KYLIAN MBAPPE is once again being linked with Real Madrid after being pictured alone while his PSG team-mates went to training in a group.
Meanwhile Bernardo Silva has reportedly refused to be used as a makeweight in a deal to bring Harry Kane to Man City from Tottenham.
And Cristiano Ronaldo has taken to Instagram to furiously deny rumours that he will join Real Madrid.
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- Jack Figg
MORNING TRANSFER ROUND-UP
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola claims Robert Lewandowski will stay at Bayern Munich – but refused to discuss Harry Kane.
City are still tipped to up their original £100million bid for England skipper Kane to £120m – still well below Spurs’ £150m valuation.
And although Lewandowski has sparked interest across Europe as the Premier League champions hunt a world-class hitman, Guardiola insists the Polish legend is off limits.
But asked if he was content with his squad, Guardiola said: "More than happy.
"It is the same team, except Sergio (Aguero, who has joined Barcelona) for Jack Grealish (signed from Aston Villa), that we had last season.”
Meanwhile, Old Trafford chief Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he and Paul Pogba are focused on United's efforts on the pitch – while leaving contract talks to the midfielder's agent and club officials.
Elsewhere, Arsenal have landed Sheffield United keeper Aaron Ramsdale for £30m on a six-year contract.
Gunners' manager Mikel Arteta hailed the 23-year-old's "huge, huge" potential – and fates fellow newcomer Martin Odegaard as a "unique" talent
Centre-back Ben Gibson says he chose to join Norwich permanently after his disastrous spell at Burnley on the advice of England manager Gareth Southgate.
Lastly, Everton are reportedly set to rival Arsenal for Lazio forward Joaquin Correa.
- Ian Tuckey
BOSSES CAN’T FORCE PLAYERS TO BE VACCINATED
Premier League bosses admit they are powerless in their battle to get stars vaccinated.
Arsenal and Chelsea both have players in isolation ahead of tomorrow’s derby as Covid continues to cause havoc.
Gunners quartet Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Willian and Alex Runarsson all tested positive last week, while Chelsea duo Christian Pulisic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were ruled out yesterday.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was shocked that last week’s opener at Brentford was not called off — even though they did not request a postponement.
Arteta, who only has Aubameyang from the Covid-hit players back in training, said: “We had an incredible 48 hours before that match which created a big uncertainty and probably an unprecedented Arsenal line-up.
“For me, it was simple. My best players have Covid and they cannot play.
“So we did what we had to do and the club doctor explained the situation, how it had developed and the risks that we considered.
“But the regulators decided that the best thing to do was to play the game.”
- Ian Tuckey
GIB ME HOPE OF ENGLAND
Ben Gibson joined Norwich permanently on the advice of Gareth Southgate.
Now back in the Premier League and preparing for Saturday’s trip to champs Manchester City, the defender has not given up hope of finally appearing for his former manager with the England senior team.
Gibson, who played for Southgate with the Under-21s, was on the bench for three senior games during 2017 — before his career dived after a 'disastrous' £15million move from Middlesbrough to Burnley in 2018.
The 28-year-old played six times in two years for Sean Dyche and last summer turned to Southgate — who was also Boro boss when he was a youngster at the club — for some wisdom.
The centre-half spent last season on loan at Carrow Road, with promotion triggering an £8m move.
He now hopes Norwich can finally end their rotten run in the Premier League after five relegations in their previous seven top-flight seasons.
Gibson said: “I did speak to Gareth before joining. It is testament to the man that, at the lowest point of my career, he was there for me.
“I met up with him and we had a good conversation. Let’s be honest, he had much bigger concerns on his plate than speaking to a struggling player who he once managed — but he offered his opinion.
“He was complimentary about the way Norwich played and the area, a football club that is definitely on the up.
“Gareth said, ‘You need to be playing football — back your ability, you are a confident lad’. That helped me make the Norwich decision, along with massive input from my close family and friends.”
- Ian Tuckey
MBAPPE'S KYL-ER HEADER
Kylian Mbappe gave more than a nod and a hint to new boy Lionel Messi that that the France striker can still be the PSG main man – by heading an amazing goal in the 4-2 win at Brest.
- Ian Tuckey
OUR TOP GAARD
Mikel Arteta rates new Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard as a “unique talent”.
The former loanee from Real Madrid says the Norway star, 22, offers everything he is looking for in a player.
