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          LIVE Transfer Talk: Chelsea to battle Barca for Ajax's Tagliafico

          • ESPN
          Aug 11, 2020, 01:00 PM ET

          The coronavirus pandemic has made the transfer market uncertain -- and you can find out when the windows open here -- but here are the rumours floating around Europe's big leagues and beyond.

          TOP STORY: Chelsea to battle Barca for Ajax's Tagliafico

          Chelsea have expressed an interest in bringing Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico to West London, but Frank Lampard's side face strong competition from Spain.

          Sky Sports has identified the Stamford Bridge outfit as one of three clubs who want to sign the defender, with La Liga duo Barcelona and Atletico Madrid ready to provide stiff competition.

          Tagliafico, 27, has been capped 25 times by Argentina, while Chelsea have already snapped up one Ajax player this season in Hakim Ziyech.

          Lampard is also reported to be monitoring Real Madrid's Sergio Reguilon following a successful loan-spell with Sevilla, having failed to strike a deal with Leicester for Ben Chilwell; although the Foxes are now believed to be willing to drop their original £80m asking price.

          LIVE BLOG

          22.19 BST: Lille have secured their replacement for Victor Osimhen, confirming the signing of Canada forward Jonathan David from Belgian side KAA Gent. Read the full story.

          21.32 BST: Mexico international Marco Fabian is set to sign with Liga MX team FC Juarez should he pass his medical examination, according to ESPN's Rene Tovar. The 31-year-old was playing for Al-Sadd Sports Club in Qatar until his contract expired at the end of June, meaning he'll be joining Juarez on a free transfer.

          20.45 BST: Sky Sport Italia's Gianluca Di Marzio writes that Real Madrid have set the asking price for 23-year-old left-back Sergio Reguilon at a figure between €20m and €25m, with Napoli hopeful of taking the former Spain U21 international on loan with an option to buy, but they'll have to contend with interest from Chelsea.

          19.58 BST: Javi Martinez has been told he has a role to play in the final season of his contract at Bayern Munich, but it's not likely to be as a starter, according to Marca. The report states that the 31-year-old defender intends to see out the duration of his contract in Bavaria, but that should he depart, his preference would be to return to Athletic Bilbao. However, with the two clubs going through painful negotiations for Martinez eight years ago, the German champions are unlikely to do the Basque side any favours.

          19.11 BST: Amid news that Real Madrid intend to cut short Martin Odegaard's two-year loan at Real Sociedad to help bolster Los Blancos' midfield, AS reports that the Spanish capital club have taken the same decision with Dani Ceballos, who had been linked with a second season on loan at Arsenal but now reportedly will return to Madrid to be integrated with the first team.

          18.24 BST: Tottenham have completed the signing of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Southampton. The 25-year-old Danish international joins Jose Mourinho's squad after four years at St Mary's Stadium.

          The midfielder, who began his senior career under Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich, has signed a contract with Tottenham until 2025 and will wear the No. 5 shirt.

          "What was very important for me was that I wanted to be in a club where I could see myself for many years and Tottenham was just the one," Hojbjerg told the club's website. "I think there's a fantastic future ahead for the Club and I wanted so much to be a part of that."

          Going in the other direction is Kyle Walker-Peters, although officially in a separate deal, who makes the permanent move to Southampton after spending the second half of last season on loan under Ralph Hasenhuttl. The 23-year-old has signed a five-year contract with Saints.

          "He is a very good fit for our style," Hasenhuttl told Southampton's website. "He is a young, intelligent player, and he is very good on the ball, with good quickness and an ability to play this intense style that we like."

          18.00 BST: Why did Juventus hire a managerial novice like Andrea Pirlo? Here's why.

          17.20 BST: The Athletic reports that Arsenal could let striker Alexandre Lacazette join Juventus this summer, once Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang commits his future to a new deal.

          Lacazette, 29, is viewed as surplus to requirements and could be used to raise around £30m, which would go towards funding their new arrivals.

          Juve are keen on a new striker as Gonzalo Higuain looks set to depart.

          Atletico Madrid have also been linked with Lacazette in a swap deal with €50m-rated Thomas Partey.

