BBC
Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong would only leave Barcelona for Chelsea but the London club are not prepared to pay as much as Manchester United for the 25-year-old. (Sport - in Spanish)
Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo says he does not know who "invented" the story linking Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo to the Spanish side and that it is "practically impossible" the 37-year-old Portugal international will join them. (El Partidazo de COPE, via Eurosport)
Newcastle United are interested in 26-year-old Chelsea and Germany striker Timo Werner. (Christian Falk, head of football at Bild)
Juventus will look at Werner and Manchester United and France forward Anthony Martial, 26, if they cannot complete the capture of Spain striker Alvaro Morata, 29, from Atletico Madrid. (Sky Sports)
Tottenham's hopes of bringing in United States midfielder Weston McKennie, 23, could be impacted after his 29-year-old Juventus team-mate Paul Pogba, of France, suffered a knee injury. (Mail)
Chelsea have turned their attention to trying to sign Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries, 26, from Inter Milan after struggling to bring in France international Jules Kounde, 23, from Sevilla. (Evening Standard)
The Blues are considering a move for Leicester's French defender Wesley Fofana, 20. (Mail)
Barcelona boss Xavi says it is "impossible" to sign Argentina forward Lionel Messi at the moment as the 35-year-old is under contract at Paris St-Germain but added that "we will see in the future". (Goal)
Leicester City keeper Kasper Schmeichel has agreed to join French club Nice but the move has not been approved as the Foxes have yet to find a replacement for the 35-year-old Denmark international. (L'Equipe - in French)
Leicester City chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha says the club have had no offers for 25-year-old Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans, whose contract with the Foxes runs out next summer. (Metro)
Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Newcastle United are weighing up a move for Strasbourg's French striker Ludovic Ajorque, 28. (Football Insider)
Everton are interested in 23-year-old Sporting Lisbon left wing-back Ruben Vinagre, who used to play for Wolves. (Liverpool Echo)
Southampton have made a late move to try to sign Manchester City's 19-year-old English winger Sam Edozie, who was expected to join Bayer Leverkusen. (Mail)
Burnley have had a £1.5m bid for 25-year-old Belgian winger Manuel Benson rejected by FC Antwerp. (Mail)
Guardian Rumour Mill
Daniel Harris
The thrills and spills of the Frenkie de Jong sagaTM have kept us invigorated all summer, and today is no different. Word comes from Spain that the player would only leave Barcelona for Chelsea, who aren’t prepared to pay him as much danger money as Manchester United, and that he has advised teammates of his intention to remain at the Camp Nou and swerve Old Trafford. Shortly afterwards, Joan Laporta was seem crying softly at his desk, while Xavi finalised plans for the next friendly – in which he plans to try De Jong at ballboy.
In other “més que un cult” news, Barça won’t be able to re-sign Lionel Messi – but not because they’re mortgaging their future to stay alive in the present, spending money with which they should pay current players on buying new ones. Rather, Messi has a contract with Paris Saint-Germain – presumably not unlike the ones Robert Lewandowski had with Bayern Munich and Raphinha with Leeds. “We will see in the future. It’s not the time to talk about him,” said Xavi, talking about him anyway.
Back to Manchester United, meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo is still frantically trying to escape. It turns out that, while the shame of playing in the Europa League is intense, it’s not as intense as declaring a wish to avoid it only to be rejected at every turn. After receiving polite “faz-me um limãos” from Chelsea and Bayern, it looked like Atlético Madrid were the sole remaining option, but Enrique Cerezo, the club president has denied the link, saying reports of it are “invented” and that “It’s practically impossible” for the move to happen. Enjoy Shkupi (a) old mate!
An affronted Ronaldo is surely exactly the tonic required by United’s dressing room, already much-vaunted for its work ethic and moral fibre. On which point, Anthony Martial – the chief beneficiary of Ronaldo’s incapacitation, back to his devastating best now no one is fit – will be targeted by Juventus, should they be unable to rescue Álvaro Morata from Atlético.