Credit: Getty Arteta told Sky Sports: “He brings a lot of things that he brought last season as well.
“He made us better, we needed more options, alternatives, creativity and players that can be morals for this football club.
“He has a unique talent based on the way we want to play so I’m delighted that the club has made an effort and we have Martin on a permanent deal here.
“You’ve seen the numbers and what we did after Christmas when Martin was in the team and we had people like Emile, the team performed at a completely different level.
“He’s someone that we admire and he’s still at the age in his career when the potential he has is still immense.”
- Ian Tuckey
PEP SAYS LEWANDOWSKI WILL STAY AT BAYERN
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has shrugged off questions about Tottenham's Harry Kane and insisted fellow striker Robert Lewandowski will stay at Bayern Munich.
City are tipped to up their original £100million bid for England skipper Kane to £120m – still well below Spurs' £160m valuation.
Guardiola said: "I'm not going to talk about 11 days left, about the transfer market. I don't know what's going to happen, nobody knows."
And questioned if he was happy with his squad, the Spaniard insisted: "Absolutely.
More than happy. It is the same team, except Sergio (Aguero, who has joined Barcelona) for Jack Grealish (signed from Aston Villa), that we had last season."
- Ian Tuckey
OLE: POGBA REMAINS FOCUSED
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he and Paul Pogba have put aside his future to focus on Manchester United’s strong start to the season.
Old Trafford boss Solskjaer is leaving contract talks to club officials and the France midfielder’s representatives.
Credit: Getty - Ian Tuckey
'MESSI WAS CASH INCINERATOR'
KARREN BRADY EXCLUSIVE: THAT byword for football fashion, Barcelona, have been caught with their shorts well and truly down.
Do we feel the embarrassment? A tiny bit perhaps.
After all, their style was magical, their players of great accomplishment and most lovers of the game applaud them for what they regard as virtuous supporter involvement in football affairs.
Advocates of people power repeatedly pointed to the Nou Camp to back their case. We all know that supporters and players are of greatest importance to any professional club. But pleasing them both, regardless of financial common sense has been their route to ruination.
Plenty of our clubs have discovered that: Bury went bust and were expelled by the Football League, many others have been on the brink.
There might have been other excuses: none of them is available to Barca.
Only four years ago they were ranked fourth most valuable sports team in the world, at £3billion.
By 2018 they were the world’s highest paid sports team with an average first-team pay of £10m-a-year and we must imagine it would be a good deal higher had Neymar not been sold to Paris Saint-Germain for £200m.
Annual revenue was around £500m. Quietly though, pride was eating into Barca’s flesh.
Lionel Messi might have been the greatest player of all time but at a reputed £55m-a-year he was a cash incinerator.
- Ian Tuckey
CITY WILL SIGN KANE
TROY DEENEY EXCLUSIVE: After everything that has gone on this summer, I think Harry Kane will get his move.
Daniel Levy will be very, very happy with Sunday’s result, winning 1-0 against Manchester City, who will now get to Tottenham’s number and evaluation — however much that is.
There are those who will be wondering how the rest of the Tottenham squad will be dealing with this situation from behind the scenes. All the drama and gossip.
You want to know the God’s honest truth? The Spurs players will forget it and move on.
They will be focused on their performances and pushing for their place in the starting XI.
With Kane leaving, it frees up somebody else.
Now, Son Heung-min is playing as the main striker. That wasn’t happening last year as he was playing off the left to accommodate Kane.
In football, and especially in that Tottenham dressing room in and amongst the players, everybody is looking around for their vested interest in whether Kane stays or goes.
The mentality of most sportsmen is survival of the fittest.
Tottenham want to have the best possible team for this season, obviously, because they want to win games.
People won’t like to admit to it, but in any line of work, you have to be selfish.
Whether that is Kane wanting to leave, or Levy wanting to keep him and not accept an offer, or Son wanting to be the main man,
- Ian Tuckey
SPURS PREPARE WELCOME MAT-AR
Tottenham are on the verge of signing Metz midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, according to reports.
The Senegalese wonderkid, 18, burst onto the scene last season, appearing 22 times in Ligue 1.
His impressive form has reportedly drawn admiring glances from the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea.
But emerging reports in France claim that it is in fact Spurs that have won the race.
RMC journalist Joris Crolbois claims that a deal is virtually done, with Tottenham having agreed a fee of around £12-13million.