          16.47 BST: New York Red Bulls have signed Ghana international forward Samuel Tetteh on loan from FC Salzburg.

          Both teams are affiliated with the Red Bull company so it shouldn't be too hard to work out the details for the 24-year-old to join permanently if he impresses.

          "Samuel is an exciting attacking player that our scouts have been following," New York's Head of Sport Kevin Thelwell said in a statement. "He is strong physically and technically, and plays with a lot of confidence. He's got an intelligence in each phase of the game and we believe he'll fit in well with our group."

          16.35 BST: Real Madrid could be stuck with Gareth Bale for some time as the Daily Mirror reports that he "is prepared to wait up to two years for his next club match if necessary."

          Bale has fallen out with boss Zinedine Zidane and refused to travel for the Champions League round of 16 defeat at Manchester City this week as he knew he would not play.

          The report states that "sources close to Bale continue to insist he has no plans to leave the Spanish capital where he is under contract until 2022."

          Indeed, his £600,000-a-week wages might have something to do with that and even a loan move looks off the table.

          16.00 BST: Portuguese side Braga have signed former Atletico Madrid and Chicago Fire winger Nico Gaitan on a free transfer. And it was quite a weird announcement.

          15.40 BST: Chelsea can chase Kai Havertz, but they really need West Ham's Declan Rice.

          14.58 BST: We brought you news in June that Arsenal were tracking Porto midfielder Danilo Pereira and planned to explore the possibility of a summer move, sources told ESPN's James Olley.

          Now O Jogo reports that Porto have set a €30m asking price for Danilo, while the Gunners are only willing to stretch to €20m.

          14.26 BST: Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes is quickly becoming one of the players to watch this window.

          Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal have all been linked with a €30m move for the 22-year-old Brazilian and The Sun claims he "will reportedly make a final decision on his future later this week."

          Everton and Napoli are also in the running for the centre-back and Lille owner Gerard Lopez admitted last week to L'Equipe: "With Gabriel, we are talking and we've given him an exit pass. He will choose his club."

          14.00 BST: Jadon Sancho to Man United is now officially a transfer saga -- here are some of the biggest ever, including:

          - Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United to Real Madrid)
          - Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal to Barcelona)
          - Neymar (Barcelona to Pairs Saint-Germain -- and back?)

          13.46 BST: Chelsea will look to step up their pursuit of Kai Havertz in the coming days after Bayer Leverkusen were knocked out of the Europa League, sources have told ESPN's James Olley.

          The Blues were ready to negotiate late last month after their qualification for next season's Champions League was confirmed on the final day of the Premier League season but Leverkusen delayed talks.

          Chelsea are reluctant to meet Leverkusen's £90m asking price and have been confident for some time they can agree a fee in the region of £70m-£75m.

          Sources said that technical and performance advisor Petr Cech is playing an active role in discussions, with Havertz keen on a move to Stamford Bridge and Leverkusen increasingly resigned to losing the 21-year-old. However, the clubs remain far apart in their respective valuations of the player ahead of further talks expected to take place soon.

          13.15 BST: Fair play Newcastle, good effort. They evidently tried to sign Lazio's Serie A Golden Boot winner Ciro Immobile.

          "During the period in which there was talk of the possible [£300m] purchase of Newcastle by the Sheikh's fund [a Saudi Arabian consortium fronted by the country's Public Investment Fund] they called my agent, Alessandro Moggi," Immobile told Corriere Dello Sport. "Then the Premier League did not approve that proposal, or the fund withdrew, I don't remember well. I know they were also looking for an Italian coach, [Massimiliano] Allegri or [Luciano] Spalletti."

          But now the 30-year-old says he isn't going anywhere.

          "I intend to tie myself to Lazio forever. The renewal will be for three years, so the contract will expire in 2025 when I turn 35," he added. "Before I arrived at Lazio, contacts with Napoli were frequent, but for one reason or another, we never went any further.

          "Naples is the city where I was born, I always follow Napoli with affection, but what Lazio has given me and is giving me is priceless."

