Swansea City have completed the £2.5million signing of Jordi Amat from Espanyol, subject to a medical and international clearance. The Catalonian, who was capped by Spain at every level from Under 16 through Under 21, has signed on a four-year deal.
The 21-year-old becomes Michael Laudrup's second signing of the summer after the transfer of Jose Canas, whose move to the Liberty Stadium from Real Betis will be ratified when his contract expires on July 1. Amat's arrival came at the end of a frantic day in which Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony declared his desire to join Swansea.
Earlier in the day his agent said a £10.2m deal was done – a fee that would almost double the record £5.55m paid for Pablo Hernandez last summer.
Manchester United will make a renewed bid of £15million plus add-ons for Everton defender Leighton Baines.
After rejecting an opening bid in the region of £12m from United, Everton insist the England left back is not for sale.
But United hope to persuade them with a deal that will total £20m including additional performance-related payments for the 28-year-old.
Doncaster Rovers manager Paul Dickov has revealed Manchester United midfielder Nick Powell is the ‘quality of player’ he intends to sign. The teenager has been linked with a loan move to the Keepmoat Stadium after a season in which he appeared for United only six times but Dickov would regardless expect significant competition for him should United make him available.
'I’ve not spoken to David Moyes since he took the job at Old Trafford,' Dickov told The Doncaster Free Press.
'If Nick Powell is a player we would like here, I’m sure there are 10 Premier League clubs and another 20 Championship clubs that would want him as well.
'But, without naming names, that’s the quality of player we’re looking to sign.'
Manchester City are the only club to have opened talks about the signing of Edinson Cavani, according to Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, but he has regardless described their offer as 'inadequate'.
The Italians recently appointed Rafa Benitez as manager and he has spoken of his desire to retain the Uruguay international, though the interest of some of Europe's richest clubs – in addition to City, Chelsea and Real Madrid are understood to be interested – means his transfer is likely.
Napoli maintain they will reject any offers below Cavani's €63 million (£53.86m) release clause but despite the departure of Carlos Tevez to Juventus, that is a price City are yet to near.
'The only meeting I’ve had has been with Manchester City, but the offer was inadequate,' De Laurentiis told reporters, before adding he saw no need to hold talks with Cavani as the striker had hinted necessary after Uruguay's exit from the Confederations Cup.
'There is no need to have a face to face with Cavani,' he said.
'If a club offers €63m then we would allow him to leave. The release clause will have been activated.
'It’s not fair that Cavani has distractions while he is playing in an important tournament like the Confederations Cup.'
Manchester City are considering a move for Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero. The 31-year-old Argentine was outstanding for coach Manuel Pellegrini last season and would come in as competition for Joe Hart. City's current back-up, Costel Pantilimon, is looking to leave.
The 2012 champions have also revived interest in a £17million deal for Real Madrid defender Pepe, yet the Spaniards maintain they want £21m for the 30-year-old.
City defender Aleksandar Kolarov has hinted he may follow Carlos Tevez to Juventus. The Italians have offered a £2m loan fee for the Serbia left back but that is short of City's valuation.
Kolarov said: 'I want to play regularly. I'm in contact with my agent and soon we will understand what will happen. I have no problem in revising my salary.'
Striker Tevez confirmed he had asked to leave City.
He said: 'I spoke to Manuel Pellegrini as soon as he arrived at City. I told him I considered my time at the club to be over. He said that was fine by him.'
Shakhtar Donetsk chief executive Sergei Palkin insists Henrikh Mkhitaryan remains an important player for them but admits they are open to offers for the midfielder.
Palkin claimed on Wednesday Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund had failed with a bid of £19.5million, suggesting £25million was nearer the mark.
Liverpool are interested in the Armenia international but any deal for a player who set a Ukrainian league scoring record with 25 goals last season is a complicated one.
Russian big spenders Anzhi Makhachkala are now also reported to have entered the race.
'Henrikh is an important player in our team. Shakhtar wants to keep him, but we are willing to listen and consider all suggestions for a transfer,' Palkin told Russian newspaper Izvestia.