Talking of strikers who don’t score, Newcastle fancy taking Timo Werner from Chelsea, whose off-the-ball movement should create space for the deadly and prolific Chris Wood. And the Toon are also pondering a bid for Ludovic Ajorque, the Strasbourg striker who also interests Crystal Palace and Leicester.
Leicester may, though, be losing a goalie – Kasper Schmeichel is keen to spend next season fronting up in France, having agreed to join Nice. But the move hasn’t been approved as Brendan Rodgers hasn’t found a replacement, while Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, the club chairman, says he has received no offers for Youri Tielemans – who Mikel Arteta reckons would be perfect for Arsenal’s relentless assault on fifth place.
On the other side of north London, Antonio Conte continues his one-man assault on Daniel Levy’s Klarna. For his next Juventus cast-off, he’d like to sign Weston McKennie for Tottenham, but the 23-year-old midfielder may now be required in Turin, following Paul Pogba’s knee injury.
And finally, Chelsea are still scrabbling about for defenders. Should Jules Koundé spurn them, as expected, for the tall stories and magic beans being offered by Barça, they will try to get Denzel Dumfries from Inter and perhaps Wesley Fofana from Leicester – both of whom should gel well with Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly, if reports of their excellent kalooki skills are to be believed.
Sky Paper Talk
THE GUARDIAN
Juventus have approached Chelsea about signing Timo Werner on loan.
Premier League clubs want Championship sides to commit to developing young British loan talent as part of a restructuring of the finances in the English game.
DAILY MIRROR
Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has said a move for Cristiano Ronaldo is "practically impossible" for the Spanish side.
Liverpool's pre-season is about to go up a gear as they prepare to face Red Bull Salzburg towards the end of a gruelling pre-season camp in Austria.
Sir Alex Ferguson was all set to manage Great Britain's football team at the Olympic Games, Lord Coe has revealed.
THE SUN
Manchester United have been given fresh hope in their pursuit of winger Antony after his club Ajax refused to rule out selling the Brazilian.
Arsenal target Victor Osimhen has revealed he will stay at Napoli despite transfer rumours linking him away from the club.
Manchester United have brought in former Cardiff man David Hughes as their new Professional Development Phase coach.
Kasper Schmeichel is set to sign for Nice - once Leicester have brought in a replacement.
Chelsea failed in a late bid to hijack Nordi Mukiele's £13.5million Paris Saint-Germain switch.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Manchester United have refused to shift from their hard-line position that Cristiano Ronaldo must stay at Old Trafford after an opening round of talks with the unsettled forward ended in impasse.
Premier League clubs are close to agreeing a "new deal for football" which will dramatically overhaul support systems for the cash-strapped lower tiers.
Tyson Fury is in talks over a return to the ring in an exhibition bout with the former world's strongest man, Hafthor Bjornsson.
DAILY MAIL
Premier League clubs have unanimously voted in favour of Alison Brittain's appointment as the league's new chair. Brittain will take up her new role early next year.
England's rampant Lionesses have made the nation dare to dream after their 4-0 semi-final win against Sweden.
Roy Keane is convinced "top-quality manager" Thomas Tuchel will be able to bring in players this summer.
Chelsea will consider letting Timo Werner leave in this window, but want to bring in another striker first, with Newcastle among the clubs on the Germany forward's trail.
Manchester City will consider allowing James McAtee out on loan if clubs give assurances that the 19-year-old will play regularly. Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Villarreal are all showing strong interest in the attacking midfielder.
Nottingham Forest are targeting Manchester United's James Garner, William Carvalho of Real Betis and Anton Stanch of Mainz to their midfield after agreeing to sign Orel Mangala from Stuttgart.
THE TIMES
Some of the leading figures in British racing are pushing for a significant restructuring of the sport that would result in a greater slice of prize money being channelled to the elite level, in a bid to increase prize-money value and stop horse talent being sold abroad.
English cricket is facing a financial black hole of up to £50 million a year because of rising costs, which could lead to budget cuts for the counties and other programmes.
DAILY RECORD
Dundee United are closing in on a deal to sign Aziz Behich.
AreaNapoli (Translation)
Piotr Zielinski ended up in the crosshairs of the English club West Ham. The English company is ready to reach 36 million euros.
