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          Chelsea target Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, Man City eye triple swoop

          • ESPN staffJul 26, 2016, 07:46 PM ET

          With the summer transfer window upon us, rumours are picking up steam. Transfer Talk has its finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest gossip. Follow our live blog below, and see the latest deals here.

          TOP STORY: Chelsea target Kalidou Koulibaly, City want trio

          Chelsea's new manager Antonio Conte warned us that more transfers were to come and now he's trying to poach another of Napoli's top stars away from the club, defender Kalidou Koulibaly. Sky Italy report that the 25-year-old Senegal international is the subject of a £38 million bid from the Blues, while Gianluca De Marzio backs up their interest.

          Manchester City have spent this summer. Ilkay Gundogan and Nolito are two high-class acquisitions, but with Juventus splashing €90m on Gonzalo Higuain and Manchester United soon to drop €100 million (or more) on Paul Pogba, you would expect City to lavish their new super coach, Pep Guardiola, with fresh talent.

          It's happening, according to the Guardian, which suggested City will target Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus and Marlos Moreno for £100m to secure City's future. Guardiola appears ready to nurture young talent while implementing his philosophy, which makes for very exciting times at the Etihad.

          LIVE BLOG

          23.00 BST: Right. That will do it for another day in the land of transfers. Join us again early tomorrow for another exciting edition of Transfer Talk!

          22.51 BST: Our final item of the night might well be expanded upon in Thursday's edition of TT and it's all about Carlos Bacca.

          It's believed, per Gazzetta dello Sport, that the AC Milan striker would pick Paris Saint-Germain over Barcelona as his next move, preferring to reunite with his former boss, Unai Emery, than try his hand behind Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar at the Camp Nou.

          West Ham have also shown interest in the Colombian along with Atletico Madrid and Arsenal. It'll cost someone in the region of €30m to sign him.

          22.42 BST: Some positive news for Leicester City as longtime midfielder Andy King has agreed to a new contract. Story here.

          22.27 BST: More news involving Napoli next, as FourFourTwo reports that Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso has rejected a move to the Serie A side.

          Napoli were reportedly willing to pay €37.5m for the 21-year-old playmaker but Tolisso would prefer to remain in France.

          As you might expect, Lyon were quite happy about Tolisso's decision:

          22.03 BST: Are Napoli close to signing a replacement for Gonzalo Higuain?

          Goal Italy reports that they're ready to move for Ajax's Polish striker, Arkadiusz Milik. Terms of a possible deal reportedly involve a €25m fee for the 22-year-old, plus €5m in performance-related add-ons and bonuses.

          The same article notes that Napoli also made an increased off for Mauro Icardi but a bid of €52m plus €2m in add-ons was rejected by Inter Milan.

          21.45 BST: Sky in Italy reports that Arsenal and AS Roma have agreed to terms to extend the Giallorossi's loan move for goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

          The Polish stopped excelled in Serie A last season, and Sky also understands that there's a loan-to-buy clause in the deal for a fee around €13.4m.

          21.28 BST: Sources tell ESPN FC that Real Sociedad are closing in on a move for Fernando Llorente. The 31-year-old Spanish striker had been a target of Everton at one point but Sociedad have stepped to the front of the line for the Sevilla star. Story here.

          21.11 BST: It's our latest round of Rumour Rater, this time with ESPN FC's Shaka Hislop running through the biggest reported moves.

          20.53 BST: Sources tell ESPN FC that Manchester City are in talks with Everton regarding a deal for John Stones. Story here.

          20.30 BST: Sky Sports sources report that ex-Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor is on the verge of joining the Portland Timbers.

          Portland recently lost stalwart centre-back Nat Borchers to a long-term knee injury and needed defensive cover. Taylor would be just that.

          20.12 BST: A DONE DEAL in the Bundesliga as 1860 Munich complete the signing of Ivica Olic.

          Olic, 36, was formerly at Bayern Munich and Hamburg but the Croatian forward has stalled his retirement by signing a one-year contract. Story here.

          19.50 BST: Are Real Madrid firmly back in the hunt for Paul Pogba? Our latest reports indicate that the Spanish giants have made contact with Pogba's current club, Juventus, over a move. Story here.

          19.26 BST: Are West Ham on the cusp of a transfer coup?

          Esporte reports that they've won the race to sign hotly touted 22-year-old Jonathan Calleri. The 22-year-old forward scored 21 goals last season as Boca Juniors won the league.

          19.01 BST: Well well! Another DONE DEAL in Major League Soccer!

          Yep: Uruguay international Nicolas Lodeiro is the newest Designated Player in Seattle.

          Lodeiro, 27, was most recently with Boca Juniors but has been a mainstay for La Celeste since making his debut in 2009.

          Sounders GM, Garth Lagerwey, was overjoyed about the move. ""Wherever he has played he has made his team better. We believe he can be a big piece of where we want to take the Sounders long term."