          12.40 BST: Martin Odegaard is expected to play for Real Madrid next season, multiple sources have told ESPN's Rodrigo Faez and Alex Kirkland, after the club told Real Sociedad that they want to end the 21-year-old's loan spell early.

          The move is a shock for the Basque club, who had been convinced that the Norwegian midfielder would spend a second season in San Sebastian.

          Real manager Zinedine Zidane decided on the last-minute change of plans in the wake of the defeat to Manchester City on Friday. The French coach wants more options in central midfield -- and was keen on a bid for Manchester United's Paul Pogba last summer for the same reason, although the two players have different profiles.

          Madrid are not planning to make any significant signings this summer but their Champions League elimination has forced the club to reconsider Odegaard's future.

          12.09 BST: Bild reports that former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Gotze is the subject of interest from David Beckham's Inter Miami.

          The MLS club are keen to sign Gotze, who left Dortmund this summer when his contract expired. However, the 28-year-old World Cup winner has rejected the move, preferring to stay in Europe for now.

          11.49 BST: Andrea Pirlo's hiring at Juventus could set into motion another transfer saga: Paul Pogba's move from Man United to the club. Remember that?

          Pogba and Pirlo were previously teammates at Juventus before Pirlo left for NYCFC in 2015 and Pogba departed a year later for an £89.3m move to Old Trafford. And former Italy striker Luca Toni says that they could reunite.

          "Knowing Andrea, he will start building from midfield," Toni told Tuttosport. "The ideal gift would be Pogba. I don't know if that's possible, but it would certainly be the best option."

          11.24 BST: Manchester United will continue to pursue a deal for Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho but have sounded out Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele as a possible alternative, sources have told ESPN's James Olley.

          Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc cast doubt over the 20-year-old's long-anticipated move to Old Trafford when he said the club "plan on having Sancho in our team this season," adding that the decision on his future was "final."

          Sources said that United have held informal talks over a move for Dembele, who has two years left on his contract. The 23-year-old has not played a competitive match since November and underwent surgery on his hamstring in February.

          11.11 BST: Former Chelsea and Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has told Sky Sports that he wants to return to the Premier League.

          Sturridge, 30, has scored 105 goals in 306 appearances for Manchester City, Chelsea, Bolton, Liverpool and West Brom. He served a four-month ban from the FA after being found guilty of 11 alleged breaches of its betting rules, then terminated his contract with Turkish side Trabzonspor in March.

          "We have options around the world but I'm an English player and I've always loved playing in the Premier League," he said. "I believe I've got a lot to give to the Premier League and I would say that's my first choice. I do feel I have unfinished business so I would like to go back and play there.

          "I'm open to playing in other leagues, it's not just the Premier League I'm going to consider, but to come back to England and give my best would be a huge option for me.

          "I'm very excited, I'm hungrier than ever and I'm totally focused on the next chapter."

          10.35 BST: Manchester United have not given up hope of landing Jadon Sancho but are growing frustrated by Borussia Dortmund's conduct during negotiations, sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson.

          United remain determined to sign Sancho this summer, despite comments made by Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc on Monday claiming the deal is dead.

          09.51 BST: Patrik Schick is set to leave RB Leipzig and return to AS Roma following the Champions League in Lisbon, German outlet Bild reports.

          Schick, 24, was Leipzig's second top goal scorer in the league after Timo Werner last term, but Leipzig were not able to agree a new loan with Roma for the 2020-2021 season. Instead the Serie A club are hoping to cash in on the Czech international attacker and sell him for a fee of around €25m to raise funds amid the coronavirus pandemic.

          Leipzig did not exercise their €29m purchase option for Schick, who scored 10 goals in 22 league games last term and had hoped to broker a new loan deal with another buy option. But with interest from Premier League clubs, as well as Hertha Berlin and Bayer Leverkusen, Roma are keen to sell him this summer.

          09.22 BST: Villarreal are set to announce the €8m signing (plus €3m in variables) of Valencia midfielder Francis Coquelin, according to Superdeporte.

          Coquelin, 29, has two years left on his contract with Valencia and has been a regular in the first team since joining Los Che in a €14m transfer from Arsenal in January 2018.

