6 h. ago Football transfer rumours: Gianluigi Donnarumma to Manchester City?

Today’s rumours are celebrating a new Sorry albumIf you had suggested, as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s Brobdingnagian hands were extinguishing Arsenal’s Champions League hopes in May, that Paris Saint-Germain would bundle him out the door marked Do One a few months later, you’d have been laughed out of the football WhatsApp group faster than you could say ‘Toxic Hipsters’.Who’s laughing now? You are! Or at least you would be had the above scenario been a representation of reality rather than the Rumour Mill’s exhausted imagination. Luis Enrique wants a different profile of goalkeeper – imagine if someone had used that phrase within earshot of Brian Clough or Bill Shankly – and Donnarumma may well be using his giant frame and even bigger aura in the Premier League this season. Continue reading...

Sport

31 h. ago Football transfer rumours: Real Madrid’s Rodrygo to join Manchester City?

Today’s rumours quibbles with their valuationPep Guardiola is the foremost football genius of his generation, revolutionising the game with imaginative tactics such as having the best players and the most money. But he has a particular expertise when it comes to wingers: consider Jack Grealish, now binned to Everton; Savinho, in the process of being binned to Spurs; Jérémy Doku, once fun, now ineffective; Julián Alvarez, binned to be brilliant at Atlético Madrid; Ferran Torres, binned after two seasons; Nolito, binned to Sevilla after a season; all acquired for a combined total of roughly £234.4m.Consequently, one can only imagine Rodrygo’s excitement at the prospect of joining Manchester City from Real Madrid, who have decided that, though he offers goals, assists, energy, effort, experience, selflessness, variety, balance and big-game performances, he simply isn’t famous enough or attention-seeking enough to remain part of their squad. They value him at £87m – or, if he moves to t...

Sport

54 h. ago Football transfer rumours: Spurs in for Savinho? Magassa off to Forest?

Today’s rumours are awaiting the building emailIt’s been at least 13 minutes since Chelsea bought a player they don’t need and withdrawal symptoms are biting hard. As such, they’ve begun talks with RB Leipzig, the idea being to swap Christopher Nkunku and cash for Xavi Simons. Though presumably the deal wouldn’t actually be a swap, rather 793 separate deals payable over 32,321 years with the players valued at knockdown prices of £9065m and £19324m, respectively.Nor will that be it. No squad is complete without someone who scores few and creates fewer, so Enzo Maresca is also keen to add Alejandro Garnacho to his squad. Leipzig, meanwhile, would like to acquire Harvey Elliott from Liverpool, who reportedly rejected a move to Nottingham Forest as he does not think they suit his playing style – they must’ve expected him to start rather than hang about as sub. Rather, he is said to favour a move to Serie A instead: the golden era of Harvelissimo may be just a few short weeks away. Conti...

Sport

5 d. ago Football transfer rumours: Milan move for Højlund? Spurs target Paz?

Today’s rumours are preparing for a converstionFarewell, Benjamin Sesko. The Slovenian has been churned through the Mill but is finally moving past the tittle-tattle to something more concrete. He’s on the way to Manchester United, such a great, welcoming place in recent years for developing forwards. Godspeed. What does this mean for Newcastle, who were in for him too and are in dire need of anyone, anyone, to walk through the door? They continue to be linked with Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, while the Daily Mail says Wolves’ Jørgen Strand Larsen is in their thoughts, too.Uncertainty lingers over their prized possession, Alexander Isak, denied the joys of the grill but, claims the Times, still desired by Liverpool – even after their £110m offer was rejected. With Sesko the new leading man at Old Trafford, Rasmus Højlund’s future comes into question; Milan could be the answer, potentially taking the former Atalanta striker back to Serie A. Chelsea are devel...

Sport

6 d. ago Football transfer rumours: Baleba to Manchester United? McGinn to Newcastle?

Today’s fluff is a warring banker With Benjamin Sesko very close to joining Manchester United, the recruitment bods need something else to do. They have passed the time by trying to find out just how much it would cost to sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton. Ruben Amorim needs an extra central midfielder who can actually run around a bit and the Cameroonian would be ideal but the Seagulls are not keen on selling.Across Manchester, it’s about trying to get rid of a few as Pep Guardiola wants to trim his squad. Jack Grealish does not look like he will get much in the way of minutes at City this season and will seek opportunities elsewhere. Everton have made contact with City as the seek a season-long loan but are a bit worried about how much the winger is actually on because they will not be able to pay the full lot. Continue reading...

Sport

7 d. ago Football transfer rumours: Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott on his way to Leipzig?

Today’s rumours are counting the cloudsIt has been one of the great conundrums of this window, leaving people pontificating over what Harvey Elliott should do next. The midfielder was, arguably, the leading light in England’s European Under-21 Championship triumph but it still feels like minutes will be hard to come by at Liverpool. Many have suggested he would suit the Bundesliga and RB Leipzig seem to think the same and have got in touch with Liverpool to see if something can be worked out.Supposedly Newcastle have a plan B if they do not land Benjamin Sesko from Leipzig, although considering they have missed out on so many players this summer, it is more like a plan T. The latest contingency walks, talks and gets booked just like Nicolas Jackson, mainly because it is the Chelsea striker. There is a parallel universe where Sesko hot foots it to St James’ Park, leaving Manchester United light of a No 9, which would then see them bid for Jackson to fill the void. But it does not end...

Sport

8 d. ago Football transfer rumours: Newcastle to increase offer for Sesko and target Guéhi?

