Transfer news Archives - Matchplug Blog

Liverpool ready to make move for Levi Colwill

July 12, 2023 No Comments

Liverpool have reportedly entered the race to sign highly-rated Chelsea defender Levi Colwill. The defender, one of the stars of England’s European Under-21 Championship success this summer, impressed hugely on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion last season. The Seagulls have indicated interest in signing him permanently, but Chelsea have made it clear they don’t want to sell the 21-year-old. Read more: David De Gea leaves Manchester United The Blues want to integrate the 20-year-old into their first team this summer after selling Kalidou Koulibaly. However, the Englishman is far from convinced that his long-term future should be at Chelsea, as he is unsure of his first-team chances. Colwill’s current deal is due to expire in 2025, and Chelsea is looking to extend it, but as it stands, talks have not advanced. 90min is now reporting that Liverpool feel confident that they can pry Colwill away from Stamford Bridge amid this contract stand-off, despite Chelsea’s insistence that he is not for sale. The defender is a childhood Liverpool fan and has a strong relationship with the younger first-team members at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s side have been focussing on overhauling their midfield this summer, and with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai already signed, they are now also looking at defensive options, and a new centre-half is in their sights.

Granit Xhaka leaves Arsenal for Bayer Leverkusen

July 7, 2023 No Comments

Arsenal have confirmed the departure of Granit Xhakaz, with the midfielder joining German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen for an undisclosed fee. The midfielder spent seven successful years at the Emirates after joining from Borussia Mönchengladbach in May 2016. He made 297 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners, scoring 23 goals and assisting 29 times. Xhaka, who came close to winning the Premier League title last season, won two FA Cup titles and the FA Community Shield twice during his seven seasons at the Emirates. Xhaka was rumoured to be on his way out of the club last season after falling out of favour with the fans. But he stayed back and played a huge role in the club’s exciting title challenge. But he now leaves this summer, with the club confirming that he will join Xabi Alonso’s side. Read more: AC Milan makes $24m offer for USA star Christian Pulisic A club’s statement read: “Granit Xhaka has joined Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen on a permanent transfer.” “Everyone at Arsenal thanks Granit for his contribution during his seven years with us and wish him and his family the best of health and happiness in the future.” Meanwhile, the club’s Sporting Director, Edu, wished the Switzerland international the best for his future after the move was confirmed: “Granit has been a big part of our club for a long time,” he said. “He has given us great commitment and quality over the years, playing such an important role in our progression and success. He leaves us with our huge respect and thanks. We wish Granit all the best for the future.” Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta added: “We are saying goodbye to a fantastic player and person loved by all of us. It has been an incredible journey together for him, and he has given absolutely everything for this club. The influence Granit has had on his teammates on the pitch and colleagues at the club will tell you just how popular he is. “We cannot thank Granit enough for his service and contribution to this club over the years. We wish Granit and his family all the best in the next step of their lives.”

PSG confirm Luis Enrique as new head coach

July 5, 2023 No Comments

Paris Saint-Germain have officially hired former Barcelona and Spain coach Luis Enrique as their new head coach in a two-year deal. The Parisians confirmed the departure of Christophe Galtier this week, with Enrique becoming his permanent replacement this summer. The Spaniard had been out of work since being sacked by Spain following their surprise exit at the hands of Morocco at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Read more: Bayern Munich PREPARE another bid for Harry Kane after initial £60m offer was rejected Despite his most recent failure, Enrique still boasts an excellent CV at the highest level, though, and PSG have decided he is the right man to take the club forward. “Paris Saint-Germain is delighted to announce that Luis Enrique has been named as its first team’s new head coach, with the Spanish manager signing a two-year contract,” the club said in a statement on its official website. “Luis Enrique Martínez Garcia, 53, joins Paris Saint-Germain with a solid honours list and a magnificent international reputation behind him. After beginning his playing career at Sporting Gijón (1989–1992) and continuing it at Real Madrid (1992–1996), the highly versatile ex-player took it to the next level before bringing it to an end at FC Barcelona (1996–2004).” The Spaniard said: “I’m delighted to be joining Paris in order to enjoy a new experience,” Enrique said. “It’s so exciting to meet new people, to live in this city, to learn a new language and, above all, to manage PSG.” Luis Enrique is expected to transform the Parisians into genuine contenders in Europe, having been brought on board to help the club secure the elusive Champions League title. He won the Champions League in the 2014/15 season when he guided Barcelona to a historic treble.

