Another day in football, another wave of transfer rumours to keep up on. Take a look at the most recent names and gossip being floated around in the media.
Will any of the following deals happen?
The Atletico Madrid playmaker heads a list of potential replacements for Neymar, according to Sport. Barcelona seem resigned to losing their Brazilian star to PSG, and have a shortlist of targets to replace him, including Borussia Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembele and PSG’s Angel di Maria.
However, Griezmann is the preference given his experience in Spain. His €100 million release clause is currently set at €200 million until the end of the window in order to protect Atletico this summer and that could prove to be a stumbling block, as Barcelona are unlikely to pay that amount regardless of what they receive for Neymar.
RATING: 2/10
SPORT360 VERDICT: Griezmann is no doubt the best possible replacement for Neymar available – except that he’s declared that he’s not actually available. Earlier in the summer, when speculation was rife that the Frenchman was on his way to Manchester United, he committed to staying at Atletico this summer in the wake of the club’s transfer ban.
There’s no reason his stance would have changed – and if it does, United are likely to renew their interest, giving Barcelona some competition.
RMCSport are reporting that Liverpool have knocked back a €100 million bid from Barcelona for Coutinho, having already rejected an €80 million offer last summer from the Catalan side.
Liverpool have insisted that Coutinho is not for sale, and given that the latest bid would have broken the record for the biggest transfer fee paid for a Liverpool player, the Reds are clearly determined to hold onto their man.
RATING: 4/10
SPORT360: It seems Barcelona are going to endure a frustrating time looking to replace Neymar. Liverpool cannot afford to sell Coutinho, who is the club’s best player and vital to their hopes in the Premier League and Champions League.
Fortunately for them, they are also under no pressure to sell, unlike with Luis Suarez or Raheem Sterling previously. Coutinho was awarded a new contract earlier this year and does not attract the media scrutiny Suarez did which forced Liverpool to sell him in 2014.
Inter Milan are looking to land Liverpool’s Sadio Mane in a £35 million deal, the Daily Express claims. The Milan club have seen city rivals AC Milan go on a spending spree and are determined not to fall behind. Like AC Milan, Inter are also under new ownership and will be willing to splash the cash to land their targets.
RATING: 2/10
SPORT360 VERDICT: This sale is even less likely to happen than Coutinho’s, where at least there would be the temptation of a club-record transfer fee.
Mane cost Liverpool £34 million last summer, so £35 million now would be a gross undervaluation of one of the Reds’ key players. And again, Mane will be intrinsic to Liverpool’s quest for trophies this season, and they are under no pressure to sell.