          Villarreal are also in advanced talks to land Valencia veteran midfielder Dani Parejo, who was placed on the transfer list. Diario AS reports that Valencia will allow their team captain, who is tied to the club until June 2022, to leave for free in order to compensate for the high wages Villarreal will have to pay the Spain international.

          Parejo, 31, has played nine seasons at the Mestalla stadium and is keen to join Villarreal in order to remain in the Valencia region. Villarreal, who appointed Unai Emery as coach last month, after dismissing Javi Calleja, finished fifth in La Liga to qualify for European football next season.

          08.58 BST: Blaise Matuidi is set to sign for David Beckham's Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, sources have told ESPN's Julien Laurens.

          The France international is in Paris, where he will undergo his medical before signing a three-year contract with the club.

          Sources told ESPN that Matuidi has taken a pay cut to secure the move, and he will be reunited with Beckham, after the pair played together for Paris Saint-Germain back in 2013, just before the Englishman retired. Sources told ESPN that Matuidi has spoken to Beckham over the phone as well as with Inter Miami manager Diego Alonso.

          He also spoke to Didier Deschamps, the France head coach, for whom he remains a key player in the 2018 World Cup winners' squad. Matuidi will be the 13th French player in MLS this season.

          Matuidi has 84 caps for France and his signing represents a huge coup for Beckham's side, who recently called for patience after a difficult start for the franchise.

          Juventus wanted to keep him, but Matuidi was seeking a new challenge; he will be Inter Miami's third Designated Player, alongside Matias Pellegrini and Rodolfo Pizarro.

          08.31 BST: Barcelona youngster Pedri has revealed that he was turned down by Real Madrid before agreeing a move to Camp Nou.

          The 17-year-old forward signed a deal with Barca in 2019, but stayed with Las Palmas this season in Spain's second division.

          "Two or three years ago I went (to Madrid) for a trial," Pedri told YouTube channel Post United. "I was there for a week, but they told me to keep working, that they didn't want to sign me."

          The talented playmaker said he'd consider a loan move next season to get more playing time.

          "I'd be open to it if I don't have an opportunity [at Barca]. There are really good offers from German teams. I wouldn't mind playing abroad, the important thing is to play and keep growing," he said.

          08.00 BST: Liverpool have made their first signing of the transfer window by bringing in Greece defender Konstantinos Tsimikas from Olympiakos on a long-term deal, the Premier League champions announced on Monday.

          The 24-year-old left back made 46 appearances for Olympiakos in all competitions last season as they won their 45th Greek Super League title.

          Financial details were not given but British media said Liverpool paid £11m ($14.38m) for Tsimikas, who has played three times for Greece since making his debut in October 2018.

          Tsimikas, who has had loan spells at Danish side Esjberg and Dutch outfit Willem II, has Champions League experience and is expected to provide cover for left back Andy Robertson.

          PAPER TALK (by Liam Wheeler)

          Newcastle join the race for Sessegnon

          The Sun reports that Newcastle United have become the latest club to set their sights on Tottenham's 20-year-old starlet Ryan Sessegnon.

          Newly promoted Fulham, whom Sessegnon left to join Spurs last summer, have also been linked with the winger in recent days.

          Newcastle boss Steve Bruce is expected to find himself working on a tight budget -- reportedly just £30m -- ahead of the new campaign following a failed £300m takeover attempt by a Saudi-based consortium.

          And Bruce is now expected to turn his attention to homegrown talent where he believes there are bargains to be had.

          Sessegnon made just 12 appearances for Spurs in all competitions this season, scoring once -- a consolation goal in a 3-1 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.

          Tap-ins

          - Juventus' transfer list could offer up a veritable Who's Who of international superstars this summer. The Mirror reports that Aaron Ramsey, Gonzalo Higuain, Sami Khedira, Daniele Rugani and Mattia De Sciglio will all be shown the door by new boss Andrea Pirlo.

          - The Sun reports that Brighton boss Graham Potter is prepared to let one centre-back leave the club, but not the man on everybody's lips. Potter is standing firm over the in-demand Ben White, but he is said to be willing to let Shane Duffy leave the club following interest from West Bromwich Albion.