          18.44 BST: We have a DONE DEAL in Major League Soccer as Vancouver deal Fabian Espindola to Liga MX side Necaxa. Story here.

          18.26 BST: Following up from an earlier post, look who's signing!

          Stoke City's combustible midfielder Marko Arnautovic has taken to social media regarding his new contract.

          I am proud and thrilled to finally let you know that I am going to stay a Potter and will continue playing with my team and for my fantastic fans. I suppose some times it takes a bit longer to make the right decision and this one comes from my heart. My family and I could not be happier. Can't wait for the season to begin! #SCFC #potters #pl #premierleague #teamarna #godblessus @stokecity 🔴⚪️💯🙏⚽️

          A photo posted by Marko Arnautovic (@arnautovic_10) on

          Arnautovic, 27, was the Potters' top scorer last season with 12 goals.

          18.01 BST: Is Blaise Matuidi heading to the Premier League?

          The Manchester Evening News reports that the 29-year-old has been cleared to leave Paris Saint-Germain if he wishes, and Manchester United, Chelsea and Juventus are all rumoured to be interested.

          The kernel of this report appears to be an interpretation of a quote to L'Equipe by PSG manager Unai Emery regarding the French midfielder. "He is a very good player. We have a lot of left-footed defensive midfielders. If he has the opportunity to leave and if he thinks there are too many midfielders here... But I do not want him to go."

          Matuidi surely wouldn't come cheap for any of the interested suitors but M.E.N. believes he'd be sold for somewhere in the region of £30m.

          17.30 BST: Rest easy, Barcelona fans, as it appears that Arda Turan is not heading to Besiktas. At least that's what Besiktas president, Fikret Orman, says.

          "Arda is not on our transfer agenda right now," said Orman to Turkish media outlet NTVSpor.

          17.12 BST: Cardiff City striker Federico Macheda could return to his native Italy with Pescara, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

          16.55 BST: La Gazzetta dello Sport says Roma are interested in Everton defender Ramiro Funes Mori.

          16.31 BST: Schalke sporting director Christian Heidel has been talking to Sport Bild about the need to change his club's image but also touched on the subject of Manchester City target Leroy Sane.

          "I believe that every player can be replaced, but if we couldn't compete without Sane, we must not sell him," he said. Story here.

          16.09 BST: Another interesting tidbit out of that Kalidou Koulibaly update is that Napoli are already planning for his exit.

          The report by ever-reliable Gianluca Di Marzio notes that Partenopei are reportedly inquiring about Torino defender/midfielder Nemanja Maksimovic, who would surely be tasked with filling the Koulibaly void. Their offer of €22m was apparently rejected.

          15.52 BST: Besiktas president Fikret Orman has expressed his desire to sign Liverpool misfit Mario Balotelli, claiming that the Italy international wants to move to Turkey. Story here.

          15.30 BST: DONE DEAL Sevilla have confirmed that striker Ciro Immobile is returning to Italy with Lazio.

          15.20 BST: DONE DEAL: Villarreal have completed the signing of Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato from Corinthians. The former AC Milan man had an underwhelming loan spell at Chelsea earlier this year. Story here.

          15.14 BST: Mainz attacking midfielder Yunus Malli has a €10 million release clause and has been linked with Tottenham. Asked about his future, the Turkey international said: "I cannot and will not rule anything out."

          14.49 BST: Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis believes that the word "betrayal" is the best way of describing Gonzalo Higuain's transfer to Juventus. Story here.

          14.25 BST: BREAKING Stoke's Marko Arnautovic, who was strongly linked with a move to Everton, has signed a new contract at the Britannia Stadium. Story here.

          14.16 BST: Sky Sports News says Swansea have approached Leicester over a potential deal for striker Leonardo Ulloa.

          14.00 BST: DONE DEAL Bournemouth have confirmed the signing of Australia defender Brad Smith from Liverpool. Story here.

          13.48 BST: Gonzalo Higuain takes the No. 9 shirt at Juventus.

          13.38 BST: The Guardian reports that Manchester City are confident of signing John Stones from Everton and says a deal for Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci is still an option if Vincent Kompany's injury troubles persist.

          13.25 BST: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has told Sport Bild he wants to remain at Borussia Dortmund "for a long time" and believes they are capable of beating Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title this season. Story here.

          13.09 BST: Carlo Ancelotti has declared his dealings in the transfer market over this summer, closing the door on a mooted move for Bayer Leverkusen's Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez. Story here.

          12.45 BST: BREAKING Reported Juventus target Javier Mascherano is set to sign a new three-year contract at Barcelona. Story here.

          12.22 BST: Marseille winger Georges-Kevin Nkoudou could soon be a Tottenham Hotspur player.

          12.14 BST: Roma striker Edin Dzeko has dismissed talk of an exit, telling Il Corriere dello Sport his future is "obviously" at the club.