Newcastle sign Sandro Tonali from AC Milan on a five-year deal

July 4, 2023 No Comments

Newcastle have completed the signing of Italy international Sandro Tonali from AC Milan. The 23-year-old joins the Magpies for £52m and has agreed on a five-year contract which will keep him at St James’ Park until 2028. Tonali becomes Newcastle’s first major signing of the summer, ahead of their return to the Champions League after two decades away. Read more: Tottenham REACH AGREEMENT with Manor Solomon over free transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk Reacting to his move to St. James Park, the Italy international, who has previously been nicknamed the ‘new Pirlo’, told Newcastle’s official website: “First of all, I want to thank Newcastle United because they are giving me a huge opportunity for my career. “I want to repay the trust on the pitch, giving it my all, as I always have. I’m really excited about playing at St. James’ Park. I can’t wait to feel the warmth of the fans. Newcastle boss Howe also spoke about his delight at the signing and cited his Champions League experience as an important asset. “I’m delighted to welcome Sandro to Newcastle United,” he said. “He is an exceptional talent and has the mentality, physicality and technical attributes to be a great fit for us. “At 23, Sandro already has important experience as a key player in one of Europe’s top leagues and in the Champions League, as well as playing for his country. “But he also has the opportunity and potential to grow and evolve with us, and I’m excited to add him to our squad as we approach the exciting season ahead.” Tonali is one of Italy’s most highly-rated players and has captained his country during this summer’s Under 21 European Championship.

Manchester City CONSIDERING an offer for former Manchester United target Frenkie De Jong

July 3, 2023 No Comments

Manchester City are reportedly looking to bid for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong. The treble winners have been relatively quiet in this summer transfer window, with the signing of Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea and the exit of Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer to Barcelona the major business so far. However, Pep Guardiola is making quiet plans to strengthen his squad to defend their historic treble, with the signing of another midfielder a priority for him in the summer. Read more: Liverpool sign Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig for £60m According to The Sun, the Spaniard could attempt to lure Frenkie de Jong to the Etihad this summer. The Dutchman was a transfer target of Manchester United last summer, but he opted to remain in Spain. His decision to stay at Camp Nou paid off, as Barca won the La Liga title and qualified for the Champions League. However, Man City may have more luck convincing the 26-year-old to move to the Premier League, with Guardiola weighing whether to bid. Barcelona’s tricky financial situation means more outgoings will occur to fund new arrivals, and De Jong could be shown the exit door if Man City makes a tempting offer. The Cityzens were willing to offer £90m for West Ham United’s captain Declan Rice, so Barca could be tempted by such an amount.

Manchester City sign Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea in £25m deal

June 28, 2023 No Comments

Premier League champions Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic on a four-year deal reportedly worth £25million. The 29-year-old’s new contract will keep him at the Etihad until the summer of 2027, with a reported option for another year. He leaves Chelsea after five successful years where he won the Champions League and Europa League. The Croatia star was a lynchpin of the starting XI and made 211 appearances for the Stamford Bridge club. With the announcement on Tuesday evening, Kovacic becomes City’s first signing of the window. He has been tipped to replace outgoing midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who joined Barcelona as a free agent after a final record-breaking season as club captain. Read more: Harry Kane is still HOPING Man United will RESURRECT their bid to sign him this summer Speaking after sealing his move, Kovacic was full of praise for the club and their manager, Pep Guardiola. “This is a brilliant move for me, and I cannot wait to get started with City,” he said. “Anyone who has watched this team under Pep knows how good they are – for me, they are the best in the world. The trophies they have won are clear for all to see, but they are also the best footballing side out there. To be joining this squad really is a dream for any footballer. I still have plenty of learning and developing to do, and I know under Pep’s management, I can become a better player, which is really exciting for me. “My plan now is to rest for a few weeks before coming back to Manchester to prepare for the new season. I want to help this club stay at the top and win more trophies.” Manchester City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, also spoke about the move, confirming that the club had long held an interest in the player. “Mateo is an excellent footballer,” Begiristain said. “He can play as a 6 or an 8, has plenty of experience at top-level clubs, and understands the Premier League. “It was a very simple decision to bring him to City because he has the tactical and technical qualities we are looking for in a midfielder. “He is someone we have monitored for a very long time, and we were always impressed whenever we watched him. “I am delighted he is here. This is a great signing for this club, and I am very excited to watch what he can do with Pep and the rest of our backroom team.” Kovacic will not be the last signing for City this summer, with the Champions League champions also interested in RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol and West Ham captain Declan Rice.

Tottenham confirm £17m signing of Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on a five-year deal

June 28, 2023 No Comments

Tottenham has completed the £ 17 million signing of Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli. The Premier League side has been looking to sign a new shot-stopper who will serve as a longer-term replacement for under-fire Hugo Lloris. The Frenchman is approaching the final 12 months of his deal and told the club of his desire for a new challenge earlier this month. Vicario will now serve as Lloris’ replacement, with the 26-year-old able to serve the club for another five years after signing a five-year contract. Read more: Liverpool contact Southampton over £50m signing of Romeo Lavia The Italian international is the second signing under new manager Ange Postecoglou after Sweden midfielder Dejan Kulusevski turned his loan spell into a permanent move earlier this summer. The arrival of the goalkeeper now switches Spurs’ focus to the future of Lloris, who could be allowed to leave this summer on a free transfer following eleven years in north London. Meanwhile, Vicario will now attempt to establish himself in the Premier League and follow in the footsteps of other Italian goalies like Carlo Cudicini, who represented Chelsea and Tottenham. He will expect to become the club’s number one and will be deputised by 35-year-old Fraser Forster, who is contracted to the club until June 2024.