L'Equipe add that Sarr could remain on loan at Metz for the 2021-22 season, having already started their opening two matches.
They also report that Spurs still need to agree personal terms with the two-cap Senegal international.
ESPN's Julien Laurens adds that the basic fee is around £8.5m, with the rest in bonuses.
- Ian Tuckey
ATALANTA JOIN DIALLO ‘LOAN HUNT’
Manchester United winger Amad Diallo, 19, is set to be loaned out – with old club Atalanta reportedly eyeing an eleventh-hour bid
TuttoAtalanta say the Serie A side Atalanta want the Ivory Coast star on loan for the season in a “last-minute operation.”
Diallo joined the Red Devils from Atalanta in an initial £18.7million deal, linking up with his teammates in January after playing just five senior games for the Italians.
The fee could eventually rise to £37million though after add-ons are included.
He made eight appearances for United in the second half of last season, scoring once.
But Jadon Sancho’s £73million arrival at Old Trafford means game time will be even more limited, so a loan deal has been sanctioned to further his development.
According to talkSPORT, Manchester United are in advanced talks with Sheffield United about a loan deal.
So any potential offer from Atalanta must be hastily put together before the Blades make their move.
- Ian Tuckey
REDS HAIL DOUBLE SIGNING ANNIVERSARY
Liverpool have marked 17 years since the arrival of Spaniards Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia, who "absolutely oozed class" and helped them to 2004-5 Champions League glory.
Midfield stylist Alonso, 39, left in 2009 for Real Madrid, later joining Bayern Munich.
And wideman Garcia, 43, came from Barcelona and left for Atletico Madrid in 2007.
- Ian Tuckey
AARON’S SIX-YEAR DEAL
Aaron Ramsdale’s Arsenal move is on a six-year contract.
And despite his relegation ‘jinx’ his game stats last season with bottom side Sheffield United still make encouraging news.
The 23-year-old is costing £30million in, if you include £6m in add-ins.
Ramsdale played in all 38 Premier League games for the Blades last season as they sunk to the Championship, picking up just 23 points and conceding a worrying 63 goals.
But he made 147 SAVES – with only West Brom’s Sam Johnstone producing more stops – 166.
And Ramsdale helped the Blades concede fewer goals than the Baggies (76), Southampton (68) and Crystal Palace (66).
- Ian Tuckey
RAMS-DEAL: GUNNERS SIGN AARON
Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Sheffield United keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
The England hopeful 23, is thought to have cost around £24million plus £6m in add-ons.
Ramsdale was left out of the Blades’ squad for Wednesday’s 4-0 Championship loss at West Brom.
- Ian Tuckey
COTTEE AND RIO BACK HAMMERS' TAKEOVER
Tony Cottee has joined Rio and Anton Ferdinand in backing PAI Capital's West Ham takeover bid.
Ex-England striker Cottee scored 146 goals in 336 appearances for the Hammers and is very much a fans' favourite, which could be a huge asset in helping the consortium win over supporters.
In an official statement, Cottee said: "I've been following the bid closely and have had detailed discussions with the PAI team recently.
"Having got to know the people involved and having had the opportunity to learn more about their plans, I'm pleased to announce that I'm fully behind PAI bid.
"Everyone knows how much this club means to me.
"I want the best for the West Ham players, the staff, and the fans, and I'm confident that PAI will deliver on all fronts.
"We've spoken at length about what is needed – those discussions have included Rio, Anton [Ferdinand] and the rest of the bidding team – and we are all on the same page about what can be done.
"There is a real passion from everyone involved, and a confidence that we can reach the goals we have set out to achieve – the first one, of course, is getting the fans to believe in this bid.
"We want the fans to support this, and I'm hoping that I can help with that conversation."
- Ian Tuckey
PEP WRONG TO SIGN JACK BEFORE HARRY
Jamie Carragher reckons Manchester City got their priorities wrong by signing Jack Grealish ahead of Harry Kane.
The Liverpool legend does think Grealish, who City signed for a Premier League record of £100million from Aston Villa, was a good buy.
Credit: PA But the Sky Sports pundit adds that the Premier League Champions did not need the English midfielder as much as they need a prolific striker like Kane.
And Carragher believes that could end up being the difference between Pep Guardiola's side retaining their league crown or not.
He said: "Signing Grealish will not be the difference between City defending their title or finally winning the Champions League this season.