West Ham looks to Napoli at home. The English club is monitoring two Italian midfielders with great attention: Fabian Ruiz and Piotr Zielinski. If the Spaniard would have clearly rejected the hypothesis of a transfer to the Premier League, the situation would be different for the Pole. The former Empoli comes from a season below expectations, but in England he continues to be highly appreciated. West Ham has relaunched the latest offer, getting closer to Napoli's requests.
Here is what we read in today's edition of Corriere dello Sport: "West Ham, after Fabian's refusal, insists on Zielinski and makes it known that it is ready to raise up to 36 million, but Piotr will accept the transfer only in the presence of a An offer that cannot be renounced. The fact, however, is that Piotr is not at all convinced: only a monstrous salary, much higher than the 4 million Italian salary, could make him hesitate seriously ".
Today's edition of the newspaper Repubblica, in the space reserved for football, provides the latest news regarding the possible transfer of Zielinski from Naples to the English club.
Here is what we read: "The spotlight is on Piotr Zielinski. He lost the label of" indispensable "in the second half of last season, when he often slipped on the bench. And now his future could change hues. West Ham has decided to get serious and is thinking of upping the ante to over 30 million. The British are not giving up. Zielinski, meanwhile, has asked for a salary of 5.5 million, more than the current 4.2. epilogue of the negotiation. If it were to go through, Napoli would have an important nest egg to reinvest on the market
Sport Witness
West Ham told to improve offer, bid €15m short – Club ‘thinking about selling’
For the past few days, reports from Italy have talked about West Ham United interest in Napoli’s Piotr Zieliński.
On Tuesday, CalcioMercato.it reporter Marco Giordano stated the Hammers have offered a deal worth €6m net per year to the attacking midfielder. He also explained new contacts are set to take place in the next few hours.
Another Italian journalist and Napoli expert, Ciro Venerato, provides more information on West Ham’s efforts to sign the 28-year-old.
Venerato told CalcioNapoli24 that David Moyes’ side have submitted an offer to sign the Poland international. Their bid consists of a €30m fee and could rise to €35m if potential bonus payments are included.
West Ham’s proposal has not convinced the Serie A side as they are asking for €45m. There is a distance of €15m between the two clubs, and Venerato adds Napoli must lower their demands, while the English club must improve their offer.
CalcioNapoli24 explain Luciano Spalletti’s side are ‘thinking about selling’ the player and ‘this is clear’.
Il Mattino state West Ham have ‘never stopped thinking’ about Zieliński and Fabián Ruiz, but their offers have not managed to convince Napoli so far. If one of the two were to leave this summer, the Italian club will look to replace them with Hellas Verona’s Antonín Barák.
TBR
West Ham want Abdou Diallo with PSG open to £17m sale
West Ham are one of the clubs who want to sign Abdou Diallo, with Paris Saint-Germain ready to sell the centre-back this summer, according to a report from Media Foot.
The Hammers’ summer kicked into another gear this week with the announcement that they have signed Gianluca Scamacca.
It was a real statement of intent from David Moyes’s side. But the fans will hope that there are plenty more new signings to come in the coming weeks.
And one player they have their eye on is Diallo. According to Media Foot, PSG are ready to sell the Senegal international for a fee of around £17 million.
Meanwhile, there is also interest from Rennes after they sold Nayef Aguerd to the Hammers earlier in the window.
West Ham want Abdou Diallo
The injury to Aguerd appears to have prompted West Ham to get stuck into the market once again to sign a new centre-back.
Diallo has never quite been able to make himself a regular in the PSG side. But he has been a decent signing for the club. And he was previously with Borussia Dortmund.
The 26-year-old has been described as a very ‘intelligent‘ defender. He is good on the ball and likes to drive out from the back. But he is also not afraid to get stuck in.
His asking price should certainly appeal to the Irons. Obviously, it is still a reasonable sum. But his arrival would probably not eat up all of the Hammers’ budget, by any means.
It would be a gamble to let the window close without a new defender coming in now that Aguerd is injured. So perhaps it would be little surprise to see West Ham make a bid for Diallo in the near future.