'We have already parted with Willian (to Anzhi) and Fernandinho (to Manchester City), but the club will not just sell players.
'In the near future we will also gain quality, designed to replace the leading players, possibly including Henrikh.'
Chelsea's move for Marco Van Ginkel has stalled as the Holland international looks to preserve his World Cup dream.
Jose Mourinho had hoped to make the Vitesse midfielder one of his first signings since heading back to Stamford Bridge.
The Portuguese manager was confident of completing a £9million swoop before the start of pre-season, but the move has hit a stumbling block. Van Ginkel wants assurances from Mourinho that he will play a significant first-team role next season.
Having broken into the the Dutch national team last season, Van Ginkel feels he has a realistic chance of featuring in Brazil 2014. The 20-year-old knows a season of sitting on the bench would end his hopes of going to next summer's World Cup.
Blues chiefs remain confident they can conclude a move for Van Ginkel, though.
Thomas Vermaelen is set to be handed the chance to revive his Arsenal career as the club's move for Ashley Williams stalls. The Gunners have opened talks with Swansea over a swoop for the Wales defender, but are refusing to meet the Swans £10million asking price.
Despite losing his starting spot, Vermaelen wants to fight for his place in the Arsenal team next season. Though, he privately concedes that he will be forced to move if Arsenal sign a new central defender this summer.
But with Arsenal currently unwilling to meet Williams' valuation, Vermaelen is set to stay at the Emirates Stadium.
In addition to a new centre-back, manager Arsene Wenger remains in the market for a new goalkeeper, with Pepe Reina back on the club's radar. The Liverpool keeper is a long-term target for the Gunners, and with Reina's protracted move to Barca on the verge of collapse, the North Londoners' are considering reviving their interest.
The Spain international could be available for as little as £10million - a fee Arsenal would consider meeting.
Newcastle United appear to be moving a step closer to signing number one target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, despite their initial bid being rejected by St Etienne. Reports in France say a £15million offer from Newcastle has been turned down but the Gabon striker has not hidden his desire to get a move to the Barclays Premier League this summer.
Newcastle are looking to pull off a £25million double swoop for Aubameyang and his St Etienne team-mate and defender Kurt Zouma.
Aubameyang has had interest from a number of clubs in different countries after an excellent season in the French league. Swansea City, Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Paris St Germain and Anzhi Makhachkala have all been linked with the 24-year-old and his advisers seem eager to set off a bidding war, with St Etienne setting a high price.
Among them is Aubameyang’s father Pierre who has said a deal 'will not be rushed.'
Aubameyang himself told Sky Sports: 'I will choose England before any other destination.
'My dream has always been to play in one of the top two leagues in the world.
'Newcastle is a good club and St James’s Park is a monumental stadium where there is passionate fans.'
The negotiations are the first test for new director of football Joe Kinnear, who has a perfect opportunity to deliver in actions not words.
He is hoping to clinch a double deal, adding 18-year-old defender Zouma, who can also play as the defensive central midfielder. The highly-rated teenager has been a regular since making his debut two years ago and is a France Under 20 international.
Roberto Martinez is closing in on a £6million move to make Aiden McGeady his top summer signing as Everton manager.
Mindful of the need to maintain the progress made under David Moyes, Martinez aims to add new faces to his squad, with McGeady set to be the costliest of all.
Desperately disappointed to miss out on the Spartak Moscow and former Celtic winger in January, after a £5million bid was turned down, he has kept tabs on a player he rates highly and is confident of landing him at the second attempt.
His other signing will be a keeper, with Atletico Madrid's Joel Robles a possible target after impressing on loan at Wigan last season.
Everton's prospects of hanging on to Arsenal target Marouane Fellaini have improved after it emerged his £24million escape clause is due to expire in around six weeks. The Tofees will be at liberty to reject any offers for their in-demand midfielder after August 15.
Hmmm.
ReplyDeleteLet's wait n see how it all ends up.