Newcastle REACH agreement with AC Milan for Sandro Tonali

June 21, 2023 No Comments

Newcastle United have reached an agreement with AC Milan for the signing of Italy international midfielder Sandro Tonali. The Magpies are keen on adding a creative midfielder to their ranks this summer and have targeted Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella and Leicester City midfielder James Maddison. But the price tag of both players has discouraged them from pursuit, with Inter wanting £70million for Barella while Leicester want £60million for Maddison, who has been leaning towards a move to Tottenham. Read more: Manchester United is ACTIVELY searching for a NEW GOALKEEPER as David de Gea contract talks continue Inter and Leicester’s valuation of both players has led Newcastle to chase Italy international Tonali, who they expect to get for less. Earlier this week, Eddie Howe’s side presented an opening bid of £42million (€50million) for the player. But according to 90min, they have now agreed on a deal with Newcastle, with the Magpies expected to pay €70m (£60m), including add-ons. That would make Tonali the second most expensive signing of all time at St. James Park, following last year’s capture of Swedish forward Alexander Isak. Tonali will now undergo a medical in Romania – where Italy are based for the European Under-21 Championships – before putting pen to paper on a six-year contract. The 23-year-old has 14 senior caps for Italy. He has made 130 appearances for AC Milan and won the Serie A title in the 2021-22 season.

Chelsea PUSHING to Sign in-demand Brighton’s Moises Caicedo

June 16, 2023 No Comments

Chelsea is hoping to win the race for the signature Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo valued at over £80million. According to Sportsmail, the Blues have held several talks with the 21-year-old midfielder, and he has indicated interest that he wants to join the club this summer. Caicedo was a transfer target of Arsenal in January and was keen on joining the Gunners, even attempting to force a move. But Brighton stood firm and refused to sell to Mikel Arteta’s side. Caicedo stayed put and, in a surprise twist, signed a new deal at the Amex Stadium. The new deal reportedly had a condition that would allow the Ecuadorian to leave, meaning that interested clubs could buy him if they are able to agree on personal terms and meet Brighton’s valuation. Read more: Pep Guardiola GIFTS HIS SIX-FIGURE BONUS for winning the Premier League to Man City staff According to the latest reports, Chelsea is hopeful of pricing him away from the Amex Stadium ahead of Arsenal and Manchester United, who are also reportedly keen on his signature. A fee has not been agreed yet, but with the player preferring a move to Stamford Bridge, there is optimism that a deal will get done. Brighton, who qualified for the Europa League, have already sold Caicedo’s regular midfield partner Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool for £35m this summer.

Bayern Munich move AHEAD of Manchester United in the race for Kim Min-jae

June 16, 2023 No Comments

Manchester United have reportedly been dealt a huge blow in their pursuit of Napoli centre-back Kim Min-jae as Bayern Munich holds transfer talks with the defender. The Red Devils have been pushing hard to sign the South Korean defender this summer and were reportedly close to an agreement. However, in a surprise string of events, Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich have stolen a march on United in recent hours, having held ‘positive’ talks with the 26-year-old. Read more: Newcastle INTERESTED in Inter Milan star Nicolo Barella This is according to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who claims that the Bavarians have already made their first proposal to the player’s agent. According to Romano, United remain interested in Kim, who has a release clause that can be activated in July. But Bayern have emerged as the favourites and are going ahead to discuss the player. The report also suggests that Newcastle United are also interested in Kim. So it’s down to the player to choose where he wants to play next season. The defender joined Napoli last season from Fernabache and was vital to the Serie A side’s Scudetto win. His performance for that Naples-based club has set Europe’s biggest clubs on alert, and they want to snap him up just one year after he joined Napoli.

Liverpool ready to make move for Levi Colwill

Granit Xhaka leaves Arsenal for Bayer Leverkusen

PSG confirm Luis Enrique as new head coach

Newcastle sign Sandro Tonali from AC Milan on a five-year deal

Manchester City CONSIDERING an offer for former Manchester United target Frenkie De Jong

Manchester City sign Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea in £25m deal

Tottenham confirm £17m signing of Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on a five-year deal

Newcastle REACH agreement with AC Milan for Sandro Tonali

Chelsea PUSHING to Sign in-demand Brighton’s Moises Caicedo

Bayern Munich move AHEAD of Manchester United in the race for Kim Min-jae

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