"Signing Kane, or a world-class striker capable of scoring between 20 or 30 goals this season, might be."
Carragher pointed to the Eithad giants 1-0 loss against Tottenham last week as proof of how much they're in need of an attacker.
Writing in The Telegraph, he added: "That was clear in last weekend's defeat to Spurs.
"Despite that, the Premier League champions pushed ahead with the Grealish deal while waiting for events to materialise on Kane's future."
- Ian Tuckey
MOYES ADMITS LINGARD INTEREST
David Moyes admits he is still a big fan of Manchester United’s Jesse lingard – amid speculation West Ham will bid for the England midfielder before the transfer window shuts.
Hammers’ boss Moyes confirmed he “hopes to do some more business” in the next 11 days.
And asked about Lingard he said: “The questions are not for me, the questions are for Manchester United.
“But you know we enjoyed having him.”
And of possible upcoming transfers, Moyes added: “We have been trying hard and we are trying to add to a good group of players and give ourselves more options at different times.”
- Ian Tuckey
BACK ON TORR
Lucas Torreira has been told to leave Arsenal this summer with the Uruguayan keen on a return to Serie A, according to reports.
The Gunners midfielder, 25, was loaned out to Atletico Madrid last season following the arrival of Thomas Partey.
Despite Mikel Arteta making it clear Torreira was not in his plans, the former Sampdoria star had vowed to break back into the Arsenal set-up this summer.
But after being told his time at the Emirates was up, the 31-cap Uruguay star is now targeting a return to Italy, according to football.london.
Torreira’s agent Pablo Bentancur has revealed his client is keen on a move back to Serie A having spent three years at Sampdoria and two at Pescara.
Roma and Lazio are both believed to be keen on him, but only on loan.
Arsenal are keen to sell a host of deadwood players to recoup the £120million spent on the likes of Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Albert Lokonga, Nuno Tavares and Aaron Ramsdale.
The Gunners could be tempted by a loan-to-buy option, though.
- Ian Tuckey
MAINE ROAD TO THE POTTERS
Stoke have signed Romaine Sawyers on loan from West Brom for the remainder of the season.
And the 29-year-old midfielder is in line for a speedy home debut against Nottingham Forest today.
Potters boss Michael O’Neill was delighted with his sixth signing of the summer and believes it is a real coup to prise Sawyers away from the current Championship leaders.
He said: “Romaine has great experience of football at the top end of the Championship and has enjoyed promotion success with West Brom, so he certainly knows his way around this division.
“He will be an excellent addition to our squad."
The St Kitts & Nevis international started his career as a trainee with West Brom but got his first taste of first-team action in the Potteries during a loan spell with Port Vale.
Last season Sawyers made 23 appearances for Albion but has found himself out of favour at the Hawthorns since Valerien Ismael's arrival this summer.
- Ian Tuckey
MIAZ-GO
Chelsea outcast Matt Miagza has joined Deportivo Alaves in a season-long loan deal.
The La Liga minnows announced that they had snapped up the defender on their Twitter account earlier today.
It's the USA international's fifth loan spell since he joined the Blues in 2015 for £3.5million.
During that time, he's only managed to start twice for the Champions League winners.
And it didn't look like that would change under present Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, whose stubborn defence kept 18 clean sheets in 25 games under him last season.
In Miazga's last spell on loan at Anderlecht in the previous campaign, he made 33 appearances and scored two goals.
As his time with Anderlecht drew to a close, Miagza was resigned to the fact that he didn't have a future with the Blues.
But harboured no ill will towards them and said he learnt a lot at Stamford Bridge.
- Ian Tuckey
MBAPPE ON 4-MAN UTD TARGET LIST
Manchester United have reportedly drawn up a four-man striker shortlist for next summer – and Kylian Mbappe is on it.
The Paris Saint-Germain hitman’s current deal runs out in June 2022 and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
United’s current leading forward Edinson Cavani, 34, is also out of contract in 10 months’ time and is widely expected to join Boca Juniors.
According to ESPN, the Red Devils are keeping a close eye on Mbappe’s situation and are ready to meet his high salary demands.
The World Cup winner, 22, would be a sensational replacement for Cavani after hitting 79 goals in 82 Ligue 1 appearances for PSG.
But it’s thought Mbappe’s preferred choice is a move to the Spanish capital before September after weeks of speculation.