Today’s rumours are hoping to close a dealWith less than a month remaining in the summer transfer window, deals that have been bubbling away for weeks will suddenly hit a boiling point as clubs, players and agents scramble to get moves finalised.Newcastle, for one, are getting impatient. They are reportedly expecting a high-stakes bidding war for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, upping their offer to an eye-watering £69.7m plus add-ons, which is closer to matching Leipzig’s valuation of the Slovenian. Manchester United are lurking in the shadows with sources suggesting they do not need to sell anyone to make a move despite their intentions to offload Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia. Eddie Howe’s side will be desperate to secure the striker’s signature despite Alexander Isak being expected to return to training, with the Swede’s head everywhere but Tyneside. Continue reading...

Sport

9 d. ago Football transfer rumours: Spurs to replace Son with Rodrygo? Núňez set for Al

Today’s rumours are heavily investedThere is a sense that the transfer window is entering a period of calm before the inevitable storm. The chitter-chatter of agents is at a lull and the same old names are being bandied around in the hope someone will finally have a nibble.Tottenham’s Son Heung-min is on his way out and therefore a replacement needs to be found by Thomas Frank. At this stage of August, it is sensible to target someone who is definitely available. Real Madrid’s Rodrygo will be allowed to leave the Spanish capital and moving to the British equivalent may be a reasonable selling point to the Brazilian, not to mention the joys of testing himself in the Premier League rather than sitting on a number of La Liga benches. Continue reading...

Sport

3 w. ago Football transfer rumours: McAtee to West Ham? Real Madrid keen on Saliba?

Today’s fluff is feeling freshThere can be little more affirming for a player than being deemed not good enough by Pep Guardiola. Over the last few years, James Trafford, Morgan Rogers, Roméo Lavia, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Douglas Luiz and Cole Palmer have all been allowed to leave Manchester City before proving their former manager wrong, and James McAtee could become the latest addition to that list. His price has been set at £35m; both West Ham and Eintracht Frankfurt are interested.Across Manchester, the opposite is so: rather than leave to get good, players arrive to get bad. Bryan Mbeumo is the latest to jeopardise his prospects and reputation and, with his medical complete, his transfer from Brentford will soon be finalised. But to leave requisite appalling mess prior to getting sacked during the November international break, Ruben Amorim needs more, and a centre-forward is next on his list. He still fancies ruining Viktor Gyökeres, for whom Arsenal have been unable to do a de...

Sport

3 w. ago Football transfer rumours: West Ham and Everton move for Jack Grealish?

Today’s rumours were up all nightGiven Victor Osimhen is one of the world’s best No 9s, definitely available for transfer and with a £64m release clause is a cheaper option than both Viktor Gyökeres (who is older) and Hugo Ekitike (who is relatively unproven), it seems a little bit wild that Arsenal, Liverpool or any other elite European team are not in for the Nigerian striker. Having impressed last season on loan at Galatasaray, winning the Golden Boot in Turkey on the way to a Süper Lig title, Osimhen could complete a remarkable permanent move to Istanbul in lieu of any other interest. Napoli are happy to sell, given Osimhen has one year remaining on his contract, but have reportedly inserted a clause preventing the striker from joining Juventus at a later date.Like a sophisticated nuclear submarine patiently lying in wait or just a middle-aged man trying to get out of a bathtub, West Ham have emerged as a potential loan destination for Jack Grealish. The Manchester City winger’s...

Sport

4 w. ago Rangers man nears exit, Celtic striker update, £50m offer 'clears path' for shock deal

Here are the latest Scottish football transfer headlines this Wednesday morning - including the latest rumours surrounding Rangers, Celtic and the Scotland national team.

Economics

4 w. ago Football transfer rumours: Isak, Watkins, Osimhen, Wissa or Rodrygo to Liverpool?

Today’s rumours are drying offLiverpool are interested in signing Newcastle’s Alexander Isak for a whopping £120m, but it’s always good to have a backup because the world of transfers is never a straightforward place. Plan B comes in the form of Ollie Watkins and a call has been made from Anfield to Aston Villa to check on the England forward’s availability and price tag. Plans C, D and E are also known; Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo are of some degree of interest to Arne Slot.Amid all the shenanigans relating to Morgan Gibbs-White and Tottenham, Nottingham Forest are in the market for a replacement. Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey is a candidate to replace him and his current employer would consider selling him to help satisfy those pesky profitability and sustainability rules because any fee would be pure moolah in the account as he is an academy graduate. Continue reading...

Sport

4 w. ago Football transfer rumours: Arsenal’s Trossard to snub Fenerbahce for Bayern?

Today’s rumours are without a lightbulbManchester United have realised they still have a Scott McTominay-sized hole in their midfield and want to fill it with the former Bayern Munich playee Corentin Tolisso. The box-to-box midfielder turns 31 in August but has just had one of the best seasons of his career at Lyon – scoring 10 goals and registering nine assists in all competitions – and, given the French club’s financial problems, there may be a deal to be done for around £15m.After weeks of negotiations, United are also reportedly closing on a move for Bryan Mbeumo after agreeing terms with Brentford. The fee is thought to be north of £60m, with the shrewd Bees keen on using some of that money to buy a replacement in Omari Hutchinson. The winger flickered in a struggling Ipswich side last season but was one of England’s best players in their under-21 Euros campaign, scoring in the final against Germany. Continue reading...

Sport

4 w. ago Celtic ‘monitor’ striker, Rangers exit ‘highly likely’, Hibs agree ‘important’ deal

This are the latest Scottish football transfer headlines and gossip on Tuesday morning - including the latest rumours surrounding Celtic, Rangers, Hibs and the Scotland national team.

Economics