          11.54 BST: La Gazzetta dello Sport believes Manchester United are set to secure the signing of Paul Pogba by the end of the week. You'd be forgiven for saying you'd heard that before, but the Italian paper's English-language site says United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has "announced his intention to raise their bid to €110m -- still a bit short of Juventus' €120m valuation. Woodward and [Juve general manager Beppe] Marotta danced around the figures, but both are prepared to reach a compromise that will see an agreement reached within the next couple of days."

          11.26 BST: The Guardian provides a little more detail on Mamadou Sakho's situation at Liverpool after he was sent home from the club's preseason tour.

          10.59 BST: The Chronicle and Sky Sports suggest Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote is close to an exit, with Al Jazira Club reported to be his next destination.

          10.45 BST: Gonzalo Higuain greets the Juventus fans following his move from Napoli.

          10.35 BST: Barcelona, though, are all smiles.

          10.27 BST: DONE DEAL Barcelona have completed the signing of Portugal midfielder Andre Gomes from Valencia, who have had a bit of a pop at the champions in an official statement, saying the "rigour and prudence that Valencia CF apply to the procedure of transfers did not permit the announcement of the deal before all aspects were fully completed and contracted." Story here.

          10.22 BST: Stoke chairman Peter Coates says his club remain hopeful of signing West Brom striker Saido Berahino. "We're in the hands of the player and West Bromwich Albion at the minute and we're working away on it," Coates told talkSPORT. "We would like to take him if a deal can be done."

          10.07 BST: Arsene Wenger has never liked talking about Arsenal's transfer plans, and he's in no mood to change.

          09.54 BST: Sevilla striker Fernando Llorente is set to join Real Sociedad, according to AS.

          09.36 BST: Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is not giving up on signing Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba this summer, saying "anything can happen" before the transfer deadline. Story here.

          09.19 BST: Marca says Atletico Madrid have reached an agreement in principle to sign Sevilla striker Kevin Gameiro. He'll cost €30 million, apparently.

          09.00 BST: Gonzalo Higuain has attracted Roma veteran Francesco Totti's wrath after leaving Napoli for Juventus, telling Gazzetta World: "It is apparently quite normal for a foreign player these days to just leave for another team where they can make more money." Story here.

          08.38 BST: Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane sounds like a man who has not yet given up on the signing of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba. "At the moment we are here working. Until [Aug. 31] anything can happen," he told reporters. "He is not yet a Madrid player. We cannot talk about what will happen."

          08.24 BST: Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has said it would be "malpractice" to allow Arsenal target Alexandre Lacazette to leave the club. Story here.

          08.17 BST: Watch ESPN FC's exclusive interview with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte as he discusses his plans in the transfer market.

          07.48 BST: Borussia Dortmund are interested in Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri, according to French site Foot Mercato. The 25-year-old Ivory Coast international only moved to France from Portuguese side Pacos de Ferreira last summer but he impressed with three goals in 37 matches to help Nice to fourth in Ligue 1.

          07.16 BST: After Lyon publicly revealed that they had turned down a €35 million offer from Arsenal for Alexandre Lacazette, the Gunners are to return with an offer of €40m in the coming days, according to L'Equipe.

          Juventus to return to Roma for Paredes?

          If relations were already hostile after Juventus swooped for Miralem Pjanic this summer, then Roma are going to be thoroughly unimpressed by this.

          The Old Lady now wants Leandro Paredes, Gazzetta dello Sport reported, with the 22-year-old holding midfielder earmarked as successor to Andre Pirlo.

          After a stunning transformation from an attacking midfielder to a regista with Empoli last summer, Roma are determined to maintain the Argentinian for a further season.

          Wenger told to stump up £40 million for France hitman

          Arsenal have been told they will need to shell out £40 million if they want to sign Lyon hit man Alexandre Lacazette, according to the Mirror.

          The Gunners are still in the hunt for a top striker, and OL rejected a £29.3 million bid for the Lyon striker, who was described by his club as "irreplaceable" in a statement.

          Arsene Wenger seemingly feels Olivier Giroud cannot carry them to the promised land and Lacazette might help with the load as Arsenal look to mount a serious title charge.

          Everton to rival Chelsea for Euro 2016 winner

          Chelsea were seemingly annoyed by Everton's interest in Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, which drove the price beyond what they deemed acceptable. But Ronald Koeman has another target in common with his counterpart Antonio Conte, with the Mirror reporting that the two clubs are set to do battle for Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho.

          The move puts Nemanja Matic's future into further doubt after the signing of N'Golo Kante, with Conte apparently keen to secure two mobile centre-midfielders to pivot a 4-4-2 system.

          Tap-ins

          - West Brom have made an offer for Lille's Ibrahim Amadou, with France Football suggesting the Baggies have tabled a €12 million bid.

          Tony Pulis' side could face competition from Middlesbrough for the French defender, who arrived at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy from Nancy for €2 million last summer.

          - Everton have triggered Aston Villa midfielder Idrissa Gueye's release clause of £7.1 million, according to Sky Sports.

          The Toffees are looking for steel in the middle of the pitch, and in the Senegal international, Koeman might have found his man.