most important decision” of his career. The forward has scored 61 goals in 97 appearances for the Gunners since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2018. Read more... (306 words, estimated 1:13 mins reading time)

June 16, 2020 David

Ligue 1

Transfer News: Cavani And Thiago Silva Set To Leave Paris St-Germain

Edinson Cavani and Thiago Silva are set to leave Paris St-Germain this summer after the conclusion of the club’s Champions League campaign in August.

The 33-year-old Cavani is PSG’s record scorer with 200 goals and the 35-year-old Silva is club captain.

“It was a difficult decision to make – they are players who made their mark on the club’s history,” sporting director Leonardo told Le Journal du Dimanche.

“The stories were so beautiful. But, yes, we are coming to the end.” Read more... (358 words, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

June 1, 2020 David

Ligue 1, Inter Milan, Serie A

PSG Make First Big Signing Of The Summer

Paris Saint-Germain have finally completed the signing of Mauro Icardi from Inter for a reported €58m making this the biggest transfer in football since the coronavirus outbreak.

“FC Internazionale Milano announces the transfer of Mauro Icardi to Paris Saint-Germain FC: the striker, born in 1993, has permanently moved to the French club,” read a statement.

“The Club thanks the player for the six seasons he spent with us and wishes him the best for his future professional career.”

Icardi had been a huge success at Inter where he had scored 124 goals in 219 starts, but the incredibly short statement from the club reflected just how badly the relationship had deteriorated. Read more... (418 words, estimated 1:40 mins reading time)

June 1, 2020June 1, 2020 David

Real Madrid, La Liga

Real Madrid Transfer News

Real Madrid are set to go without any new signings in the next transfer window, as the Spanish giants face the financial ramifications caused by the coronavirus crisis.

Los Blancos are typically front and centre when it comes to the biggest transfer stories. However, Marca reports that Madrid are unlikely to spend this summer as a result of the huge losses incurred by the Covid-19-inflicted halt in play this season.

According to the report, Madrid’s loss of revenue streams, including matchday sales and broadcast money, have lead to huge losses, and the club is anticipating a loss of around €150m (£135m) next season if games are played behind closed doors. Read more... (444 words, estimated 1:47 mins reading time)

May 27, 2020May 27, 2020 David

Premier League

Jose Mourinho Confirms No Spurs Transfer Budget

There has been a lot of conjecture about what this summer’s transfer window will look like, and Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho confirmed that Spurs will not be splashing the cash this summer.

COVID-19 has devastated the balance sheet of many clubs and Mourinho admits he is prepared for a changed market once new dates are announced with huge sums for players not expected to be the norm. Read more... (343 words, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)

May 25, 2020May 24, 2020 David

Ligue 1, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Premier League, Serie A

Transfer News: Chelsea Enter The Mauro Icardi Bidding War

Chelsea are reportedly in the hunt for Mauro Icardi, as PSG struggle to agree a permanent transfer for the on loan striker with his parent club Inter Milan.

The Argentina international joined the Ligue 1 champions, awarded the 2019-20 title after the season in France was cancelled last month, on a season-long-loan at a cost of €13m, scoring 20 goals in 31 competitive games. PSG had an option to make the loan permanent for €70m.

With Edinson Cavani leaving on a free transfer, PSG are keen to do a deal but don’t want to pay the full price, and had an offer of €50m plus €10m in bonuses rejected by Inter last week, who want the full price for the Argentina international. Read more... (290 words, estimated 1:10 mins reading time)

PSG Want To Extend Icardi’s Loan

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly ready to ask Inter Milan to either extend Mauro Icardi’s season-long loan for another campaign or reduce the sum of the option-to-buy clause in his contract.

Icardi joined the Ligue 1 side during the summer on a season-long loan after being left out of Antonio Conte’s plans at Inter Milan, losing his place to Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez in attack.

The Argentine has done well during his season with PSG, who now the club want to re-negotiate the terms of his loan deal, according to L’Equipe. Read more... (234 words, estimated 56 secs reading time)

Transfers: Icardi to Juventus Could Cost PSG 98m

Inter Milan are desperate to sell former captain Mauro Icardi, but they don’t want to sell him to domestic rival.

Which is why when Inter sent Icardi on loan to PSG last summer, they included a clause that if PSG purchased Icardi and then immediately sold him to another Serie A club, that Inter would receive an additional €15m.

To take Icardi on loan, PSG paid a €13m loan fee and covered his wages. Icardi for his part settled in well in Lique 1, scoring 20 goals and adding four assists in 31 competitive games. Read more... (349 words, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)