The other three players rumoured to be on United’s shortlist are Erling Haaland, 21, Harry Kane, 28, and Lautaro Martinez, 23.
Kane and Haaland are rated at £150MILLION but it’s believed the latter has a £64m release clause that comes into play on September 1.
- Ian Tuckey
EVERTON AND ARSENAL 'IN FOR CORREA'
Everton are reportedly set to rival Arsenal for Lazio forward Joaquin Correa in a bid to boost their attack.
The speculation follows Rafa Benitez’s surprise swoop for Andy Lonergan with the ex-Liverpool stopper becoming the Toffees’ fourth summer signing.
Italian football journalist Alfredo Pedulla claims the Goodison Park side are pursuing Correa who has attracted interest from Tottenham as well as the Gunners.
The player, who is 27 and has eight international caps for Argentina, netted 11 goals and provided six assists across all competitions last season.
Correa, who joined Lazio from Sevilla for £13.5million in 2018 is rumoured to have fallen out of favour with Stadio Olimpico boss Maurizio Sarri.
And it is claimed the Argentine is considering his options despite the coach publicly expressing his wish for the star to stay and fight for his place.
Reports in Italy suggest Everton are gearing up to make an improved offer for the Serie A player who helped Argentina to win this year’s Copa America.
Gazetta dello Sport claims the Toffees, who play Leeds next, had an initial £21.5m bid rejected by the Italian giants.
- Ian Tuckey
PALMED OFF ON LOAN
Emerson Palmieri has joined French club Lyon on a season-long loan after signing a new two-year deal at Chelsea.
The Italian Euro-winning left-back was attracting a lot of interest from Serie A outfit Napoli.
But Lyon have won the race for the 27-year-old's signature, announcing it on Twitter.
The French club have also reportedly agreed an option to sign Emerson permanently at the end of the season-long switch.
Lyon boss Peter Bosz is over the moon with the signing of Emerson, and has revealed that the Italian is already impressing in training.
He said: "Damien Da Silva has a lot of experience. He gives his desire to win, to work, to the team.
"I am happy that Emerson Palmieri happened. He was in a big club, where you always have to win, like with the Italian team.
"Emerson has a good left foot. It was his first training.
"I'll chat with him to see how it went. We will see tomorrow if he will be fit for the match against Clermont. If he's ready, that will be an added possibility. "
- Ian Tuckey
YOU'VE BEEN TANG-KO'D
Nuno Espirito Santo will be keeping Tanguy Ndombele in the cold amid reports of Tottenham's record buy handing in a transfer request.
And the Spurs boss says a decision will also be made on Saturday regarding Harry Kane’s involvement against Wolves.
Midfielder Ndombele has endured a torrid start to his Tottenham career after arriving for £55m under Mauricio Pochettino in 2019.
He was an outcast under Jose Mourinho and is now facing the same treatment from Nuno as he looks to force a move.
He was axed from the club’s Europe Conference League squad ahead of their midweek trip to Portugal.
And when asked whether Ndombele would be involved for the first time this season for the trip to Molineux, Nuno said: “He was not part of the squad in the Conference League because he was not included in the list.
“But I will be honest with you, Tanguy will not be involved on Sunday.”
Star striker Harry Kane’s future also remains up in the air with a £125m move to Manchester City on the cards.
- Ian Tuckey
UTD’S GORETZKA BLOW
Manchester United’s hopes of signing Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka have been dashed after he reportedly agreed a new Bayern Munich contract with the club.
The 26-year-old, who had been high on United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s wishlist, will remain with the German giants until 2026, according to Goal journalist Ronan Murphy.
The former Schalke star, who netted ten times and provided nine assists in 39 starts for Bayern last season, was on Solskjaer’s radar since July.
The Norwegian was lining him up as a potential replacement for contract rebel Paul Pogba whose future is up in the air.
And as Goretzka, who had one more year on his contract was stalling on penning a new deal with Bayern, United were ready to swoop in and sign him on the cheap.
But Bayern weren’t willing to let their star midfielder go and boss Julian Nagelsmann told Goretzka that he wanted him to stay at the Allianz Arena.
During the speculation about United’s interest, he said: “Of course I have talked to him about my plans for him. I’ve told him I’d be happy if he extended and I’m also confident.
“I’ll continue to focus on the sports side of things and show him he can be one of the most dangerous midfielders in Europe. He has potential to get even better.”
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